Coming into Penn, I was adamant about majoring in Philosophy, Politics & Economics. During conversations with current students and fellow admitted students at Quaker Days, I was quick to say “PPE” when anyone asked what I would be studying. In response, I got praise from peers and even connected with upperclassmen majors. But looking back, I wish that more people had asked why I wanted to study PPE rather than giving approving nods as if there was a wrong answer to that question.
When classes began, I fell in love with my first year seminar titled “Black Queer Traditions.” Fascinated by this class’s material, I started to feel a pull toward Africana Studies. But something was holding me back. “PPE” remained plastered on my LinkedIn bio, and I still answered with it during icebreakers — just with way less enthusiasm. I then asked myself the question: Why are you studying that?
My lack of interest in the major came down to two reasons. The first was that I come from an immigrant background where I’m the first to attend college in the United States. With that experience comes a unique pressure to pick from a small selection of majors that seem like the path toward building a secure future not just for myself, but for my family. PPE attracted me for this reason. I could get an interdisciplinary education while still having the promise of financial security.
The second reason was the culture I was becoming accustomed to on campus. In the College, PPE is one of the most popular majors, and sharing something with the majority gave me a sense of belonging and an assurance that I was on the right track. But after seriously questioning this choice, I came to the conclusion that I just wouldn’t be fulfilled studying PPE.
When I finally decided to explore Law and Society and Africana, it felt like the cloud of expectations looming over me had begun to dissipate, though it was not gone yet. From student comments listing Africana Studies amongst other humanities and social sciences as the “easiest” major, to conversations with peers that didn’t see the value of programs like English or philosophy, the judgement of the liberal arts within Penn’s culture is obvious, especially to those of us in the College that are not into STEM or business. But on the other side of the coin, there are some students who would be interested in taking more liberal arts classes, maybe even majoring in a traditionally liberal arts major.
Despite what seems like a popular opinion amongst the student body, I have not received any direct judgement from any student when I mention my plan of studying Law and Society and Africana. In fact, if anything, it’s praise. College junior and DP staffer Lindsay Muneton noted similar experiences when she tells people she’s studying sociology. She says other students often think her major is cool or interesting and then follow up with “I wish I could do that.” I too had this longing at the beginning of the year with the pressure of familial expectations, my financial security, and wanting to fit in weighing on my back – pressures that are no stranger to many Penn students.
On American college campuses, there’s been a steady upward trend of STEM and business majors and a decline in humanities and even some social science majors. One unarguable factor is the horrendous job market we are currently experiencing. Our generation’s unemployment rate is double the national rate and only 30% of college graduates in 2025 are getting entry-level jobs. For many Penn students, the fear of unemployment is paralyzing, especially with our $90k+ tuition.
Muneton mentioned that some of her peers have asked, “What are you going to do with that?” when she tells them what she’s studying. Most Penn students don’t realize that one could do so much with a degree in sociology or any other traditional social science or humanities subject. In fact, those who majored in humanities thrive in various industries, even business and tech due to skills gained like critical thinking and emotional intelligence. More importantly, studying humanities has been so fulfilling. In these classes, I have gained an immense amount of knowledge that I’m able to apply in my other classes but also to my everyday life. I’ve also acquired a greater sense of empathy thanks to learning diverse perspectives and an understanding of the various privileges I have within the structures of our society.
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Many joke about how students at elite universities who sought to “change the world” end up becoming the investment bankers and consultants that actually contribute to the problems in our society. All jokes aside, this is a concerning trend. At Penn, my humanities classes have stimulated my thinking in ways I’ve never experienced before, causing me to enjoy class discussions and apply material beyond class. I’ve also gotten so much closer with peers and faculty due to the interactive and intimate nature of these classes. On the contrary, those pursuing STEM and business are in big departments that lack community and take in material for the sole purpose of securing a six figure salary before graduation. While this can be understandable depending on one’s economic status and the financial pressure in this country, it is the very antithesis of a liberal arts education and makes antagonists out of the young changemakers who first entered Penn.
While I am fulfilled academically and emotionally at Penn, that cloud of insecurity continues to loom over me. I still see the evident disparity between the appearance of Huntsman Hall and Fisher-Bennett Hall, of course. But there are even disparities within the College between humanities and social science and STEM departments. Majors like Africana and sociology have dramatically small numbers of students to the point where undergraduate and graduate students are often in the same classes. Despite the holistic benefit of these subjects, Penn often overlooks these departments, further justifying a student culture that looks down on them and keeps many students longing to be a part of these subjects from afar.
You might be a student like first semester me who wasn’t feeling too comfortable following the status quo. So I want you to ask yourself: Why are you studying that? Even if Penn won’t promote the humanities, we can still work to dismantle the culture that deems liberal arts subjects as futile or pointless, both within our undergraduate careers and beyond. These departments have world-renowned professors, transformative curriculums, and vibrant student communities that are worth looking into, whether that means fitting one class in your schedule or picking up a second major.
GLORIA OLADEJO is a first-year student studying law and society and Africana studies from Coopersburg, PA. Her email is gloriao6@sas.upenn.edu.
