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I attend a private liberal arts college in New England. I am 20 years old and already thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt, with still a couple of years of school left. I am looking at graduating with around 30K worth of debt. I was well aware that would be the case when I got into this, but it has only truly hit me just now. As I reflect on the last few years of my life, I realize I was duped. Certainly no one forced me into this situation, but no one was honest with me either: admissions officers, guidance counselors, parents, teachers, none of them. I was sold a product dressed up as an experience. I enjoy learning, I appreciate and acknowledge the importance of the liberal arts, but it is not worth this awful debt. Frankly, I could get the same education I'm getting here through the library, the internet, and simply being alive in the world -- all of which is free.
I am so confused about my purpose here, so discouraged by my growing debt, and so depressed about my career prospects upon graduation that I have seriously considered dropping out. I am studying political science and history. I will also graduate with certified to teach middle and secondary school social studies. My current career interests are education, journalism, and law. Unfortunately, none of these careers are terribly practical. They are laying off teachers in droves, and so many experienced teachers can't find work, much less newbies. No one really makes a living as a journalist these days, do they? And law school would just mean more debt and perhaps equally bad employment prospects. Additionally, I am only interested in public interest law, a historically low-paying field that would hardly justify taking on enormous quantities of debt. Anyway, I suppose I would just like some advice on what to do. Should I keep going and finish my useless degree? Are there any practical options out there for people who love to write, think critically, and make the world better?
I hit a brick wall myself at 20 and dropped out of college for awhile , but why not just go to a less expensive public college in your home state. To me it seems its the debt that has you most worried and if you take the worry about that out of the picture you can concentrate on your interests in education and journalism and maybe law. Also look at this thread here on city data under colleges and universities called "To current and future graduating liberal arts majors" and make sure to read the link in the last post of the thread. You might feel different about your major after reading them. BTW I was a poly sci major too. Post back again and keep us informed.
You did get duped... into thinking that you could get the same education at the library and that there is no value in a liberal arts education.
On the other hand, if you aren't taking advantage of opportunities and are truly getting nothing out of it, go ahead and drop out and go to a vocational school. Some people never learn to connect education to a career, and if that is a problem you might have it would probably be better to study something with a crystal clear simple path directly to a job.
While you are in the library..spend some time on the internet finding jobs you can do without some kind of post -secondary education, community college or 4 year degree. Then look up how much those jobs pay. Then look up how much even a "worthless" degree will pay....say "social work" since that one gets touted here a lot as being a worthless degree, or even and English teacher .
30K in debt really isn't bad, it's a car payment. Yes, ideally you would have no debt but given the average salary for a college grad will be 50K when you graduate, or close to it, there is no reason to expect you can't have those loans paid off in 5 years...at which time you could likely be making close to 60 or 70K....or you can be making $10/hour flipping burgers....have fun in the library!
how much do you think it would cost you to just live for 4 years? $30k is nothing! i'd gladly go into debt by only that much to not have to work for four years....
I attend a private liberal arts college in New England. I am 20 years old and already thousands upon thousands of dollars in debt, with still a couple of years of school left. I am looking at graduating with around 30K worth of debt. I was well aware that would be the case when I got into this, but it has only truly hit me just now. As I reflect on the last few years of my life, I realize I was duped. Certainly no one forced me into this situation, but no one was honest with me either: admissions officers, guidance counselors, parents, teachers, none of them. I was sold a product dressed up as an experience. I enjoy learning, I appreciate and acknowledge the importance of the liberal arts, but it is not worth this awful debt. Frankly, I could get the same education I'm getting here through the library, the internet, and simply being alive in the world -- all of which is free.
I am so confused about my purpose here, so discouraged by my growing debt, and so depressed about my career prospects upon graduation that I have seriously considered dropping out. I am studying political science and history. I will also graduate with certified to teach middle and secondary school social studies. My current career interests are education, journalism, and law. Unfortunately, none of these careers are terribly practical. They are laying off teachers in droves, and so many experienced teachers can't find work, much less newbies. No one really makes a living as a journalist these days, do they? And law school would just mean more debt and perhaps equally bad employment prospects. Additionally, I am only interested in public interest law, a historically low-paying field that would hardly justify taking on enormous quantities of debt. Anyway, I suppose I would just like some advice on what to do. Should I keep going and finish my useless degree? Are there any practical options out there for people who love to write, think critically, and make the world better?
How were admissions officers, guidance counselors, parents, and teachers "not honest" with you? Did they tell you your education would be free? Did they tell you that you were guaranteed a job upon graduation? Did they tell you that pol sci and/or history were "hot tickets" to making millions?
Your problem isn't your current educational situation so much as it is your disinterest in fields/careers with good job prospects. You want a teaching job as a newbie? Get your certification in 7-12 Math or 7-12 Chemistry or Physics. You want a flexible degree with job prospects? Do a double major in polsci/history and computer science or pol sci/history and business. Change your major to accounting. Instead of whining about how "dishonest" the adults in your life have been, maybe you should do something to make yourself marketable.
You can also be proactive by quitting school and joining the workforce. There are probably plenty of jobs in most areas of the country that pay between the national minimum wage of $7.25 and $10 an hour. You might even find something that pays $12-$13 an hour. Unfortunately, none of these jobs are likely to be in your chosen fields either.
Or heck, just do the very extensive groundwork required to get a good paying job with your degree/academic interests. Three of the top five people in our county government, all earning $150k+ (amazing salaries for local government) were journalists. Poli Sci and journalism would make you a strong commodity in political staffs, but you have to develop the contacts and do the grunt work experience to get such a job. You work very hard for those good positions, but there are definitely tens of thousands of them throughout the country.
Sounds like someone really does not know the meaning of duped....
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