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Barry_Cotter comments on Open Thread, May 19 - 25, 2014 - Less Wrong
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One can read in one's spare time or learn languages or act. If one does not come from wealth not majoring in something remunerative in college is a mistake if you will actually want money later.
He didn't dismiss the humanities he said studying them at university was a poor decision.
Moreover, it wasn't really presented as general advice, but advice for their own younger version. It's not generally applicable advice (not everyone will be happy or successful in STEM fields), but I think it's safe to assume it is sound advice for Young!nydwracu.
Or even if it was intended as generally applicable advice, it's still directed at kids gifted at mathematics, who will have a high likelihood of enjoying STEM fields.
My parents made me study business management instead of literature. My life has been much more boring and unfulfilling as a result, because the jobs I can apply for don't interest me, and the jobs I want demand qualifications I lack. In my personal experience, working in your passion beats working for the money.
How sure are you what your life would have been like if you had studied literature instead?
Why haven't you gone back to college for a Masters in English Literature or something along those lines? Robin Hanson was 35 before he got his Ph.D. in Economics and he's doing ok. The market for humanities scholars is not as forgiving as that for Economics but that's what you want, right?
After some years of self-analysis and odd jobs, I'm close to finishing a second degree in journalism.