re: Harvard's May Graduation Class = 25% unemployed

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Depends. For white collar work, it’s still a pre-req for probably 99% of people. It’s not so much you learn anything valuable, as it is an expected feature.

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I think you’d be surprised at how many white collar jobs no longer require a college degree. Does it help, absolutely. Is it required, not as much as you think over the past 10 years

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If anything it’s become more entrenched. As someone who was just wrapping up college a decade ago, you would not be able to get an interview with a degree.

Does it matter much after you get that first job? No, same way your GPA doesn’t really matter. The problem is getting your foot in the door without one

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I'd agree to some degree. It is a child raising issue. But the value of what the university provides in an applicant isn't discernible. We've seen little difference between the skillset of the graduate and joe blow. If anything, I've seen the confusion that these kids think they've done everything right but still have no skill or drive. They've been told to simply jump through the educational hoops and everyone will want to hire them for upper management.

I'd much rather hire someone who has self-learned the field because they were interested and had drive than someone with an MBA who learned to take tests for 6 years.

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Usually takes more than a month to get a job nowadays if you don't already have one lined up. That 25% number would be something to pay attention to in November, not June.

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I get what you're saying, but I have held a job since I was 14. Never have I NOT had a job. There's no way they can't find ANY work. They just don't want the "remedial" stuff in the meantime. It's beneath them. Hell I have a masters degree and started in the print room where I am now (career job now, been at my company 12 years)

There are ways to get it paid for.

Especially with high school dual credit these days, JuCo, etc.

Nevermind GI Bill, etc.

I'm not saying everyone has to spend 4 years on campus and join a fraternity/sorority.

But, I can tell you that in the Tech field, I see non-college grads with experience who can do good work. But, the college grad is a safer bet.

And we're all competing against offshore / outsourcing these days so, we've got to be as productive as we can if we want to keep Americans employed in 6 figure jobs.

I worked with a Harvard grad for a good while. He was a liberal arts major, History, Interpretive Feminist Dance Theory, something dumb with no future. He played off the college name, but was in the safety department, which was and typically is one of the lowest paying positions.

Left wing koo koo bird, but easier to deal with than the insufferable West Point ringknockers.

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Is college obsolete? Serious question. My kids are around the 10yo age. Don't see a need for them to go to school in 8-10 years.

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I guess that depends on what you want for your children. Nothing wrong with a trade, but if you have a child that is legit when it comes to scholastic excellence, a STEM degree will go a long way towards ensuring that their future has a path to economic independence that exceeds your own. You owe it to your family. Save now and put them through college. Don't send them out into the world with debt because you didn't plan.

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wonder if I want my kids to go to college

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I want my daughter to be an electrician or AC technician.

If you can show up and do your job, you can own your business and easily make six figures. Plus, as a woman-owned business, she could get some of those sweet government contracts!

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I guess that depends on what you want for your children. Nothing wrong with a trade, but if you have a child that is legit when it comes to scholastic excellence, a STEM degree will go a long way towards ensuring that their future has a path to economic independence that exceeds your own. You owe it to your family. Save now and put them through college. Don't send them out into the world with debt because you didn't plan.

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Sure but I guess that's part of the point. That has been the mentality for families in America for the last 40 years.
Is this still a valid route? I don't know.

My wife and I both went to college, paid off our loan debt and are the current "American Dream" with kids and a house, etc.
I just truly don't know if this is the best path anymore. Not sure kids need to go get strapped with debt, especially in Tech., as college prices are rising year after year.
I dunno what the right answer is, I see pros and cons both ways.

What did that have to do with the fact that 25% one month out is not that big of a deal at this point. My brother graduated from LSU in May of 1992, he did not land a finance job until August of that year. It's maybe a little high for Harvard grads at 25% but from a college grad in general, a month out, probably average

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Sure but I guess that's part of the point. That has been the mentality for families in America for the last 40 years. Is this still a valid route? I don't know.

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Careers were fairly static for decades and archetypal jobs for centuries. Tech made small advances, but you could start and finish life in one career field.

We are in a time of rapid change. Tech and AI have challenged the career fields once thought bulletproof.

Education must be more nimble going forward. Focusing on employable tasks and beneficial certifications over 4 year degrees. We have way more college degrees floating around and it feels the workforce is less qualified and not smarter.