Just finished getting a degree? Too bad, you're screwed!

[SephYuyX]

Easy way to figure a rough yearly income: $hr*2*1000.

[SaviorSelf]

Edit: Also can anyone speak for Lawyer's in this economy? I am a history major originally, but wasnt in school long so my gen ed will be done soon then I can do core. Original plan was history BA > law school.

They're obviously still required and make good money. Network yourself and you'll get clients on a regular basis. Fresh out of college, they usually start at $250-300 an hour.

[Saga]

Where did you go to med school? Going back to try finish my bachelor's in 2 years or so.(Done in 2 years i mean, starting again this fall) Not sure if I want to switch to pre-med, but figured med school was more expensive than that.

Edit: Also can anyone speak for Lawyer's in this economy? I am a history major originally, but wasnt in school long so my gen ed will be done soon then I can do core. Original plan was history BA > law school.

There's absolutely nothing for lawyers except a few paralegal positions. All my friends that went to law school are fucked with their degree, unless mommy and daddy have some serious pull somewhere.

[Aesctaa]

Too many people in their late teens, early or mid twenties just don't realize what things were like in the past and how that dovetails with changes in the balance of the economy.

Its not a matter of your degree being worth less than it used to be, its a case of there being more graduate jobs in relation to non-graduate jobs, which is to be expected given the gradual decline in primary industry over the long term in many developed countries.

The gradient now is the level of the degree, and to a far lesser extent than is often propagated, the issuing institution. If you are more concerned about the cost of college not being worth it over a working lifetime in relation to salary averages, then remember there are other positives to having a wider field of work to chose from than just the money.

[Holly Short]

There's absolutely nothing for lawyers except a few paralegal positions. All my friends that went to law school are fucked with their degree, unless mommy and daddy have some serious pull somewhere.

Hm. It seemed to me while it may not be the most lucrative choice for a lawyer, one could generally use their degree fresh out of school as a public defender. The position has a high turnover rate, so generally the government agencies have jobs available. In the long run though.. It's not far off from the pay of a prosecutor in most cases.

[Moridam]

$8/hr? You must be figuring that wrong, or figuring that at 80 hours a week.

it's my understanding that most residency/intern programs in practice require about 80hrs/week, so probably not all that outlandish of a claim.

[Yabby]

There's absolutely nothing for lawyers except a few paralegal positions. All my friends that went to law school are fucked with their degree, unless mommy and daddy have some serious pull somewhere.

Yea this is what it is like with my wife. The way the things were going in Michigan people are not able to sue, etc, which in turn means she has no work (defendant work). She is currently in the middle ground 5-6 years of experience which means she is over qualified for entry level positions, but under qualified for higher paid trial work. She has been going for federal jobs (Its hard being a lawyer because you can only work in certain states unless you want to retake tests) but they take MONTHS just to get back to her with the next teir of interviews/rejections.

[Sanoske]

it's my understanding that most residency/intern programs in practice require about 80hrs/week, so probably not all that outlandish of a claim.

Yup. Although a few years ago they capped it at 80h/wk, apparently before that it wasn't uncommon for residents to be pulling 100+hr work weeks. Although with moonlighting at ERs, small practices, etc residents can make bank assuming they don't mind not sleeping. (I've talked to some MDs who pulled in six figures as a resident.)

Can't wait for my gf to start her residency... =/

Also, sidenote... I have a degree in Anthropology. Worth less than dick in this economy. I'll most likely be going back to school soon.

[BerenTebogo]

There's absolutely nothing for lawyers except a few paralegal positions. All my friends that went to law school are fucked with their degree, unless mommy and daddy have some serious pull somewhere.

Acquaintance put himself through law school recently by working massive hours at CVS since early teens and working up a good position and salary. Once out of law school he found that there was no position available to him that would earn even half of what he was making working at CVS.

Real tawk.

[Kuya]

Yea, higher education system is fucked up.

[Demosthenes11]

I think a lot of people have a hard time understanding that it's not what you know, it's who you know

sad but true

[BerenTebogo]

I think a lot of people have a hard time understanding that it's not what you know, it's who you know

sad but true

Networking has always been, and will always be, one of the most important aspects of your life that you will never learn in school.

[Jefe]

Well then, I'll wipe my ass w/ my BS in CE once I'm done.

[BerenTebogo]

I feel like there is a generalization that no matter who you are or what you do, your degree will be worthless.

Feel free to correct me if this applies to you and I'm incorrect, but I don't see many graduates with honors, or high honors, or etc complaining about job placement.

If you're middle of the road to upper-middle, like the vast majority of all other college graduates who are competing for the same jobs, is it any surprise you might find a bottleneck effect at some point?

[kyod]

I think a lot of people have a hard time understanding that it's not what you know, it's who you know

Which is why networking via internships is one of the most important things someone in college can do. If you went to college and did not do any internships, you've made your job search 100x harder.

Edit for Sath's post: I graduated with honors and honestly, I don't think it made a difference. I was ultimately hired because I performed a similar role at an internship and was knowledgeable and passionate about it.

[Demosthenes11]

Which is why networking via internships is one of the most important things someone in college can do. If you went to college and did not do any internships, you've made your job search 100x harder.

it sucks because that basically means you need to know 100% what you will be doing after you graduate. I think it's very uncommon for even a graduation senior to know what he or she will be doing or even wants to be doing

[BerenTebogo]

Which is why networking via internships is one of the most important things someone in college can do. If you went to college and did not do any internships, you've made your job search 100x harder.

Edit for Sath's post: I graduated with honors and honestly, I don't think it made a difference. I was ultimately hired because I performed a similar role at an internship and was knowledgeable and passionate about it.

Were you applying for a job where all other applicants were of equal or higher caliber or was it a situation where you were honestly competing against people who were, on paper, less qualified than you?

[Daydreamer]

God I know just how you guys feel. I have a German degree with a minor in Math and every single job I see is for CS or Engineering. Even though I actually am good at both of those things I never would have wanted to get a degree in either.

What I'd actually like to do (and actually would be qualified for) with that degree is study language development and the learning capacity of people at various stages in life, but any job remotely close to that requires a PhD, 10 years experience, and already being published. You can't even begin to get the resources you'd need to do the research and get published unless you get one of those style jobs, and you can't get those jobs unless you've done the research....

I'm 25 and feel like I'm running out of time to actually get out there and get my foot in the door because no one will give me a chance despite the fact that every job I've ever had I quickly wound up in management, or at least some sort of higher position. Though these are at places that still don't pay people in higher positions money because it's not a 'career job' type place.

[BerenTebogo]

God I know just how you guys feel. I have a German degree with a minor in Math and every single job I see is for CS or Engineering. Even though I actually am good at both of those things I never would have wanted to get a degree in either.

What I'd actually like to do (and actually would be qualified for) with that degree is study language development and the learning capacity of people at various stages in life, but any job remotely close to that requires a PhD, 10 years experience, and already being published. You can't even begin to get the resources you'd need to do the research and get published unless you get one of those style jobs, and you can't get those jobs unless you've done the research....

I'm 25 and feel like I'm running out of time to actually get out there and get my foot in the door because no one will give me a chance despite the fact that every job I've ever had I quickly wound up in management, or at least some sort of higher position. Though these are at places that still don't pay people in higher positions money because it's not a 'career job' type place.

Have you considered pursuing a master's or phd in the specific field you want to be in?

[Demosthenes11]

it's also important to keep in mind that there are more and more opportunities opening up abroad now that we are becoming more and more global