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wallinbl · Aug 4, 2009, 08:26 AM

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/03/new...ate/index.html

See, what happens is that when you attend college, you enter into an implied verbal contract. You provide the college with money, and they provide you with a job. It's the evolution of the university system - no longer do you get an education, but now you just directly purchase employment. As such, it is only fair that you sue your school for failure to meet its implied contractual duty to provide you with employment in exchange for your payment of tuition.

mooblie · Aug 4, 2009, 08:36 AM

Wow, Trina Thompson has now well and truly ruined her chances of ever getting job! What employer would want someone with her fondness for litigation on their books?

ShortcutToMoncton · Aug 4, 2009, 08:36 AM

only in amerika?

64stang06 · Aug 4, 2009, 08:40 AM

I have a 3.8 GPA and can't get a job. Should I sue also?

ShortcutToMoncton · Aug 4, 2009, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by 64stang06

I have a 3.8 GPA and can't get a job. Should I sue also?

No, just apply to law school

oh snap!

ghporter · Aug 4, 2009, 09:13 AM

Ummmm....I thought the university prepared you for a job, and then it was up to you to motivate your butt to find that job. That's what I did-just this past several weeks in fact. I start on Monday the 10th.

Of course if you go to college as an English major, unless you already have a job lined up as an editor for a publishing house or something, most people think your education prepares you to say "would you like to add french fries to your order?" as opposed to "do ya want fries with that?" In other words, you need to study something that there's a demand for... I'm just sayin'...

SpaceMonkey · Aug 4, 2009, 09:18 AM

As Thompson sees it, any reasonable employer would pounce on an applicant with her academic credentials, which include a 2.7 grade-point average and a solid attendance record.

lexapro · Aug 4, 2009, 09:49 AM

Her lawsuit is entirely valid.

wallinbl · Aug 4, 2009, 10:09 AM

Originally Posted by lexapro

Her lawsuit is entirely valid.

She has a crap GPA in a crap degree from a crap school (and presumably no experience). On top of that, she clearly has a poor attitude. They have provided her with information on a number of employers, none of whom were interested. Given her academics, that's not surprising.

lexapro · Aug 4, 2009, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

She has a crap GPA in a crap degree from a crap school (and presumably no experience). On top of that, she clearly has a poor attitude. They have provided her with information on a number of employers, none of whom were interested. Given her academics, that's not surprising.

Her GPA is above average (remember, a C is average). Her school is regionally accredited, so it is real and not crap as they are held to high standards. Her no experience is not her fault. Her attitude is one of a go-getter.

Dakar V · Aug 4, 2009, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by lexapro

Her GPA is above average (remember, a C is average). Her school is regionally accredited, so it is real and not crap as they are held to high standards. Her no experience is not her fault. Her attitude is one of a go-getter.

Maybe she should be suing the companies she interviewed with for not hiring her too?

SpaceMonkey · Aug 4, 2009, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by lexapro

Her GPA is above average (remember, a C is average).

In that case, she should move to Lake Wobegon.

SpaceMonkey · Aug 4, 2009, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by lexapro

Her no experience is not her fault.

Yes it is.

wallinbl · Aug 4, 2009, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by lexapro

Her GPA is above average (remember, a C is average). Her school is regionally accredited, so it is real and not crap as they are held to high standards. Her no experience is not her fault. Her attitude is one of a go-getter.

C is the average for individual courses, not for college graduates. The national average GPA for graduates is 3.2. Remember that the ones that don't get at least a C aren't graduating. Accreditation is not a sign that the school has high academic standards, only that it meets certain criteria.

SSharon · Aug 4, 2009, 10:22 AM

I'm a recent graduate looking for a job too, but I don't think my chances of success in suing my former law school are too high.

Phileas · Aug 4, 2009, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by lexapro

Her lawsuit is entirely valid.

Are you serious? Because that's an insane statement to make. A degree entitles you to **** all.

Salty · Aug 4, 2009, 10:29 AM

My Church Ministries degree prepared me to work at a cell phone store where I deal with many people who have less of an education than I do. You'd be surprised how little most customers care about my ability to discuss theology...

wallinbl · Aug 4, 2009, 10:40 AM

Originally Posted by Salty

My Church Ministries degree prepared me to work at a cell phone store where I deal with many people who have less of an education than I do. You'd be surprised how little most customers care about my ability to discuss theology...

I'm always amazed at the inability of seminary graduates to discuss theology. Half the time, they can barely discuss doctrine. Seems that many schools see it as a vocational degree rather than a philosophical pursuit.

turtle777 · Aug 4, 2009, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by lexapro

Her GPA is above average (remember, a C is average). Her school is regionally accredited, so it is real and not crap as they are held to high standards. Her no experience is not her fault. Her attitude is one of a go-getter.

You can't be possibly serious.

If yes, I will have to ignore all future posts of yours.

-t

turtle777 · Aug 4, 2009, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by Salty

My Church Ministries degree prepared me to work at a cell phone store where I deal with many people who have less of an education than I do. You'd be surprised how little most customers care about my ability to discuss theology...

You should sue God. It's been done before.

-t

ShortcutToMoncton · Aug 4, 2009, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by lexapro

Her GPA is above average (remember, a C is average). Her school is regionally accredited, so it is real and not crap as they are held to high standards. Her no experience is not her fault. Her attitude is one of a go-getter.

Haha, this is stupid.

And a B is the average at the two universities I've attended. (It was what they've pegged the curve at, anyway.)

Somehow, I also find it hard to believe that a US postsecondary school's "goodness" is measured by its ability to gain regional accredidation status. Call me skeptical, but I know it wasn't the first thing I looked for when I was browsing US law schools....

greg

Dork. · Aug 4, 2009, 11:35 AM

I think there's something to this. Not to the lawsuit itself: I think it will get laughed out of court unless there's some actual discrimination going on. But here is someone who feels that they are entitled to a job simply because they graduated from college. And a particular type of job at that, since working in sales at the mall or at a fast-food restaurant is "not what they planned".

Do we shake our fist at the entitlement culture that has apparently developed with young people today?

Or, instead, do we hold Universities accountable for taking everyone in they can, even if they are perhaps better suited to go straight into the workforce, and creating a generation of College graduates who are in debt up to their eyeballs, and yet not suited to the type of work that can get them out of that debt?

I'm all for making the opportunity of a College education available for everyone who can make good use of it, but I fear we are sending folks to college who would be better off getting right into the work force. We require people of all skill levels and trades to make our economy function. I'm an engineer (a profession which pretty much requires a college degree), but I would be a lot less effective if it weren't for the Techs I work with. They may have an Associates Degree (or no degree at all), yet their experience and talents are valuable to me and my company. They're doing just fine, and started off their careers in less debt to boot. Heck, the real-world experience they get might motivate them to get further education later in life, when they can afford it and perhaps are better suited to the work. Why aren't we steering more folks down this path?

turtle777 · Aug 4, 2009, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Dork.

Do we shake our fist at the entitlement culture that has apparently developed with young people today?

That's the key. The US is becoming an entitlement society. This lawsuit is a perfect example.

Everyone deserves a college degree (paid for by someone else), a good paying job, a new car every two years, owning a house, free health insurance etc...

Where would it come from ? Well, the government should provide it.

Btw, the twin of entitlement is lack of personal responsibility. If something goes wrong, it's always someone else's fault.

-t

Salty · Aug 4, 2009, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by wallinbl

I'm always amazed at the inability of seminary graduates to discuss theology. Half the time, they can barely discuss doctrine. Seems that many schools see it as a vocational degree rather than a philosophical pursuit.

I wrote a big long reply then got logged out. Essentially what I planned on saying is, I'm pretty good when it comes to being up on what various groups believe (partially because I find other sides very interesting... even if they're wrong and should think more like

) but a lot of denominational schools will only teach what they believe. Beyond that a lot of what you study is less doctrine and is more biblical studies, which frankly at least as far as I can see I'd much rather someone have a grasp of how the bible was written than what their denominational leaders think.

Chuckit · Aug 4, 2009, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by lexapro

Her GPA is above average (remember, a C is average). Her school is regionally accredited, so it is real and not crap as they are held to high standards. Her no experience is not her fault. Her attitude is one of a go-getter.

How is her lack of experience not her fault? Did she actually try for an internship at every business in the country and fail entirely due to circumstances outside her control?

raf66 · Aug 4, 2009, 02:01 PM

Welcome to the "Age of Entitlement". You know, we've had the Classical Age, the Age of Enlightenment, et al., and now we have this. Unfortunately this is the status quo today for a large segment of our population. Our current political situation is riding that same wave. We tried (maybe) but weren't successful so now you owe us. In some (most?) cases, we don't want to try and you still owe us. It's everyone else's fault. Yadda yadda.

God help us all.

Mr_E · Aug 4, 2009, 02:02 PM

I have no college degree. I have been working in IT for over 15 years and eventually worked my way up to the management level , pulling down a minimum of 70K or so annually.

A piece of paper does not mean much compared to effort, experience, and a willingness to learn.

I have hired people with no college education, based on their personality and perceived ability and willingness to learn. So far, it's worked for me.

I have some kick ass people working under me now. They got that way by learning both on their own and on the job, not by whining.

Three months?! You haven't even really started job hunting in earnest yet.
How many resumes are you sending out?

I am not moved by your whining... at all.

Mrjinglesusa · Aug 4, 2009, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by lexapro

Her lawsuit is entirely valid.

Originally Posted by lexapro

Her GPA is above average (remember, a C is average). Her school is regionally accredited, so it is real and not crap as they are held to high standards. Her no experience is not her fault. Her attitude is one of a go-getter.

Let me guess: you graduated from the same college with the same GPA and you can't find a job either.

A 2.7 GPA from a crappy college that will admit anyone and anything that has a pulse and she expects employers to be jumping at the chance to hire her? Give me a break.

shifuimam · Aug 4, 2009, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by Dork.

Or, instead, do we hold Universities accountable for taking everyone in they can, even if they are perhaps better suited to go straight into the workforce, and creating a generation of College graduates who are in debt up to their eyeballs, and yet not suited to the type of work that can get them out of that debt?

I'm all for making the opportunity of a College education available for everyone who can make good use of it, but I fear we are sending folks to college who would be better off getting right into the work force. We require people of all skill levels and trades to make our economy function. I'm an engineer (a profession which pretty much requires a college degree), but I would be a lot less effective if it weren't for the Techs I work with. They may have an Associates Degree (or no degree at all), yet their experience and talents are valuable to me and my company. They're doing just fine, and started off their careers in less debt to boot. Heck, the real-world experience they get might motivate them to get further education later in life, when they can afford it and perhaps are better suited to the work. Why aren't we steering more folks down this path?

THIS.

The attitude toward a college education here in the United States is just ridiculous. It's generally assumed that you're a more capable worker if you have a college degree, which is total and complete bullshit. Having a college degree does not unilaterally make you smarter than someone who only has a GED or high school diploma. In fact, in this girl's particular major (IT), you're more likely to have usable skills if you've been working, since half the technology you learned in your 4+ years of college is now obsolete.

My current employer recently hired in a couple guys for some new web dev positions on the team. I was told that the boyfriend would be inadequately equipped for the positions in question, because apparently a college degree enables you to have good customer service, communication, and project management skills.

Let's see. I went to college for four years. My first job out of college was as an IT project manager at a multinational manufacturing corporation. My college degree didn't do sh!t to prepare me for such a job, and I failed miserably at it. You take someone like boyfriend, who has three years of solid application development, customer service, and PM skills under his belt, and he's kicked to the curb because he doesn't have a magic piece of paper that somehow means he's better than other people.

Then, on the other side, you have dipwads getting masters degrees and doctorates in completely worthless crap like art history, museum management, xxxx-American studies, and other things that are extremely niche and only provide a handful of job opportunities across the country annually. We've not only raised kids in an entitlement-based mindset, but we've also told them that they should "follow their dreams", whatever those dreams may be.

It's time for a major reality check with today's higher education institutions and students: following your dreams can be a sure-fire way to send you straight into welfare, unemployment, or working shitty dead-end hourly jobs for the rest of your life. One of my mother's friends wanted to get a degree in french horn when she was applying for college. Her father wouldn't let her - he told her she should get a degree in something useful, and she could always continue to play french horn part time in volunteer orchestras and at church (which she still does). She ended up getting a degree in education and chemistry, and has been a high school chemistry teacher for the past fifteen years or so.

On the other hand, my neighbor got a degree in history and discovered too quickly that it was completely worthless. He ended up joining the Navy for lack of any other career options, did that for several years, and is now 31 years old and back in school getting a degree in education so that he can be a history teacher. He's wasted countless hours and thousands of dollars on a previous degree that proved to be utterly useless in the real world.

Yeah, there are people who make it in liberal and fine arts. My cousin is an artist and is currently under a fellowship grant that basically allows her to do nothing but paint all day and get paid for it. She's in the very select few in the entire world who's this fortunate, however, and I can pretty much guarantee you that the majority of her graduating class from her masters program is now doing things like working at American Eagle and Starbucks and FedEx.

There are plenty of kids wasting time and money in college right now who would be much better suited in a trade school or apprenticeship program, learning an actual skill that can *reliably* earn them actual cash dollars. We need to be encouraging high school students to pursue non-college futures - but that also means that we need to make the general corporate workforce realize that a college degree is not necessary for many professions anymore. Science, math, engineering, and other professions that require a very high level of comprehension of very complex concepts and theories absolutely require a college degree and even graduate school. Most IT jobs, on the other hand, don't remotely require a college education. I learned almost nothing in the four years I wasted in college. In fact, the majority of what I learned during that time was either in summer internships where I learned web development skills, or non-school situations where I simply learned more about who I really was and am.

Not that I feel strongly about this or anything. My boyfriend's been unemployed for five months now because nobody wants to hire him. Why? Because he doesn't have a magic piece of paper that insists he's smart. Sure, he's got loads more real-word experience than any recent college graduate in his field of interest (application development), but because he doesn't have a degree, he's assumed to be an idiot. Never mind that he dropped out of college after his freshman year because his family was so broke they literally couldn't afford to support themselves anymore, and he started working full time to help support them...

Dakar V · Aug 4, 2009, 02:14 PM

Think of a college degree like a driver's license, shif.

Shaddim · Aug 4, 2009, 03:22 PM

From the looks of it, she isn't qualified to pick up my dry cleaning or fetch my coffee. However, I'd be willing to give her the benefit of the doubt and consider her for an intern position (paying 7.25 /hr). All she needs to do is send me some pics of her in a mini skirt and high heels so I can make a final decision.

You think I'm joking?!?! HA!

SSharon · Aug 4, 2009, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Mrjinglesusa

Let me guess: you graduated from the same college with the same GPA and you can't find a job either.

A 2.7 GPA from a crappy college that will admit anyone and anything that has a pulse and she expects employers to be jumping at the chance to hire her? Give me a break.

I wouldn't make such assumptions. I happen to know that Lexapro is well educated.

Railroader · Aug 4, 2009, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Salty

My Church Ministries degree prepared me to work at a cell phone store where I deal with many people who have less of an education than I do. You'd be surprised how little most customers care about my ability to discuss theology...

I thought looking at porn and admitting you were gay at your last ministry related job did that.

brassplayersrock² · Aug 4, 2009, 03:37 PM

One thing I can say about this is that before I graduated with my degree, finding a job was easy. Now it's, "you're over qualified" 5 times straight now. Perhaps I should go get my doctorate.

Laminar · Aug 4, 2009, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by SSharon

I wouldn't make such assumptions. I happen to know that Lexapro is well educated.

There's proof that an education has no correlation to intelligence.

Dakar V · Aug 4, 2009, 03:47 PM

Or at least a grasp on reality.

Dork. · Aug 4, 2009, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by brassplayersrock²

One thing I can say about this is that before I graduated with my degree, finding a job was easy. Now it's, "you're over qualified" 5 times straight now. Perhaps I should go get my doctorate.

"You're Overqualified" is usually code for "We can't afford you". Try to reassure them that you're willing to do the job they want at the price they're willing to pay....

exca1ibur · Aug 4, 2009, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by Dork.

"You're Overqualified" is usually code for "We can't afford you". Try to reassure them that you're willing to do the job they want at the price they're willing to pay....

That is assuming they give you the option. I got the same thing after two interviews and they said they would give me a call. It's been going on 8 years now for that phone call.

andi*pandi · Aug 4, 2009, 04:26 PM

"She suggested that Monroe's Office of Career Advancement shows preferential treatment to students with excellent grades. "They favor more toward students that got a 4.0. They help them more out with the job placement," she said."

Well duh. It might also be that employers want the 4.0 folks.

I had a 3.4 average and job hunted for over a year, working a crap job in between. Suck it up kid.

Chuckit · Aug 4, 2009, 04:26 PM

Originally Posted by Dork.

"You're Overqualified" is usually code for "We can't afford you". Try to reassure them that you're willing to do the job they want at the price they're willing to pay....

I thought it was code for "We know you're slumming and believe you're going to be pissy and unhappy when you realize you got a philosophy degree just to sell souvenirs at a tourist trap."

Dork. · Aug 4, 2009, 04:47 PM

Exactly. You need to reassure them that you're willing to sell souvenirs at their tourist trap, for the minimum wage they're likely to pay, in spite of all that college debt you have.

wallinbl · Aug 4, 2009, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by Dork.

"You're Overqualified" is usually code for "We can't afford you". Try to reassure them that you're willing to do the job they want at the price they're willing to pay....

You can't assure them of that. They'll always assume that you're taking that job as a holdover until you find a job that pays what they believe you're worth. Recruitment and training is expensive and it's not worth the risk of having to do it again if you think the candidate is likely to leave.

Mrjinglesusa · Aug 4, 2009, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by SSharon

I wouldn't make such assumptions. I happen to know that Lexapro is well educated.

I was being facetious. As in, I don't really believe that he graduated from the same college and also can't find a job.

mduell · Aug 4, 2009, 06:50 PM

She wrote the complain herself and she can't spell tuition?

kmkkid · Aug 4, 2009, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

She wrote the complain herself and she can't spell tuition?

Hmmmm?

olePigeon · Aug 4, 2009, 08:27 PM

I have a job and I still haven't gotten my bachelor's degree. I'm going to sue a University.

turtle777 · Aug 4, 2009, 08:46 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

I have a job and I still haven't gotten my bachelor's degree. I'm going to sue a University.

-t

ShortcutToMoncton · Aug 4, 2009, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

I have a job and I still haven't gotten my bachelor's degree. I'm going to sue a University.

Shouldn't you sue your employer?

wallinbl · Aug 4, 2009, 09:20 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

I have a job and I still haven't gotten my bachelor's degree. I'm going to sue a University.

You better watch out - she'll sue you for taking the job she was supposed to get.

shifuimam · Aug 4, 2009, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

Think of a college degree like a driver's license, shif.

Except that a driver's license doesn't put you in tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, and it doesn't take four years of nonstop work to get one.

Not to mention that a license means you can drive, period. A degree does not mean you can get a job. Too many businesses put far too much stock in a college degree these days. It doesn't hold the same prestige that it used to, now that every idiot off the street can get one if they're willing to go into enough debt.