Michael Edmondson, Associate VP for Careers & Professional Development, said what the most profitable major is does not matter but instead how happy that major makes the student.

“When you say what’s the most lucrative, I don’t know how to answer that question,” Edmondson said. “Anything can make you money. If you want money, go rob a bank.”

Edmondson said college students spend too much time worrying about money after college.

“Everyone always come to (the CORE Offices) trying to figure out which major makes the most money,” says Edmondson. “You can have a job and be happy. Don’t pick a major based on money, pick a major that will make you happy.”

Edmondson also said when employers are looking at resumes, they’re not looking at majors specifically. They are more worried about what the skill set that major can teach.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), medical schools accepted 43 percent of the biological sciences majors, 47 percent of physical sciences majors, 51 percent of humanities majors and 45 percent of social sciences majors who applied in 2010. More humanities majors than actual biological science majors got accepted to medical school. Once again, because skills they learn from the major are very important to the school, more so than sometimes the actual major itself.

Edmondson himself is an example of this. He was a history major, and taught history for a few years. He then got offered a job in corporate and is now employed by CORE. How did he get such a wide range of jobs from a history major?

“The best historians are the best salespeople, because you have to sell your story,” said Edmondson. “You have to make people believe this history and also make them interested.”

He said making people believe while maintaining interest is what has helped Edmondson in his corporate jobs and is something that he says he owes to his history major.

Uxmar Torres, a sophomore creative writing major, said that while his major won’t necessarily get his a numbers job, it will help him with anything where communication may be important.

“Words have a power . . . A poem can make your heart soar, but math problem just make (some people) cry,” said Torres.

Edmondson agrees that any major, whether conventional or unconventional, can get someone a job and make them money.

“In December it’s much colder in St. Paul, Minn., than it is in Miami, Fla.,” said Edmondson. “Should we shut down St. Paul and move everyone to Florida? Should we abolish the arts because they don’t make as much as engineering? Looking at salaries will ignore the potential of growth.”

Edmondson then points to LinkedIn and the many Augustana Alumni attached to it.

“There are so many jobs on here that didn’t exist twenty years ago,“ said Edmondson.

Edmondson said a business and management major can now work in digital analytics and optimization.

“Who knows what will exist when (first-years) graduate from here?,” said Edmondson. “All you have to worry about after college is your next step. That’s it. Not what you want to do with your life. One is riddled with anxiety and depression, the other one instills excitement.”