I’m still not sure I see the problem. Is it that this major shouldn’t be at a state flagship at all? Or that it shouldn’t be at a state flagship because wealthy students tend to major in it? Maybe there should be limits on what % of the major can come from incomes above a certain threshold. That would likely impact philosophy and art history too, though.
I see no problem with it whatsoever, other than CC snobbery.
The book is about a very small group of kids. Of the women studied, only one third took the party path, according to what CF wrote. Of those 16 women, the top 4 reportedly only got jobs through connections. The bottom 4 had trouble finding jobs. What about the other 8? What about the other hundreds of graduates that year? I think it is a mistake to draw any broad conclusions from a study of 47 women in one dorm, at one school, in one graduation class. Of course it is easier to get a job if mom and dad have connections.
I think kids get very mixed messages - do what you love and the job will happen, try it when you are young, it is your only chance, don’t let anyone kill your dreams. Or, only take a major that will lead to a good job. But how realistic is that? What major leads to a job in all cases? Nursing, at times, went through a shortage but not any more. Certain types of computer scientists can get jobs, but then their jobs may be moving overseas or taken by temporary workers from other countries. Even entry level accounting at the big firms is being done overseas in some cases. There is no real guarantee.
The real message should be to minimize borrowing by either parents or kids, even if it means starting at community college. Not as bad to be in retail sales with no loans to pay back.
If Indiana is offering majors in trades like Apparel Merchandising, why is there no Plumbing major? Where do we draw the line? If I remember correctly, Pizzagirl is in favor of having a major in Basketball (I apologize, PG, if I’m confusing you with another poster). What should NOT be a major?
PS: Pizzagirl, I hope your kids find jobs soon. I know how tough a job search is in this economy.
I think of retail/merchandising much like becoming a realtor or really any other professional career path. You can do it with or without a college degree, but the degree can propel you ahead and in some career cases the degree is required for advancement along with the certifications and continuing education. It can absolutely be a lucrative career path if someone is interested. I know a couple kids in NYC that are rising nicely through the ranks at the elite fashion houses…with college degrees from a variety of places including a directional, a Big 10, an LAC and predictably FIT and I know a kid or two who came home degree in hand, started at the bottom behind a cash register and are now moving into middle management ranks with chain stores at age 25, 26…
U’s can “draw the line” wherever they like.
So, Bay, you have no objection to Indiana offering majors in Basketball, Waiting Tables and HVAC?
Why is it my place to object to that? If IU has identified a need for those majors, why should I care?
Waiting tables would probably be covered in the restaurant and food service management majors. They exist.
How is merchandising different from marketing or PR both of which are majors in most schools? I don’t think the goal is to prepare kids to main the dressing room at Sears, but to be able to understand the complications of design, fabric ordering, factories etc. Friend’s daughter has a good job with that major, and is not working in a store.
Btw, isn’t Cornell famous for its hotel management degree? Oh horrors, an Ivy stooping to the “trades!”
On the topic of USC, it offers undergraduate majors in dental hygiene, occupational therapy and french horn performance.
CF, I think you are confusing me with someone else - I don’t believe I’ve ever said there should be a major in Basketball (etc). And thanks for the good wishes - let’s extend them to all college seniors!!
My deepest apologies for confusing you with someone else, PG. Also, you’re a woman after my own heart for downloading that book and reading the entire thing late into the night.
I found the “Paying for the Party” party here. Very thoughtful discussion here. Will check both threads.
I see this all as jealousy, not snobbery. People being envious of others’ opportunities and family money.
A level playing field does not mean level results, so it does not matter how level you make whatever field; the results will differ as much as each human differs.
I think Apparel Merchandising is a joke major because I’m jealous? Jealous of what?
The presence or absence of an Apparel Mdsing major is a red herring, as it’s not why the lower socioeconomic students struggled. This is why I thought the book was agenda driven. It is possible to conclude that there should be specific support systems at IU for these students without getting into pitting the rich kids against them.
Of course the rich kids being loud at 3 am is unacceptable. But it’s the 3 am-ness that is unacceptable. The book conflates it with their richness, their majors, their Greekness, and their eventual job connections in big cities. If the school’s RAs aren’t enforcing quiet hours, that’s something the school can and should remedy.
Glad to see that this thread evolved into a bigger discussion. It’s an important discussion. 
Thank you for the conversation.