Some degrees are more in demand than others, but even a degree in something you think is useless (like philosophy) is an indicator to employers that you are the kind of person to get a college education and are in so much debt you’ll do anything for a job.

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The intent behind a American bachelor’s degree wasn’t just to provide a knowledge base in a given subject, but to also help train the student to be a leader. This is part of the reason why there are so many clubs and other organizations in college; you are supposed to be practicing to lead. It is also the reason why you take classes in a broader range of subjects, as there are additional skills you need as a leader that may not get taught in technical classes.

If the degree doesn’t impart useful knowledge, you are still supposed to be taught these skills in college. A lot of colleges today have gotten worse on teaching this part to students as funding and rankings don’t really focus on teaching students how to be leaders, but this was the intent of college.

I’m pretty sure there is a difference. I remember getting some money from the government in The Netherlands when you started a study, training, course, etc. In just a few months there were several companies offering training and courses for jobs that never had any certifications or requirements. It was abused a lot and as far as I know they dont’t offer it anymore (since last year).

It’s true that some studies are more relevant to a job than others, but it’s entirely context dependent. More important than the degree is the education. Have you learned something you can make relevant to the job?

There are people who earn a degree simply because they want the line on the resume. And there are also hiring managers who have preconceived notions about which subjects are worth studying or not. Your friend might be referring to some liberal arts degrees that seem to indicate the person is a dilettante, or maybe they mean the standard issue business management/software engineering/communications degrees that people get to serve their ambitions rather than their interests.

You should study something that fascinates you. The jobs are out there, and you don’t need a degree to be successful. Think of advanced education as an opporunity to dive into a subject and maybe even contribute something to the field. If you want to study business, really study it. If you want to study Sanskrit poetry, give it your all and don’t apologize to anyone for doing what you love. And if an interviewer ever calls you degree a “meme degree,” thank them for their time and end the interview. You don’t want to work for a dipshit.