Anybody Else Have a New College Grad or a Rising Senior in College?

[DVCLiz]

I always like to read the threads people post about having teens going off to college - seems it was just yesterday and now I have a rising senior!!!

Anyway, I thought it might be interesting to talk about. When I graduated from college, I did temp work until I found a nice job in a library and it became my career. I found an apartment I could afford, gathered up some used furniture, and I was in business.

What is it like today launching a young adult in the world? Do you feel that's still the way they can do it? Is the economy too bad at this point to hope for real independent living? And what if you want to help your kids out financially - how much is too much and what if anything is appropriate? How can kids today really get a leg up on saving if they move right away into the "real world"? Lots of issues and interesting times to be trying to start a new adult life - I thought the DIS might be a good place to discuss. All are welcome - if you've launched an adult kid or just have opinions!!

 

[Uuaww]

I was there, I graduated from college last year... kept hearing about the horrible economy and such. After graduation I moved back home and lived there for 6 months while I looked for a career type job. I applied to about 20 part time jobs and had about 8 interviews until I landed two back to back in September as a Room Service Waiter at a Marriott and as a Swim Teacher. I worked those two part time jobs while living at home until I was able to get a career job. I applied to about 25 career type jobs and landed this one in the Government in December of last year.
My goal after college was to see the world and move far far away, I landed in the Caribbean after living in California my entire life. It is an eye opening experience. My parents gave me $3000 to buy a car here, that was the extent of them helping me out. I now am settled and live in a beach side apartment.

After college is tough especially in this economy.

 

[wdwfam]

DD will graduate (BJ in Journalism) in December. Her dream is to go to work in NYC, but she will also apply for a Professional Internship with Disney. She did the College Program last fall and loved it! With the economy, she probably can also get a decent job at her University - not the best case scenario for her, since she wants to get to the city.

 

[DisneyGirl421]

I'm a rising college senior. I'm scared to death about leaving college and moving into the real world. Mostly because I don't fully know what I want to do with my life. I'm a double major, in History and Theatre Arts, and don't know which area I want to pursue yet.

I've spent the majority of the summer living in NYC, interning at Ellis Island. I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with the National Park Service, and may try to venture into that path. But the biggest thing is, the majority of the Park Rangers have thier Masters Degrees. I do want to go to Grad School, but I do not want to go straight from college. I will not be able to handle it, and my bank account will not either, lol.
Also, I've realized I do want to live in a city. I love it here. I know everything is so expensive, especially in new york, but I'm a city girl at heart. I will live in a city. Not necessarily new york, but some city on the East Coast.

As of now, my plan is to do the Walt Disney World College Program or Professional Internship for the summer/fall '10. I'm hoping for the Costuming CP, so I can get professional theatre experience, and figure out if I want to pursue my theatrical interests. Plus, this will postpone my entrance into the real world for a bit, lol.

 

[olena]

DH graduated with his JD last year with honors, passed the bar, has been sworn in and has only had one interview. That was with a female judge who only hires female clerks anyway. She spent most of the time asking him how he juggled law school, a full-time job, a family and internship at the same time. Since then...nada, zip, nothing. He's not even bothering with big firms, since many have delayed promised job offers up to two years. Solo practice is not an option, so he's stuck at his old job where's he been for 10 years. At least it's secure, but that's it. It is rough out there.

A good friend is a civil engineer and she was just laid off. She thought she had a job offer with a city government, but even they are back pedaling. With so many out of work, the talent pool is much more competitive and they are willing to take a lower salary, which was a benefit for hiring recent grads. Now companies can get experienced people at entry level salaries.

 

[Sparx]

dbf graduated in may with a bs in accounting. i'm a freshman psychology major. we have our own apartment, but he hasn't had any luck finding a job in his field. its hard out there, and even mcdonalds is having to do multiple interviews for a part time position. we live in a college town, and you would think that would make it easier, but it doesn't. theres about 23 thousand other people our age who need jobs too.

 

[malibuconlee]

I'm just starting out in the parenting business, but was thinking about this topic (sort of ) a couple of months ago when my DH was talking to one of the new hire new grads about his relocation.

Depending on the offer DH's company will give a stipend to cover moving expenses for new grads or reimburse at direct cost the charges for a u-haul. These are not given up front. An expense report is issued after they have started work, and passed their drug screen.

The new grad was asking about how to pay for it and my husband said everyone puts it on a credit card and files an expense report to be reimbursed. It's just the way the company does it. VERY few people in the company have company cards, it's just too easy to abuse - I've seen it done.

At the time we were in the middle of a relocation and he was working from home, so I was witness to this end of the communication. Later I said something to my husband about the fact that he may have been asking about how to pay for it because he didn't have the money to.

PLEASE if you are able help those new grads out with deposits and moving expenses. Make sure they have available credit to use for those expenses that the company may be helping with.

I see so many questions asking what sentimental gift someone can give their new grad and while those are great, honestly I've seen so many new grads maxing out credit cards and taking cash off of them to put down the deposit on their apartment!!

I still remember he and I coming up with the money for our first place after he graduated plus trying to buy all the stuff we would need.

 

[Feralpeg]

DD will begin her senior year of college in August. Before you know it, she will graduate and be looking for a teaching job. Of course, now is not a good time for teachers. I am concerned that she will not be able to find a position.

She could stay at home and do something else while waiting for a teaching position to open, but she really wants to be out on her own. She wants to move someplace away from Florida. I think she just wants to prove that she can be independent. I am concerned as to how he plans to support herself if she moves away. Of course, I'd like her to stay closer to home. Fortunately, we have another year before we have to face this.

 

[DVCLiz]

DD will begin her senior year of college in August. Before you know it, she will graduate and be looking for a teaching job. Of course, now is not a good time for teachers. I am concerned that she will not be able to find a position.

She could stay at home and do something else while waiting for a teaching position to open, but she really wants to be out on her own. She wants to move someplace away from Florida. I think she just wants to prove that she can be independent. I am concerned as to how he plans to support herself if she moves away. Of course, I'd like her to stay closer to home. Fortunately, we have another year before we have to face this.

This is my situation, too. DD will want to be in the same town as her boyfriend - he is planning on going to law school - and I'm sure she can find something to do, even if it's tutoring or something like that. But I am concerned that she won't be able to find something that will allow her to live the normal starting out life and start saving anything. Not being able to save got me in real trouble once and I don't want the same for her. On the other hand, I don't want to just hand her the money every month so she can be out on her own when she could live at home for a year or so and save that money until her boyfriend gets out of law school and they start their real job searches.

It just seems like it's a harder time to be trying to get your feet wet in any job market.

 

[golfgal]

DD will begin her senior year of college in August. Before you know it, she will graduate and be looking for a teaching job. Of course, now is not a good time for teachers. I am concerned that she will not be able to find a position.

She could stay at home and do something else while waiting for a teaching position to open, but she really wants to be out on her own. She wants to move someplace away from Florida. I think she just wants to prove that she can be independent. I am concerned as to how he plans to support herself if she moves away. Of course, I'd like her to stay closer to home. Fortunately, we have another year before we have to face this.

What is her major/concentration?

 

[christineann]

My daughter is a senior but will go an extra semester because she had to drop a sequence when she got mono last year. She is a double major in a science field. There are some very good opportunities in her area.

Son graduated 2 years ago with a degree in criminal justice and was hired as a police officer the week before he graduated I wish I loved my job like he loves his!

The years have FLOWN by.

 

[Feralpeg]

What is her major/concentration?

Education, Social Sciences

 

[mamajoan]

DS-22 graduated in May... living at home.. .job hunt is not going well. Today, he told me he may go back to school.. a tech school like HVAC so he can be certified and get a job. He may go back for his Master's... but mom and dad paid for undergrad completely.. so post graduate degrees have to come out of his own pocket. He is a good kid.. the easiest out of all my kids but I hope he finds a job soon... time for him to move out and up
We told him we would pay for his car insurance for 6 months after graduation... I worry because now that he is out of school he no longer qualifies for my dh's health /dental insurance. for a parent that is scary.. he is not worried.. because as we all know.. 22 year olds are invincible
His degree is in History and marketing. ... odd combination... he flipflopped his major during his junior year.

btw... op great thread choice!

 

[horseshowmom]

I now am settled and live in a beach side apartment.

After college is tough especially in this economy.

I loved the way this sounded!

(No teasing or disrespect intended! I just loved the irony of it! Best of luck with your future - and know that I DO envy you that Caribbean beachside apartment! )

Education, Social Sciences

Is there any way she can make it a double major? I can't speak for your area, but I know that social sciences is one of the hardest positions to get in our area. Most of those jobs wind up being taken by coaches. Best wishes to her!


My daughter just finished her B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and will continue on to get her Pharm.D. Right now, things are still bright for pharmacists, but you never know when that can change. Up until now, almost everything has been covered by scholarships. While she was one of the few in her class to get a scholarship for the next two years (and she's very glad to get it), it won't be enough to cover all of her expenses. I hate to see her have to get student loans, but she doesn't have an option. In this economy you just hate to see anybody have any debt when they graduate (it can be tough enough to make it as it is).

 

[DVCLiz]

DS-22 graduated in May... living at home.. .job hunt is not going well. Today, he told me he may go back to school.. a tech school like HVAC so he can be certified and get a job. He may go back for his Master's... but mom and dad paid for undergrad completely.. so post graduate degrees have to come out of his own pocket. He is a good kid.. the easiest out of all my kids but I hope he finds a job soon... time for him to move out and up
We told him we would pay for his car insurance for 6 months after graduation... I worry because now that he is out of school he no longer qualifies for my dh's health /dental insurance. for a parent that is scary.. he is not worried.. because as we all know.. 22 year olds are invincible
His degree is in History and marketing. ... odd combination... he flipflopped his major during his junior year.

btw... op great thread choice!

Thanks!! It is on my mind this summer because we are doing a major purge of the attic/storage areas and we are unearthing a lot of childhood things. It really hits home when I say, "You might be working next summer so this might be the last time we have together as a family to spend several days sorting old Beanie Babies."

Also, I know she can find something to do to earn money, but I'm not sure she will get a "job" with benefits and a livable salary at first. I'm debating whether and how much to help. I wouldn't mind having her on my car insurance and cell phone plans indefinitely - and I'm planning to let her trade in her car for something newer and more reliable as a college graduation present. The health insurance is very iffy because she will no longer be a student. I will not let her go without health insurance, though - so that would be something I would pay out of pocket for her until she finds a job that has it as a benefit.

She's pretty much set for a 1BR apartment - we bought some used furniture and had a sofa and chair reupholstered for her dorm common room last year, so she would have a livng room furnished and she can take her current bedroom furniture (which was a gift to her from an aunt.) We could pick up the other odds and ends she would need (small kitchen table, coffee table, etc. ) pretty cheaply at a couple of used furniture places in town, and she has been asking for and receiving kitchen supplies for Christmas and birthdays for a couple of years now - so she would have the kitchen basics she needed.

I guess I'm mostly just thinking out loud - she's done a couple of sample budgets based on a hypothetical take home salary and the real estate listings in the town her boyfriend wants to live in to attend law school. She could probably swing her basic expenses if she can find a reasonable entry level job. She just hasn't settled on what she wants to do and, like me, I think she will probably have to take her liberal arts degree (double English/Spanish major) and work her way into something she wants to do as a career.

 

[Traveliz]

Thanks!! It is on my mind this summer because we are doing a major purge of the attic/storage areas and we are unearthing a lot of childhood things. It really hits home when I say, "You might be working next summer so this might be the last time we have together as a family to spend several days sorting old Beanie Babies."

Also, I know she can find something to do to earn money, but I'm not sure she will get a "job" with benefits and a livable salary at first. I'm debating whether and how much to help. I wouldn't mind having her on my car insurance and cell phone plans indefinitely - and I'm planning to let her trade in her car for something newer and more reliable as a college graduation present. The health insurance is very iffy because she will no longer be a student. I will not let her go without health insurance, though - so that would be something I would pay out of pocket for her until she finds a job that has it as a benefit.

She's pretty much set for a 1BR apartment - we bought some used furniture and had a sofa and chair reupholstered for her dorm common room last year, so she would have a livng room furnished and she can take her current bedroom furniture (which was a gift to her from an aunt.) We could pick up the other odds and ends she would need (small kitchen table, coffee table, etc. ) pretty cheaply at a couple of used furniture places in town, and she has been asking for and receiving kitchen supplies for Christmas and birthdays for a couple of years now - so she would have the kitchen basics she needed.

I guess I'm mostly just thinking out loud - she's done a couple of sample budgets based on a hypothetical take home salary and the real estate listings in the town her boyfriend wants to live in to attend law school. She could probably swing her basic expenses if she can find a reasonable entry level job. She just hasn't settled on what she wants to do and, like me, I think she will probably have to take her liberal arts degree (double English/Spanish major) and work her way into something she wants to do as a career.

Except for the last paragraph (no bf here and different major) your post sounds like the way I feel. I just don't see my daughter being able to step out and be totally independent the minute she graduates from college (a little over a year). I would keep her on car insurance and the cell plan for sure. Would buy an independent health insurance plan (I remember my grandparents did that for me when between college and the time I had a real insurance policy) and again like you we have basic extra furniture available and since she lives in a dorm which is really an apartment she probably has a better furnished kitchen than I do at this point (I've bought cookware, dishes, Tupperware for her as gifts and occasionally send items packaged in bakeware for her -- she then keeps the bakeware).

Mine was home the past two weeks and we attacked her room and I know she doesn't really plan on coming back here permanently. Nor would there be any good opportunities for her here...now we just need the economy to spring back into action!

Liz

 

[Uuaww]

I loved the way this sounded!

(No teasing or disrespect intended! I just loved the irony of it! Best of luck with your future - and know that I DO envy you that Caribbean beachside apartment! )

HAHA, yes it does, but given the whole island is 6 miles wide... the farthest I can be from the ocean is a few miles... And the Caribbean isn't all its cracked up to be, high crime is a big problem. Plus I didn't chose to go here, I got sent here. It was either here, Baton Rouge or no job.

 

[NotAmused]

Sounds like there's a lot of college graduates in the same situation as me. I just graduated in May with a degree in Elementary Education. Within the last few weeks, I have finally gotten a few interviews for teaching jobs, but there are hundreds and hundreds of other teachers with more experience applying for the same jobs so it's very difficult. I feel more comfortable with each interview so I'm hoping I score a position.

If I do not get my own classroom, I have secured a job as an after school tutor in the neighboring county and I will hopefully be able to get a substituting job on top of that.

 

[Feralpeg]

I will also continue to pay health and auto insurance for my daughter until she finds employment. A person cannot afford to be without these things and her savings will only last a short time if she is paying for insurance. I will also make sure she has a cell phone plan available.

I have already started sort of a "hope" chest for her. I've been adding household type items to it for a couple of years. If I am out shopping and I see some little kitchen type item on sale, I'll buy it and add it to the stash. This way, she will have a lot of the things that make life easier when she first starts out. I told her to pick out a pattern of every day type dishes and I will start buying those for her for things like birthdays and Christmas.

If she wants to take her bedroom furniture when she moves to her own place, I won't have a problem with that. That will all depend on how far away she moves. It wouldn't make sense to ship it across country. That would cost more than buying new stuff. We'll worry about furniture when the time comes.

While she has handled more and more things for herself, I know that it is going to be a bit of a shock once she is on her own. While away at college, she's had an account that she has used to buy what she needs and she has had to budget somewhat. Of course, there will be a lot more to budget when she is out in the real world. I'm sure she will have some issues. I certainly did at her age, but I learned and have managed. She will also.

 

[Alyssa88]

I graduated with my bachelor's in May. I went to school full time while working full time hours (between two part-time jobs for a while). I have a full time job with benefits now, while I finish up the second phase of my research project,study for the GRE's,, and try to save money. After that I plan to apply to grad school, so this is temporary but I think I am lucky to have a good job that's relevant to my career goal. At the time, I didn't feel lucky having to work while in school but I wouldn't have this job if I didn't.