The Upside of the 2020 Pandemic.

[MossRoad]

You being a search guy, wonder what percent of college grads work in their educated field?

I'd guess that initially, many college grads try to start out in their field, but by the end, probably 3/4 of them are in something else.

And, I'd guess it changes by years out of school, as you learn things, other interests peak your curiosity, opportunities pop up, circumstances change, economic needs change, you lose your job, etc....

For example. I went to be an English teacher. Hated academia and the process of becoming a teacher. Switched to tech school. Got two degrees in electronics. Worked at a Newspaper for 30 years. Electronics degrees got me in the door. By the time that ended, there was very little to do with electronics.

So absolutely nothing to do with my initial training in school, but a culmination of that, all of the training and experiences along the way, and a lengthy record that shows I understand processes and how to deal with them.

THAT is what employers are looking for. Not so much WHAT someone went to college for, but THAT they went to college, understood the process, and put in the work required to achieve the goal. It shows something about a young person.

 

[3Ts]

They have to go to college to get indoctrinated and get deep into debt so they need handouts...good little useful idiots.

I interviewed one guy who expected to start at $100k a year...it was a short interview.

Your niece does not have responsible parents. I cannot imagine a 35 YO who has never worked at a job outside the home. I started at 16.

That's pretty insulting. Both our kids are productive members of society, college grads, payed their way and are debt free. You, on the other hand, complain a lot. A lot! Every day! Go out and do something about it.

Moss - My kids are all productive members of society, college grads, and worked their way thru college and I believe they are debt free also. However, I question the "need" to go to college for degrees in "music appreciation" etc. I can see degrees in the medical fields and applied sciences, but for the others a community college or apprenticeship program seems to be a better solution. I went to college right out of high school and and got a degree in engineering and later went back to pursue a higher degree so I've been there and seen that. I happen to agree with shooterdon that "They have to go to college to get indoctrinated and get deep into debt so they need handouts". In my son's high school graduation ceremony each student handed an announcer a slip of paper that included what they were going to do after high school. Those that said they had a job lined up were changed to "college". So the kids are pressured to go to college with no thought of what the options are, or what they want to do in life.

I have been involved in the interview process and performance reviews and have had access to personnel files as well as discussions with many many folks with college degrees, while I did not keep count at the time, I'd say only about half are working in the field they studied. That includes a Phd in High Energy Physics that is working plant security, and one who has no degree and is working in engineering (and doing better than some with degrees). I've also found that folks without a degree can be just as happy and have just as good a life, or better, as those with a degree. So, I question the philosophy of "you have to go to college to get a good job" because it doesn't work that way. But, it does give the educators some additional time to imprint their philosophy on the kids.

I don't think shooterdon intended to be "insulting".

 

[3Ts]

HAT is what employers are looking for. Not so much WHAT someone went to college for, but THAT they went to college, understood the process, and put in the work required to achieve the goal. It shows something about a young person.

Absolutely correct! The college degree only gets the kids familiar with the field and gives the employer an idea as to whether they are trainable and their willingness to work and put in the effort to accomplish a task over the long term.

 

[MossRoad]

Calling people idiots isn't exactly polite.

I have a sister that has a PHD and she's a church secretary. Very happy with her life.
I also have 3 siblings with masters, and all of them worked in their fields.
My father went to school for architecture and was an architect and construction specifications writer.
My mom went to school for biology, but ended up being an elementary school art teacher.
I'm the only one out of 6 of us that doesn't have a 4 year degree or higher, and only 2 of us didn't end up working in our initial field of study.

My kids went to the same college prep high school that my wife and I attended. So not surprisingly, 98% of graduates from that school go on to 4 year colleges (not my wife or me. We got associate degrees). How many finish? I have no clue. How many work in their chosen college major after 10 years? I have no clue. 1 of my kids is working in her field 3 years out of grad school. We'll find out about the 2nd in a few months as she graduates next week. Jobs and programs in her field are on hold right now due to the virus, but even with that, she has a couple prospects. She's engaged, so a lot depends on where the future son-in-law ends up.

Our oldest has many friends with college degrees and all of them are working in their fields right now.

Our youngest has many friends in engineering, and all of them have engineering jobs either working at them now or have them secured for post graduation this summer. She also has a lot of friends from high school. All of them are at various colleges around the world, and most of them have jobs lined up. She does have a few that did waste their time and have no clue what they're gonna due when they get out. I'd say it's probably 90% of them are going into their field after school. We'll check back with them in a few years.

As for paying for it, yes, many have gone into significant debt. Especially the ones that have gone on to grad school. We have friends whose daughter is $100K in debt, has her masters, couldn't get into a PHD program, and hasn't worked for a year. Her brother has his 4 year in history, is probably 40-50K in debt and works a minimum wage job now. No good prospects for him. That's on their parents for not guiding them. But now it's on them to grow up and pay it off. I suspect neither ever will.

 

[ovrszd]

I'd guess that initially, many college grads try to start out in their field, but by the end, probably 3/4 of them are in something else.

And, I'd guess it changes by years out of school, as you learn things, other interests peak your curiosity, opportunities pop up, circumstances change, economic needs change, you lose your job, etc....

For example. I went to be an English teacher. Hated academia and the process of becoming a teacher. Switched to tech school. Got two degrees in electronics. Worked at a Newspaper for 30 years. Electronics degrees got me in the door. By the time that ended, there was very little to do with electronics.

So absolutely nothing to do with my initial training in school, but a culmination of that, all of the training and experiences along the way, and a lengthy record that shows I understand processes and how to deal with them.

THAT is what employers are looking for. Not so much WHAT someone went to college for, but THAT they went to college, understood the process, and put in the work required to achieve the goal. It shows something about a young person.

Give us a ballpark figure for your educational costs beyond high school in today's numbers please?

 

[3Ts]

Calling people idiots isn't exactly polite.

That is true.
However, the term "useful idiots" comes from a book on socialism and the indoctrination of our young folks. The term "useful idiots" means someone who doesn't realize that the socialists are manipulating them to advance their cause. I took his statement not to mean an "idiot" but rather someone who was being manipulated into doing something without adequately evaluating the outcome.

I'm now making assumptions on behalf of someone else so I may be overstepping my bounds, so this is my last comment on this.

 

[MossRoad]

Give us a ballpark figure for your educational costs beyond high school in today's numbers please?

My educational costs in today's dollars? That would cost a kid the following, if they had the same circumstances as I did back then:

1.5 years at I.U. local campus is currently $10,342.47 for 3 semesters for in state rate, no room and board.

2 year associate degree at IVY tech is currently $10,720 for 2 years in state rate, no room and board.

I went three years, and got 2 degrees, so that would add another $5K, so say $16K today for 2 associate degrees.

I lived at home, mom and dad gave me free room and board as long as I stayed in school (thanks folks! )

So, that looks like about $26.5k give or take, for a kid to go to 1.5 years of IU local campus, change their mind, and go 3 years to IVY Tech for two associate degrees.

 

[MossRoad]

That is true.
However, the term "useful idiots" comes from a book on socialism and the indoctrination of our young folks. The term "useful idiots" means someone who doesn't realize that the socialists are manipulating them to advance their cause. I took his statement not to mean an "idiot" but rather someone who was being manipulated into doing something without adequately evaluating the outcome.

I'm now making assumptions on behalf of someone else so I may be overstepping my bounds, so this is my last comment on this.

Thanks for the clarifications.

I'm happy to say my kids are nobody's fools and make their own decisions now that they are adults. I'm happy with the way they are turning out. We have our political, religious and economic differences, yet they are not judgmental or condescending when we have those differences. One takes more after the wife, the other after me. I get along better with the one that takes after my wife, and the one that takes after me gets along better with the wife. Go figure.

One thing I've noticed with my kids and their friends. Most of them have gone onto careers serving others. Social work and health care are the two main areas I've noticed. Lots of them went into health care. Nursing. MD. Kinda shocking, as some of them seemed kinda self-centered when they were young, yet have turned into compassionate adults. There is hope.

 

[TnAndy]

That's pretty insulting. Both our kids are productive members of society, college grads, payed their way and are debt free. You, on the other hand, complain a lot. A lot! Every day! Go out and do something about it.

Proving it is very easy to say things to, and about, people on the internet one would never consider saying to them in person. Personally, I have a wood pile that needs attending.

 

[MossRoad]

Give us a ballpark figure for your educational costs beyond high school in today's numbers please?

As for my kids, Purdue has held tuition for about 10 years. They told us to figure $88K average for 4 years, in state, living on campus. However, by choosing lower cost housing and meal plans, we got it down to about $75K per kid. We put $20 a month into 529 plans every week for each kid starting when they were born. That came up to about $18-20K by the time they were 18. They got merit scholarships. 1 worked in high school. Both worked during college and summers between years. Both got out of 4 year debt free. One has about $30K left in her savings account from her jobs and $5K left in her 529. The other spent it all on education. Oldest took $32K in loans to go to grad school. And $8K for a car loan. Has paid off $20K of student loans and $3K of car loan in 3 years. So has about $17K in debt at 27 years old. But has that much in savings and 401K, so she's effectively neutral this year, and by next she'll be in positive net worth.