If you attended college what was the major for your undergraduate degree and what kind of career did you actually end up doing?

Me:

college degree major: Anthropology

career: Information Technology (almost 20 years now in the field).

Bachelor of Music
Master of Music
Both have a music education focus and yes, I am a music teacher (HS band and music theory).

College: Electrical Engineering

No career.

Bachelor of Computer Science
Software Developer

Glad that worked out!

BA Technical Illustration, ended up working in animation.

The degree was so long ago that it was mostly drawing board stuff. However the first job after graduating was all 3D, producing animations to train engineers in servicing Rolls Royce jet engines. What I'm doing now differs a lot in subject matter (mostly advertising) but is otherwise very similar.

BA in Modern History, now a non-profit specialist (both fundraising and grant-making). But also dipped my feet into professional photography for a bit.

I was lucky that my first job was related to my degree, doing data work in what we call "Listed Buildings" - these are are the architectural heritage of the UK, ranging from palaces and cathedrals to cow sheds.

Industrial Instrumentation

First job: R&O a/c instruments and then high tech electronics.

Master's Software Engineer at FIT Switzerland, so it translates into a bit above Master degree and much below PhD here.
Worked in that field for 20 years, mostly compilers and security.

Getting that degree was so hard it was impossible to imagine to do anything else for work.

Kansas: BAs in Political Science and Russian (it was useful when I got it for the pre law school jobs I did so don't laugh).

St. Louis University School of Law, JD

I'm a lawyer who is on the verge of retirement - thank goodness because I HATE it.... Been at the same place for nearly a quarter century. I have two options for the near future: possible judge (state alj, court of appeal or s.ct. --- depending on next gov -- or possibly federal ALJ if and only if there is an opening in one city on GAL I picked (most people agree to go anywhere - I'm not that guy) not Article III I don't expect) or get teaching certificate and teach high school. Nixer is my idol / inspiration for that.

Then, there's always the fishing option instead of work.

Biology degree (emphasis entomology) - currently on 35th year of public service

get teaching certificate and teach high school. Nixer is my idol / inspiration for that.

I am honestly flattered sir.

You'd make a good judge from what I know about you.

Funny you brought up school as I just had my Algebra final today. I got a very high "B" (89.75), which means I will get an "A" for the course...barely but I'll take it.

I have NEVER worked that hard in school as I have these last couple of months on this advanced math crap, and I still hate it. Lots of compliments from my prof and a couple of other folks in school.

Now for my summer vacation...all 10 days of it. 4 classes this fall............

I'll start early on the classes that let me.

Columbus State University, Columbus, Georgia - BA Communication. I've been in the IT Support field since 1992.

Molecular Microbiology & Genetics, work in healthcare.

Industrial engineering -> Simulation for training.

But that was almost completely unrelated (though it helped a lot, I think; allowed me to take charge of the commercial side of things and still being able to talk to both customers and the developers and find a common language ... THE classic job description for IEs).

Wow, there's some real smart asses...I mean, really smart *people* on this board!

I keep flip-flopping around on finally going to school and deciding what I want to do/be when I grow up, as if I have all the time in the world.

Yeah, people like Nixer are very inspirational, an older gent toughing out college. Do you get a discount on tuition when you turn 50?

There's an X-Files episode titled "War of the Coprophages" that you would absolutely love.

Interesting thread.
Over here in the UK the last survey I saw reported that only 18% of graduates get a job commensurate with their degree.

From my own family:
Me, to thick to go to University. My sister had the qualifications but in the 1960's University wasn't considered for 'the likes of us'.
Wife; BA, then post-graduate teaching diploma. Taught primary school until fourth child came.

No.1 Son, didn't want to go to University, but has forged his own career path.

No.1 Daughter, Bsc Msc in Animal Behaviour. now lead behaviourist with a Long Dog Charity. Though most of her circle of friends have jobs that have no relation to their degrees.

No.2 Daughter, Bsc Psychology, considered that a waste of time career-wise and is in final year of Mental Nursing Degree.

No.2 Son, Just awaiting results but has job in Ministry of Defence on confirmation.

It seems as though the consensus here is that one's child is a failure if they didn't get a University place. Hence a 'dumbing down' of degrees and a proliferation of graduates un- or under-employed.
Many of my children's friends went to Uni with no thought of the future use of degree, it was just the 'thing to do' saddling themselves with large Student Finance Debts.

Would be interesting to read of others experience of this.

It's interesting to note some of the parallels between what is happening in modern day Britain and modern day USA and this right here is one of them. Essentially the creation of a flooded market of degree holders which far outstrips what is actually needed by the job market.

BA in Chemistry with a minor in database management structures

I'm a Technical Director (chemist and project babysitter) at a large paint company.

BSc in Biology and Geography.

Museum Curator - 10 years
Property Renovator - 2 years
Primary Teacher - 27 years and counting.