College vs Work Paths

I am that person you describe. Went to college in 07. I was told 'study whatever you want! the markets great!" so I went into poli sci. then 08 happened, millions of jobs disappeared, more than ever before in history. 'its ok!' they said. 'it'll bounce back!', but it hasn't, not really, not for me. I graduated with my degree, disillusioned with the world's institutions and my prospects working as a diplomat or for an ngo. unable to find a job I could

I graduated from college three years ago.When I signed the loan I was 18 and did not fully understand how much a loan would affect my life. It was very easy to receive an unsubsidized loan. I did not really think about too much to be honest. Growing up in a nice suburb. It was just the norm. My friends older brothers took out loans. My older friends did the same.I grew up middle class. My parents had good jobs. I started working when I was sixteen. I did not do great in high school. In col

Um. Can't the same be said about college?As someone who comes from a poor family, couldn't afford college, and went the mentor-with-free-work route instead, your comment is particularly and hilariously myopic. :)

"Don't it always seem to go / That you don't know what you've got / Till it's gone"Most college students comes directly from High School. To them (or at least to me at the time) it was a "natural" continuation. We have been in school for over a decade. That's all we've known was to sit in a class room, jot down some notes, and then take some test.I totally agree, fast forward 10 years, and you realize how much of a privilege it i

Most of HS class did not go to college. They knew with alarming certainty that whatever they did for work was not going to be enjoyable, was not going to pay enough, and for some of them would even be physically dangerous. It was just a fact of life. Work was something shitty that you did so you could put a roof over your head and food on the table, and what you did outside of work was your life.The privileged few on HN (myself included 100%) who find their work rewarding, fulfilling, and ext

I started college in 2010 and I didn't understand this. (Middle class school district in the US). I expected to get all of that from my actual jobs, and in the end I did.

the work start well before college starts. i worked my way through college, and it's just as possible today as it was 15 years ago.you're an idiot. it's impossible for you not to be an idiot.

I grew up pretty low income, Midwest rural, and there’s a clear difference between those of us from my high school class that went to college, and those that didn’t. I busted my butt to pay my way through school, and I am a much better person, and a much better employee because of it. University is an over priced pyramid scheme, but you learn things at university, like work ethic, that really sets you apart from other prospective employees. I see nothing wrong with a job requiring a college degr

This is not a realistic thing to expect anymore: http://www.vox.com/2015/8/28/9220705/college-working-map

Since when did people going to college not "work"? Have you even been to college?