The goalposts were clearly moved in a big and sudden way. Parental wisdom became worthless at worst and uncertain at least because no one knew what the economy was going to do (least of all parents that weren't economically aware). They continued with the same advice while the landscape changed drastically. Even if high school graduates did their own research, they would've still needed to be able to predict the outcome of an world economy after a huge shake-up -- how is someone fresh out of high school supposed to do that?

I mean, I agree that a Sociology degree isn't known for 6 figures, but before things went tits up, it would've likely gotten you a decent office job somewhere -- certainly you're capable of more than bagging groceries and stocking shelves. A Master's used to convey a certain amount of willingness to work, learn, and accomplish something. It was a certain amount of mold-able competency that transformed depending on what position you were given.

Now it suddenly isn't worth as much. It would've been another thing entirely if this was a slow shift, which would give society, businesses, and students time to adjust. Now that general usefulness is trash and you're better off partying to network.

The next generation will be able to research what happened, and they'll get more cautious advice, but that wisdom came at a pretty high price.

By parental advice I didn't mean "do what I did/what was the proper thing to do when I was your age" but "do some research, check what is in demand now, what do other people do, how it will all affect the future".

I'm 26 now, when I entered high school 10 years ago the whole sociology/political science/economy etc. boom started (at least in the part of Europe I was living in). Call me special but the fact that it was too popular made me think twice before entering a high school class profiled for that kind of studies (yes, we have profiles in HS in my country).

Also the fact that more and more people got accepted to universities made me realise that I either have to go to a lousy uni and work really hard on my own to be able to land a decent job or go to a top uni in the country (after entering one I realised that even with such a degree I need to find something I'm good at and do something in that direction, no one else will help me and only the degree won't mean that much).

Yes the system isn't without blame for talking crap, but let's be honest. The people in charge always were full of BS and that won't change.

Ah also, again, I didn't notice which unis those people graduated from. I'm pretty sure that a sociology degree from a top uni still holds some value.

> how is someone fresh out of high school supposed to do that?

This is what confuses me about the American system. Unlike say the system in India, you lot have an option to choose a different major. I can understand a high schooler who has no exposure to the world making a stupid mistake. I did, doing a degree in something I had no interest in. However, I pivoted fairly early doing enough projects and whatever to show that I had an avid interest/inclination in what I wanted to get into. As a person going to school in America, there is an incredibly rich set of options to you. Hell, you can, if you work hard enough, have your cake (take as many liberal arts courses as can satisfy your soul) and still eat too (take hard science courses).

> I mean, I agree that a Sociology degree isn't known for 6 figures, but before things went tits up, it would've likely gotten you a decent office job somewhere -- certainly you're capable of more than bagging groceries and stocking shelves. A Master's used to convey a certain amount of willingness to work, learn, and accomplish something. It was a certain amount of mold-able competency that transformed depending on what position you were given.

LOL. Seriously, this is a case of closing your eyes to how the world works. If you can't be arsed to do your research and figure out the dollar value of getting a degree, talk to people who have got the degree like a year before you (instead of some old people who think that being personable and having useless bullshit like "mold-able competency" actually means anything), you have proven yourself incompetent to get any sort of a job.

All you needed to do was to predict where the financial crisis will hit! How can anyone be unemployed?

I find the comments here pretty amusing.

Yes because that is exactly what I am saying. Yup, it is not like before the financial crisis every person who spent X years in school was immediately employable. By the way, nice strawman.