Son wants to start working after undergraduate

[Anonymous]

Why allow him to have taken bad degrees

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did he study? What kind of job does he want?

Liberal arts undergraduate degree - not sure what he wants - he would take any job which pays him $30-45K. Since we, the parents, are STEM educated, we have no clue what he can do.

You sound exactly how my parents were like. By any chance, are you and your spouse immigrants, specifically Chinese or Indian? I was exactly in your son's shoes with an international relations degree graduating in the worse of times in 2008. They kept on pressuring me to go get a professional degree, which my brother did go on to medical school, but I wanted to really get a taste of the real world first. I ended up working at a law firm and a consulting firm, went to law school after several years and now doing quite well as an attorney. The most important thing is that he has to have the right disciplined and focused mindset, and not dick around while playing video games all day.

Yes we are immigrants. What worries me is not that he wants to work after undergraduate to get a break and to decide his path. He thinks his education is probably done unless he decides later to do any further studies.. He believes he can live fine in $30K salary. He has no experience living in financial hardship all his life. He does not understand how budget works and I am concerned that by the time he understands, it might be too late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just be proud of him for wanting to chart his own course.

I am very proud of him - he is quite an independent thinker. But the job uncertainty associated with liberal arts undergraduate education is making me very nervous.

I’m so tired of hearing about the problem with liberal arts degrees from STEM graduates. DH has degrees from the top two STEM institutions in the US and I make 3 times as much as him with my liberal arts degrees from 2nd rate colleges. I also outearn the majority of his fraternity brothers with the exception of those who joined Apple early or had a successful start-up.

The field you go into and the amount of drive you have determines the amount of income you make. Stop worrying about what and how many degrees he has.

This. People with liberal arts degrees (a category that includes an awful lot of different programs, BTW) get jobs. He's not doomed to a life of underemployment because he has a BA instead of a BS. And taking time off to get some real work experience and figure out what kind of career he wants to pursue is really smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did he study? What kind of job does he want?

Liberal arts undergraduate degree - not sure what he wants - he would take any job which pays him $30-45K. Since we, the parents, are STEM educated, we have no clue what he can do.

You sound exactly how my parents were like. By any chance, are you and your spouse immigrants, specifically Chinese or Indian? I was exactly in your son's shoes with an international relations degree graduating in the worse of times in 2008. They kept on pressuring me to go get a professional degree, which my brother did go on to medical school, but I wanted to really get a taste of the real world first. I ended up working at a law firm and a consulting firm, went to law school after several years and now doing quite well as an attorney. The most important thing is that he has to have the right disciplined and focused mindset, and not dick around while playing video games all day.

Yes we are immigrants. What worries me is not that he wants to work after undergraduate to get a break and to decide his path. He thinks his education is probably done unless he decides later to do any further studies.. He believes he can live fine in $30K salary. He has no experience living in financial hardship all his life. He does not understand how budget works and I am concerned that by the time he understands, it might be too late.

What is his degree in? In a lower cost of living area 30k is a fine starting salary for right out of college. I would hope that he would want to work hard and advance from that, but it’s perfectly okay and practical not to to want a higher degree right away.

Are you paying for it, anyway? Sometimes if you wait you can get at least partial reimbursement through your employer, which is an especially smart way to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did he study? What kind of job does he want?

Liberal arts undergraduate degree - not sure what he wants - he would take any job which pays him $30-45K. Since we, the parents, are STEM educated, we have no clue what he can do.

Get this kid to the career center at his college. My DC with a liberal arts degree in a field that is routinely mocked on this board for being completely useless makes $65k in DC after 2 years.

You do seem completely clueless - hopefully your non-Stem educated kid doesn't have the same narrow world view that you have. Do you really never come across other people in your company or life that do non-STEM jobs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better that he figure out what he wants to do, than to spend time and money on a graduate program that doesn’t suit him.

Yup. Spend some time working and then go back to school if it makes sense.

+1

He may have no idea how hard he’s going to have to work to replicate your lifestyle Or he may realize he doesn’t want to work that hard for a particular lifestyle.

What I wouldn’t do is support him in maintaining a nicer lifestyle than he can afford, unless you can guarantee that for the rest of his life (and possibly for any dependents of his). Doesn’t sound like you have that level of wealth, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did he study? What kind of job does he want?

Liberal arts undergraduate degree - not sure what he wants - he would take any job which pays him $30-45K. Since we, the parents, are STEM educated, we have no clue what he can do.

You sound exactly how my parents were like. By any chance, are you and your spouse immigrants, specifically Chinese or Indian? I was exactly in your son's shoes with an international relations degree graduating in the worse of times in 2008. They kept on pressuring me to go get a professional degree, which my brother did go on to medical school, but I wanted to really get a taste of the real world first. I ended up working at a law firm and a consulting firm, went to law school after several years and now doing quite well as an attorney. The most important thing is that he has to have the right disciplined and focused mindset, and not dick around while playing video games all day.

Yes we are immigrants. What worries me is not that he wants to work after undergraduate to get a break and to decide his path. He thinks his education is probably done unless he decides later to do any further studies.. He believes he can live fine in $30K salary. He has no experience living in financial hardship all his life. He does not understand how budget works and I am concerned that by the time he understands, it might be too late.

How can it be too late? He works for a couple of years, and he either realizes that he needs to get an advanced degree in order to have the kind of job he wants...or he realizes that he doesn't, and he works his way up the career ladder without an advanced degree, like millions of people have before him. I really don't see the problem. Advanced degrees are not universally useful--the degree you get depends on the career you want. In some fields, it's a requirement, but in some, it's nearly worthless.

And frankly, the fact that he doesn't know how a budget works is 100 percent on you and your spouse.

[Anonymous]

Good for him. He'll either prosper and move up quickly or realize he needs more schooling for some other career. Guys in it sales and some other sales make a very good living with just a BA. moving to a low COL area is ok but job orospects there are harder. Let him figure it out for a while. 22 is a great time to live with roommates, eat ramen, and figure out your future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did he study? What kind of job does he want?

Liberal arts undergraduate degree - not sure what he wants - he would take any job which pays him $30-45K. Since we, the parents, are STEM educated, we have no clue what he can do.

You sound exactly how my parents were like. By any chance, are you and your spouse immigrants, specifically Chinese or Indian? I was exactly in your son's shoes with an international relations degree graduating in the worse of times in 2008. They kept on pressuring me to go get a professional degree, which my brother did go on to medical school, but I wanted to really get a taste of the real world first. I ended up working at a law firm and a consulting firm, went to law school after several years and now doing quite well as an attorney. The most important thing is that he has to have the right disciplined and focused mindset, and not dick around while playing video games all day.

Yes we are immigrants. What worries me is not that he wants to work after undergraduate to get a break and to decide his path. He thinks his education is probably done unless he decides later to do any further studies.. He believes he can live fine in $30K salary. He has no experience living in financial hardship all his life. He does not understand how budget works and I am concerned that by the time he understands, it might be too late.

How can it be too late? He works for a couple of years, and he either realizes that he needs to get an advanced degree in order to have the kind of job he wants...or he realizes that he doesn't, and he works his way up the career ladder without an advanced degree, like millions of people have before him. I really don't see the problem. Advanced degrees are not universally useful--the degree you get depends on the career you want. In some fields, it's a requirement, but in some, it's nearly worthless.

And frankly, the fact that he doesn't know how a budget works is 100 percent on you and your spouse.

yes, this 100%.

also, 300k is not a "regular" HHI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just be proud of him for wanting to chart his own course.

I am very proud of him - he is quite an independent thinker. But the job uncertainty associated with liberal arts undergraduate education is making me very nervous.

I’m so tired of hearing about the problem with liberal arts degrees from STEM graduates. DH has degrees from the top two STEM institutions in the US and I make 3 times as much as him with my liberal arts degrees from 2nd rate colleges. I also outearn the majority of his fraternity brothers with the exception of those who joined Apple early or had a successful start-up.

The field you go into and the amount of drive you have determines the amount of income you make. Stop worrying about what and how many degrees he has.

I am sorry if I offended you, that was not my intention. I wanted to express my ignorance about what he could do with a liberal arts undergraduate degree. The earning potential is my concern and not his. He does not have a burning desire to earn 6 figure salary or work his way up to be there.

That is the main reason I would have liked him to have chosen a major like Comp Sc which gives a certainty to earn decent salary even after undergraduate degree without ever having to work harder or studying father. But he did not want that field. May be I am not expressing my concern well. With his low drive to earn the best using all opportunities, my worry is that he would lock himself up in a low paying job forever and regret much later in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did he study? What kind of job does he want?

Liberal arts undergraduate degree - not sure what he wants - he would take any job which pays him $30-45K. Since we, the parents, are STEM educated, we have no clue what he can do.

You sound exactly how my parents were like. By any chance, are you and your spouse immigrants, specifically Chinese or Indian? I was exactly in your son's shoes with an international relations degree graduating in the worse of times in 2008. They kept on pressuring me to go get a professional degree, which my brother did go on to medical school, but I wanted to really get a taste of the real world first. I ended up working at a law firm and a consulting firm, went to law school after several years and now doing quite well as an attorney. The most important thing is that he has to have the right disciplined and focused mindset, and not dick around while playing video games all day.

Yes we are immigrants. What worries me is not that he wants to work after undergraduate to get a break and to decide his path. He thinks his education is probably done unless he decides later to do any further studies.. He believes he can live fine in $30K salary. He has no experience living in financial hardship all his life. He does not understand how budget works and I am concerned that by the time he understands, it might be too late.

The difference between your country of origin and here (and between some STEM fields and all the other fields) is that it’s never really “too late.” Many degrees such as MBA, law, and other practical professional degree programs actually prefer that applicants have work experience first. Or maybe he won’t ever go to grad school and will make $100k doing sales at a car dealership or something. You are only aware of your own education and path, and there are many more options out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did he study? What kind of job does he want?

Liberal arts undergraduate degree - not sure what he wants - he would take any job which pays him $30-45K. Since we, the parents, are STEM educated, we have no clue what he can do.

Get this kid to the career center at his college. My DC with a liberal arts degree in a field that is routinely mocked on this board for being completely useless makes $65k in DC after 2 years.

You do seem completely clueless - hopefully your non-Stem educated kid doesn't have the same narrow world view that you have. Do you really never come across other people in your company or life that do non-STEM jobs?

I will suggest him to go to the career center and seek help. Yes I am clueless, but I have friends in non-STEM fields. However my friends are not as anti-wealth as my son is. If he can get a living salary with his degree, he would probably not go for higher studies ever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He could become a CPA with only a bachelors degree, and earn $300k on his own after several years at one of the big accounting firms.

Not quite. These days, you need 150 credits, including at least 30 or so specifically in accounting, in order to sit for the CPA exam. We can assume from the fact that OP’s son is a liberal arts major that he does not have a degree in accounting. Besides, you need to be a senior director or similar in order to command a 300k comp at a Big 4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did he study? What kind of job does he want?

Liberal arts undergraduate degree - not sure what he wants - he would take any job which pays him $30-45K. Since we, the parents, are STEM educated, we have no clue what he can do.

You sound exactly how my parents were like. By any chance, are you and your spouse immigrants, specifically Chinese or Indian? I was exactly in your son's shoes with an international relations degree graduating in the worse of times in 2008. They kept on pressuring me to go get a professional degree, which my brother did go on to medical school, but I wanted to really get a taste of the real world first. I ended up working at a law firm and a consulting firm, went to law school after several years and now doing quite well as an attorney. The most important thing is that he has to have the right disciplined and focused mindset, and not dick around while playing video games all day.

Yes we are immigrants. What worries me is not that he wants to work after undergraduate to get a break and to decide his path. He thinks his education is probably done unless he decides later to do any further studies.. He believes he can live fine in $30K salary. He has no experience living in financial hardship all his life. He does not understand how budget works and I am concerned that by the time he understands, it might be too late.

The difference between your country of origin and here (and between some STEM fields and all the other fields) is that it’s never really “too late.” Many degrees such as MBA, law, and other practical professional degree programs actually prefer that applicants have work experience first. Or maybe he won’t ever go to grad school and will make $100k doing sales at a car dealership or something. You are only aware of your own education and path, and there are many more options out there.

+1 Going on for a graduate degree now when he doesn't know what he wants to do / isn't motivated to study would be a waste of time and money and with that attitude he won't get into as good a program as he would if he was really motivated.

It's good for him to work -- definitely needs to talk to his career center -- and see what work and lifestyle he can have without his parents supporting him. Maybe he'll be happy with that (whatever the salary is), maybe he won't and then will be motivated to pursue an advanced degree. It needs to be his decision, his life. Just don't give him money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What did he study? What kind of job does he want?

Liberal arts undergraduate degree - not sure what he wants - he would take any job which pays him $30-45K. Since we, the parents, are STEM educated, we have no clue what he can do.

You sound exactly how my parents were like. By any chance, are you and your spouse immigrants, specifically Chinese or Indian? I was exactly in your son's shoes with an international relations degree graduating in the worse of times in 2008. They kept on pressuring me to go get a professional degree, which my brother did go on to medical school, but I wanted to really get a taste of the real world first. I ended up working at a law firm and a consulting firm, went to law school after several years and now doing quite well as an attorney. The most important thing is that he has to have the right disciplined and focused mindset, and not dick around while playing video games all day.

Yes we are immigrants. What worries me is not that he wants to work after undergraduate to get a break and to decide his path. He thinks his education is probably done unless he decides later to do any further studies.. He believes he can live fine in $30K salary. He has no experience living in financial hardship all his life. He does not understand how budget works and I am concerned that by the time he understands, it might be too late.

How can it be too late? He works for a couple of years, and he either realizes that he needs to get an advanced degree in order to have the kind of job he wants...or he realizes that he doesn't, and he works his way up the career ladder without an advanced degree, like millions of people have before him. I really don't see the problem. Advanced degrees are not universally useful--the degree you get depends on the career you want. In some fields, it's a requirement, but in some, it's nearly worthless.

And frankly, the fact that he doesn't know how a budget works is 100 percent on you and your spouse.

yes, this 100%.

also, 300k is not a "regular" HHI.

Also you can make 300k by the time you are OP’s age (parents of a college-aged kid) just by having two GS-15/contractor equivalent spouses. Easy to get there with just a liberal arts undergrad degree if you can get in. I’m not sure why OP thinks STEM is the only way to get there. Yeah it’s a nice HHI but it’s not rich by any means! I started at 42k out of school and I’m already at 110k with plenty of promotion potential 8 years out with no graduate education.