The American "Guy"

[rwh11385]

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26317942/

Discuss.

Not all of it, but this guy thinks like someone on the board...

Greg, for example, never made it to college. He didn’t regret it at the time, but now he wonders. The son and grandson of steel workers near Bethlehem, Penn., Greg knew he’d end up at Beth Steel also — except the steel plant closed and suddenly all those jobs disappeared. Even if he could go to college now, it’s too expensive, and besides, he needs to save for a new car so he can move out of his parents’ house. In the past two years he’s worked at a gas station, Home Depot, a mini-mart convenience store, and as a groundskeeper at a local university. “I’m trying, honest, I really am,” he says, with a certain resigned sadness already creeping into his 24-year-old eyes. “But there is just no way an honest white guy can make a living in this economy — not with these Bush fat cats and all the illegals.”

[uofom3]

funny stuff.

[rwh11385]

There are also just as many who immediately move back home after college, directionless, with a liberal arts BA that qualifies them for nothing more than a dead-end job making lattes or folding jeans.

This reminds me of half the E36 drivers on bf.c, and the target of the thread I got in TO for making fun of him... 300 applications after graduating and got a server job. LMAO

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1046003

[uofom3]

This reminds me of half the E36 drivers on bf.c, and the target of the thread I got in TO for making fun of him... 300 applications after graduating and got a server job. LMAO

that quote is exactly what happens to sooooo many graduates. It's fucking awesome. They think because they got a sociology degree that they should make 6 figures. You know what a sociology degree gets you? A job at starbucks, or writing a blog that doesn't pay shit. Good job getting a worthless degree, and taking 4 years to learn what informed people to by simply reading the newspapers.

Case in point. Very good friend of mine got a sociology major (not that it mattered what degree he got.. his family is worth probably over a billion dollars) and couldn't figure out what to write for his paper on energy policies. I wrote it for him in an hour only reading the prompt and only citing a few sources and he got a B on the paper. This isn't to say that I'm a great paper writer or a genius (though I am a good paper writer, but certainly far, far from a genius), but rather to say that it's so fucking easy I didnt' even have to take the class to get a B. He thought it was great - and then got a me a few bottles of the Glen. i was happy.

People should pursue a degree, regardless of what it is. BUT, they should have reasonable expectations as to what is going to happen after they get that degree.

[Jand3rson]

People major in sociology/anthropolgy because it sounds interesting/impressive to chicks.

The ones that are kinda dumb and somewhat easy to fuck, anyway.

I started out in college majoring in sociology, bu then wised up and switched to computer and information systems. While I didn't finish (I can at any time, I have to take like 3 math classes and a science class), I'm glad I switched to a major that had much more possibility of getting me into a real-world field with lots of opportunity. I'm currently a low voltage electrician and communications tech, and right now I'm just pulling network wire and building server rooms, but in a few years, my plan is to go into network and server administration.

[rwh11385]

I'm glad I switched to a major that had much more possibility of getting me into a real-world field with lots of opportunity.

Simply said: "Uh, yeah." How come a lot of people don't get that?

The bf.c thread kid admitted his degree wasn't worth the paper it was printed on. If you go with a lot of weak undergrads, you're still unhirable in that field without a masters. (psychology usually, etc. I have a chick friend in that and she's working on research, going to grad school and will do well, but most just do it to get a flimsy piece of paper)

There are majors out there that prepare you for a career, not a dead-end job. If you aren't going for one of those, not much sense wasting 4-5 years and $$$$$ when you would be better off training for a trade, etc.

[Dave]

Ok, ok.

Easy on the Sociology majors.

My Bachelors Degree is in Sociology. I graduated with a high GPA, was Phi Beta Kappa, and had a bunch of companies interested in me. Back in the olden days, places like P&G, Citibank, Toyota, etc wanted high end liberal arts people for things like HR, Public Relations, etc. becasue those people are often more well rounded than a tunnel vision business school worker bee. P&G is crawling with people with liberal arts degrees who are brand managers and product developers.

But at the time I declared it as my major, I was about 95% sure I was going to Law school anyway. And sure, there were a ton of chicks in my classes - not exactly a downside.

EDIT: mind you, I am talking about liberal arts people who were tops in their classes or went to Ivy League schools, not a guy with a 2.9 and a psych degree from some no name commuter school

[Julien]

I honestly think that the degree really doesn't matter all that much, it's more of a proof that you can learn.

[uofom3]

Simply said: "Uh, yeah." How come a lot of people don't get that?

The bf.c thread kid admitted his degree wasn't worth the paper it was printed on. If you go with a lot of weak undergrads, you're still unhirable in that field without a masters. (psychology usually, etc. I have a chick friend in that and she's working on research, going to grad school and will do well, but most just do it to get a flimsy piece of paper)

There are majors out there that prepare you for a career, not a dead-end job. If you aren't going for one of those, not much sense wasting 4-5 years and $$$$$ when you would be better off training for a trade, etc.

NO shit. My mom is a teacher at effectively a "trade college". She teaches general education (math, writing, social science, etc.). She talks about how these people are lacking in a LOT of academic areas, but are making the wisest choice of their life getting a "degree" in IT, criminal justice, etc.

[uofom3]

Ok, ok.

Easy on the Sociology majors.

My Bachelors Degree is in Sociology. I graduated with a high GPA, was Phi Beta Kappa, and had a bunch of companies interested in me. Back in the olden days, places like P&G, Citibank, Toyota, etc wanted high end liberal arts people for things like HR, Public Relations, etc. becasue those people are often more well rounded than a tunnel vision business school worker bee. P&G is crawling with people with liberal arts degrees who are brand managers and product developers.

But at the time I declared it as my major, I was about 95% sure I was going to Law school anyway. And sure, there were a ton of chicks in my classes - not exactly a downside.

EDIT: mind you, I am talking about liberal arts people who were tops in their classes or went to Ivy League schools, not a guy with a 2.9 and a psych degree from some no name commuter school

Exactly. If you're going to law school - go nuts. BUT most all of the people who get a degree in that discipline don't.

[uofom3]

I honestly think that the degree really doesn't matter all that much, it's more of a proof that you can learn.

Truth.

BUT, many jobs that are actually moving twoards careers want you to have a background in a given area.

Jobs love recent grads with some minor-level work experience because they know they are trustworthy and will be able to re-train them to do things how they want it done.

[rwh11385]

Ok, ok.

Easy on the Sociology majors.

My Bachelors Degree is in Sociology. I graduated with a high GPA, was Phi Beta Kappa, and had a bunch of companies interested in me. Back in the olden days, places like P&G, Citibank, Toyota, etc wanted high end liberal arts people for things like HR, Public Relations, etc. becasue those people are often more well rounded than a tunnel vision business school worker bee. P&G is crawling with people with liberal arts degrees who are brand managers and product developers.

But at the time I declared it as my major, I was about 95% sure I was going to Law school anyway. And sure, there were a ton of chicks in my classes - not exactly a downside.

EDIT: mind you, I am talking about liberal arts people who were tops in their classes or went to Ivy League schools, not a guy with a 2.9 and a psych degree from some no name commuter school

If you're going to grad school, esp. law school who cares - - - as long as the law schools feel good about your major. My sis is a little iffy on getting into law with decently strong grads in "sports marketing". If someone wants to work, work, work to get ahead and has a passion for it, fine... but she ended up there because she couldn't make the cut in business major accounting, etc.

And P&G will look for people in underwater basketweaving for CMK or whatever it is.

[rwh11385]

wised up and switched to computer and information systems. While I didn't finish (I can at any time, I have to take like 3 math classes and a science class),

I seriously think you should consider finishing out at night or online if possible. You can put your current work experience together with CIT or CIS education and get into a more stable job with better benefits. This ought to be important to a family man, especially with your shaky weeks working for a contractor and all with demand or finishing early.

You also have a couple local and close on the board mentors to reach out to for advice and networking. (Kruzen, James, etc.) They can give you direction and an "in" that could give you a better foundation of a career instead of a job.

[Rigmaster]

that quote is exactly what happens to sooooo many graduates. It's fucking awesome. They think because they got a sociology degree that they should make 6 figures. You know what a sociology degree gets you? A job at starbucks, or writing a blog that doesn't pay shit. Good job getting a worthless degree, and taking 4 years to learn what informed people to by simply reading the newspapers.

Case in point. Very good friend of mine got a sociology major (not that it mattered what degree he got.. his family is worth probably over a billion dollars) and couldn't figure out what to write for his paper on energy policies. I wrote it for him in an hour only reading the prompt and only citing a few sources and he got a B on the paper. This isn't to say that I'm a great paper writer or a genius (though I am a good paper writer, but certainly far, far from a genius), but rather to say that it's so fucking easy I didnt' even have to take the class to get a B. He thought it was great - and then got a me a few bottles of the Glen. i was happy.

People should pursue a degree, regardless of what it is. BUT, they should have reasonable expectations as to what is going to happen after they get that degree.

So lemme get this straight-


you wrote a paper for your friend and you think this is OK?


You cheated, he cheated. <period

Then you post it up on a public forum to brag about it?


Yep, you're a genius alright.

[uofom3]

So lemme get this straight-


you wrote a paper for your friend and you think this is OK?


You cheated, he cheated. <period

Then you post it up on a public forum to brag about it?


Yep, you're a genius alright.

You think this doesn't happen? You think I'm bragging about it? I'm trying to make a point. Good luck proving academic dishonesty BTW.

I'm proving the point that the "infallibility" of higher education isn't so infallible.

Oh, and yes it's OK. I didn't have someone write the paper for me, so my conscious is clear. I wouldn't have someone do MY work for me, but if he wants to buy me 80 bucks worth of fine alcohol for an hours worth of my time on a topic that I enjoy - sounds fine to me. He's only cheating himself.

EDIT: Also, are you aware of how much cheating goes in in academia? That doesn't make it right... but you can't think the system if pure. And I don't mean just cheating on tests... I mean parents getting kids on sports teams, into different schools, passing grades on a paper, etc. It doesn't make it OK I guess, but regardless it's the way shit works.