College
Find a Conversation
| Sat, 10-29-2011 - 9:01am |
Will/are you encouraging your child(ren) into practical or academic pursuits in college?
Do you think your working status has made an impact on your decision?
I am 37 years old and in my first year in college and I am still feeling out my major. At a recent dinner party, I was introduced to a student that attends the same community college that I do. When I told her that I was considering transferring to the state university to pursue a degree in sociology, she nearly spit her drink out of her nose in laughter and told me that it would be completely worthless. She's getting an associate's degree in social work and already knows the wage and benefit package to work as an eligibility specialist at the Department of Human Services. She's going to make $18 an hour and have $7 copays on her comprehensive medical plan.
Aside from her bluntless, I keep having this same conversation with other students no matter their age; they are highly specific in their college plans and know how much they'll make when they finish, and it blows their mind that I really don't a plan. I understand that student debt is an issue, which is exactly why I am going to a community college to knock out the basics and a handful of core credits. I am scheduled for an academic advising appointment next week and I wonder if each degree comes with a sheet selling each student on return of investment for their time and student loan dollars? This attitude is so persistant that I'm considering making an application for the dental hygiene program instead (which I have an interest in), and only return to school once I am settled in a lucrative and flexible position to study what I want.
- Meal plan for the week of June 16:
- Working Moms Are to Blame...Really? 21
- Is the gender pay gap a myth where you work? 4
- Do you think your choices illustrate your priorities? 1
- How do you define success as a SAHM? 9
- Do you think that SAHDs are stigmatized? 3
- Family Friendly Professional Organizations 6
- Opt out or left out? 430
- Gender wage gap 6
- Women Not Taking Full Maternity Benefits 3
Memeber Support
| Q: | Where can I change my password? |
| A: | Log in, go to Edit My Preferences, and click the Account tab. Make and save your changes. |
Pages
I don't see it that way at all. I expect my kid to figure out her career path along the way. I do not expect her BA to set her up with a great job in a specific field. I expect it to be merely an admission card, hopefully, to some kind of job. From there she will have to work out what she wants to do and what kind of Master's that would require (or not).
my nephew is a college senior and his major is psychology, i don't think he knew as a freshman how limited that bachelor major was or that he would have to go onto grad school if he wants to do something with it. my sister and her husband weren't out
Â
It is not bad work if you can get it, especially not if you freelance ;)
For forensics and criminal justice, John Jay in NYC is also a really good, relatively low-cost option (John Jay is a CUNY school).
When my dd was in HS, she wanted to go to vet school and chose the science orientation for her HS diploma as a result. Her father was ready to cry and kept asking me what went wrong, because he wanted her to focus in the humanities. I told him to keep his trap shut and be patient. I see nothing gained by telling kids what they should be interested in or what they should study.
Shortly before graduation, dd changed her mind and is now happily pursuing a degree in Philosophy and History. In the end, though, it is realy up to her. If she had stuck with the vet school thing, we would have supported her the same way we are now.
As far as your own studies, I would strongly suggest that you pick either anthropology or political science over sociology. Not so much for marketability, but for rigor. If you could interest yourself in something in the humanities, that would be even better ;).
College is an investment.
Â
I think one of my biggest regrets in this thread is using art history as my example.
Cool beans.
Pages