<p>Son graduated in 2010, took a good job in his field, but not in the area of his field he would have liked, nor in the part of the country he would have chosen. Not sure that he really gets that he is fortunate. So many would really LOVE to have his particular job!</p>
<p>He has paid off his loans, is fully self-sufficient and funding his 401 K (!). A very expensive post grad degree is in his future.</p>
<p>S1 graduated on time in June (Yeah!) and, I have to say, is making the choices I wish I had been brave enough to make when I was his age. I was terrified about getting a job and literally took the first minimum wage job that I was offered (which did lead to some other good things eventually). </p>
<p>My guy has spent the summer hiking, reading, visiting with GF, and sleeping. He’s now painting the living room (Thank you, kiddo!). We both agree that “looking” needs to start “soon” – but its been fun to have him around after four stressful high school years followed by four years of college on the opposite coast. </p>
<p>I am deeply grateful for the changes in the health care law that keeps my guy covered under the family health plan for now. Expenses have been minimal. I know he’ll move on before long – just hope he gets the winter kindling done first. . .</p>
<p>S1 has a job he really likes, and is pursuing other business interests as well including filing for a patent on a fabulous new invention. He maintains his interest in everything and values his college more all the time. He even said the other day that when he has children the must attend his Alma Mater.</p>
<p>Our May 2010 grad is employed overseas with an engineering consultant firm. They do not pay as much as U.S. consulting firms, but enough that he is 100% self-supporting and building savings thanks to no debt, no car, and modest living accommodations with roommates. This was his only offer, stemming from an internship, and not a slam dunk to get the work visa. He knows exactly how fortunate he is to be employed in any capacity, much less a job he adores and living in his favorite city in the world, plus enough travel to need to add extra pages to his passport.</p>
<p>He did not particularly enjoy college, so it is really nice to see him happy and thriving again. Even though college wasn’t a good fit for him socially, he believes his well regarded public flagship provided him with an excellent education that he compliments now on a regular basis. No regrets.</p>
<p>Son in grad school, so finding a terrific job still in the future. He is enjoying his first T.A. experience. He has my old car, so on weekends has been getting out of the city (Rockport, the Cape, N.H., Vt.) He never asks for money, so I give on his b/d. I know its tight living on a stipend and having a g/f.</p>
<p>D ('07 grad) went through the discernment process to become an Episcopal priest, got her MDiv and was ordained as a Deacon this past June. She worked for a year between graduating college and starting Div school. She is currently a hospital chaplain and also has a Sunday church position. Goal is priesthood ordination within a year.</p>
<p>Son ('10 grad) bailed on plan for law school and, miraculously, got a great business job with an industry leading tech company in a fun city (despite being an English major). He’s doing really well, has a great apartment and an active outdoor life. He plans to get an MBA at some point.</p>
<p>D1 landed her “dream job.” After training, she is now going through rotation of various desks(business). She won’t know where she will be working until the the New Year, which is unsettling for her. </p>
<p>I am visiting her this weekend, just saw her apartment for the first time. It’s at a great location, D1 has her own bedroom, but can I just say it is tiny? D1 is paying for it herself. She assured me that she is fine with it and wanted me to stop judging. </p>
<p>D1 spends $15 per day on breakfast and lunch(her budget), and eats dinner at work every night. Her roommate has similar schedule as her. Their kitchen is the least used place in the apartment. </p>
<p>We will be shopping and eating this weekend.</p>
<p>Son graduated early from a NYC school in January 2010. We did pay for his apartment through May when he would have graduated. He got a great job in NYC in April. Has been totally self-supporting since May and has stayed in his college apartment in Manhattan. After 6 years, he is finally getting sick of city.</p>
<p>DS (May 2011 engineering grad) is self-supporting, bought new car and lives in nice apartment, contributes a small amount to a 401K, and is starting to pay off his small amount of student loans. I wish he found his job more interesting, as does he, but hopefully his responsibilities will grow and change and he will find more fulfillment there, or move to another firm.
DD (May 2008 grad) is my world traveler, and just got back from three years working for a nonprofit overseas. She found a wonderful, though not well-paid, job working for a nonprofit that fits her interests to a T, in D.C. She is self-supporting since she lives frugally and in shared housing. I pay for basic cell for both my kids, since we are on a family plan. DS pays for his data plan.<br>
Good thing that they are self-supporting since I just QUIT my job, and am planning to find a lower-paid lower-stress job soon. Wish me luck!</p>
<p>Forgot to answer the money part. Son is still on our cellphone plan and we aren’t kicking him off since he gets unlimited data grandfathered in. We help him occasionally with a few things, but not much. He doesn’t ask, but in the first year out of school I paid a few race entry fees for him. Daughter and son in law live in our same city, and we take them out to eat, so I figured I could do a few things for our son.</p>
<p>2008 graduate found a job before things fell apart in the fall of that year. We bought her a business wardrobe for her graduation present, but it doesn’t seem to be used much (she is a software design engineer). She pays for her own car, cell phone, insurance, 401K, etc. </p>
<p>She isn’t overwhelmed with her location and talks of finding a job in a more happening city. Hasn’t happened yet, but we’ll see. So she is self supporting and has been since graduation, but still not “settled.”</p>
<p>I had figured that the economy would have recovered by now and that my 2013 graduate would enter a different employment world, but having less confidence about that nowadays…</p>
<p>2006 graduate has stayed in her city after graduation. She worked for a few years, now in 2nd year of graduate school. She pays her own expenses & has since graduation.
Haven’t bought her a business wardrobe although I would have liked to- she needs one I think. I did just order her some socks :)</p>
<p>Don’t you have 4 kids, fauxmaven, three of whom are out of college? How are they doing?</p>
<p>My son graduated last May worried about his future, but no plans. He says he wants to do something “different”. We threw him a nice party so he could network with our high achieving friends. All summer, he just drifted around our backyard pool during the day and went out at night. He worked hard for four years, but shuts down when I bring up a job or graduate school. He went on a couple of dates with a friend’s daughter who goes to Berkeley and now tells me he’s moving there. I won’t be supporting him any longer, but he’s a bright kid, so hopefully he can find his way.</p>
<p>Ours graduated a year early last May to take an opportunity at a startup. He seems to be earning enough to live in a major city. He is interviewing for med school/PhD programs. He went on vacation in Belize a while ago. I think he’s having more fun than he should be.</p>
<p>Not a parent, but I guess I can speak for my mom. I sound a lot like MomofWildChild’s son. English major graduated in May 2010, no real plans for post-graduation. Spent the summer after graduating doing research with the U.S. Forest Service, then in August got an entry-level job in business with connections made through my summer job during college. I’ve been working in this position for just over a year now. The job has great benefits and pays well enough for me to contribute a little over $2,000 to my 401K per month while paying all of my own expenses (I do live pretty frugally and share a small apartment with housemates). I spend as much of my free time as possible in the outdoors and use my vacation time to go backpacking, camping, and traveling. </p>
<p>However, my current industry is not a field in whichI can envision myself working for the long term. It’s not an issue of money (I just received a promotion to a non-entry level position with a 20% salary increase), I just want to do something more intellectually stimulating and - at the risk of sounding like a naive, idealistic youth - something that makes more of a positive impact on the world. So earlier this year I decided to apply for the Peace Corps. The application and selection process is a lengthy one, but right now I’m tentatively scheduled to leave next September for an agribusiness assignment in Latin America.</p>
<p>Financially, I’m doing fine as an early-20’s college graduate in an economy that’s still limping. In the bigger picture though, I have no idea what I want to do with my life, and the uncertainty is frightening sometimes. I’m excited to serve in the Peace Corps though, and I figure there’s not going to be a better time than now when I’m relatively unburdened by responsibilities (not married, no kids, no mortgage, no student loans).</p>
<p>Congrats wooly!! Over 20 years ago my sister and bil spent several years in the Peace Corp in Africa. Life changing experience for them and has definitely shaped who they are now and what they do. Best time of your life to do this. They sometimes say that when their children are grown and out of house they may look into it again:)</p>
<p>I have a relative who graduated 15 months ago with a civil engineering degree from a top engineering university. He has had a couple engineering jobs that are temporary in nature. Full time permanent positions with benefits are almost impossible to find. He lives in a rooming house and is driving a car given to him by his parents. That situation is very typical. He’d be living at home if he could find temporary jobs near his parents, but he has to move away even to find temporary work.</p>
<p>charlieschm,Sorry to hear about your relative’s troubles. Is he/she willing to relocate further for other opportunities? 09’ engineering son is in DC,doing well,has paid off all loans and is self sufficient. He/we do feel lucky. I know some kids are still struggling and hope my '13 son will do okay when he graduates from college.</p>
<p>I think every 18 year old who declares in a world-wise tone that s/he is going to study a STEM field because English majors are unemployable should be directed to the posts just made by woolybugger and charlieschm.</p>