Nelson Grihalde, Ph D’s Post

I’ve been in college for quite a bit I’ll admit (life situations throughout the years). Despite knowing the decreasing need for a college degree over the years but not wanting to discourage others who are exactly on track into college, I had to stop relying on my degree as plan A. 😅 BUT that doesn’t mean I would ever want to stop being a journalist. It’s more like…as I said in a previous post a couple of days ago. I’ve been navigating other ways to make #income on the side that would attribute to things I can create out of the skills I already have, though that’s something to touch base on later when I make videos. However, I know everyone has different interests, so it's best to keep topics on journalism. But what I'm trying to say is I’m redefining what this future career means to me and how it'll redefine my #INTEGRITY in the process… I’m sure we know what the word integrity means, but sometimes it could go through one ear and out the other, lol. Integrity means to know what it means to be honest to yourself and the morals/principles you stand for. Pretty much…being true to yourself. Like — take for #example, would I want to go through a journalism degree with the mindset of, “I’m not sure what I want out of this buuuut I’m already halfway through and I just want to finish #school, and hopefully get paid enough to support myself.” — NO! And unfortunately…I’ve heard another student say this before. 😅 This hurts your integrity. Why settle for what you believe is less than what you want (or even if you don’t know what you want), especially since financial stability is something people NEED more than before nowadays? You just have to reflect and be prepared for what’s to come for this country. That’s why I mention all of this. Many journalism beats can now be replaced by other platforms because they’re deemed recreational enough to do by social media influencers who didn’t go or finish college. However, there are still #critical journalism focuses where providing proof that you’re a journalist would confirm your #legitimacy to gain access to reports. But that’s only if you want to pursue those routes (aka- I want to)! The point I’m trying to make is — journalism degrees would only now really suit those who crave the need for restoring #modesty and humbleness in this world again with a very open mind. When you have this type of mindset, you find #solutions for yourself the same way that you do for other people — because you’re curious and introspective enough! In other words, if you may be questioning whether to pursue a journalism degree, please reflect on what this career will mean for your #integrity and how you will manage your #assets and #liabilities in the long run, after graduation (are you truly doing yourself a favor --SORRY, let me correct myself--emotionally FULLFILLING favor?) I would never downgrade journalism, but it’s difficult to see those wandering without a plan and a questioning passion (oh --- and #opinion! 😂)

When families assess colleges and consider the return on investment, it makes sense that they look beyond just the school's prestige. Recent salary data backs this up, showing that not all Ivy League degrees lead to high earnings. In fact, only two Ivy League schools - UPenn and Princeton - had median salaries over $100,000 for students who received financial aid, even a decade after graduation. This underscores how important it is for families to carefully weigh the costs and likely outcomes of higher education, since even well-known schools might not always pay off financially in the ways people expect. https://lnkd.in/gte4JMMD

The steady drumbeat of claims that college isn’t worth it resembles a well-organized disinformation campaign. In reality, college graduates do better, on average, than those without a college degree. Claiming otherwise risks discouraging college enrollment among the very people who stand to benefit most from a college degree: low-income students, first-generation students, and students from historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups. Yes, it’s possible to do well without a college degree. But those who do are the outliers, not the norm. None of this is to say that college is without risk. College students should take earnings expectations into account when selecting a major and deciding how much to borrow. And they should know that programs at different institutions can lead to substantially different outcomes even for the same major. Postsecondary institutions need to do more to ensure that students are making informed decisions, and they need to provide the resources students need to minimize their personal risk. They need to be more transparent about earnings outcomes by program and major, to substantially improve career counseling, and to support efforts like work-based learning that position their graduates for successful careers. In the meantime, the media need to stop misleading the public about the value of college degrees. For young people hoping to maximize their chances of high pay and low unemployment, a college degree is the safest bet. https://bit.ly/3Nzutno

When families assess colleges and consider the return on investment, it makes sense that they look beyond just the school's prestige. Recent salary data backs this up, showing that not all Ivy League degrees lead to high earnings. In fact, only two Ivy League schools - UPenn and Princeton - had median salaries over $100,000 for students who received financial aid, even a decade after graduation. This underscores how important it is for families to carefully weigh the costs and likely outcomes of higher education, since even well-known schools might not always pay off financially in the ways people expect. https://lnkd.in/gcj9Utqb

Many of you have seen this article. An interesting stat buried in it is: "More than two-thirds, or 67%, of respondents say college is headed in the “wrong direction,” compared with just 31% who feel it’s going in the right direction." There is a lot to unpack here (a blog coming soon), but more than simply the increasing cost of higher education, stats about job placement rate and average starting salary (and how that compares) are just two other factors that need discussion. What is your reaction to this article? https://lnkd.in/ey7eUmek

Still worth getting a degree, but be a wise consumer of education.

Excerpt… None of this is to say that college is without risk. College students should take earnings expectations into account when selecting a major and deciding how much to borrow. And they should know that programs at different institutions can lead to substantially different outcomes even for the same major… (colleges) need to be more transparent about earnings outcomes by program and major …and to support efforts like work-based learning that position their graduates for successful careers.

🎙 A word on the necessity of holding the "both/and" as it relates to college attainment 🎓 and its role in our country more consistently and equitably living into the promise of economic and social mobility 📈: ✅ We should push on the question of degree-requirement for roles. AND ✅ We should hold higher education institutions more accountable for their students' persistence and completion and specifically doing so equitably for students from under-represented backgrounds. AND ✅ We should feel comfortable delivering a full-throated endorsement that "for young people hoping to maximize their changes of high pay and low unemployment, a college degree is still the safest bet." AND ✅ We should simultaneously clearly communicate that in the current system, going to college- particularly taking out loans- is not a risk-free proposition. That risk is multiplied when the degree is not attained, as well as varies widely depending on the institution and major. AND ✅, AND ✅, AND ✅....I'm sure there are many other things I'm not remembering that you call can add to the list. Or you can create a parallel "both/and" list for PK-12 education 🏫. Or you can create a parallel "both/and" list for neighborhood prosperity work. A silver bullet sure we be nice 🤷♂️. But complex, dynamic, layered challenges require multi-faceted solutions that match. While one is working on one piece on the list, they shouldn't fool themselves into thinking it's the only piece nor should they dismiss the work and contributions of others working on other pieces. I appreciate how Dr. Carnevale of Georgetown University is able to see and hold the complexity and yet still communicate it so simply and clearly. That is the sign of deep understanding and wisdom. It is that standard of understanding complexity and communicating clearly that I aspire to in my own practice and leadership.

📰 Today, we released Payscale's 2024 College ROI Report, ranking the best-value colleges based on median salary by mid-career, minus the cost of attendance. The new research found that a college education remains a competitive advantage for job seekers, while those without a degree may face substantial pay inequities, even for positions where a degree is not required. We are also releasing the first College Impact on Compensation Report that examines differences in pay between college graduates and non-college graduates. 💵 College ROI Report: https://lnkd.in/gZZP_M6d 📈 College Impact on Compensation Report: https://lnkd.in/gnFA5qp6

To the many recent high school and soon to graduate students that follow me, read this article carefully! You can be financially challenged all of your life with wrong college major coupled to wrong career path. https://lnkd.in/eunHfZmC #college #stem