Clear Life Plan

Emily Driscoll posted an interesting think-piece on the Fox News website today: What is a Liberal Arts Degree Worth These Days?

Now what?

Not surprisingly, students with non-technical degrees are having a harder time finding work after graduation than their geekier comrades — but a number of experts caution against drawing the wrong conclusion: that it’s better to major in more practical fields, because that’s where the work’s gonna be.

In the first place, the technologies studied in college today evolve so rapidly that many are outdated within a few years of graduation (if not before!) whereas the “soft skills” pursued by liberal arts majors — written and oral communication, interpersonal skills, problem solving, critical and analytical thinking, and adaptability to change — provide them with an inherent advantage, according to career expert JP Hansen. “The ability to comprehend, communicate, and conquer problems is the name of the game,” he says.

Other experts point out statistics that show people changing jobs more and more in the new millennium, and all seem to agree that because liberal arts grads aren’t necessarily tied to one specific field, they can go into a variety of jobs and positions, especially with their strengths in written and oral skills.

A lot of what Driscoll calls the bad rap the liberal arts are getting these days is based on short-sighted thinking. Carol Haber, Dean of Liberal Arts at Tulane University, cites two misconceptions fueling the discussion: “one, that the ‘worth’ can be measured by dollars alone rather than through higher level skills gained through the degree, and two, that the value can be measured through the individual’s first job, rather than through the life course.”

At Clear Life Plan, we’ve got you covered. Figuring out the career, college, and major that will be right for you starts with YOU, not market analysis, perceived trends, or the pronouncements of pundits on the Next Big Thing. We’ll help you with the college selection and application process, of course, but we begin with you: your interests, your skills & knowledge, your strengths, and the behavioral needs that must be fulfilled in order for you to be your happiest and do your best.

It’s good to hear at least some people talking about the “life course.” It ain’t just about getting a degree.

In a recent report by Frederick M. Hess, Mark Schneider, Kevin Carey, and Andrew P. Kelly of the American Enterprise Institute, “fewer than 60 percent of new students graduate from four-year colleges within six years.”

But most families are totally unaware of these alarming college graduation statistics when they begin trying to develop plans for a student who will soon graduate from high school. They don’t realize that “the bridge is out” for a smooth passage from high school to college. In fact, it becomes a very difficult transition for far too many students entering their freshman year. And college is different from high school — very different.

What is not stated in the article is that there may be at least three more bridges that are out. The bridge may be out for many students just going from their freshman to their sophomore year. It is being reported that approximately 50% of freshman will change their major or move to another college by the end of their first year. Apparently the college selection process was off-target for these students in the first place.

The next bridge that might be out is the transition from the sophomore to the junior year. This is the time when many colleges require students to finally zero in on their major: the next two years of study will focus on subjects that should satisfy each student’s greatest desire for a future career. Hopefully there are no bridges out here; but there could be.

If all goes well, then comes graduation from college and the transition to a decent job at the start of a fulfilling career. Is anyone mentioning the fact that there might be a bridge out here — given this economy? Are they still hiring in the student’s final career choice, and in the student’s desired place to live?

Making these many choices when trying to develop a college plan that fits is not easy to do. It actually takes a lot of hard work conducting all the necessary research. Thankfully, we now have the internet for access to much of the information needed — but this takes time; often lots of time.

Going to college is not like it was for us parents, or even us grandparents — it once was possible to just go visit a few colleges and then just pick the one you liked. Then, plan on about 4 years in order to graduate and proceed to get a decent job to start a career; sometimes meaning a lifetime at one organization.

Times have really changed. And, there are several bridges that may be out!

Many people are justifiably anxious about paying for a college education, and want to make sure they get a good return on their investment.

But talking about furthering your education only in terms of costs and financial benefits (like landing a better job with a diploma in hand) is not just shallow, it’s damaging the whole enterprise, according to veteran higher education attorney Robert B. Smith during a September 20th Webinar at Stetson University.

Consumerist Paradigm Hurts American Higher Education, Attorney Says – PR Newswire.

Bad enough we got an economy in free-fall, with college costs rocketing out of control, but now the lunatics running the asylum are turning it into a retail outlet. Maybe it’s me, but this sounds crazy — and not in the good way that just might work.

What will work is a solid plan, in which you know where you’re going, know what you need in order to get there, and know what you have to do to get those needs met.

That’s our plan here at Clear Life Plan. Join us.