#undergraduate Bachelor of Laws

[nando161mando]

"The controversial Sanskrit text will be introduced as a suggested reading under Unit V-Analytical Positivism of the undergraduate course paper in Bachelor of Laws."

[astriiformes]

I'm glad to see posts circulating listing some of the significant legislation Tim Walz has supported as governor of Minnesota, but there's one I haven't seen mentioned yet that I think is really important for young voters to know about--the North Star Promise program, aka the reason I can afford to finish my Bachelor's degree.

Some of you may remember me posting about my financial aid offer being a lot more generous this year. That because Minnesota just implemented a scholarship program that makes undergraduate college tuition free for students with family incomes of less than $80,000 attending state or tribal colleges. As in, if after other grants and scholarships have been applied, you still owe money for tuition, the state of Minnesota will pay the rest.

Obviously tuition isn't the only expense associated with being a college student--I still am taking out student loans to help cover things like rent and other cost of living expenses--but it is the biggest one. As a low-income, non-traditional student paying my own way through college (and with a disabled partner who cannot work), I was genuinely unsure if I was going to be able to finish my degree before the North Star Promise program was implemented, and it has freed me from so much stress and worry.

A lot of factors had to combine to make a program like this possible --activists had to push for it, Minnesota had to vote in a Democratic majority in the state legislature to pass it, and we had to have a governor willing to sign the program into law--but it is still significant it was something Walz was willing to put his name on. And I cannot fathom how many lives it would change if he was willing to push for something similar to this at the federal level. So, keeping in mind that we have to vote up and down the ballot as well as keep the pressure on our elected officials to support programs like this once folks are in office, let's make it happen.

[daresplaining]

I'm not American but I heard that in the USA you have to finished another college degree before being allowed to start law school. Is it true? Has Marvel ever adressed this whole deal about Matt or they just act like he only studied law?

Great question! I will start by saying that I am not a lawyer, so I'm not the best person to ask about the US law school process. However, I believe I have some lawyers/law students following this blog, so please feel free to chime in with more details or if I get anything wrong here!

To my understanding, yes, you need to have an undergraduate/Bachelor's degree in order to be eligible for law school (in fact, I think you need an undergraduate degree to be eligible for any US graduate school program). Some colleges offer a Pre-Law major for students who know they want to continue on to law school, but I believe this is not a requirement, and that any undergraduate degree will do. In addition to that, aspiring law students also take the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test).

There is a ridiculous lack of continuity surrounding Matt and Foggy's college/law school education (I talked about it a bit in this post), but Matt's lawyer-ness has always been a firmly established part of his character, and so we do know that he (and Foggy) majored in Pre-Law.

Matt: "Uh, this is for you..." Elektra: "You are the one on the steps..." Matt: "Matthew Murdock. Matt. I'm in Pre-Law..." Elektra: "Elektra Natchios, Political Science." Daredevil vol. 1 #168 by Frank Miller, Klaus Janson, Dr. Martin, and Joe Rosen

[polutrope]

Beleria AU: Cast

A list that no one asked for of my Beleria Modern AU characters, for your perusal. To be expanded, edited, and retconned as the mood strikes.

The Noldoran Finvesens

Finwë Noldoran (b. 1922, d. 2015, aged 92, natural causes). 6'. WW2 veteran and founder of Tirion Technical University in Valin, Aman. A Noldorin revolutionary sympathiser.

Míriel Noldoran, née Weber. (b. 1925, d. 1960, aged 35, pancreatic cancer). 5’2”. Finwë's first wife. They were very much in love and wished to have children but were never successful.

Fëanor Finvesen (b. 1958), 65. 5’11”. Adopted by Finwë and Míriel in 1960. Míriel died the first month of his adoption. His biological mother committed suicide and his father was incarcerated for sedition in the Noldorin Revolution and never released. Bachelor of Arts and Sciences (joint), Masters Civil Engineering, PhD Economics. Left Valin for Beleria, Endor, in 2016 after losing a major land ownership lawsuit against the government of Aman. Founder and President of Ambar Metta Development Group.

Nerdanel Finvesen (b. 1957), 66. 5’7”. Retired landscape architect. Sculptor, occasionally does public art projects. Studied at Tirion Technical University, where she met Fëanor.

Their children:

Maedhros (b. 1987), 36. 6’5”. Physical therapist and VP of Community Partnerships, and a shareholder, of Ambar Metta. Moved to Beleria with his parents. In a common-law relationship with Fingon.

Maglor (b. 1989), 34. 6’1”. Associate Artistic Director of Lindon Studios children’s musical theatre school. Shareholder in Ambar Metta. Divorced. Was in a successful rock band with his ex-husband in Valin. Moved to Beleria in 2021 after his divorce. In a relationship and lives with Daeron.

Celegorm (b. 1991), 32. 6’2”. Veterinary college student, part-time bartender at Angrist microbrewery. Shareholder in Ambar Metta. BA in Philosophy. Moved to Beleria with his parents. In a relationship with Aredhel.

Huan (b. 2017). His dog, a German shepherd and a good boy.

Caranthir (b. 1992), 31. 6’2”. Long-haul trucker, investor. Co-founder of Angrist microbrewery. Shareholder in Ambar Metta. MA Economics. Moved to Beleria in 2019. Single.

Curufin (b. 1994), 29. 5’10.” Co-founder, owner, and head brewer of Angrist microbrewery. Shareholder in Ambar Metta. BSc Chemistry. Moved to Beleria with his parents, on whom he was financially dependent. Single.

Celebrimbor (b. 2013), 10. His son, a fourth-grader at Himlad Elementary. Likes machines and cool facts. Alwen (b. 1993), 30. Celebrimbor’s mother and Curufin’s high school girlfriend. Lives in Valin.

Amrod (b. 2001), 22. 6’3”. Undergraduate student in Forestry. Shareholder in Ambar Metta. Moved to Beleria with his parents.

Amras (b. 2001), 22. 6’3”. Undergraduate student in Applied Biology. Shareholder in Ambar Metta. Moved to Beleria with his parents.

Indis Noldoran, née Vasiliev. (b. 1933), 90. 5’11”. Finwë’s second wife. From Valma, Aman. Lives in an eldercare home in south end of Beleria. Nerdanel and Fingolfin are her most frequent visitors.

Findis Noldoran (b. 1962), 61. 5’9”. Finwë and Indis’ first child. Lives in Valin.

Elemmírë. Her wife.

Fingolfin Noldoran (b. 1963), 60. 6’. Finwë and Indis’ second child. Founder and owner of Hithlum Properties. Moved to Beleria, Endor with his family in 2017 during the recession in Aman.

Anairë Noldoran (b. 1959). 64. 5’6”. Fingolfin’s wife. A clinical counsellor.

Their children:

Fingon (b. 1989), 34. 5’11”. Firefighter. In a common-law relationship with Maedhros.

Turgon (b. 1992), 31. 6’6”. Postdoc in urban planning at Ondolindë University. Best friends with his cousin Finrod.

Elenwë (b. 1992), 31. 5’4”. His wife. School teacher at Tumladen Elementary. Was nearly killed in 2019 when her car, also carrying Idril (who was unharmed), was hit by a maintenance truck owned by Ambar Metta, for which she received no financial compensation after the company won a lawsuit blaming the City for black ice on the roads. Idril (b. 2018), 5. Their daughter, a first-grader at Tumladen Elementary.

Aredhel (b. 1993), 30. 5’10”. Divorced in 2022 after five-year relationship with Eöl. Temporarily living with Turgon and Elenwë. Yoga teacher searching for a more stable career. In a relationship with Celegorm, who was her boyfriend prior to Eöl.

Maeglin Lómion (b. 2019), 4. Aredhel’s son with Eöl over whom she has full custody. A kindergartner at Tumladen Elementary.

Argon (b. 1997), 26. 6’5”. Moved back to Valin. Close with Fingon.

Lalwen Noldoran (b. 1965), 58. 5’7”. Third child of Finwe and Indis. Owner of a Nordic spa near Beleria. Moved there at the same time as Fingolfin. Single, no children.

Finarfin Noldoran (b. 1968), 55. 5’10”. Fourth child of Finwe and Indis. Cinematographer and occasional film director. Moved to Beleria in 2021, after most of his children had already done so.

Eärwen (b. 1966), 57. Finarfin's wife. Former Olympic swimmer. Now a motivational speaker and author.

Their children:

Finrod (b. 1996), 27. 5’11”. MA Human Geography. Works at a coffee shop. Can’t stop travelling, does not know what he’s doing with his life. Lives with Curufin. Best friends with his cousin, Turgon. Single.

Orodreth (b. 1998), 25. 5’10”. Joined the military, to the befuddlement of his family. Of his siblings, only Finrod gets him. In a relationship.

Angrod (b. 2000), 23. 6’. Recent graduate and volleyball player. Didn’t make pro leagues. Coaches high school volleyball. Single.

Aegnor (b. 2002), 20. 6’1”. Student, varsity volleyball player. Single.

Galadriel (b. 2003), 19. 5’10”. Second-year undergraduate student in psychology at Ondolindë University. Varsity swimmer. Single.

The Singh-Goels

Elu Singh-Goel (b. 1960, Cuivien), 63. 6’7”. Mayor of Beleria. Immigrated to Endor in 1970.

Dr. Melian Goel (b. 1957), 66. Professor of Pyschology at Ondolindë University, planning retirement to become a tarot card reader and astrologist.

Their children:

Lúthien (b. 1989), 34. Director of Neldoreth Dance Company. Engaged to Beren.

Daeron (b. 1994), 29. 5’7”. Collections Assistant for Beleria City Archives. Singer-songwriter and local history vlogger. BA Linguistics. Environmental activist. Vegetarian. Bisexual. In a relationship and lives with Maglor.

Beren Escarra (b. 1998), 25. Former Dorthon oilsands worker. Son of refugees, father deceased and mother in long term care. Currently Volunteer Coordinator for an environmental conservation group. Vegan. Foraging enthusiast. Engaged to Lúthien.

Their friends and acquaintances

Húrin, 32. buddy of Beren's who works up north.

Morwen Ethel-Wang, 33. His wife. A pharmacist. Pregnant with their second child.

Túrin, 9. Their son.

Miscellaneous Residents

Eöl (b. 1983), 40. Former Alquin ferry engineer, laid off when Fëanor Finvesen privatised the ferry service. Aredhel’s ex-husband and Maeglin’s father. Single.

Círdan (b. 1955), 68. Park ranger at Eglarest Beach. “Communist” (when it suits him). Old friend of Elu. Single, no children.

Rúmil, 70. Friend of Fëanor, developing an app with him.

Celeborn, 19. Student.

Galathil, 21. Student, Celeborn’s brother.

Beleg, 20. Student and intern for the City of Beleria.

Mablung, 20. Student and intern for the City of Beleria.

Edhellos, 18. Student. Friend of Galadriel. Has a crush on Angrod.

Nellas, 19. Friend of Galadriel. Dancer with Neldoreth Dance Company and friend of Lúthien.

Saeros Green, a flamboyant and corrupt music producer. Offered Daeron a record deal which he declined.

[medicaldoctordana]

Okay, so, I need an expert to translate this because your post and the timelines and etc. got me confused. XDDD

In Pilot, Mulder says: "You're a medical doctor. You teach at the academy. You did your undergraduate degree in physics. Einstein's Twin Paradox: A New Interpretation: Dana Scully's senior thesis. Now that's a credential, rewriting Einstein."

In Synchrony, Mulder says: "[insert quote]. In case you forgot, that was from your graduate thesis."

Could you break it alllll down for me, because I'm fascinated.

When he said graduate thesis, I’m sure it was a writing error because he’s quoting the same thesis as the pilot, her undergraduate thesis. Based on context of the quote, it sounds like it would fit within her twin paradox paper— “Although common sense may rule out the possibility of time travel, the laws of quantum physics certainly do not.” - (fox Mulder quoting) Dana Scully. That’s certainly not a medical school paper and it’s already established she only has a BS in physics. (And an MD focus in pathology)

she did undergrad at University of Maryland, graduated in 1986 (22 years old) receiving a Bachelors of Science in Physics and medical school at Stanford in California where she got her Medical Degree. It’s said she completed a residency in Forensic Medicine but there’s no reference to where or when. She likely graduated in 1990 at 26, was recruited to the FBI right after graduation and attended quantico before assuming a teaching position there. I believe a stint at quantico as a student is only a few months and is where she met Jack Willis. It’s said in the series she worked at quantico for approximately two years before being assigned to the x files.

This timeline makes more sense if you are a 1993 x-files assignment truther and disregard the date stamp on the pilot episode of 1992 and the time jump to the rest of season 1 taking place in 1993. That would also make her 29 at the time of her assignment like @perpetually-weirdening commented on my other post.

[welcometololaland]

Lola, since it is not currently Saturday for me, I will be saving most of my nice ask day asks for tomorrow...but since it IS Saturday for you, I suppose it would only make sense for me to send you one now!

We both have the law in common! I have a law degree and I am technically an attorney (though I don't actually practice law but instead work as a law clerk/research assistant for judges at a courthouse). I went to law school and passed the bar in Michigan. I have no idea what that whole process is like in Australia, but I assume it's probably at least fairly similar? What was it all like for you/what made you want to get into it? (in as general terms as you want, of course, I don't mean to pry into personal stuff!)

hey anne! wow I never knew this about you! thank you for sharing 💜 I would love to hear more about your job working in the courts, that sounds very interesting and RESEARCH? my beloved. is it case law mostly?

the process for becoming an admitted solicitor (aka. a licensed attorney) in Australia is quite different to the USA. from my understanding, the US system requires a student to complete their undergraduate degree, sit the LSAT, do their law degree as a post graduate degree and then take the bar? I know there are potentially variations to this (looking at you Kim Kardashian) but if I'm wrong about this general process please let me know!

in my state in Australia (can't speak for other states!) you can do law as either a postgraduate degree OR a 4 or 5 year undergraduate degree. I did a double undergraduate degree in law and (liberal) arts (which I like to refer to as my bachelor of laws and my bachelor of fun). after you graduate law, you have to either do a 6 month (full-time) practical legal training course OR you can do 12 months of supervised legal training in a firm. it's better to do either the supervised legal training or be working in a firm that puts you through practical legal training because the course is like 10k on top of all your student debt 😂 I was lucky enough to get a graduate job so I did the supervised legal training and then, after I finished that, I was admitted to the profession.

I never set out to be a lawyer - truthfully, my parents thought I was going to fail school because I had a very tumultuous time from ages 16-18. I got involved in some shady stuff, had very poor mental health, didn't live at home for a lot of the time, and had a bad relationship with my family. I basically crammed my entire IB course into 3 months, and somehow, i got really good marks. so my parents told me to do law, since I (surprisingly) could.

truthfully I didn't like studying law much which was a bad sign...now I'm like 6 years into working in a firm and I think it's time for me to go and do something else. the culture in private practice corporate law can be really demanding on your life and damaging to your sanity. the glorification of overworking and the expectation to put everything in your life on hold to make your billable hours is next level. my firm is pretty good, but the industry in general is quite toxic sometimes. I respect anyone that can do it long term, but I don't think that person is me. I'm very much a work-to-live person and not a live-to-work person.

I've had a bit of a crisis over the past few months, trying to work out what I want to do. I'm still not sure but I hope I'll work it out soon 😂

Thanks for the ask and sorry for the essay!

[kaurwreck]

I have an interdisciplinary bachelor's in Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government; a minor in Political Science; an undergraduate certificate in Politics, Policy, and Law; and an undergraduate certificate in Women, Politics, and Social Policy so that my for you tab can give me anxiety.

[wildpeachfarm]

https://www.tumblr.com/wildpeachfarm/747248057831276544/httpswwwtumblrcomwildpeachfarm74724336954636?source=share

Lmaoo yeahhh. The only reason I thought about this was I saw the other anon putting on their tin foil hat

I had a friend who wants to study law but she's currently doing an undergraduate degree in business before she can apply to law school. She's the one who told me pre-law is discouraged too

I'm Canadian not American but from a few quick Google searches it looks like it's just about the same which makes it very plausible. Especially with the shady NDA's and illegal contracts it doesn't make sense that he would be an actual law student

its gonna come out that he has a friend who's getting a pre-law bachelors or something and has been giving him shitty law advice this whole time lmao

[thechanelmuse]

Lloyd L. Gaines 🖤: In 1938, he filed a lawsuit against the University of Missouri Law. He won his case. 

Three months later (around March 19, 1939), he disappeared never to be found.

Lloyd Lionel Gaines was born in Water Valley, Mississippi in 1911. After the death of his father, he moved with his mom and siblings to in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a valedictorian at Vashon High School. After winning a $250 ($4,000 in current dollars) scholarship in an essay contest, Gaines went to college and graduated with honors and a bachelor's degree in history from Lincoln University, a historically black college in Jefferson City, Missouri. It was the state's segregated undergraduate institution for Black Americans.

Despite an outstanding scholastic record, Gaines was denied admission based solely on the grounds that Missouri’s Constitution called for “separate education of the races.” Because Missouri had no public law school that admitted Black applications, state law required the state to pay Gaines’ tuition at public universities in Iowa, Kansas or Nebraska. 

Gaines sued the University of Missouri seeking an order granting him admission to its Law School. In 1938, he won his case before the US Supreme Court in State of Missouri ex rel Gaines v. Canada. Although the Court did not order that he be admitted to the Law School, it did hold that Missouri’s lack of an in-state law school for Black students violated the U.S. Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection of the laws. Missouri complied with the order by setting aside limited funds for the creation of a Black law school at Lincoln University.

Missouri’s minimal efforts to comply with the Supreme Court’s opinion in the courts was challenged. As the legal battle unfolded, Gaines disappeared under mysterious but unmistakably suspicious circumstances. You know why...

In March 1939, at age 28 and only three months after his Supreme Court victory, Gaines went missing while living in Chicago. Lloyd Gaines was never seen or heard from again. His case was dropped. Not only did Gaines never have the chance to attend the University of Missouri, but neither did any other Black student until 1950. The Law School at the University of Missouri-Columbia did not admit its first Black students until the late 1960s.

Source

[mpu-promotion1]

Empowering Media Minds: BJMC at MPU for Aspiring Journalists.

In today's rapidly changing media landscape, Journalism and Mass Communication play crucial roles in shaping public opinion, influencing societal norms, and providing real-time news updates. Mind Power University (MPU), nestled in the tranquil setting of Bhimtal, Nainital, offers two in-depth programs designed to equip students with the skills needed for success in these dynamic fields.: the Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication (BJMC)  (👈Click Here). This programs equip students with the skills to thrive in the media industry. Whether you aspire to become a journalist, media producer, public relations expert, or content creator, MPU’s journalism programs provide a gateway to diverse career opportunities.

Bachelor of Journalism & Mass Communication (BJMC) at Mind Power University:-

Course Overview:-

The BJMC program at Mind Power University is designed to offer an in-depth understanding of mass media and its role in society. This undergraduate course emphasizes theoretical knowledge, hands-on training, and the development of critical thinking skills required for a successful career in media and communication. BJMC students gain exposure to various forms of media, including print, television, radio, and digital platforms, ensuring they are well-prepared to navigate the demands of the industry.

Duration of the Course:-

The BJMC program at MPU is a three-year undergraduate degree that is divided into six semesters. During these semesters, students delve into subjects such as Media Ethics, Communication Theories, Reporting, Editing, Digital Media, and Public Relations. The course structure is designed to balance classroom learning with practical workshops, internships, and project-based work.

Eligibility Criteria:-

To enroll in the BJMC program at Mind Power University, candidates need to have completed their 10+2 education from a recognized board with a minimum aggregate score of 50%. The program is open to students from any stream, making it accessible to a wide range of applicants. Some institutions may require entrance examinations, while others may offer admission based on merit. Mind Power University implements a holistic admission process that evaluates both academic performance and personal aptitude, ensuring a well-rounded selection of candidates.

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The BJMC program at MPU covers a broad range of subjects, including:-

Introduction to Journalism: Understanding the history and evolution of journalism.

Mass Communication Theories: Exploring how media impacts society and vice versa.

Media Laws and Ethics: Legal and ethical aspects of media practices.

News Writing & Editing: Practical training in writing and editing for different media platforms.

Radio & Television Journalism: Techniques in audio-visual media production.

Public Relations & Corporate Communication: Managing public relations for organizations.

Digital Media & Online Journalism: Embracing the rise of digital platforms and the role of social media in journalism.

Media Research Methods: Learning techniques to conduct media-related research and analyze audience behavior.

Career Scope After BJMC:-

Graduates of the BJMC program from Mind Power University(👈Click Here). have an expansive range of career opportunities. Some of the prominent roles include:

Journalist: Reporting news for print, broadcast, or online media outlets.

Content Writer/Editor: Crafting and editing articles, blogs, and online content.

News Anchor: Presenting news stories on television or radio.

Public Relations Officer: Managing a company’s public image and communication strategies.

Social Media Manager: Handling the social media presence of organizations and brands.

Photojournalist: Capturing visual stories for media publications.

Advertising Executive: Creating campaigns to promote products and services.

As the media industry continues to expand, BJMC graduates are well-positioned to take advantage of the numerous opportunities in both traditional and new media fields.

[qqueenofhades]

Hello, I'm a second-year undergraduate student! My bachelor's is in International Studies, so I have various classes that span different disciplines but often touch on contemporary events. My first year was exciting, I was receiving a fairly nuanced array of perspectives and opinions on world conflicts, say, the war in Ukraine.

My university is generally understood to be a reputable and respected institution. Before last semester, I would have agreed.

However, their "nuanced approach" to teaching contemporary conflicts conveniently disappeared once Israel began its genocidal operations in Gaza. I've come to realise it has very close ties to Israel, and there is an obvious silencing of pro-Palestine voices. Faculty members feel surveilled (recorded lectures), and I've seen fellow students being harassed by others because they support a ceasefire.

I've talked to friends and acquaintances who support Palestine; we are all at a loss. We cannot voice our stance because of fear of being harassed, we are constantly fed Israeli propaganda, and our professors have begun to avoid touching on the topic. We learn international law, have a module on the Genocide Convention, yet we are told to ignore how Israel's actions are described in every article! Our degrees are supposed to be in International Relations! It's ridiculous.

We're trying to stay as informed as possible, doing what we can to subtly change other student's opinions by presenting them with information. But I've lost so much respect for the institution I pay to educate me and emit my degree, it's just enraging that they claim to form "critical thinkers" and "well-rounded" professionals when books written by pro-Palestinian authors aren't even available in our libraries.

I have no idea who else to ask for advice because professors have turned me down. Currently, my main concern is how to best stay immune to incessant propaganda in academic environments.

In advance, thank you for your time and response.

I'm sorry to hear it, that is a tough situation. You have a few choices as to how to respond. I can't tell you what to do because they will all require different actions, decisions, and consequences from you, and I can't predict or guess which course of action you will feel to be best. So yes, this is offered as advice only and you can choose what comes next.

First, if your university is in fact directly doing this, there is probably an element of fear. High-profile universities such as Harvard and UPenn have been attacked particularly by bad-faith right-wing actors due to alleged antisemitism, even though the Republicans don't care about antisemitism either and just want an excuse to bash left-wing liberal higher education. It's true that some universities have handled this incredibly complex issue very badly, have allowed fairly open antisemitic hate speech on their campuses, and aren't sure how to course correct back to "neutral," because "neutral" doesn't really exist here. Either side you take, you will piss someone off, and very few people have the tools or competencies to teach a well-rounded view, even if they should if they're literally in International Relations. So your university may have decided it's not worth being attacked by the bad-faith camps on either side, particularly the Republicans. There may be grubby internal politics at play (i.e. a major donor threatening to withhold funds or a high-ranking official threatening to cause problems if they allow open criticism of Israel on campus). This is not admirable, and it clashes with the idea of universities as blissfully nonpartisan idealistic environments of pure learning, but American universities are now very much beholden to the corporate shareholder model, and if the shareholders want to influence what is being taught or talked about, they can.

Therefore: you can do one of a few things. One, you can just stick it out, finish your degree, get the diploma with the university's name on it, then go somewhere else for your career or grad study that will allow you to operate outside this restricted environment. Two, you can stay at the school and continue to address this conflict in a responsible and accurate way in your assignments, bearing in mind that it might lead you into conflict or lower your grades. (If you do this, it will help to have a group of people doing it with you, and keep track of paperwork, communications, and other materials in case you end up in academic or legal arbitration and need to argue that you have been unfairly penalized). This will obviously require a little more sacrifice on your part and it is difficult to say how it will play out. But if you feel strongly about standing up for yourself and arguing that this is integral to your degree and program of study, you can do it.

Last, as you're only a sophomore and thus still have time to transfer, you can think about doing that. It is difficult to uproot your life, plans, college setting, friends, etc, but it is still a choice. If you feel that it is not worth your time to continue to pursue an education in this environment, and/or that the effort it would take from you outweighs the benefit that it would confer, you can leave, and search for an international relations program that is more willing to take a nuanced perspective in this issue. As I said, only you can decide where the line is, and what qualifies as a total deal breaker. If you're still getting a good education in other classes/areas, and still feel like it's good value for your tuition money, then it might be worth it to just quietly disagree with what you're hearing in this realm and do your best to maintain perspective outside of class.

I know that many young people (and people overall, but especially those under 25) have strong opinions on Israel/Hamas, and I would lastly caution you to avoid getting swept too far in the other direction; i.e. ONLY surround yourself with people who call themselves pro-Palestine but are usually just only anti-Israel and more specifically, just antisemitic. It should also not be the case, or at least I hope it's not, that you are being peer pressured by your friends to leave your degree and university altogether just because their position on this one issue leaves a lot to be desired. As I have said before, life is complex. You will have to make choices about what you want out of a situation and weigh up what is best for you to do. You should certainly understand, as I noted above, that if this in fact an actual university policy and not just a few professors and classes who have decided to avoid it, it probably comes from fear of financial, political, or public consequences and is not because those involved are simply "bad people" and just love genocide. So yeah.

As I said, only you can decide what you want to do here. It may be that by this time next year, this issue (which has been dominating headlines/discussion since October) will have died down or at least moved into another phase, and the pressure for people to discuss and/or not discuss it in a certain way will have also died down. Be aware that you will always have to make choices about what you do and don't want to do, and there will never be a perfect environment that just supports everything with no complications. And be sure that whatever you do decide to do is what is best for you, and not pushed one way or the other by either professors or by peers. I know this can be difficult, but by asking for advice, I hope you're willing to put in the time to think and do what's right.

Good luck!

[veresiine]

Headcanon Post on Education in Galar

Education in general

Education focuses a lot more on online coursework and independent study than in-classroom learning.

The Gym Challenge lines up with summer vacation, due to how many of the challengers are children.

There are in fact child labor laws in Galar, and children who work for or hold positions in the League are required to have a certain amount of time set aside for education. Of course, League kids generally don't carry right on with the same general education they'd been getting beforehand; they usually end up taking more specialized classes, but they're still encouraged to get the equivalent of a high school diploma, and the League track classes count towards that.

Character by character (for the child and young adult characters; under the cut due to length)

Leon got mostly low average grades. No Fs, but mostly C's with some B's and some D's. He's sharp enough, but school wasn't his priority; family was, out of both care and necessity, and then when he started his pokemon journey, battling was. Then, after becoming Champion, the League (and Rose specifically) took over his education and steered him more into studies more relevant to a League career and what Rose needed him to do; anything pertaining to pokemon training and battling, of course, but also business, poli sci, and maybe some psychology. He officially has the equivalent of a high school diploma, but because of how specialized and unbalanced his education was, he has undergraduate level mastery of the focused subjects and early high school mastery of subjects that were not prioritized. We do see he's curious and likes to learn (his reactions to the lab, for instance); if he ever has time, I can see him pursuing an associate's degree for fun and to help round himself out, but I can't imagine he'd settle down enough to make time for that until his late 30s at the earliest.

Sonia, by contrast, was a straight A's student; she felt her family would accept nothing less. She burnt out hard after getting the equivalent of her bachelor's degree, possibly a dual-major in history and biology, which is where we find her in the game. By a year after the game, she has an honorary doctoral degree, and is also well on her way to finishing a master's in whichever subject (history or biology) her doctorate wasn't in.

Hop is a good student, but not exceptional. He gets a mix of B's and A's; once he makes up his mind on becoming Sonia's assistant and starts applying himself there, he starts getting many more A's than B's. He wants to further his education after completing the equivalent of high school.

Raihan was a good student who got mostly A's. He got a few B's, and while one of his parents made a big stink about that, his other parent wasn't too bothered, nor was Raihan himself. He kept up with general education even after becoming a League trainer and taking specialized classes there; I imagine he holds the equivalent of an associate's degree in liberal arts.

Nessa got mostly B's, and was a solid, well-rounded student. She has the equivalent of a high school diploma, and while she doesn't plan on seeking further schooling, she does read up on science topics occasionally in her spare time so she can have more to talk about with Sonia.

Piers was in a similar situation to Leon early on; he simply didn't have the time or resources to excel at school. That, and Piers didn't much care about what kinds of grades he got; Leon at least wanted to try to make his instructors happy even if that wasn't his priority. Piers, I imagine, got mostly D's, but there were a few subjects where he really shined (music, of course, but also civics, and, depending on the instructor, language arts). He only completed compulsory education; he didn't get a diploma.

But Piers wanted to work hard so Marnie would have the resources to succeed in school, and she is. She's getting a mix of B's and A's, mostly, but there are a few C's too.

Bea's parents will not let the League take over her education. She faces similar academic pressure to what Sonia did, and she for the most part rises to the occasion.

Allister's grades are fairly poor, but he gets plenty of unofficial education and life knowledge and experience from talking with his gym trainers.

Milo continued an agricultural track program instead of the track the League suggested for him. His general education grades were average - Bs and Cs - but once he was able to specialize, he moved up to getting a mix of A's and B's.

Bede will not let anyone see his grades. He got mostly A's, with a few B's that he went to great lengths to try to hide from Rose. He's currently trying to get his high school diploma equivalent a year early just so he can be done with the hassle, and is on track to do so.

I'm drawing a blank on Gordie. Really I don't know enough about him to say anything.

(for other SwSh headcanons and fic, see my pinned post here )

[cthrnschumacher]

I'm Yours - Ch. 1 Sparks

Y/N POV

As you awoke from your slumber, you had an instinct that today would be different. You weren't sure whether this would be good or bad, but you took your chance. As you lay in bed pondering over this for a few minutes, you took ahold of your phone on the nightstand. Tapping the screen and unlocking the device, you looked at the forecast and checked the train time for your commute into the city. Once you finally let the information sink into your still, sleepy mind, you moved on to notifications about your graduate studies. You are currently a month into your Master's degree. So far, things have been moving alarmingly quickly, but you love every second of it. The material you were reading and the discussions in your courses are nowhere close to the ones in your bachelor's degree. Along with the work that you were doing on campus, you feel that things are coming together for your ultimate aspiration in applying and hopefully attending law school. You can see that dream happening the more you are engrossed in your academic work and research.

Finally mustering up the courage to get out of bed, gently opening your room door and tip-toeing down the corridor, making sure to stay as quiet as possible. You still lived at home with your family. Most graduates in your program are living independently. Still, you decided that living with your family is best since it will relieve you financially (and we all know law school is expensive, so you save where you can). As you enter the washroom, turn on the water to shower and ensure it's the perfect temperature. Once you strip off your PJs, consisting of plaid pj bottoms and an oversized t-shirt, the water is scorching hot for showering. Lathering with a floral body wash and getting your naturally curly hair soaked to apply some product and style it for the day.

Once you are done, you wrap yourself in a towel, brush your teeth and head back to your room. You put on some music to jam out to as you prepare for the day. Since it is October, the weather is not as warm as September but not cold enough that you need a full winter coat. So you pick out a black pair of straight-cut jeans with a lovely mustard yellow knitted sweater that you roll up the sleeves to cuff them. Now that you have picked your outfit, you fix your hair. Since you just showered, your curly hair is damp enough to have product raked through it. You apply a curl cream and rake it to ensure it is spread evenly, and you do the same for the mousse and the gel. Once that is done, you let your hair air dry and get dressed. Now that it is all done, the last thing you do is apply a bit of eyeliner, mascara and brow gel. It is a simple make-up look but long-lasting since you will be in front of colleagues, faculty and students all day. You grab your packed bag prepped since last night, turn off the music playing, and exit your room.

Most of your family is awake as you go downstairs and into the kitchen. Your parents are making coffee, and as they do so, you take your turn raiding the fridge to pack your lunch and snacks for a long day ahead of you. It wasn't anything special, just a chicken club sandwich and a blueberry muffin. Everyone is exchanging their day and how busy it will be. You chime in as well, telling them that you will have class from 1-3pm, assist in an undergraduate course from 3-4pm, and attend a lecture from 6-8pm. You didn't tell them you were excited about the lecture because they didn't need to know that much, but you were. The lecture is on the diversity within Formula 1 through different industry sectors. The guest lecture will be from one of the major teams. You have guessed who the team would be because of the University you were attending, but you still weren't entirely sure. The professor who organized the lecture would not give any details about who the team would be, and you know it wouldn't be too packed since it's an evening lecture. Now, regardless, you were still interested and couldn't wait. You wanted to work in F1 for as long as you could remember, not through engineering or social media but working on contracts, commercial agreements, and other things that involved legality within motorsport. You noticed the time, as you were in your own world, that you had to head out the door to catch the train; you are lucky that you lived only a 10-minute walk from the train station, so you weren't in no rush. Slipping on your Adidas all-stars, then zipping up your black puffer vest and putting on your backpack, you head to the door, hollering goodbye to everyone. The weather was nice, breezy and sunny, requiring you to pull your sunglasses from your backpack.

As you arrive at the train station, tap your transit card to pay the fare and head towards the platform. It is not crowded for a Wednesday, which is a little relief because packed trains are the worst. You always time your exit from home perfectly to the train's arrival because you never have to wait that long on the platform to board. Once you board the train, you pick a seat on the top level since it is a mandatory quiet zone; you pull out your noise-cancelling headphones and turn on the same playlist you were listening to. You were in a romanticizing life mood, so you played a little bit of music that emulated that from artists like Sufjan Stevens, Banners, Coldplay, OneRepublic, Stephen Sanchez, and more of those that fit within the vibe. The train ride is roughly an hour, so you also pull out your laptop and review the notes you made for your course and material for the undergraduate lecture you are helping with. You saved everything as you finished checking the messages and adding a few more points. You started to pack away your laptop when you arrived in the city to take a connecting subway to your University. Getting on the subway only took 10 minutes until you needed to get off and exit from the underground and enter the Graduate Department of Social Justice.

You enter your given office and set up to get some work done. It was easy that you had a job on campus since the times were flexible to your studies and provided the ability to complete tasks at home. The work you were doing is assisting your department's equity committee in working towards improving the overall diversity and making each department more equitable. You check in with your supervisor to update them on your research for the committee and see where to pivot. Since nothing needed to be changed, the meeting was short, allowing you to continue your work without interruptions. This fills up most of your time until 12:30pm, when you realize your stomach is growling for something to eat and decide it is time for lunch. Pulling the sandwich out of your bag, you take the time to review your notes and pre-order an iced hazelnut latte from the Starbucks closest to the lecture hall of your course. Once you are done eating, you pack up your belongings and head to Starbucks to pick up your iced latte. Putting on your headphones and ensuring you didn't forget anything since you won't return until tomorrow. Out the door, you go and head to Starbucks. It is mid-day, the sun shining and feeling warm in contrast to the slight breeze. The sun's warmth felt nice on your olive skin, and you felt energized without the coffee from that moment, but you knew the coffee would be a saving grace during the lecture. As you attain the iced liquid gold, you walk down the block to the lecture hall, a 5-minute from Starbucks. You take your time since they do not begin the lecture until 10 minutes after the hour.

You enter the building with the lecture hall and walk towards the specific room. You go to your usual seat, set the coffee down, and set up your laptop. Soon, the time flies in the lecture and discussion you are having among your peers, and the three-hour lecture always feels like it is barely enough to unpack the dense readings the professor assigns. But seeing how everyone interprets and unpacks the lessons is always astonishing. Once you are done packing up, you go to the next lecture hall to help with the undergraduate course. In this case, you are just helping lead the discussion and ensure the students understand the course material, as a teaching assistant would do. Helping out in tutorials was constantly engaging; these were the parts of lectures you enjoyed. Sure, the professor lectures the material, and we can ask questions. Still, during the tutorials, you allow the students to contextualize and discuss their thoughts, hoping they learn how these concepts are practiced. By the time tutorials were done, I stayed back in case students had questions. They didn't; looking down at your wristwatch, you know you have 2 hours to kill.

You took the chance to pack up your things and put on your headphones, wanting to mentally prepare yourself for the lecture that is happening soon. Being the little academic you are, you decide to go to the building where they have the lecture. Having the chance to scope out a good spot to sit in and take the opportunity to get some more work done before you can have your undivided attention on the guest lecturer. You felt your stomach grumble and pulled out the muffin on the way since it was a 10-minute walk. You know the way to the building, so you took time attending to your work emails on your phone. The day in the life of a university/graduate student, always on the move, you love being busy but sometimes just wish your end goal was getting nearer. You take the chance occasionally to look up and ensure that you don't bump into other people on the sidewalk and not miss the building where the lecture is held. Once you arrive, you immediately know exactly which room you heading to. Since you had class in this lecture hall, you know exactly where to go and that this building is usually not busy. But what you don't expect is to collide into what feels like a wall and fall backwards, landing straight on your ass. Blaming the noise-cancelling headphones and being too engrossed in your phone. Before even removing the headphones, instantly apologize to whoever you bumped into. But what you weren't prepared for was who it would be. The instant recognition made you blush a crimson red; the CEO and Team Principle of the Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 team, Toto Wolff, kneeled before you, his chocolate brown eyes laced with worry.

"Are you okay? My deepest apologies; I did not mean to bump into you. I hope you are okay; let me help you up." He grabbed your phone that had fallen out of your hand and gave you a hand to help you up. You took his hand and dusted yourself off a bit from the fall. "I'm okay; if anything, I should apologize. I bumped into you and didn't bother to look up from my phone!" Giving him a reassuring smile lets him know you are genuinely okay. "Let me introduce myself; I'm Toto Wolff. Who might you be, so I can apologize sincerely," his Austrian accent showed while sticking out his hand to introduce himself again. He truly felt bad, and you shook his hand, "I'm Y/N, and again, no need to apologize; I should have been paying more attention." "Nonsense; you're a student and probably taking every chance you get to study and cramming for some sort of assessment." His wit was like none other. He then noticed the muffin on the floor, and you went to pick it up and throw it out. It was perfect timing that your stomach had to alert the world that you were hungry. "Again, I do apologize, Y/N. Please let me offer to get you another muffin, coffee or something to eat?" "No, no, it's okay; I truly wasn't that hungry," and again, your stomach grumbles further. He notices, "I insist; there is a coffee shop around the corner; I was just about to grab something before this lecture I was about to give; I am assuming that is why you are in this building?" He has a slight glimmer in his eyes, hoping you are attending. To concede to that look, you finally tell him. "Funny you ask, yes I am here to see you guest lecture, and since you keep insisting and I am assuming with no intention of stopping, let's grab that coffee." The slight curl in his lips forms a smirk since you caught him in his little act, or he's feeling guilty for bumping into him, but you give him the benefit of the doubt and tag along. After all, he is a prominent figure in Formula 1, and to say you grab coffee with someone like Toto Wolff, so you take your chance.

He led the way out of the building and onto the street. The walk to the coffee shop was silent; neither of you seemed to have the courage to speak up, but the silence didn't feel awkward. The place was no more than ten minutes up the street from the lecture hall. The day was winding down, as the roads weren't littered with people. The same could be said for the coffee shop. It was scarce of the usual hustle and bustle. As you approach the coffee shop, before you can even grab the handle, Toto, with a quicker step, takes hold of the handle to open the door and allow you to enter first. Thanking him, you proceeded to make your way to the counter to order your drinks. Taking the chance to look at the menu, getting lost in the number of options, you finally register that Toto is speaking and pulling you from your train of thought.

"What are you thinking of getting? I can order it here. Will you find a place for us to sit?" "Ahh, I'll get a latte with a double shot of espresso with two sugars…..but like you don't have to, I can get it for myself." I hope he lets you pay for your drink separately. "Nonsense, I bumped into you; the least I can do is get you a coffee, and clearly, with a lot of caffeine in it." Clearly trying to lighten the mood and taking note of the amount of caffeine in your drink, you conceded and let him order the drink for you while you pick a seat in the back corner of the shop. Taking off your backpack and vest and settling in the chair, you took another opportunity to look at your email and student course site to see if any of the professors or students had any inquiries. You didn't even notice Toto sitting across from you until you put your phone away, and the man just smiled at you.

"Ohh, I'm sorry, I didn't even notice that you sat down; you should have said something," your face slowly turning a little flush from the embarrassment of being distracted by your device to not even notice his presence. "I totally understand; you're a student, after all, and please stop apologizing; you did nothing wrong. And I was just admiring how focused you can get." He was genuinely trying to show you sympathy. He wasn't wrong that your student was so busy, let alone your schedule and the amount on your plate, making you blush. It tends to happen often, especially since that's how your interaction with him started. "Tell me a bit about your education; what are you studying?" He said this, getting a little more comfortable in the seat across from yours, sitting with his legs crossed at the ankles, as he does in most of these interviews, with hands clasped on his lap, giving you his undivided attention. "Well, I started at this University with my bachelor of arts, double majoring in criminology and political science. After graduating last year, I didn't feel fully prepared to apply to law school, so I decided to get my Master's degree in social justice. It's a nice combination of the content I was learning in my undergrad that it felt natural." His facial expression showed a little astonishment, with his one eyebrow arching to hear your accomplishments and aspirations. "That's quite impressive; I would have thought you just started your degree. Again, congrats on finishing one, starting the other and the long road ahead of you." Blushing a little from the comment, sure, a lot of people tell you that is an insane amount of studying and the number of years you had, but he understands that is required in this day and age. "Thank you. I know I still have a long way to go, but I am also in no rush to get there." And I am honest about that: I was in no rush to get into law school; I knew the process of studying for the LSAT is a battle in and of itself, so I wanted to make sure I grasped everything. I think Toto knew that, too; he is also guest lecturing and successful in his domain.

Shifting a little in his seat, you can tell he is thinking his words carefully before he asks, "What made you want to attend my lecture? You are clearly a beautiful young woman who must have a nightlife more worthy than sitting and listening to this lecture?" Damn, just damn. And you couldn't help but notice the little smirk on Toto's face. He caught you off guard, and you couldn't help but turn red, and he made you do a lot of it today. Attempting not to make the silence go on for much longer, "Haha umm, no, I barely have a nightlife with studying, the amount of reading I'm required to do, the TAing for a course and the jobs I have on campus. I am a fan of F1 and wanted to hear how a team diversifies the organization one step at a time. It is truly an interest of mine and a topic covered in several of my courses, so why not…..you know." You were rambling at this point, you could tell, so you went silent and hoping that satisfied his curiosity. And by the looks of it, the answer was decent. I felt like two could play at this, so I thought, why not ask him something since, at this point, it feels like you're under interrogation. "What made you want to guest lecture in this? This is unusual for a topic you lecture in, other than the times you talk about the success and downfall of your team."

As if it was perfect timing, your order of drinks and apparently baked goods was brought to the table. The latte was set in front of you, and what looked like an espresso with a bit of milk was placed in front of Toto, with the scones in the center. "If you don't mind, I also got you a scone since I made you drop your muffin earlier." "Ohh, you didn't have to, really." "No, I insist, plus you need to eat; I can't have you hungry in my lecture." Attempting to avoid blushing and eye contact since you already know he will have a smirk on his face, you take a sip of your latte; it feels good to have the caffeine in you, making you focus and not get carried away with his remarks."Back to your question, since you might be thinking that I was avoiding it, for years and from personal experience, motorsports is quite polarizing regarding the type of people that work in the sport. And I, along with Lewis and the organization, want to allow people from all walks of life to come and share the same passion while working towards being a winning team. Now, to your comment on Mercedes's downfall, we will be back on top, but like I say to the press, we are happy to make these mistakes to learn from them." Contented with his answer, he took a scone from the plate in front, broke off a piece, popped it into his mouth, and followed it with a sip of his coffee. You can sense the PR voice coming out in the end since it must be a question he gets often. Either you poked a nerve, or it was one of the generic answers he typically gives; you couldn't tell. But you dropped it instantly and followed a similar action: drinking your latte and grabbing the plate with the scone. A satisfied look comes on Toto's face, taking hold of the scone and eating it. Food in your stomach felt good, so you were slightly grateful that he had bought you the scone.

Toto looked up at you, not wanting to rush the bite you took of the scone, and took this as an opportunity to ask another question and give you time to think, "With no nightlife, do you have any hobbies of interest outside of the amount of reading and studying?" Considering you respond, "Well if I'm not studying, which is most of the day, I either watch TV like any normal person. I usually head to the gym or take long bike rides when I'm not feeling lazy. I like keeping active, so walking, biking, strength training, and sometimes kyakayaking and swimming are my simple pleasures. They also let me blow off steam when I felt really stressed before those activities. Partaking in martial arts was my favourite way of getting fit." "I wouldn't think someone like you was in martial arts. you are quite petite, and I'm only saying that because I bumped into you and fell to the ground." He had a little smirk since he was partially true, based on today's current events, but he tilted his head slightly, ready to hear your response. You could tell he was trying to elicit a reaction and see how you would react. But it wasn't in a sizing me up manner; it was more so to see my genuine interest in the sport.

"Well, you were lucky catching me off guard, so a point to you. But on that, I earned a black belt and trained 6 times a week for 10 years straight. It's been a few years since I stopped training for the sport because University became a full-time job. Still, I miss learning new techniques and being in a sparring ring with another opponent. I was quite fierce and aggressive when needed. I guess it was the perks of being only 5"2 and one of only a few females who partook in the sport. Most boys and men wouldn't want to fight because they were too aggressive, but I liked using their moves against them and being tactical."

"Like drivers have a signature move. Did you have one since you mentioned sparring in a ring?" You laughed a little at the questions because he knows every athlete as a signature move in their own sport, "I did, actually, and I've made several opponents furious when using it because it would knock them on their ass, literally. The move is called the rope-a-dope. As I am in the ring, bouncing around on the ball of my feet, I try to let my opponent attack me as much as they can; not only does it tire them out, but they have to sort of lung at me. Depending on how long I want to string them out, it usually lasts 2-3 times at most 4. On their final attack and when their midsection is open, I jump-side kick or reverse side-kick the person in the gut region, earning several points, a groan in pain and making them fall to their ass."

Finishing the little rant about your previous sport, following it with a sip of the latte, you notice Toto have a queasy look on his face while slightly clutching his stomach. "Remind me not to piss you off then." "Hahah…. It's okay; I haven't trained in years, so I'll be super rusty and fall on my ass." I try to ease him a bit. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that I was aggressive, but he doesn't even know half how aggressive I used to be and the nicknames I got. But it's not like I will meet him again to see the whole or more about him.

Toto takes the chance during this little silence as I sip and take more bites of the scone to look at his watch for the time, and I do the same. I didn't even notice the time fly so fast, and it was 5:30pm, so we only had half an hour left until his guest lecture started. He looked at me and said, "I know this is a little presumptuous to ask even though we just met, and I enjoyed talking to you, but would you like to have dinner with me tonight after the lecture?"

This man has made you blush countless times today and continues to do so even more. You were still stunned and couldn't formulate any words or a clear thought for someone who writes for a living. Taking you out of your shock, "Y/N?" Finally, looking directly into his chocolate-brown eyes, I said, "Yes, I would love that!" It is as if Toto was holding his breath, waiting for your response, because he finally exhaled and looked relieved. However, he still had his wicked smile plastered on his face, noticeably enjoying that he would spend more time with you.

At this point, you both get ready to leave the coffee shop and head back to the lecture hall for Toto to give his lecture. But you still couldn't believe that you were spending more time with him; you kept pinching yourself on the way back to the hall to make sure you weren't in an alternate universe, but you weren't. Before going down the corridor to the lecture, he pulls you aside by the waist, assuring that no one can see the both of you. His body is so close to yours, his large hands still around your waist, feeling his hot breath on your lips. "I really enjoyed talking to you over coffee, come right back here once the lecture is done, and we will head to dinner together." We both linger there for a few minutes, his eyes darting from your eyes to your lips and then backing up as if he wants to kiss you. His touch makes you leave your mouth slightly gapped as if you ask him to lean down. But he smirked and moved to your ear, feeling his breath on it; he said, "Now go on. I'll see you in the lecture, and pay attention. I'll be watching."

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Preston Cooper

Published: May 8, 2024

Key Points

This report estimates return on investment (ROI) — how much college increases lifetime earnings, minus the costs of college — for 53,000 different degree and certificate programs.

Bachelor’s degree programs have a median ROI of $160,000, but the payoff varies by field of study. Engineering, computer science, nursing, and economics degrees have the highest ROI.

Associate degree and certificate programs have variable ROI, depending on the field of study. Two-year degrees in liberal arts have no ROI, while certificates in the technical trades have a higher payoff than the typical bachelor’s degree.

Nearly half of master’s degree programs leave students financially worse off. However, professional degrees in law, medicine, and dentistry are extremely lucrative.

Around a third of federal Pell Grant and student loan funding pays for programs that do not provide students with a return on investment.

Executive Summary

In recent years, young Americans have expressed more skepticism about the financial value of higher education. While prospective students often ask themselves if college is worth it, this report shows the more important question is when college is worth it.

This report presents estimates of return on investment (ROI) for 53,000 degree and certificate programs ranging from trade schools to medical schools and everything in between. I define ROI as the increase in lifetime earnings that a student can expect when they enroll in a certain degree program, minus the costs of tuition and fees, books and supplies, and lost earnings while enrolled. My preferred measure of ROI accounts for the risk that some students will not finish their programs.

This report updates FREOPP’s previous research on ROI, utilizing new data from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

The findings show that college is worth it more often than not, but there are key exceptions. ROI for the median bachelor’s degree is $160,000, but that median belies a wide range of outcomes for individual programs. Bachelor’s degrees in engineering, computer science, nursing, and economics tend to have a payoff of $500,000 or more. Other majors, including fine arts, education, English, and psychology, usually have a smaller payoff — or none at all.

Alternatives to the traditional four-year degree produce varied results. Undergraduate certificates in the technical trades tend to have a stronger ROI than the median bachelor’s degree. However, many other subbaccalaureate credentials — including associate degrees in liberal arts or general education — have no payoff at all. Field of study is the paramount consideration at both the baccalaureate and subbaccalaureate levels.

The ROI of graduate school is also mixed. Professional degrees in law, medicine, and dentistry tend to have a strong payoff, often in excess of $1 million. However, nearly half of master’s degree programs have no ROI, thanks to their high costs and often-modest earnings benefits. Even the MBA, one of America’s most popular master’s degrees, frequently has a low or negative payoff.

The report introduces a new metric — the mobility index — to quantify the aggregate financial impact of each degree or certificate program. The mobility index multiplies each program’s ROI by the number of students it enrolls, thus rewarding programs for both financial value and inclusivity. Bachelor’s degrees in nursing and business administration dominate the top ranks of the mobility index.

Finally, the report estimates how much federal government funding flows to programs that leave students with no ROI. Around 29 percent of federal Pell Grant and student loan dollars over the last five years were used at programs that leave students with a negative ROI. The results point to a role for federal policymakers in improving the ROI of higher education.

While ROI should not be the only consideration for students approaching the college decision, the ROI estimates presented in this report can help students and their families make better choices regarding higher education. The estimates may also be of interest to other stakeholders, including policymakers, researchers, journalists, and institutions.

The full ROI estimates for undergraduate programs are available here. The full ROI estimates for graduate programs are available here.

[ Continued... ]

==

The article includes an interactive graph which allows you to choose from various majors and find the ROI. Some samples.

Controversial opinion: While there may be an argument to waiving or subsidizing college loans for courses that strongly benefit society, no program with a negative ROI should ever be given loan forgiveness or federal funding.

If you want to study Ancient Mesopotamian Interpretive Dance - or even more uselessly, Gender Studies - for your own pleasure and enjoyment, that's your business. And your financial responsibility; the bill for that resides with you. As far as society and our tax dollars are concerned, forgiving that loan or funding that course is just setting fire to money.

Reminder that you may be better off at a trade school. Courses are often shorter, more targeted and cheaper, so you end up working quicker, earning money more rapidly and have a lower debt that's paid off sooner.

[tolerateit]

I applaud anyone that pursues academia past a bachelor's. I used to want to get a phd myself back in the day but I laugh about that now so strap in for a story time.

I was halfway through my bachelor's degree, and I was in the process of researching where to apply for a masters. I wanted that to be abroad. And I wanted it to be some sort of political science or something like that. Which was completely unrelated to my literature degree pursuit at the time. But I didn't care, I simply wanted to help fix the world and work as a diplomat or work for the UN.

Anyway, during my research I found out that it costs anywhere between $100-$500 just to apply for a masters program. Which was hella expensive for me living in a country where $300 was the average salary. I joked with friends that I would need to sell a kidney just for a few applications. Fortunately I had a plan for the tuition and other expenses part of studying. There's a government program that pays for everything as long as you get accepted to one of the top universities according to the Shanghai ranking. In return, all you gotta do is graduate on time and then go back home to spend double the time it took you to graduate working in my country. It was the perfect plan! Especially since all those universities had three separate price points, depending on where you're coming from (I'm talking about the European universities that had one really cheap price for locals, second slightly more expensive for other EU members, and third ridiculously high for the rest of the world)

So I started saving up money for those applications about a year before I was supposed to apply. And started looking into the documentation I would need to apply to the universities and to the government program. Meanwhile, my parents tried to dissuade me from studying anything remotely connected to politics saying I'm not cut out to be as cold blooded as the politicians in our country are. I'd wanted to pursue politics for my bachelor's but they negotiated with me to first get a degree in something I would have an easier time finding a job with locally (jokes on them the market has been oversaturated for over a decade before this conversation happened, they just didn't know), and then pursue politics. Just to have a sort of backup if things go bad in any way. And I reluctantly agreed.

But when my last year of my studies started, all the application prices increased. I started thinking about maybe taking a gap year after I graduate and working my ass off to get enough money to apply to 4-5 different schools. I then met my now husband. Him and his family had far more connections to various people than my family did and I got to learn more about that government program behind the scenes. What I learned was that in 99% of cases, the only requirement to be accepted is nepotism. Around that time I learned of a kid in my neighborhood getting accepted in the program for an undergraduate degree. Because his dad was higher up the political food chain in my country. There wasn't an option for an undergraduate degree for the rest of the country. Just masters and phds. Which immediately ruined all of the ideas and plans I had made and made me incredibly disillusioned with the whole thing I intended to do. My now husband also told me he wanted to pursue political science when he entered academia, but he had a different approach. He was in a forensic science program at the time and was thinking about a masters from the local university. He got disillusioned when he saw the amount of crime and corruption in his current studies. While the professors were teaching students all the laws, they were also actively breaking them. He was so disillusioned he ended up transferring from that department to another school to study computer science.

The cherry on top, for me, was the fact that this was all happening around 2015/16 when the Me Too movement was in full swing, and stories started showing up on the amount of sexism women in academia deal with on a daily basis. Along with a couple of other disgusting political things I learned that happened locally.

Immediately no. The whole messy endeavor. Immediately no.

These days I'm looking to move to an EU country, so that if my future kid wants to pursue the degrees I wanted, or any other ones, they would have a lower barrier of entry. I mean that along with the functional educational, medical and legal systems which are nonexistent here as I've demonstrated through the stories I've shared lmao

But I greatly admire anyone who's able to do all that. They are the people that are changing the world in so many different and exciting ways through their discoveries and I'm grateful for them. <3

MK

APPLICATION FEES ARE SO STUPID??? they're not that high at least for places im applying to but it feels so weird to pay just for an opportunity to get in, when there's so many barriers you'd face later! I hope things turn out better everywhere because it's disgusting how closely education ties in with politics. some fields should be absolutely free and safe from any sort of political agenda

[reubyocs]

📚 BOOKS — what level of education has your oc most recently completed/is currently in (GED, undergraduate, grad school, phd, etc)?(for any of your muses)

Most of my muses minimally have no education higher than high school graduate level or some kind of undergraduate degree.

Val studied a degree in languages (Japanese).

Agent 38 studied law and even completed an honours thesis. He was a practising lawyer before he realised how much he hates the boring legal law procedures.

Etsumi studied business for a year or two after leaving Okinawa.

Hellmourn has a Bachelor in Fine Arts and an Honours degree in Fine Arts with their body of work and thesis. They intend to do a PhD next.

Nathan has studied IT, completing a Bachelors Degree.

Finally, Harvey has completed a Bachelors degree in Medicine and Doctor of Medicine!