How Higher Education has Changed in 60 Years
Posted on October 27, 2009
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This morning I was reading an article on college graduates, and I was surprised to see a mention of graduates earning $10,000. At first I thought it was a typo and should have been $100,000 — but no, the next sentence compared it with an annual salary of $4,000. Then I looked at the date of the article and the mystery was solves: This articles on college graduates was published more than 60 years ago.
A lot has changed in 60 years, not the least of which is the salaries people make. I don’t think 1 in 20 college graduates run for public office these days, for one thing. Also, whereas back then college was almost exclusively for business professionals, today higher education can teach you about a variety of things, from the culinary arts to carpentry to horseshoeing.
Another thing I noticed has changed is the idea that you can only pick your career once. The article talks about how many college graduates regretted their area of study, and wished they had chosen something else. These days, if you spend 10 years in a career in, say, teaching, you can still change your mind and go to a culinary school as an adult. But back then, you were expected to go to college, find a job, and stay with that company until retirement if possible.
I noticed a few other things that haven’t changed much, though. I think women still read more than men, for one thing, and that women especially read more bestsellers than men. (Most men I know who do read a lot prefer nonfiction.) And although the political climate in our country has changed a lot since 1948, I think college graduates are still more likely to vote than those who haven’t been through college.
What have you noticed about higher education that has changed since this article was written?
Campus Considerations: Choosing a College
Posted on September 28, 2009
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There are many things to consider when choosing a college. Although the quality of your education — i.e., teacher qualifications, curriculum, and school reputation — will and should take first precedence, things like the college campus and the quality of student life should also figure into your decision.
For instance, a welcoming student environment is one thing many students seriously consider when choosing a college. Are there student lounges on campus where you can study, and do these lounges have conveniences such as wifi? How is the library? Is there a student union on campus to ensure that students’ concerns are addressed whenever the school makes decisions about changes, new rules, etc.?
If you plan on living on campus, you may also want to look into the quality of dorm life. Are the dorm rooms comfortable? Are the dorms and student areas clean and well cared for?
Of course, these kinds of considerations shouldn’t be more important than learning. You’ll want to know, for instance, that the loan officer training program will prepare you sufficiently, so that you can get the required licenses and qualify for a good job in the industry. But it’s also true that happy students learn better and retain more than unhappy students, so the quality of student life on campus should have at least some bearing on your decision!
Careers for a Finance Background
Posted on August 29, 2009
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If you are good with math or thinking of going to school for an education in finance, you may wonder what kinds of things you can do with that kind of a background. Particularly with how hard the recession has been hitting financial institutions, a lot of people fear that financial knowledge and experience won’t be as needed as it used to be.
Of course, this is hardly the case. There are still plenty of careers or even small businesses that you can start with a finance background — secure, well-paying opportunities, no less. Here are a few ideas to get you thinking about what you can do with your degree.
- Bookkeeping . Despite the trouble with the economy and the banks, there is no doubt that businesses still need bookkeeping and other accounting work done for them. You could get full time work with one company, or start your own business providing bookkeeping services for many different clients.
- Tax accounting. Small businesses and individuals often need help doing their taxes, so accountants are still very much in demand. Again, you can either work for a large company, an accounting firm, or even start your own company.
- Debt consulting. Sadly, as people are struggling in the current economy, debt and bankruptcy are becoming big problems for individuals as well as businesses. Therefore there is a lot of opportunity here for someone who understands the nature of the business and is good at negotiating. For instance, you might choose to counsel individuals in how to reduce their debt and negotiate with lenders, or you might start a company specializing in corporate debt negotiation for big companies.
These are just a few of the options I can think of for someone with a background in finance in the current economy. There are no doubt many other possibilities! So rest assured, the recession hasn’t ruined your chance for a good job in the finance sector!
What Does my Future Hold?
Posted on August 8, 2009
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Though I have spent the last twenty years in school, I am finally done. I just graduated and received my diploma in medicine. In fact, it is going to be really weird that people are going to address me as “doctor” instead of my regular name. I don’t know how comfortable I am with that, but it is the result of my decisions.
But I still wonder what my future holds. How long will I work? How many lives will I save? Though my life lies before me, I am worried about the future. Looking at my diploma frame, I can remember how easy going to school was. It was very predictable and you knew how your day was going to turn out.
But now, in the real world, things are more uncertain. Gone are the good times of partying with friends, and the lack of responsibility that life in school provides. In fact, looking at the picture of myself I have stuck on my university diploma frame, I wish I could return to that simpler time.
If I have all these questions about my future and life now, I wonder if I’ll have the answers in ten years, or at any point in my life. I guess I will just have to accept the uncertainty, and “go with the flow” to see where life will carry me. I know for me, that will be hard to do.
Obama’s Plans for Student Loans
Posted on July 23, 2009
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I heard some interesting — and, to my mind, positive — news about student loans the other day: President Obama is trying to make all student loans federal, to cut down on banks taking advantage of students by charging them high interest rates and implementing misleading terms.
There hasn’t been much oversight over private student loans. For instance, they haven’t had to be clear with students which loans are offered by the government (usually at a lower rate) and which are offered by the bank itself. Furthermore, they haven’t had to report rates in a standardized way, so it can be extremely hard to compare student loans and find out whether you are getting the best possible rate.
Student loans might therefore qualify for what’s known as predatory lending practices. And that’s what President Obama is working to eliminate. People should be able to get their education without being preyed upon by greedy lenders, don’t you think? Some kid who wants to be a chef, but can’t afford the cost of most culinary arts degrees without assistance, shouldn’t have to give up his dream because he can’t afford the high interest rates on many student loans.
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