• The goal of an undergraduate education is to learn how to think. Success in that process requires the maximum breadth of intellectual experience. The humanities are a large part of that breadth.
• A graduate education provides intellectual training in a particular field.

A central issue in today's society is our diminishing ability to communicate with each other.  Text messaging starts at an early age. In some instances, technology teaches kids to speak in abbreviations.  Responses become standard versions from some extended multiple choice list. 

Art and literature help us learn to think and express ourselves, an important aspect in interpersonal relations and conflict resolution. If we have more emphasis on an environment rich in language and free association art (as opposed to coloring inside the lines) beginning in the preschool years, by the time these young students reach college they will still have a hunger for learning as opposed to career training and society will be better served.

Living a full life encompasses more than the office and the lunchroom--even a very nice office and chef catered meals.  I think this questioner has set up a false dichotomy. The writer presumes college life to be either about learning a trade (the law, science, etc) or wasting one's time on "the arts."  I have spent a full life working in technology, in business and to a small degree, in the arts.  But throughout my life the most interesting people, the most accomplished, the most humane, share an intellectual curiosity that spans the arts, the sciences and typically enjoys the latest advances in chip design, and can hold a decent conversation about The Grand Inquisitor.

The arts enables one to quesion our cultural assumptions and on reflection, enjoy different cultures and value systems.  I also believe the study of the arts does wonders for creativity and innovative thinking--two areas that business values highly.  Living a balanced life depends to a great extent on getting a balanced education, whether formally or informally.

I hope you decide that the arts can work for you. 

Interesting it is called the Humanities

To be Human is more than mathematics, people need to Think more and the only way to do this is to get/read/hear diverse opinions from diverse view points as provided in the 'lofty' works, if we believe that our viewpoint is the only way things should be 'seen', we can't make an informed descision and we wonder why others are upset.