<p>My final choice is a pretty good LAC (Macalester). I haven't been able to find anything specific about their job placement. I know employment options are usually based on majors. I'm pretty sure I'll end up majoring in Media Studies, Art, or Anthropology and maybe minor in computer science. </p>
<p>I read somewhere that the average LAC grad makes around 30k out of college while the average uni grad makes a little over 40k...</p>
<p>So...is getting a decent paying job from an LAC harder or something and what can I do to avoid unemployment? I really do want a decent job out of college.</p>
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the average LAC grad makes around 30k out of college while the average uni grad makes a little over 40k...
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<p>The majority of LACs dont offer practical majors like engineering or business or nursing or pharmacy or education etc. etc. So, the data looks reasonable to me .</p>
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what can I do to avoid unemployment? I really do want a decent job out of college.
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<p>Perhaps majoring in more job-friendly major like computer science is something you should seriously consider?</p>
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I read somewhere that the average LAC grad makes around 30k out of college while the average uni grad makes a little over 40k...
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<p>"I read somewhere" is not exactly an authoritative source. One of the things you would learn in a liberal arts undergrad program, whether it is at an LAC or Harvard, would be to critically analyze the source and basis for such a claim to determine whether or not it is valid.</p>
<p>Liberal arts graduates, in general, seems to enroll in graduate programs more often and earlier. Therefore, one can reasonably assume that liberal arts colleges educate their students with an inclination toward further their education to the graduate level. Furthermore, liberal arts colleges offer more generalized majors, and are usually located in more rural areas which usually equates to fewer internships that may lead to a job. I think the lower number makes sense. I just didn't expect such a large difference.</p>
<p>uni students probably make more on average right away as there are more preprofessional programs (nursing, etc.), but i would imagine that 5 years down the road, its about equal</p>
<p>That's true, but I'm undecided an my LAC doesn't exactly have the engineering, business, design, etc., schools that I may or may not actually miss. Right now it doesn't matter, and I can always major in econ, and art or whatever but still. I guess I could create any major I'd need but, bleh.</p>
<p>Most of the people who are not finding jobs did not put any thought, effort, or planning into finding jobs. So, you are making a really great first step here by thinking ahead! Congratulations! If you are planning on a liberal arts major (or even a science major), plan ahead. You will need to plan on graduate school (law, library, social work, education, PhD, something), get your teaching certificate (do not discount this- kids think it is dumb, but when you need a real job, it is suddenly smart), or carefully cultivate job skills and connections starting now and continuing in college with internships, etc.</p>
<p>Very well respected. No problem with that, I was referring to the jobs (sorry). Did you want to stay in Minnesota for a job or look around the country? </p>
<p>There are alot of opportunities in the cities, you just have to look for them. Don't forget the other major cities in MN, like Duluth, St. Cloud, Mankato, Rochester, etc. Sometimes the major you are into can lead into scarce jobs. </p>
<p>Ha! Found something! Not sure how accurate the site is, just did a search.</p>
<p>Percent of graduates who enter job market in field related to major:<br>
45% within six months of graduation, 63% within one year of graduation</p>
<p>List of firms that most frequently hire graduates:
Morgan Stanley, Microsoft Corp., Hewlett Packard, Piper Jaffrey, Teach for America, Clearwater Action, Dahlen Berg & Co., JP Morgan, Credit Suisse First Boston, Americorp, Epic Systems</p>
<p>Mac's a great place. I wouldn't focus on what people earn right out of a bachelor's degree program. You can get a job with a bachelor's degree, but if you're thinking long-term about a career, you'll probably be looking at a masters and that's where you'll want to be more concerned about pre-professional issues. FWIW, entry-level positions in professional and technical fields may favor people with professional / technical bachelor's degrees out of universities, but liberal arts grads are represented in greater proportions in leadership positions throughout society.</p>
<p>What do abilities and talents account for? If I can speak a foreign language, type with more than just my two index fingers, network computers, use Excel, PowerPoint, Word, draw/paint well, and communicate effectively, will that make me a more attractive applicant than the business major? Even as an anthropology major?</p>
<p>I would caution against putting too much emphasis on starting salaries. The problem with hard data is that tends to become the focus of attention, and things that are more difficult to measure tend to get ignored even if they are important. Sometimes the hard data is all that matters, for example in a study of drug effectiveness and side effects. But when you're talking about career success and college, starting salaries are only one piece of the story.And keep in mind salary numbers are usually obtained by surveys sent by the career center, which introduces several errors in itself (whether people respond or not, and whether they're honest).</p>
<p>So how do you prepare to enter the workforce with a liberal-arts degree? People with these majors can get good jobs too, but it takes more than just a diploma. Good grades and involvement in leadership activities is important, but the KEY that is needed are internships. They set you apart from the 1000's of other kids with the same degree, give you experience in the field, and usually lead to offers from the companies where you had internships. Other companies are impressed by the internships and take a much closer look at you. Ask yourself -- if you were interviewing 2 similar candidates, would you be more interested in the one who said from everything he's read and heard he thought he'd like your line of work, or the one who could talk about the summer actually doing it and why he found it challenging?</p>
<p>Another issue when answering questions like the OP asked is that most HS students are just not yet informed about the wide range jobs that are out there. They can name only a dozen or two jobs, so they have no idea of how people enter career fields they don't even know exist. This narrowing of focus means kids talk about the same few jobs as if that's all there is -- lawyer, teacher, accountant, doctor, investment banker, etc.</p>
<p>I would suggest the OP read 2 books. The first is "Major in Success" and explains with many stories how college students can discover their interests and prepare for jobs pursuing those interests while in college. The second book is the bible of the job-hunter, "What Color is Your Parachute". This book also helps you discover what your interests are and how to determine where out in the working world you can do it.</p>