I just read in our local paper that a high school senior, right here in my home town of Franklin, TN, just received a fishing scholarship to attend Bethel University in McKenzie, Tennessee. The fishing team coach, Garry Mason, says they wanted to be the first college in America to offer fishing scholarships. He says they are looking for young ladies to be on the team as well.
On what appears to be a related note, collegegrad.com reports that 80% of the 2009 college graduates moved back in with their parents upon graduating last year – most without jobs of any kind.
“Many factors are responsible for the trend of recent graduates moving back in with their parents,” says Adeola Ogunwole, CollegeGrad.com Director of Marketing and PR. “The economy is tough right now. Every year, living independently becomes more expensive and entry level jobs become more competitive.”
Another factor, said Ogunwole, is that “Gen Y” students–born in the 1980s and 1990s–tend to have close ties with their parents, depend on them for support and guidance, and feel no stigma at moving back home after graduation.
At Center College in Danville, KY you can get college credit for their course in the Art of Walking. At Alfred University in New York you might want to enroll in Maple Syrup, the class that looks into the profession of making maple syrup. And if you’re looking for a grant to help with those college expenses, check these out:
- The Sammy Award: $7,500 is awarded to students who demonstrate academic success and leadership skills and can wear a milk moustache.
- Chick and Sophie Major Memorial Duck Calling Contest: $1,500 is awarded to the student who can call ducks with the most flair.
“Many recent graduates are turning down good job offers, holding out for better jobs and salaries in the belief that a college degree entitles them to more than entry level,” says Ogunwole.
Or maybe it’s because they got degrees in “university studies,” political science, Biblical literature, mass communications, American history, maple syrup, the art of walking, or fishing.
Tags: bethel, college, fishing, maple syrup, walking
Dan Miller's Blog 
March 23, 2010 at 12:30 pm
This is simply reassurance that I need to keep working on establishing my own business. I am currently an MBA/HR student looking for an opportunity (non-traditional student not living at home with my parents). I was shocked to read that the percentage of college grads is so high…that is unbelievable!
March 23, 2010 at 10:35 pm
Ya know, with the stuff I read and research, this shouldn’t surprise me in the least. But perhaps surprise is the wrong word. Flabbergasted perhaps?
I grow more convinced that college is one of our most over rated products in America; these kinds of idiot degrees and programs illustrate the truth in my assertion.
Thanks for the great info Dan. I’ll never run out of writing fodder, that’s for sure!
March 23, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Biblical literature Dan? I told my Pastor last week, “I wouldn’t do your job for what you’re paid.” Not sure what you’re thinking was on this, the lumping of “Bilical literature” with the others you listed, e.g.,”the art of walking”. To me it came off as “cheaping” what should be the most essential ingredient for all, especially knowing you claim to have faith. Sorry, it just hit me wrong.
March 24, 2010 at 2:35 pm
My HS freshman isn’t sure he wants to go to college. The more I learn about people who excel without a college degree, the less inclined I am to “make” him go. So far my line has been, “go to take the classes that would serve you in your career.” There something to be said for being “well rounded” in your educational pursuits, but who wants to waste money on something that’s required for a degree but will never be used in real life?
March 24, 2010 at 9:16 pm
colleges today are so liberal. this don’t shock me at all
March 25, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Seeing some of the dumb course offerings you listed it doesn’t surprise me at the quality of some kids’ education these days, but I have to be careful too. When I went to college (the first in my family, except an aunt who became a nurse), I had no real plan, or destination. There’s a longer story about the day I walked into the Admin Hall to set up courses of study that I save for anecdotes or kids that I think will pay attention or benefit. At any rate, I declined declaring a major until I was cornered and had no choice. Looking at where I got my best grades I finally settled on English (thinking writing). At last, a few months before graduation my advisor noted that I was an English major without any education courses asked me, “what are you going to do with an English degree but no teaching courses?” My reply: “Get out of Here.”
Honestly, I did get a well rounded, general education which has served me well in that I have had to change jobs and career fields probably 5 or more times. But when I counsel my own kids, and any others who’ll listen, know why you’re going and have some well founded reason for your choice. Now that I’m a 48Day’er, I’d add, make sure it’s something you’re cut out to do and want to do.
March 25, 2010 at 8:02 pm
Hey, don’t be tooo critical of some of those majors! I was an English major and found a job “in my field” not long after graduation (online publishing). My father (poly sci) used his degree for law school as have several history majors I know. But yeah, ultimately, you need to have a plan for any degree. Don’t just throw thousands of dollars down the drain for a general degree (and for the record, some colleges do not allow you to graduate as a “university studies” major. You have to declare a specific major by your junior year).
March 25, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Given that I know of almost no one who is using much of the information garnered in the university classes they took, I wonder if this trend toward elective-style courses should bother me at all. There must be a general base of educational classes taken in order to meet requirements for graduation and also a specialized set pertaining to the person’s major. Beyond that, in the finite amount of wiggle room in which students can take classes that are special-interest, I see no problem with students taking a “fluff” course now and then. My Bachelor of Arts was hard-earned, and though I do not work in the field in which I received my degree, the skills I learned about time management, project completion, independent work, future planning, and dependability while going through college have served me well time and time again. The courses I took in “Modern Art of Los Angeles County” and “The Culture and Cuisine of Spain” served to help me think in ways I hadn’t thought before, and were a welcome respite to courses such as English Literature, Biology, or Social Psychology. In fact, semesters at my university ran from Sept-Dec and from Feb-May. January was set aside for a one-month intensive study in some of the lighter courses I just listed. I think these courses, in spare doses, keep a student well-rounded.
March 30, 2010 at 5:38 pm
I think Randy needs to lighten up. Majoring in a religion topic, regardless of the religion, can be very personally rewarding, I don’t think anyone debates that. Personally rewarding and “financially rewarding” are two different things, though.
Every fresh young graduate going to interviews learns very quickly that no one really cares deeply about their unusual major at college, or their GPA, or a lot of things that were a big deal in the college culture. The companies DO care about finance and business operations: Can the applicant make a presentation or put one together, can they create a market survey when the company needs to make a spending decision, can they write a compelling pitch to increase sales, can the applicant analyze figures to figure out how to cut costs? Can the applicant innovate products or expand product lines? Companies really don’t want to have use their imagination to figure out how an applicant could be useful to them.
Basically a college degree (any major) shows an applicant can stick with a long term goal and finish it, and that applicant probably wrote a lot of papers and did research. The Bachelors is a “basic admission” ticket to a lot of white collar jobs, it’s not unique at all. There’s no sense in acting like a primadonna over a Bachelors degree and expecting pedigree-level pay. More importantly, acting like a prima donna is a great way to end up in the round file (trash can) at a company’s office.
March 30, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I have to pipe in and say that for many, the GPA does matter. My fiance, a business major 2 years out of college says the ONE piece of advice he wishes people had NOT given him was “You’re GPA doesn’t matter.” As a result, he took 21 credit hours at a time to finish earlier, causing his GPA to be very average. It has *definitely* – much to his unpleasant surprise – closed both professional and academic doors for him. Several others in my life have had similar experiences… everything from not being able to get the advanced degree they now want (but didn’t anticipate in undergrad) to causing them to lack the extra edge they need to get their foot in the door for various entry-level-with-lots-of-room-to-grow professional positions.
Yes, you can still do well long-term if you graduate with a mediocre GPA, but just be aware, it will close some doors and potentially make things tougher, especially right out of the gate or if you end up needing or wanting an advanced degree.
April 15, 2010 at 11:43 pm
I totally agree with you Sarah with a Buisness degree, but take an engineering degree and throw this out the window. Get a job right after college with a good company, doesnt take a high gpa, a lower pay perhaps. Next start marketing yourself, and making sure you do your job well. You will be noticed and in no time will be moving up the chain. Just appear to be valuable and come through in the tight spots and as an engineer you will stay valuable and demand notice. Engineering demands more in college than most majors, so making it is some of the battle, GPA doesnt equal a valuable employee, this I have seen time and time again.
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