At eighteen, everyone tells you to “follow your passion.” What they forget to mention is how expensive that advice can be. Many students chase degrees that sound fulfilling but lead to low pay or limited opportunities. The result is a growing wave of regret once student loans kick in. Before you choose your own path, here’s a look at the college majors most people wish they’d left off the application form.
Film Photography
There’s a certain beauty in developing film by hand—the smell of chemicals or the thrill of waiting for an image to appear. Sadly, it’s all nostalgia now. Digital photography took over, and while a few artists still love film, it doesn’t offer steady opportunities anymore.
Microfilm Archiving
Libraries relied on microfilm reels to preserve knowledge for centuries. As storage shifted online, the skill of archiving with film faded into niche territory. Some institutions keep microfilm backups for safety, yet students chasing archival careers benefit more from mastering digital data systems.
Travel Agent/Agency Management
Booking trips used to require a professional’s touch. With online platforms offering everything from flights to excursions, that expertise feels outdated. Only a small luxury market still depends on personal agents. Most travelers today prefer building itineraries themselves with a few clicks.
Phrenology/Outdated Psychology Studies
In the 1800s, people believed the bumps on a head revealed character traits. Phrenology fascinated scholars of its time, but later proved inaccurate. While it remains a curious part of psychology’s history, investing in it academically offers little beyond historical trivia and museum references.
Encyclopedia/Reference Compilation
For generations, compiling encyclopedias was the gold standard of scholarship. The internet transformed information sharing, and Wikipedia updates faster than any printed volume ever could. Learning reference editing is still useful, but degrees centered on print encyclopedias no longer meet today’s pace of information exchange.
Performing Arts (Without A Backup Plan)
Talent matters less than you’d hope in this oversaturated industry. Between unpaid showcases and low-paying gigs, financial stability feels impossible. Graduates quickly realize their degree doesn’t translate to consistent work. Without additional marketable skills, the artistic dream becomes an expensive gamble that rarely pays off.
Psychology (Bachelor’s Only)
Psychology sounds promising—until graduation hits and reality sets in. A bachelor’s degree is essentially a stepping stone, not a destination. Clinical work, therapy, and research all require advanced degrees that many students can’t afford right away. Most graduates end up in generic office jobs that rarely use their education.
English Literature
Reading classics won’t pay your rent, unfortunately. This degree works beautifully when combined with teaching certification or marketing experience, but alone? Job prospects shrink dramatically. Graduates often scramble for any writing-adjacent role, accepting low pay because options are limited and competition is fierce.
Journalism (Without Digital Skills)
Loving storytelling isn’t enough anymore when the industry demands technical versatility. Newsrooms keep closing while remaining positions require multimedia skills that most programs ignore. Graduates discover their writing degree matters less than their ability to code, edit video, or analyze metrics they’ve never learned.
Art History
Studying Renaissance paintings doesn’t create Renaissance career opportunities, sadly. Museum jobs are scarce and competitive, with most requiring master’s degrees or PhDs. Gallery positions pay poorly and rarely open up. Unless you’re independently wealthy or pursue advanced education, this passion becomes financially unsustainable pretty quickly.
