25 years old and deep in debt

[MadImmortalMan]

I'm in favor of taking some time off and joining the real world for a while before deciding to get re-institutionalized in university. I think that extended period of time living in the bubble is a bad thing for people and damages their ability to function effectively later.

[The Brain]

Military service is traditional between high school and university. Except now we don't have it anymore.

[Josquius]

I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was 16 and the choices had to be made

What makes you think kids these days make better choices or have a better plan?

That they clearly do. The system in Germany, the Netherlands, etc... Is working

[jimmy olsen]

i often heard anecdotes from professors during college of how they once taught private universities, and students would actually come to them during office hours and say, "i received a poor grade on this paper/test/etc. why? i deserve As." i found that odd, but i guess there are those who are really like that

It happens a lot in both public and private universities.  Part of the blame is grade inflation in high schools.   People who are used to getting A grades doing C+ work are often quick to blame the Prof or university for their poor marks rather then considering the more obvious problem.

A funny anecdote from a friend who spent some time teaching at an Ivy League school:

Student: "I got a B.  I have never had a B.  I always get As."

Prof:"There is a first time for everything.  Was there anything else?"

It's funny, and of course everyone on Earth younger than 30 (or let's make that 31, I'm sure) is an entitled monster, but did your pal bother explaining the grade, or was his pedagogical response to the person paying him to do his job really as dismissive as a two-sentence bon mot?

I was hoping that the story would end on a more entertaining note.

Student: "I got a B.  I have never had a B.  I always get As."

Prof: "Well, there *is* a way you can get an A..." 

Yes, we all remember the story of you and your wife cackling evilly over a similar scene you once witnessed. 

[CountDeMoney]

I'm in favor of taking some time off and joining the real world for a while before deciding to get re-institutionalized in university. I think that extended period of time living in the bubble is a bad thing for people and damages their ability to function effectively later.

You don't have much choice when the real world doesn't let you join in any reindeer games.

[Eddie Teach]

Yes, we all remember the story of you and your wife cackling evilly over a similar scene you once witnessed. 

Jog my memory, would you? 

[MadImmortalMan]

I'm in favor of taking some time off and joining the real world for a while before deciding to get re-institutionalized in university. I think that extended period of time living in the bubble is a bad thing for people and damages their ability to function effectively later.

You don't have much choice when the real world doesn't let you join in any reindeer games.

Better to have no reindeer games and no debt than no reindeer games and a bunch of debt. 

[Phillip V]

First-Year Law School Enrollment Falls

'First-year enrollment at U.S. law schools plunged to its lowest level since 1977, as students steered away from a career that has left many recent graduates loaded with debt and struggling to find work.'

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2013/12/17/first-year-law-school-enrollment-lowest-since-1977/

[Admiral Yi]

Which means it might be time for folks to start thinking about law school again.

[crazy canuck]

Which means it might be time for folks to start thinking about law school again.

Maybe, it would be interesting to see if anyone has done an analysis of how many graduates are needed to fill available positions.  Technology has greatly reduced the need for the numbers of support staff and junior lawyers that were once required.

[Ideologue]

They have.  It's around 25,000 per year.  That's the number of grads that get fulltime, permanent, bar-required jobs.  Somewhat more than half of the output of the past several years.

Although, if you count only jobs that are sufficient to service the average law school debt, it's a fraction of that fraction.

So, no, it's not a good time to go to law school.  Not yet, certainly.

[The Minsky Moment]

Which means it might be time for folks to start thinking about law school again.

If you can get in a top 10 law school and do well there, yes.
If you have good connections in your local state and have a job lined up in advance, also yes.
Otherwise, think carefully.

[Admiral Yi]

OK, it might be time to start thinking carefully about law school again. 

[Phillip V]

Waiting Tables at Top-Tier Restaurants Is New Career Path for Ivy League and Culinary School Grads

'Head waiters at top-tier restaurants can earn from $80,000 to as much as $150,000 a year including tips. In comparison, a line cook might earn as little as $35,000 to $45,000 a year while working longer hours. The nation's highest-rated restaurants, including Per Se, Le Bernardin and Eleven Madison Park in New York and Alinea in Chicago, hire as few as 10% of the individuals applying for waitstaff jobs.'

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304137304579292350943682222

[The Brain]

The nation's highest-rated restaurants, including Per Se, Le Bernardin and Eleven Madison Park in New York and Alinea in Chicago, hire as few as 10% of the individuals applying for waitstaff jobs.'

What??! They get 10 applicants per job? That's AMAZING.