The degree is only one component to a much larger puzzle, but it is a component that is given most of the weight. 

It used to be that getting a bachelors required four years of schooling, and recently more students are taking five or six years to get the same degree.

Due to the impaction on campus, students struggle to get classes and stick to the four-year plan. In the back of our minds, students wonder if getting the degree we want is more important than just having one at all.

Students pursuing a medical degree often take classes that are heavy in science and math, but majoring in this field is not required.

“You should have the degree you want,” said freshman health science major Valeriya Fedorova. “I wanted to go with a broader career span so I chose health science because it covers more things.”

Fedorova chose a major that is versatile and would allow her other options if medical school was not where she wanted to continue her career. 

Holding a bachelors degree was once seen as the pinnacle of success, but with increased competition in the work field, students are rethinking their educational paths. 

Some people know their strengths and understand there are areas that better suit their interests. 

“I want to make sure if I am going to school that I am able to be in that field, and for nursing it is really hard,” said freshman criminal justice major Gabriela Mathis. 

She was a nursing major, but chose to switch to criminal justice to pursue a career in investigation. 

Among a degree, employers are looking for other qualities in their potential hires. Companies are looking for smart, well-rounded and creative people to fill their positions. 

The issue with this expectation is time constraints. Students wanting to pursue a degree in a highly-competitive and selective field, have to afford hours of studying and find time to volunteer or participate in extracurriculars.  

Time is a deterrent for those who want to see results quickly. Getting into college and getting out as fast as possible to satisfy the status attached to those with a BA, may prevent students from reaching their peak in education. 

Employers should rethink the value they place on degrees and companies should be curious as to why a person pursued a degree in their chosen field, instead of letting the degree sit on a pedestal. 

Oscar Marron is a junior studying civil engineering. He has enjoyed drawing and design and chose a major that included his area of interest. Civil engineering is a difficult field to study, but Marron has not been deterred from the amount of time required to finish his degree. 

Marron said that getting to see people use the bridges and roadways that civil engineers create is the most satisfying component of pursuing a degree in this field. 

Because passionate people are more productive people.