In this day and age, with access to the Internet, I don't agree that picking a degree and not at least researching the income, can be blamed on anyone other than the person getting the degree.
I can see it now, "hey Johnny, we want you to go to college and be a social worker."
- Johnny really wants to be a nurse. He does research and lays out facts regarding income, employment, job prospects, and knows he would love a career in nursing.
So Johnny lays out all those facts. In black and white, proven statistics.
Are you telling me that there are parents out that that would say, "Johnny, despite your proven statistics and where your passions lie, we really think being a social worker would be on your very best interest"
And even then, if you're parents aren't paying for it, it's REALLY not their choice. If they are paying for it, then good for you and you have a free education, and you can go back on your own and double major with another year or 2 of something you really love.
My mom, dad, brother, and sister all have their bachelors degree from the same school. 5 out of my 6 cousins have bachelors or masters, as do their 4 parents.
I do not have a bachelors. Do you think there was no pressure though? Instead, I did a TON of research and laid out my plan to my parents. I didn't even need their buy in as I was an adult, but enjoy having their moral support. In return, I was making over 100k by the time I was 23 and now over 200k at 27.
I guess maybe I am the exception as by the time I was 18, and in many ways before, I held myself accountable and did research to make my own choices. That's why I have a hard time grasping why adults are still blaming their life decisions on others. Sounds like they were not ready to go to college, nor leave the support of their mom and dad until they could make their own choices.