Thinking of future and life after one gets their degree can be overwhelming, especially as a college student. The editors of “The Outlook” have come together to discuss this nerve-wracking issue, how they feel about their future, and what they plan to do after attending Monmouth University.
One editor explained that they were very concerned about their future after college, regarding jobs and student loan debt. “I worry about my future after college more than I should. With the field I am going into, there are either going to be jobs lined up for me, or they will be hard to find. I also worry due to student loans,” the editor explained.
While a different editor does worry about their future, they are a firm believer in that everything will work itself out in the end. This, they believe, takes off some of the unwanted stress. “Although I do worry about my future after college,” they explained, “I’m a firm believer in everything working out the way it’s meant to. Because of this, my worries are somewhat alleviated although I do tend to stress.”
Another issue that has arisen in recent years is the value of a bachelor’s degree. Jobs are becoming increasingly competitive in the working world, and some students who have a bachelor’s degree don’t think it is enough. They may have to go for their master’s or doctorate to even be considered in the application process.
One editor said, “Unfortunately, I believe a bachelor’s degree has gone down in value over the years. So many companies look for people with master’s degrees. However, I still do believe that college students can find entry jobs with just a bachelor.”
“I do believe that, on the East Coast, the bachelor’s degree has decreased in value. This being said, in more midwestern states where college isn’t the norm to attend, bachelor’s are more of a hot commodity. It all depends on where you’re basing your standards,” another editor said.
However, a different editor believes that in the business/communication industry, the value of a bachelor’s degree has increased. The editor explained, “I think the value of a BA has actually increased in recent years, as it feels like every job requires at least some kind of degree. However, at least in the Communication and Business worlds, I have heard from many currently working professionals that they value experience, like through internships, more than a college degree.”
Finding one’s own space is especially difficult today due to high interest rates, and the cost of living. “With the way inflation is heading,” an editor commented, “it is extremely difficult for new graduates to live on their own. However, I do plan on finding a roommate following graduation so that I can try to cut costs as effectively as possible.”
Another editor had different plans: “I am living with my mom after I get out of college and I have no shame in saying that. Living on your own is extremely expensive and I want to worry about paying off some of my student loans first before I commit to owning or renting a place,” they said.
Another agreed, “After college, I will absolutely have to move back in with my parents. I’m fully prepared to not live on my own for at least a few years, and even then when I am ready, I know I will have to move far enough away from NY/NJ where property taxes and the housing market are not as competitive or expensive.”
With everything on the rise in price, it begs the question: are college degrees too expensive? In the past, going to college was the only way to be very successful, but in recent years, the price of tuition has increased exponentially. There also seems to be other ways of making good money.
“College degrees should not be as expensive as they are,” one editor argued. “To mitigate college tuition costs, there should be more financial governmental aid as well as aid from the universities themselves.”
Another added, “I think the only way to make college less expensive is internal, college by college. So many colleges spend mass amounts of money on facilities and extras that students don’t even want. More colleges should offer more scholarship opportunities.”
“There should be more opportunities for students to receive aid or just make education free. I come from a lower to middle-income household and feel that I am not receiving adequate aid. Monmouth has made their tuition too expensive to the point of attendance going down. Granted, I chose to come here and love it, however, Monmouth should offer multiple resources of aid or scholarship in order to help students want to come here,” an editor concluded.
Overall, it is clear that there are a number of aspects that students need to consider with both attending college and planning for their future afterwards.
