What is the best first degree to obtain? Many people have told me that a General Studies is the way to go.

1. If there is a topic you love and want a career in, get a degree that supports that pursuit.
2. If #1 doesn't exist, and if you have the aptitude for it, go for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). It will open the most doors for you.

Unless you are laser focused, a general studies degree at the Associate level is safe - it gets you the paper, lets you know if college is for you, and it gives you time to find that laser focus. My two cents - Good Luck

I agree with SGT Efaw (Mick) G. in that you have a lot of naysayers on here who apparently don't have much insight on what the General Studies degree actually is, nor how it can be useful. It's definitely not just a means to easily compile credits and then call it a "degree". A General Studies degree is a useful tool that many universities offer, in a very structured way, to help students develop a curriculum that meets their needs. For instance, if you want a broad undergraduate degree that exposes you to a wider array of disciplines, and you then want to acquire more focus at the graduate level, the General Studies degree allows you to acquire that breadth (which serves as a foundation for a more focused education at the graduate level). That type of curriculum plan would require a certain number of upper-level classes across multiple colleges/schools within the university. Try taking upper-level math classes without having substantial lower-level math classes. That's definitely not easy. Try taking upper-level computer science classes without having substantial lower-level computer science classes. That's not easy either. Another perspective is if you want to combine two areas in order to create a unique degree program that isn't offered at a particular university. For instance, if you want to open your own business (say, a chain of fitness centers), you could use a General Studies program to develop your own structured curriculum in both Business and Exercise Science (rather than having to pick one or the other, or having to do both). Those are just two examples of how it can be useful.

Keep in mind that the degree is not good for everyone (or even most). If you just want to use it to get a job (with only that undergrad degree), you will face the challenge of trying to articulate your degree to employers. Many will be like some of the other posters on here, and others may draw assumptions and not even reach out to you. If you're using it to meet your own unique needs, or if you're planning on specializing at a higher level (which subsequently makes the GS degree moot), then you won't have to make that argument.

When students are thinking about an academic discipline to pursue, "chasing a job" should take a back seat to "chasing your interests". If something doesn't interest you, a lifelong pursuit of jobs in that career field will not be a fun life.