Is a degree in marketing becoming pointless, or can it be used to find success?

There is some truth in the fact that marketing - especially online marketing - is very dependent on experience and your ability to learn what you need to know when you need to know it. In other words, the programs will provide the basics but it will be up to you to get up to speed once you graduate. But I wouldn't equate it or any other degree to a high school diploma.

The two strengths you need to be good in marketing (IMHO) are to be a really good people person and a good writer. Understanding and communicating with people is the heart of what we do. Writing is the at the heart of the planning - we write up marketing plans, strategies, video storyboards, audio scripts, proposals, etc. Focus on these two things and choose a college/program that interests you. Honing these skills will open the door to many career options in marketing.

I've found that it's not so much the degree that matters as it is the skills and perspective you gain while pursuing that degree. I received a degree in Communications with a public relations emphasis. However marketing is a general term that covers elements of business, advertising, communications and PR. The more well rounded I became in each of these areas allowed me to become invaluable to clients and business partners. So, yes, get the degree while rapidly expanding your skills through real-world experience. Such experience is weighted more heavily in the real world than which degree you receive.

Marketing is still an important major, but if you have other interests, consider doing both. Learning the discipline gives you opportunities to fine tune your skills, understand how various parts of the industry should work, etc. But if you pair that up with a passion, it gives you a leg up on others who either just have the marketing major or just have that other major. It will also teach you different ways to think - which is an important skill these days!

Marketing is a very exciting field and certainly not pointless! As a marketer I am constantly challenged with new ways to communicate with my target market, and I really enjoy the variety of tasks/challenges I deal with every day. As a marketer, you are also setting the strategy for your firm's PR and advertising teams and work very closely with your sales teams and customers. There aren't a lot of fields that can offer you the same variety of work, and customer insights, as marketing.