I ’m guessing that you’ve grown out of the I-want-to-be-a-fireman/policeman/ballerina stage. 

At some point, most people realize that there are more sensible career options than flashing lights and fluffy pink tutus, so they go to college to earn degrees in very grown-up jobs like law and therapy. But for some folks, those run-of-the-mill college degrees just don’t cut it. These people seek out the bizarre and out-of-the-box things in life, and they spend years of their life studying things that are totally unusual. Here are some of the weirdest college degrees out there.

Going Once, Going Twice

“I’m at $200 and I want $250, $250, bid on $250, I’m at $200 would you go $250, $250.” Sounds like your shul gabbai trying to sell aliyahs? Well, almost. This is an example of a classic auctioneer’s chant. Now go back and say it out loud as fast as you can. Nice try! An auctioneer can probably say it four times faster than you.

An auction is a sale that is open to the public, where stuff is sold to the highest bidder. An auctioneer is the person who leads the auction and accepts the bids. Auctioneers sell everything from real estate, cars, and antiques to livestock and farm equipment. They are actually considered to be salespeople, just like the guy in the electronics store who sells you a camera. Most states in the US require auctioneers to pass an exam before they become a licensed auctioneer. Although a college degree is usually not required, having a degree or diploma in auctioneering can go a long way in getting an auctioneer a job.

In the United States there are dozens of auction schools and colleges that offer courses in auctioneering. The oldest and largest auction school in the country is the Missouri Auction School, founded in 1905. It is known as the “Harvard of auctioneering.”

So what do wannabe auctioneers learn at auction school? A large part of the curriculum is devoted to learning the chant. At the Missouri Auction School, each day begins with warm-ups, with the entire class chanting in unison. They even do hand motions as they go along. If you were to pass by a classroom, you’d think they were practicing for a song dance! The beginning of the course sees the students chanting slowly and clearly, but by the end, they’re going a mile a minute. They learn to keep their chants interesting and unique by using filler words like “bid to buy them,” “do you want it here,” and “somebody give me,” except that they say it so fast, all we hear is “buy ’em,” “do you wan’er,” and “s’body give m’.”

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