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Does College Really Pay Off?Sheryl Saturnino is just one of many hopeful students who thought college would get her a job in Alaska.Related Content
ANCHORAGE - Sheryl Saturnino is just one of many hopeful students who thought college would get her a cushy job in Alaska. The 23-year-old says since she graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage last December life has been anything but easy. “I didn't realize that after college it would be so hard to find a job,” said Saturnino. She earned her bachelors degree in psychology, with a minor in communication. “A lot of people are saying now that a college degree is the equivalent of a high school diploma and in some ways that’s very true,” she said. She waited for months for a job, but heard nothing back. “I think there’s more focus on finishing college and not really what to do after college, after graduating,” said Saturnino. She eventually took a job outside of her field, so she could pay her bills. Her story isn't unusual, though. Diane Kozak, Director of UAA’s Career Services Center says many students end up in this situation because of their majors. “While they are wonderful degrees, it is often very difficult for a student and even an employer to wrap their head around what that degree truly means,” said Kozak. In 2011, UAA awarded 2,326 certificates and degrees. The most popular fields were nursing, psychology and business. But trends are changing. “There’s definitely an increase in technical degrees. A lot of that has to do with students realizing that the more technical and fine tuned that their degree is, the easier it is for them to actually get a job,” she said. Even with the grim job outlook, Saturnino says she'll keep searching until she finds the perfect job. She plans to attend to graduate school to help her become more marketable. |
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Anonymous said on Thursday, Jun 21 at 11:10 PM
"I never let my schooling get in the way of my education." Don't give up, there are endless possibilities between now and 40 years from now. Most likely you won't find a job that caters to your degree, but most employers know that since you have one, you have proof of being a resilient, smart individual who can learn on the job. That's the real world.
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