Highbrow Magazine - college degree https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/college-degree en The 4-Year College Myth: Why Students Need More Time to Graduate https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/5783-year-college-myth-why-students-need-more-time-graduate <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Sun, 05/01/2016 - 13:37</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2mediumcollegegraduates%20%28Wiki%29_2.jpg?itok=Jhdx9IZG"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2mediumcollegegraduates%20%28Wiki%29_2.jpg?itok=Jhdx9IZG" width="480" height="360" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><strong>From the Richmond Pulse and republished by our content partner <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/2015/01/the-college-myth-why-most-students-need-more-than-four-years.php">New America Media</a></strong>:</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Commentary</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>The teacher smiled and held a hat as a line of about a dozen students looked at each other nervously. Inside the hat were small pieces of paper with each student’s name. Luck would determine who would be part of the class, and who would have to continue the search.</p> <p> </p> <p>Those of us already enrolled in the class waited quietly, watching the smiles and frowns as lucky students moved closer to graduation, and others possibly further. In my four and a half years at San Francisco State University, I saw this scenario play out year after year. Some professors tried to help us by taking into consideration the number of credits students needed, or by adding more students to the class than the limit stipulated — but often times getting into a class just felt like a matter of luck.</p> <p> </p> <p>This phenomenon isn’t unique to SFSU, in many universities across California it’s difficult for students to graduate on time because of the space constraints in required classes, tuition costs, credits lost when transferring schools and generally not enough courses offered. And, a new study shows that the commonly held goal of graduating within four-years is unattainable for a growing number of students.</p> <p> </p> <p>Four-Year Myth, a report from the national nonprofit, Complete College America, declares that a 4-year degree has become a myth in American higher education. The study finds that the majority of full-time American college students do not graduate on time, costing them thousands of dollars in extra college-related expenses.</p> <p> </p> <p>Policy experts who analyzed the statistics believe a more realistic benchmark for graduation is six years for a bachelor’s degree and three years for a “two-year” certificate.</p> <p> </p> <p>While in college I heard numerous friends and students debate whether higher education is worth the debt. It’s difficult to maintain an optimistic outlook with increasing tuition costs, long commutes and a bleak job market for graduates.</p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/mediumcollegeeducation.jpg" style="height:335px; width:600px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>Fellow students frequently bowed to the pressure of not wanting to fall too deep into debt and would work part-time or full-time while in school, which usually meant extending their time in school. Not a great tradeoff.</p> <p> </p> <p>Ideally, students would be able to make classes fit into the demands of the rest of their lives. As is, it works the other way around. Students are given a day and time to register for classes depending on a number of variables: what year of school they’re in, whether they’re athletes or in a special program because of disabilities or income level. Often, popular classes—and even those needed for graduation—fill up fast. Imagine being given a day and time to register only to discover that the classes you need are already full, with a full wait list too. This is the frustrating reality for many students.</p> <p> </p> <p>We are told that education is the way to success and better lives, but for many it becomes a stressful cycle and may not guarantee anything more than years of debt and an unfinished dream.</p> <p> </p> <p>As a solution, Complete College America suggests a more structured higher education delivery method, called Guided Pathways to Success (GPS), which would provide students with a direct route to graduation. Utilizing GPS, majors are organized into a semester-by-semester set of courses that lead to on time graduation.</p> <p> </p> <p>My first two and half years at SFSU, I played for the women’s soccer team, which helped me obtain priority registration, and due to my low income background I was part of the EOP (Educational Opportunity Program), which also offered priority registration. Both of these programs also provided tutoring, counseling, money for books and guidance. To stay in these programs I had to keep a 2.0 GPA and complete 12 units each semester, which kept me on track for graduation.</p> <p> </p> <p>Ultimately, these structured programs helped me complete classes, save money, and provided moral support that made me feel more confident in my college experience. If in practice, GPS functions the way the programs I was part of did, it may very well prove to be the answer to the increasing time and costs of college.</p> <p>                                                                                                     </p> <p> </p> <p><strong>From the Richmond Pulse and republished by our content partner <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/2015/01/the-college-myth-why-most-students-need-more-than-four-years.php">New America Media</a></strong></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/college-education" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">college education</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/college-degree" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">college degree</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/education" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">education</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/students-1" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">students</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/college-students" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">college students</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/student-debt" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">student debt</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Joanna Pulido</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Wikipedia Commons; Google Images</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Sun, 01 May 2016 17:37:38 +0000 tara 6877 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/5783-year-college-myth-why-students-need-more-time-graduate#comments New Graduates: Welcome to a World of Debt https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/4088-new-graduates-welcome-world-debt <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Tue, 06/24/2014 - 07:48</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2mediumcollegegraduates%20%28Wiki%29_0.jpg?itok=RKSmAILF"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/2mediumcollegegraduates%20%28Wiki%29_0.jpg?itok=RKSmAILF" width="480" height="360" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p> </p> <p><strong>From New America Media/VoiceWaves:</strong></p> <p> </p> <p>LONG BEACH -- When film student Chris Reyes talks about the $430 he pays each month toward his student loan, he uses the movie <em>Jaws</em> as a metaphor.</p> <p> </p> <p>“It’s like a shark that takes a chunk out of me every month,” said Reyes, who graduated from California State University, Long Beach last year owing over $45,000 in student debt. “I haven’t eaten out at a restaurant in a really long time.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Reyes has managed to scrape by with a part-time job at bookstore, while he looks for a second job to help cover his bills, including his student loan payments. “I knew I would have to get a second part-time job once I started at Barnes &amp; Noble,” said Reyes, who began working at the chain store last summer.</p> <p> </p> <p>Reyes is not alone. Outstanding student debt across the United States has reached $1.2 trillion according to <em>Forbes</em>, and is increasing at a faster rate than mortgages and auto loans. Seventy-one percent of 2013 college graduates had student loan debt, with an average of $29,400 per borrower, and more than half of Californians have student debt with an average of $20,000, according to data compiled by the Institute for College Access and Success.</p> <p> </p> <p>“My parents kept telling me that if I get a college degree, I’ll get a job because that’s what happened in their generation, but now that’s not the case,” said Tatiana Bush, a recent graduate of UC Irvine. “There are so many more hurdles that we have to jump through than in past generations. We have more things we have to add to our resume in order to even be seen.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Because of her student loans, Bush has decided to join a pro-women’s basketball team in Georgia rather than pursue a graduate degree.</p> <p> </p> <p>“If I got to grad school, I’m going to have to take out another loan, and I don’t want to even get into that because I haven’t even paid off my current student loans,” said Bush. “I could make six figures playing basketball overseas, and that sounds more promising to me than working at a retail store for a little over minimum wage.”</p> <p> </p> <p>A market survey conducted by the real estate website Redfin found that a significant number of prospective first-time homebuyers – 16 percent – said student loans were preventing them from buying a house, while 33 percent said student debt delayed them from purchasing a home for one or two years.</p> <p> </p> <p>“I haven’t been in a situation where I would be looking for a house, but I’m fearful for that day to come,” said Nathan Bronson, an alumni of San Francisco State University who owes $30,000 in student loans.</p> <p> </p> <p>Bronson believes that the student debt crisis has made people of his generation more skeptical about going to college.</p> <p> </p> <p>“From my standpoint, I don’t really see the people who got college degrees having much more of an advantage than people that just have a high school diploma,” said Bronson.</p> <p> </p> <p>Yet according to Georgetown University, more than six out of 10 jobs will require a college degree by 2018.</p> <p> </p> <p><br /> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/3collegegraduates.jpg" style="height:338px; width:605px" /></p> <p> </p> <p>“Sometimes I question whether or not I should have taken out student loans in order to get my degree,” said Nancy Alocer, who studied anthropology at UC Davis and now pays $500 a month towards her student loans. Without her student debt, Alocer says she would be using that money to build a business with her siblings.</p> <p> </p> <p>Maritza Reyna, who specializes in education loans at Consumer Credit Counseling Services of Orange County, believes that some students might be causing themselves harm by taking out higher loans than they need.</p> <p> </p> <p>“A lot of students actually take out more money for unnecessary purchases, like a new bed for their dorm,” said Reyes. “So they take out more for little luxuries versus using the money just for their tuition and their books.”</p> <p> </p> <p>Reyna also advises recent college graduates to budget their expenses and to have an estimated figure of how much they owe every month.</p> <p> </p> <p>“Even if you defer payments on your loan, the interest will keep occurring, so the more you defer the bigger your loan grows,” said Reyna.</p> <p> </p> <p>However, some college graduates, like Bronson, have put off paying down their student loans, simply because they can’t afford it.</p> <p> </p> <p>“The interest is probably incurring as we speak,” said Bronson, who recently got a job doing video work for the L.A. Kings. “Right now it’s just affecting me mentally, but I believe that someday it will affect me physically as well.”</p> <p> </p> <p><strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p><em>Ben Novotny is a student reporter at VoiceWaves, a youth-led community news outlet dedicated to deepening the coverage of community health-related issues in Long Beach, California. VoiceWaves is a project of New America Media, supported by a grant from The California Endowment.</em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/student-loans" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">student loans</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/student-debt" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">student debt</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/college" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">college</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/college-graduates" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">college graduates</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/college-degree" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">college degree</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/paying-loans" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">paying off loans</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/going-college" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">going to college</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/work" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">work</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/rising-debt" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">rising debt</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Ben Novotny</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Wikipedia Commons</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Tue, 24 Jun 2014 11:48:23 +0000 tara 4887 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/4088-new-graduates-welcome-world-debt#comments The Crisis of ‘the Humanities’ https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1268-crisis-humanities <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Wed, 07/04/2012 - 19:24</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumrodinthinker.jpg?itok=NK9r0xSB"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumrodinthinker.jpg?itok=NK9r0xSB" width="480" height="361" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>  </p> <p> In the current economic climate, and with the boom of the technology industry, college students may be drawn to fields like computer science, business, and avenues of study that lead into specific career paths. On the other hand, many students who graduate with degrees in the liberal arts and humanities struggle financially after graduation, even to the point of <a href="http://chronicle.com/article/From-Graduate-School-to/131795/"> requiring federal assistance</a>. This struggle is part of an ongoing conversation of the “crisis” in the humanities and a concern for those who are trying to succeed with degrees in English, Art, History, and Philosophy, to name a few. The practicality and importance of the humanities  have been debated for a while, with these majors often being ridiculed as “worthless” because they may not directly translate into a successful career. </p> <p>  </p> <p> However, studies show that students are still obtaining these degrees, despite the lack of cultural or financial support. This is perhaps no more striking than at the highest piers of graduate education. Many people with Ph.D.s in the humanities are now graduating without any job prospects; budget cuts are crippling departments in terms of funding, teacher pay and research. Student debt for graduates in the humanities can be crippling, and changes are being made to departments in order to <a href="http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/05/16/rethinking-humanities-phd">shorten the length of the Ph.D</a>. in the humanities to as few as four years in some fields, as well as to offer more career counseling and support for a variety of career paths after graduation. </p> <p>  </p> <p> The Humanities departments of the university system, such as History, Philosophy, Art and English, generally <a href="http://www.nhalliance.org/news/humanities-enjoy-strong-student-demand-but-declini.shtml">receive significantly less funding</a>, have fewer opportunities to hire new professors, travel for research, or pay the professors who already earned tenure than departments such as science and engineering, even though they may have the same number (if not more) of students. With prospects looking dismal for many graduates, little funding to help defend departments, and a disheartening conversation hanging  over any prospective graduate or undergraduate student in the humanities, is there any reason to earn a degree in the  field in the 21<sup>st</sup> century?</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Critiques of the Humanities</strong></p> <p> Modern universities are becoming more frequently corporatized, although education cannot be outsourced in the same way that jobs can. The worth of the degree is now evaluated in a system that recognizes job placement and earnings over any other measure of success. With the placement for <a href="http://chronicle.com/article/We-Need-to-Acknowledge-the/64885/">tenure track teaching jobs are continuing to decline</a> at an alarming rate in the humanities, it might not seem practical to devote years to a Ph.D. program when the ideal academic jobs might not exist at the end of the endeavor.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Many other degrees are purposed for specific careers. For example, if someone gets an MBA in accounting, they will do so in order to prepare themselves for a career in accounting. Many people choose to teach with their humanities backgrounds, but many others branch off into unrelated fields. Those who critique the humanities often argue that because the degrees in the humanities are not trade practice for a career, they are currently useless.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Many others critique the humanities because they argue that there is too much subjectivity for measuring success.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Although there are also many advocates around the globe, it is also difficult to defend the humanities against budget cuts. This may be due to there being fewer measurable outcomes in the fields of the humanities. Modern society often seems to value money over academic or cultural pursuits, so success in the humanities might not be recognized as much of a success from other departments that have the ability to illustrate monetary gains for the university. The humanities may also have less funding from former graduates of Philosophy, English and Art departments because graduates from these sectors might not be making the high salaries that graduates from other fields, such as Finance, are earning. Therefore the money does not get pumped back into the system through large donations.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Despite these challenges, departments such as English, History and Philosophy often carry the brunt of the core requirements for the university, such as introductory writing classes, history classes and language classes. In addition, there are many who argue tirelessly for the value of the humanities, and creative initiatives are beginning to take shape in defense of these studies.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <img alt="" src="/sites/default/files/mediumliberalarts.jpg" style="width: 600px; height: 485px; " /></p> <p>  </p> <p> Dr. Gail Houston, chair of the <a href="http://english.unm.edu/">Department of English Language and Literature</a> at the University of New Mexico, argues that the humanities are of both cultural and practical value in their “real world” applications. She points out that “hard sciences and social sciences depend upon metaphor (the stuff of fiction and poetry, Shakespeare and Woolf) to describe abstract algorithms and theories. Lawyers must be very meticulous in the way they use grammar and punctuation: Indeed, a recent court ruling was based entirely on the meaning of a sentence in a legal brief that was missing a comma.”</p> <p>  </p> <p> A number of digital humanities initiatives have arisen in defense of the humanities, and to create more of an online and technological presence or interaction for discussions about the humanities. The site <a href="http://humanistica.ualberta.ca/">4Humanities</a>, founded by Alan Liu in the U.S., Geoffrey Rockwell in Canada, and Melissa Terras in the U.K. includes a dispersed collective that acts as an advisory board. They have started a series of advocacy campaigns, including their "<a href="http://humanistica.ualberta.ca/2011/11/humanities-plain-simple/">Humanities, Plain &amp; Simple</a>" initiative, which puts the value of the humanities into simple prose. The 4Humanities collective has also organized an Outreach Humanities Project that produces interviews and statements from representative or prominent non-humanities or non-academic people willing to speak out on behalf of the humanities.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Among many other outreach projects in the works, this collective is also involved in a Humanities Infographics venture that was inspired by the project from the College of London Centre for the Digital Humanities’ “<a href="http://www.ucl.ac.uk/dh-blog/2012/01/20/infographic-quantifying-digital-humanities/">Quantifying Digital Humanities Infographics</a>” project. The founders point out that the 4Humanities infographics program will clearly illustrate the disparity of the “ecosystem” of the humanities between former times and recent budget cuts. So much for not being able to quantify or measure outcomes in the humanities.</p> <p>  </p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>The real value of the Humanities in the 21<sup>st</sup> Century</strong></p> <p> In the world of business, students with degrees in the humanities may have an upper hand because they may be better equipped to draft reports, write company emails and handbooks, design visually appealing company documents and understand convoluted underwriting. This unexpected advantage of the liberal arts degree is touted by advocates for the humanities and by business representatives alike. For example, Susan de la Vergne’s sites <a href="http://www.liberalartsadvantage.com/">Liberal Arts Advantage</a> and <a href="http://forenglishmajors.wordpress.com/">For English Majors</a> both advocate the important edge students gain in business from these degrees, and give specific examples of how those with degrees in the liberal arts and humanities are vital for increasing an edge in business. </p> <p>  </p> <p> Getting a degree in the humanities not only gives students the ability to focus on what they love and are interested in during their schooling, but it also allows them to do anything they are motivated to do beyond those fields. For example, English and Art majors can easily go into marketing or advertising and put their knowledge of visual and written language and cultural history to succeed in these career paths. Backgrounds in art have also been <a href="http://www.bloomsburyacademic.com/view/PublicValueHumanities_9781849662451/chapter-ba-9781849662451-chapter-0012.xml">shown to increase scientific innovation</a> and creativity and assist in new important research.</p> <p>  </p> <p> If someone with a degree in the humanities is laid off in the current economy, they can easily find other work that requires critical thinking, reading, writing, oral communication skills, and other skill sets that degrees in the liberal arts and humanities emphasize. These degrees give open-minded graduates the ability to navigate difficult texts in order to find another job quickly, which may be in a field they have no experience with. The heavily criticized lack of career path specificity allows students with degrees in subjects such as History, English and Philosophy to look into any career avenue they choose and navigate job changes with ease. </p> <p>  </p> <p> In other words, this is exactly what then makes these degrees valuable in the 21<sup>st</sup> century and in an economy that requires creativity, innovation, critical thinking and a broad skill set for survival.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p> <em>Emma Mincks is a contributing writer at</em> Highbrow Magazine.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <em><strong>Photos: Musee Rodin, Paris; Apple Technologies. </strong></em></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/humanities" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">the humanities</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/liberal-arts-degree" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">liberal arts degree</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/philosophy" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">philosophy</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/arts" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">the arts</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/english" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">English</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/university" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">university</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/college" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">college</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/higher-education" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">higher education</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/college-degree" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">college degree</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Emma Mincks</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Musee Rodin, Paris</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Wed, 04 Jul 2012 23:24:36 +0000 tara 1206 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1268-crisis-humanities#comments Welcome to the World of the Educated and Underemployed https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1183-welcome-world-educated-and-underemployed <div class="field field-name-field-cat field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/news-features" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">News &amp; Features</a></div></div></div><span class="submitted-by">Submitted by tara on Wed, 05/23/2012 - 19:59</span><div class="field field-name-field-image field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="og:image rdfs:seeAlso" resource="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumcollegeeducation.jpg?itok=2NqOooWK"><img typeof="foaf:Image" src="https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/mediumcollegeeducation.jpg?itok=2NqOooWK" width="480" height="268" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>  </p> <p> From New <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/news/">America Media</a>:</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong><em>Commentary</em></strong></p> <p>  </p> <p> What’s a college degree worth these days?</p> <p>  </p> <p> That seems to be the topic on everyone’s mind as millions of American students head toward graduation this month. And by everyone, I don’t mean my classmates, the ones who have scrimped, saved, borrowed and begged to pay for their degrees. I mean the professors, parents, and education reporters who just can’t stop talking about how bleak the job market is for new graduates.</p> <p>  </p> <p> According to a recent Associated Press analysis of government data, 53.6 of bachelor’s degree-holders under the age of 25 are unemployed or underemployed. News flash: The job market is tough for everyone. It has been since before we entered college.</p> <p>  </p> <p> According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate in 2000 was at a 30-year low at 4 percent. We are now hovering around 8 percent, and that’s pretty positive. Still, in 2000, 41 percent of bachelor’s degree-holders under the age of 25 were unemployed or underemployed.</p> <p>  </p> <p> It’s not just college students being hit hard by the economy, or even being hit much harder, but it seems we are just a focus group that has been spotlighted. Maybe because we know this, and because we know that it’s going to be difficult, none of my classmates are asking each other where they’re going to be working after graduation, but rather we are asking each other what we’re going to be doing.</p> <p>  </p> <p> For some, it’s time to decompress, travel, and start exploring the world. After navigating the labyrinth of paperwork and red tape of completing an ever-more-challenging requirement list, it’s time to take some time.</p> <p>  </p> <p> For others, yes, it’s time to work. And this may be at our retail, waitressing, or freelance jobs. But if it pays the bills, then it’s OK for the time being.</p> <p>  </p> <p> No college degree can ever guarantee a job. And even if it does, it can never guarantee a job you’ll love. In a good job market or a bad job market, an education has more worth than the monetary value that a Gallup poll places on it, and the more I think about it, the more I begin to resent this monetization of the college experience.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Thirteen years after graduating high school, I’m about to finally obtain my bachelor’s degree. Perhaps because I took time off, went out there in the “real world,” and found positions that were well-paying and didn’t require a college degree, it doesn’t feel like I’ve wasted my time or money to get this degree. Those jobs might have paid the bills, but they didn’t make me happy.</p> <p>  </p> <p> As cliché as it may sound, the degree is about learning, about gaining knowledge and skills that will serve me well in any job that I do end up obtaining. Critical thinking, multitasking, and the expansion of my worldview cannot be measured in a starting salary.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Yes, I might have to wait tables a little longer than I’d like, but if there’s anything that the last decade has taught me, it is that my degree holds more value than the dollar amount someone is willing to pay me just to see it on a resume.</p> <p>  </p> <p> It has also taught me that for those willing, able, and determined, there is a place in the workforce. It may not be in their field of study, but it may be something that they love even more.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Those graduates who will get jobs are either in one of the few fields that have lots of openings, or the ones who are willing to try, try, and try again no matter how many rejections – or worse yet, unreturned phone calls – they must face.</p> <p>  </p> <p> They will take unpaid or low-paid internships and hope to work their way up. They will sling burgers or fold cardigans until whatever debt they’ve accumulated is paid off, hopefully taking on projects that interest them on the side until they can secure a full-time position.</p> <p>  </p> <p> Despite all the reports of doom and gloom, don’t worry about us. We’re going to be just fine.</p> <p>  </p> <p> <strong>Author Bio:</strong></p> <p> <em>Kelly Goff recently graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism.</em></p> <p>  </p> <p> <a href="http://newamericamedia.org/2012/05/whats-a-college-degree-worth-these-days.php">New America Media</a></p> </div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Tags:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/college-degree" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">college degree</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/unemployed-students" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">unemployed students</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/unemployed-college-graduates" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">unemployed college graduates</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/unemployment-rate" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">unemployment rate</a></div><div class="field-item even" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/menial-jobs" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">menial jobs</a></div><div class="field-item odd" rel="dc:subject"><a href="/labor-statistics" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">labor statistics</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-author field-type-text field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Kelly Goff</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-pop field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Popular:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">not popular</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-photographer field-type-text field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Photographer:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">New America Media</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-bot field-type-list-boolean field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Bottom Slider:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Out Slider</div></div></div> Wed, 23 May 2012 23:59:03 +0000 tara 1020 at https://www.highbrowmagazine.com https://www.highbrowmagazine.com/1183-welcome-world-educated-and-underemployed#comments