6 ms·
It is a little more complicated and it is not as bad as it sounds for her. Undergraduate degree in sociology and a minor in anthropology. BA in sociology is no
by epalmer 10y ago
It is a little more complicated and it is not as bad as it sounds for her.
Undergraduate degree in sociology and a minor in anthropology. BA in sociology is not very employable but is the most common undergraduate degree for librarians.
Once the affordable care act (ObamaCare) was made into law the library (local public library) started making most non-librarian jobs part time so they don't have to provide health insurance. So today she works circulation but is not a librarian.
She has no college debt because she got a free education. I work at the college and they pay full tuition for some staff and faculty children. Her education would not have been worth the greater than $200,000 retail cost of her degree. We are very lucky to have her college paid for.
She will end up paying for maybe 80% of her graduate degree herself and take student loans out for the last semester.
She puts money aside in her roth IRA. We are lucky she is cheap and sees the value in saving for retirement. I guess her mom and I did something right.
Her mom and I both work for colleges. Her mom works for a public four year school and I work for a private liberal arts college. We see in both that many graduates are not earning what they claim the graduates can earn. As I said in my original post that this will catch up in Liberal Arts (and really non-technical) degreed students.
Her younger sister will be going to an engineering school where the graduates are earning, on average, 25% more right out of school than other engineering schools. We are hopeful she can avoid automation job collapse and maybe participate in the automation side of this phenomenon. "If you can't beat them then join them."
- FussyZeus 10y agoOh alright, I misunderstood on a few points. Thanks for clarifying and tell her good luck from a rando person on the Internet.
- epalmer 10y agoThanks. She is sitting beside me right now and I will tell her.
- jdavis703 10y agoWhy do people even spend $200,000 on a degree if they're not rich? I went to community college for my associates degree in IT (about $5000 total), and then went to university for a bachelor's of science in IT (roughly $15,000 all in). Since you work at a university, what does that extra $180,000 buy? What's the sales pitch you'll give to students to get them to pay so much?
- gaius 10y agoThat's what we all wonder when Oberlin students paying $65k/year complain about "privilege"...
- 6DM 10y agoAs a past student, I can tell you that they definitely sell you a much lower number. They also get you to focus on "tuition" and not overall costs. Costs rises a lot due to books they try to force you to buy, food, and housing. Your first year is required to be on campus if you're from out of state. It's a crazy world out there.
- epalmer 10y agoMy Opinion Only: If you are going to an Ivy League school you are paying for the network / brand. If you are going to a lesser tier selective school you are paying for outcomes. But the outcomes, I believe, are starting to lag the price. At the school I work for about 65% of the students get some financial aid and we are need blind and meet 100% of demonstrated need. They meet need with grants (think scholarships) and a tiny amount of student debt. We do limit student loan debt to a small cap but many schools don't. I'm not the best at selling the points because I went to a technical public university and got a BS and a MS in Chemistry and Environmental Engineers. Today I am a self taught CS guy. I guess what I am saying is I don't fully buy into the Liberal Arts education selling points. My eldest doesn't buy into it as well. Of course the free education makes all the difference. Typical selling points go like: http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2014/04/28/why-getting-a-liberal-arts-college-education-is-not-a-mistake/#2ce745871a20 http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2014/04/28/why-...
- 10y ago
- hyperliner 10y agoHey, one recommendation (assuming she wants something different; I hope I am not coming across as pretentious): Get an MBA. It worked for a relative of mine: she went from Liberal Arts to Director of Marketing for a tech firm. Depending on where you live, an MBA may take her into a completely different direction. Good luck but it does not seem like any of you all in your family need it.
- epalmer 10y agoAll suggestions are accepted. She so wants to be a librarian so am MLS is it. I have a friend that is getting a BS in Mechanical Engineering this year. Then next year a ME in Engineering Management. His plan is then to get an MBA.