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

[BerenTebogo]

Just for the record: I'm not saying you're all imagining this situation. I am fully aware that it is a huge problem. I just think it is more due to the fact that bachelor's level degrees for a great many programs are basically just High School 2.0 and you don't actually gain any specific knowledge beyond a broad sense without going on to a higher level degree.

Almost 2 full years of any BA program is a re-iteration with a slight addition of shit you already took in HS (gen. ed. classes). That leaves 2 years for broad classes that pertain to your major balanced with classes that offer a narrower focus towards a specialty in the major you want to pursue.

2 years of studying (basically an associate's degree) for your field + 2 years of shit you can coast through in many BA programs (science hard? np, take climate studies 101 or ecology 101!).

The climate has changed for the job market. Having a BA/BS is no longer the rarity, or padding to the resume, that it once was. (This isn't a blanket fact, obviously shit varies wildly from market to market, specialty to specialty, and region to region. Variables n shit, yo.)

Edit: And remember, you can get a Bach. degree in shit like "alternative homeopathy" or "veterinary homeopathy". I think that speaks for itself in terms of why a degree is no longer being considered the blanket benchmark it once was.

[kyod]

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

Most internships around me (Chicago) required college credit to take them. They are a great way to see what you would do day-to-day. I interned in at a news station and was hooked on the environment and lifestyle, before I was even half done with my major.

Most career centers at college have counseling/career inventories you can take to see possibilities. Career Centers are some of the best sources, as are professors in your classes, since a lot of them worked in the field.

Sath:

I sent out a little under 60 resumes for entry level positions. On my first interview (and ultimately the job I accepted), my now-boss made no mention of my academic career and just asked about my experience and my ideas about the position. When I was hired and came in on the first day, my boss reiterated it was my experience at my internship was why they wanted me. I was told I competed against MBA students, business students, and many unemployed marketing professionals. They were looking for the right fit for the position and had turned down candidates weeks before I interviewed. My resume design was actually what got me noticed in the first place.

This is not to say graduating with honors means nothing, because if I ever want to get an MBA or go to grad school, I'll have a solid academic record backing me up. In today's day and age, anything you can put on your resume to make you stand out from other candidates helps (professional organizations [PRSA, SPJ] or honor societies, school honors).

Plus it was hella cool to walk at graduation with all those ropes.

[BerenTebogo]

Most internships around me (Chicago) required college credit to take them. They are a great way to see what you would do day-to-day. I interned in at a news station and was hooked on the environment and lifestyle, before I was even half done with my major.

Most career centers at college have counseling/career inventories you can take to see possibilities. Career Centers are some of the best sources, as are professors in your classes, since a lot of them worked in the field.

Sath:

I sent out a little under 60 resumes for entry level positions. On my first interview (and ultimately the job I accepted), my now-boss made no mention of my academic career and just asked about my experience and my ideas about the position. When I was hired and came in on the first day, my boss reiterated it was my experience at my internship was why they wanted me. I was told I competed against MBA students, business students, and many unemployed marketing professionals. They were looking for the right fit for the position and had turned down candidates weeks before I interviewed. My resume design was actually what got me noticed in the first place.

This is not to say graduating with honors means nothing, because if I ever want to get an MBA or go to grad school, I'll have a solid academic record backing me up. Plus it was hella cool to walk at graduation with all those ropes.

That's pretty interesting. Thanks for that. Business-oriented degree I'm assuming? Not an abundance of fields where the uneducated but experienced can be held on equal footing with exceptionally driven and educated applicants.

[kyod]

Journalism and Political Science degrees actually. Never took any marketing classes (though did take PR classes), yet I'm in a marketing job. My internship involved web content management, viewer outreach and campaign to increase viewership. My marketing job involves web content management, b2b outreach and marketing campaigns for more web traffic.

This is just one example of how you need to broaden your skill set and apply for jobs in positions and industries you didn't really think about. If you asked me last year whether I wanted to work in marketing I would have laughed.

[Heavencloud]

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.

Med school is expensive but there are many good scholarship programs (I'm trying to get into a rural MD program that would pay my tuition 100%, basically commit to X amount of years in a under served area and they pay your stuff).

It's seriously the same as other jobs with maybe a bit more added on. You have to get involved and be doing stuff throughout your undergrad (volunteering, clinical work, research) just to have a chance at these things, well to get into med school at all tbh. In state tuition really isn't that bad if you're lucky enough to get into a public med school, for me UW is like a little over 20k a year which wouldn't be too bad honestly. Wish it wasn't so damn competitive though!

[Daydreamer]

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

I'm realizing that's going to end up being what I have to do. For the past few months I've been hectically brushing up on all my linguistics, my German, and even starting to learn Japanese and Spanish just to make myself presentable for grad schools. The fun part is that getting into a good grad school for linguistics (I'm looking at UT Austin as my #1 pic right now) is basically as hard as getting a job in the first place. I'm thinking I may even need to try to weasel my way into doing a study with one of my favorite linguistics teachers even though they normally don't allow that until you actually are already in the grad school....

[Meian]

I'm medical, so it's all good. Always gonna be old people with asses that need wiping.

Thank God I'm in the Medical field.

This XD

[Pirian]

Threads like these make me glad I know people. Just changed my major and before I told most of my friends I was offered an internship for next summer

[Kuya]

Fuck you med school, not everyone can nurse mummies.

[BerenTebogo]

Journalism and Political Science degrees actually. Never took any marketing classes (though did take PR classes), yet I'm in a marketing job. My internship involved web content management, viewer outreach and campaign to increase viewership. My marketing job involves web content management, b2b outreach and marketing campaigns for more web traffic.

This is just one example of how you need to broaden your skill set and apply for jobs in positions and industries you didn't really think about. If you asked me last year whether I wanted to work in marketing I would have laughed.

Pretty interesting. In a way it reinforces (in my opinion) my view that the bachelor's isn't the magic door-opening-key that we're told it would be in high school. A degree in the specific field of study for the job you are now in wasn't enough (obviously excluding other unknown factors) to solidify a job in that exact field over someone who is less qualified on paper.

I completely agree that networking and experience are hugely important, because that's almost so inarguable that it could be considered a fact, it's just sad that through all of the "you will die from AIDS if you don't go to college!" that you get from all angles in high school there is no guarantee of a "you will die from AIDS if you don't learn how to network!" lecture until after you're hung out to dry with nothing more than a better understanding of the American revolution and paragraph placement.

I'm realizing that's going to end up being what I have to do. For the past few months I've been hectically brushing up on all my linguistics, my German, and even starting to learn Japanese and Spanish just to make myself presentable for grad schools. The fun part is that getting into a good grad school for linguistics (I'm looking at UT Austin as my #1 pic right now) is basically as hard as getting a job in the first place. I'm thinking I may even need to try to weasel my way into doing a study with one of my favorite linguistics teachers even though they normally don't allow that until you actually are already in the grad school....

Should find out if the program you're looking into at UT Austin considers GRE scores heavily, moderately, not at all, etc, and whether they want general, general + specific field, specific field only, none, etc. It seems that every department is different in terms of what standards they judge applicants by. Can be just as beneficial to speak 5 languages as it can to know that the 100+ hours you may spend studying for the GRE will be completely wasted (or not) and would be better spent on any number of other tasks.

[Kuya]

I think that what most makes me butthurt about all of this, is that they don't tell you these things, about all the extra work you have to do, earlier. All your teachers in high school and your parents tell you that if you go to college, you'll get a job real fast and easy. If you just study hard you'll have it made. When in reality, that just isn't enough. It feels like santa clause all over again. Or older people speaking from experience about a reality that no longer exists.

[Daydreamer]

Should find out if the program you're looking into at UT Austin considers GRE scores heavily, moderately, not at all, etc, and whether they want general, general + specific field, specific field only, none, etc. It seems that every department is different in terms of what standards they judge applicants by. Can be just as beneficial to speak 5 languages as it can to know that the 100+ hours you may spend studying for the GRE will be completely wasted (or not) and would be better spent on any number of other tasks.

This is solid advise, and I will most definitely do that. I know they don't require a specific field until further down the line after you've had a few classes with them. I do plan to get in touch with the admissions head after I brush up a bit more (don't want to use the wrong word or something silly and sound like a fool) to sorta get myself known in the department. My roommate just did this same thing and even came with me on a road trip half way across the country so she could visit a school and go to know all the people in the social work department so when they see her application in a month they will hopefully all remember her. I'm pretty sure that increased the chances of her getting in significantly.

[Milks]

I'm realizing that's going to end up being what I have to do. For the past few months I've been hectically brushing up on all my linguistics, my German, and even starting to learn Japanese and Spanish just to make myself presentable for grad schools. The fun part is that getting into a good grad school for linguistics (I'm looking at UT Austin as my #1 pic right now) is basically as hard as getting a job in the first place. I'm thinking I may even need to try to weasel my way into doing a study with one of my favorite linguistics teachers even though they normally don't allow that until you actually are already in the grad school....

ich bedenke jetzt, daß ich mein hauptfach tauschen soll, wenn auch mein hauptfach internationale beziehungen ist und mein nebenfach ist deutsch lol

[Ayn]

I know someone mentioned going on for a PhD, but depending on the field, I don't know if that'll be the most brilliant option.

Then again, most good PhD programs will completely pay your way with a stipend, so it might help.

[Daydreamer]

ich bedenke jetzt, daß ich mein hauptfach tauschen soll, wenn auch mein hauptfach internationale beziehungen ist und mein nebenfach ist deutsch lol

God your profile pic looks just like this girl I went to Austria with. Brought back so many memories seeing that pic + the german.

International business + German is supposed to be a pretty good combo from what I hear, but you basically have to go to grad school for it from what I've seen.

Also, and don't let this derail anything, is tauschen the right verb there? It makes sense to me but I thought ändern would have been a better fit. It's been a while though so it's more than likely I am confused

[BerenTebogo]

This is solid advise, and I will most definitely do that. I know they don't require a specific field until further down the line after you've had a few classes with them. I do plan to get in touch with the admissions head after I brush up a bit more (don't want to use the wrong word or something silly and sound like a fool) to sorta get myself known in the department. My roommate just did this same thing and even came with me on a road trip half way across the country so she could visit a school and go to know all the people in the social work department so when they see her application in a month they will hopefully all remember her. I'm pretty sure that increased the chances of her getting in significantly.

One other bit of advice from a guy with no factual basis for giving advice on this topic:

Apply to more than one grad school. It wont offend anyone, it wont lessen your chances, nothing is set in stone until you accept their offer of acceptance (if you accept this and then back out I would run, fast). Grad programs have budgets and ever-decreasing funding just like everything else these days. Paying grad student stipends is a huge portion of any programs budget and managing/advising students can sometimes be a full-time job. This means that even if 20 people apply to the program, all with identical qualifications, if the limit is 10 people then 10 will get in and 10 will be rejected and sometimes, if there are no distinguishing qualifications, it boils down to random chance. Best thing you can do to help the cause is to look into multiple schools and different programs. If you prepare for the worst case scenario you'll be in a better situation than if you just put all your eggs in one basket.

[Milks]

God your profile pic looks just like this girl I went to Austria with. Brought back so many memories seeing that pic + the german.

International business + German is supposed to be a pretty good combo from what I hear, but you basically have to go to grad school for it from what I've seen.

Also, and don't let this derail anything, is tauschen the right verb there? It makes sense to me but I thought ändern would have been a better fit. It's been a while though so it's more than likely I am confused

really dont know either, your german im sure is far more proficient than mine, so it probably is ändern lol i just took a guess

[Daydreamer]

really dont know either, your german im sure is far more proficient than mine, so it probably is ändern lol i just took a guess

You'd actually be surprised how not fluent one is with a German degree. The only people that got annnywhere close were those that went for an entire year instead of just a few summers like I did.

And don't worry Sath, I most definitely plan to apply to more than one school. "Prepare for the worst, hope for the best."

[Milks]

i assumed yours was better because i've only taken GN101 and GN102, lol

i start GN201 and 204 in a couple of weeks though. i actually enjoy these classes more than any class i've ever taken, and i spend a good amount of free time looking at foreign language material.

looking back on everything that i've been through with school, now I kinda wish i would've leaned more towards an engineering/medical degree. oh well. i enjoy my major. if anything, at least i had the fun experience of university without hating it the entire time.

[Meresgi]

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.

I graduated with honors as the Distinguished Graduate of my class for my Multimedia degree, i'm pretty proud of that so I list it on my resume. I have yet to have a single person mention it or bring it up during an interview, when I went to get some resume tips at the local employment agency they even said "Well yeah you can put that there...but only if you have some space to fit it, otherwise leave it out." I went to a job interview recently with a portfolio, told the people I had one on me, and they just shrugged at me and didn't want to see it.

That's probably just a far end of the spectrum though and only an example of a couple of interviews I have had.


I gotta agree with you though Sath about how worthless most Bach Degrees are nowadays. You can basically major in a TON of bullshit and some colleges even let you name your degree. It's always annoyed me that I basically had to teach myself anything intricate about the programs I was learning for Multimedia because 4yrs is basically 2.5 yrs of bullshit fluff courses and 1.5yrs skimming the top of everything.