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<p>Wasn’t me, that was the mod, who consolidated several posts into one thread.</p>
<p>Except that sakky had started two identical threads in two separate forums referencing the article that was the subject of this existing thread.</p>
<p>I’ve noticed that a lot of people do that here. I thought it was strange at first but now I’m not sure if it’s against the rules.</p>
<p>There are a lot of reasons why the record number of high school graduates going off to college has not meant prosperity for so many of them. First, nearly half of the students who matriculate as freshmen will never earn a Bachelor’s degree. Graduating from high school is not very difficult, earning a four year college degree requires a much higher level of cognitive ability and motivation. Completing a year or two of college does not mean much to employers, either you are a college graduate and as a result deemed qualified for a certain career track or you are not a college graduate and therefore not qualified for the better positions.</p>
<p>A very large number of students who do get their degree get it in majors such as Psychology, Communications, English Literature and other fields that provide the knowledge and skills most employers are looking for. They often end up in jobs that they could have gotten without a college degree such as receptionists and retail clercks. Far more students enter college as pre-meds majoring in Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry than there are spots for at U.S. medical schools. Many of them will not finish college. The majority of the ones who do graduate will not get into medical school and swell the ranks of of Biology and Chemistry graduates competing for a limited number of low wage lab technician jobs.</p>
<p>I have two sons in college, one majoring in Geology and the other in Physics which I have strongly supported. I am hoping that they first are able to complete degrees in these majors which have many challenging courses and second that they will have educations in fields that there will be employers who will need their skills, particularly their quantitative training.</p>
<p>As tk notes: “Don’t go to college to learn a job that can be reduced to a routine.” But, when jobs are tough to get, the kids with some experience may have an edge- internships, good summer work, research positions at school, etc. Yes, even a psych, comms, and lit- those majors aren’t kep away from these opportunities. IMO, rarely can you just pick a major and hope for the best. You have to be active. Even in the sciences.</p>
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<p>Amen. </p>
<p>My debt free liberal arts educated (double major) S took Mandrian as his college language. Gainfully and happily employed right out of college in Taipei.</p>
<p>Debt free itself provides options and opportunities that might not otherwise exist. Educated flexibily seems to have real current value. Also, become multilingual. The USA is not the center of the universe.</p>
<p>I also agree with lookingforward that students need to maximize their options and develop the ability to hustle. Hustling is not just internships and research positions, it can be networking. People skills are hard to outsource.</p>