Anonymous wrote:DD got a great job right out of college with a liberal arts major, non-stem. She has a great personality, and people really like her. She has a wonderful job now with a prestigious firm. She went to a no-name college and had an 3.9 gpa. Good but not fabulous. Yet she makes a lot of money. I think it's because she's smart and a great person. Her education has little to do with it.

Anonymous wrote:I think the main point is "connections over curriculum." With fewer jobs networking with all that implies becomes more important . . .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.cengagegroup.com/news/press-releases/2025/cengage-group-2025-employability-report/
https://www.anthropic.com/research/labor-market-impacts

For high schoolers, instead of spending so much money, time, and energy trying to impress colleges, shouldn’t they focus more on figuring out the right major or finding a school that’s actually a good fit? The job reports for college graduates, plus all the constant layoff news, feel like pretty strong warning signs. It makes me wonder whether colleges are really preparing students for a tougher job market or a potential economic downturn in the coming years.

I’m also surprised when I hear advice like “just pick an easier major” in order to get into top schools or “you can rely on the school name or network to get a job.” That might sound magical, but how does that actually work for middle-class or lower-income families without any resource to begin with? Networking is probably exclusive to "the Privileged" who does need to work for a day. Why would those with advantages open doors for those who don’t? It just doesn’t seem like realistic.

I'm worried about my engineer daughter who is going to graduate this year. Engineering jobs used to be so plentiful, but now she's been applying for jobs and getting nothing. She's a good student, has worked in labs, been a TA, has great summer jobs, but has not secured a job yet. I can only think that this economy is shrinking. She's going to work as a barista if she can't find work right away, but it's depressing that an engineer can't find a job right out of college!!

Anonymous wrote:What job could someone with a liberal arts degree get that is In Their Field? English, Psychology, History, Gender Studies, Romance Languages - name jobs that are attainable with only a Bachelors degree In These Fields?

Anonymous wrote:https://www.cengagegroup.com/news/press-releases/2025/cengage-group-2025-employability-report/
https://www.anthropic.com/research/labor-market-impacts

For high schoolers, instead of spending so much money, time, and energy trying to impress colleges, shouldn’t they focus more on figuring out the right major or finding a school that’s actually a good fit? The job reports for college graduates, plus all the constant layoff news, feel like pretty strong warning signs. It makes me wonder whether colleges are really preparing students for a tougher job market or a potential economic downturn in the coming years.

I’m also surprised when I hear advice like “just pick an easier major” in order to get into top schools or “you can rely on the school name or network to get a job.” That might sound magical, but how does that actually work for middle-class or lower-income families without any resource to begin with? Networking is probably exclusive to "the Privileged" who does need to work for a day. Why would those with advantages open doors for those who don’t? It just doesn’t seem like realistic.

Anonymous wrote:Very true. If you are from a poor or working class background and go to a college with a lot of rich kids, it’s not that easy to break into their social circles. Especially if there is a culture of off campus housing, off campus Greek life and off campus socializing that those without money have difficulty accessing. Otherwise, the benefits of those networks won’t automatically accrue to your kid.