What is a liberal arts education, and why is it common in the U.S.?

A liberal arts education is like an academic sampler platter. Instead of focusing on just one subject from day one, students explore a wide range of fields, like literature, science, math, history, and philosophy, before zeroing in on a major. The idea is to build well-rounded thinkers who can write clearly, solve problems, and adapt to different careers. It’s super common in the U.S. because American colleges value critical thinking and flexibility just as much as technical skills. You might be majoring in biology, but still take a class in art history or creative writing. It’s about learning how to think, not just what to think. Confusing at first? Maybe. But surprisingly useful when real life starts asking for more than one skill at a time.