What advice can you offer to IMSA students looking to study fields like history, philosophy, political science, English, etc? What job prospects and career paths are generally available? Mr. Kearney I do think we have to be honest with our students that some fields may not have the types of job prospects that one would hope for with the amount of talent that our students possess. I do think that is a sad reflection on the world in many ways. That so many colleges and universities want to offer courses in English or History but refuse to pay for full time professors instead relying on adjuncts who get neither the respect nor compensation that they deserve is disheartening to say the least. That said, it is indeed true that we need more medical doctors in the world than philosophers. I say this with no disrespect intended to those who wish to study philosophy. It is a noble endeavor, but one which is likely to be poorly compensated. I say this from a place of experience. I truly believed that I was going to be an actor when I entered undergrad. But lots of people want to act and there simply aren’t enough jobs for them all. Likewise, we probably grant too many PhDs in my field of political science for the number of academic jobs that exist. Many times in my life I have experienced these harsh economic realities. Never-the-less, it is important to embrace one’s passion. Give acting a try, write that novel, philosophize. But do so with the understanding that none of those are sure fire ways to make it rich. Additionally, I think that my particular field offers a number of options that a field like acting does not. While jobs in academic political science are at a premium, federal, state and local governments are always in need of individuals with the skills to do expert political and economic analysis. So are political campaigns and corporations, law offices and financial institutions, news organizations and private research groups. The world needs people who are trained with the skills of data collection, research design and political and economic know-how. I never became a Broadway actor nor a university professor, but I also do not regret the circuitous path that my life has taken and I am extremely happy with where I ended up. Dr. Cross I am partial to ancient history, of course, but, even if you do not choose to pursue history as a career, you can still benefit from a knowledge of it in whatever major you choose. Just ask J.K. Rowling; J.R.R. Tolkien; Chris Martin of Coldplay; Mark Zuckerberg; Jerry Brown, four-term Governor of California; Chuck Geschke, founder of Adobe; and Nobel-prize winner Toni Morrison – all of whom studied ancient history or classics in college. Clearly, ancient history is for the cool kids. Dr. Kotlarczyk I would encourage people to double major in something viewed as more traditionally employable. Even if you are passionate about something in the arts, there are risks to making your passion into a profession. For example, you may find when you have to do it every day you're not as passionate as you thought. You might also be disappointed when you find out other people in your field don't share your passion for it. The rewards can be great, too, but they don't come without risks and sacrifices. PAGE 24
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