The value of a liberal arts degree?

[Anonymous]

The ability to understand, contextualize and draw reasonable insights from a study like this is one of the competences that a full liberal arts education, regardless of major, aims to develop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ability to understand, contextualize and draw reasonable insights from a study like this is one of the competences that a full liberal arts education, regardless of major, aims to develop.

IDK PP. How difficult is it to understand "ONE ORDER OF LARGE-FRIES!"?

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't want my kid doing it unless I knew I had great connections to help him/her get their first job.

If you ca do that (and many people can), it's fine. Otherwise, it's a big risk cuz you you know they'll be competing with the people whose parents can get them those first jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't want my kid doing it unless I knew I had great connections to help him/her get their first job.

If you ca do that (and many people can), it's fine. Otherwise, it's a big risk cuz you you know they'll be competing with the people whose parents can get them those first jobs.

+ 1

It's not enough just to help your kids pay for college anymore. You have to be able to do that, plus pay for grad school, plus get them their first job, plus pay for their down payment.

What's next???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't want my kid doing it unless I knew I had great connections to help him/her get their first job.

If you ca do that (and many people can), it's fine. Otherwise, it's a big risk cuz you you know they'll be competing with the people whose parents can get them those first jobs.

+ 1

It's not enough just to help your kids pay for college anymore. You have to be able to do that, plus pay for grad school, plus get them their first job, plus pay for their down payment.

What's next???

It depends on how much or how little you love them.

[Anonymous]

I just looked quickly at the data. I think what's missing is a control for family income level and additional investment in grad school. I went to an LAC myself, then law school. It seems very possible that the same families that can pay full freight for an LAC will offer support for grad school. If a higher percentage of LAC grads are going to law school and med school, that would drive up the ROI for LACs. So correlation does not necessarily equal causation. That said, I value a liberal arts education for reasons that can't be tied to a ROI figure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just looked quickly at the data. I think what's missing is a control for family income level and additional investment in grad school. I went to an LAC myself, then law school. It seems very possible that the same families that can pay full freight for an LAC will offer support for grad school. If a higher percentage of LAC grads are going to law school and med school, that would drive up the ROI for LACs. So correlation does not necessarily equal causation. That said, I value a liberal arts education for reasons that can't be tied to a ROI figure.

You are exactly right. There is value to a liberal education beyond just jobs and salary. Some of these less than pleasant responses could suggest a lack of education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ability to understand, contextualize and draw reasonable insights from a study like this is one of the competences that a full liberal arts education, regardless of major, aims to develop.

IDK PP. How difficult is it to understand "ONE ORDER OF LARGE-FRIES!"?

IDK, I don't this I have ever heard of such a thing, hyphenated as it is.

[Anonymous]

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/01/14/long-term-look-return-investment-reveals-positive-indicators-liberal-arts

[Anonymous]

toilet paper

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:toilet paper

Hey have you met Mr Young Lorne Michaels from 01/18/2020 19:52? You two should start an act together! You could be the next Abbott and Abbott!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ability to understand, contextualize and draw reasonable insights from a study like this is one of the competences that a full liberal arts education, regardless of major, aims to develop.

IDK PP. How difficult is it to understand "ONE ORDER OF LARGE-FRIES!"?

IDK, I don't this I have ever heard of such a thing, hyphenated as it is.

Yeah, I guess you would know

[Anonymous]

The top LACs have student who often turned down Ivies, because they value what undergraduate-focused school can offer.
One of my kids graduated from a T3 LAC with a philosophy degree, and then was hired as an analyst at a major economic consulting firm. With no econ degree, and in fact no econ courses. And that's not unusual, at a handful of schools. Same kid then went to a T3 law school and was EIC of the law review. Elite clerkships, elite law firm, etc. etc. Point is not to brag but to point out that the idea that a "you want fries with that" career outcome as a result of a "liberal arts major" (which as pointed out previously, is not really a thing), is a ridiculous supposition, usually made by those who believe college should be a trade school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The top LACs have student who often turned down Ivies, because they value what undergraduate-focused school can offer.
One of my kids graduated from a T3 LAC with a philosophy degree, and then was hired as an analyst at a major economic consulting firm. With no econ degree, and in fact no econ courses. And that's not unusual, at a handful of schools. Same kid then went to a T3 law school and was EIC of the law review. Elite clerkships, elite law firm, etc. etc. Point is not to brag but to point out that the idea that a "you want fries with that" career outcome as a result of a "liberal arts major" (which as pointed out previously, is not really a thing), is a ridiculous supposition, usually made by those who believe college should be a trade school.

I have a similar background. My degree prepared me extremely well for success in law school.

[Anonymous]

My Harvard degree in Comparative Literature hasn't appeared to hold me back at all.