I work myself into knots about this. When I taught at large public universities I was absolutely the teacher trying to tell kids "major in [my humanity!], go to grad school, convince your parents you're learning life skills!" And philosophically I believe it: that what we learn in a liberal arts education equips us to think, which then e…
I work myself into knots about this. When I taught at large public universities I was absolutely the teacher trying to tell kids "major in [my humanity!], go to grad school, convince your parents you're learning life skills!" And philosophically I believe it: that what we learn in a liberal arts education equips us to think, which then equips us to do so many types of work. What I've learned since leaving academia is just how difficult it is, particularly without robust internship experience, to convince employers with very specific job descriptions that you can, in fact, do that job. Plus: mountains of student loan debt, far more than even most of us took on to attend school (private or public). I hate the idea of ROI [return on investment] when it comes to a degree but our current system has forced that logic.
Absolutely--and I understand the ROI thinking, but I suppose I'm concerned that many of the ones who seem to be adopting it aren't, actually, taking the steps that will help them get those jobs with very specific skill sets. A mediocre GPA with a degree in Gen Business, poorly written application materials (shouldn't Business at least be teaching them how to write a resume? I have graduating seniors come to me without knowing what a resume is, or how to shape one towards a specific job or internship)...these don't seem like things that are likely to set them up for lucrative careers. It seems like many of them are being pushed towards this model by well-intentioned middle-class or lower middle class parents who think it's the practical choice, but it seems likely to replicate the same class divisions mentioned in the interview. Those students who *are* able to use this model to launch careers are those who already have family connections in a field or who use Greek life and other social factors to network their way into jobs.
(Editing to add: I definitely don't give any of them the 'go to grad school' advice! Hahahasob. I have an anti-pep-talk for those who come to ask me about it.)
I work myself into knots about this. When I taught at large public universities I was absolutely the teacher trying to tell kids "major in [my humanity!], go to grad school, convince your parents you're learning life skills!" And philosophically I believe it: that what we learn in a liberal arts education equips us to think, which then equips us to do so many types of work. What I've learned since leaving academia is just how difficult it is, particularly without robust internship experience, to convince employers with very specific job descriptions that you can, in fact, do that job. Plus: mountains of student loan debt, far more than even most of us took on to attend school (private or public). I hate the idea of ROI [return on investment] when it comes to a degree but our current system has forced that logic.
Absolutely--and I understand the ROI thinking, but I suppose I'm concerned that many of the ones who seem to be adopting it aren't, actually, taking the steps that will help them get those jobs with very specific skill sets. A mediocre GPA with a degree in Gen Business, poorly written application materials (shouldn't Business at least be teaching them how to write a resume? I have graduating seniors come to me without knowing what a resume is, or how to shape one towards a specific job or internship)...these don't seem like things that are likely to set them up for lucrative careers. It seems like many of them are being pushed towards this model by well-intentioned middle-class or lower middle class parents who think it's the practical choice, but it seems likely to replicate the same class divisions mentioned in the interview. Those students who *are* able to use this model to launch careers are those who already have family connections in a field or who use Greek life and other social factors to network their way into jobs.
(Editing to add: I definitely don't give any of them the 'go to grad school' advice! Hahahasob. I have an anti-pep-talk for those who come to ask me about it.)