Grant Wood's "American Gothic," intended to represent the Depression Era, Midwestern farmer, has been regarded by many as the stereotypical representation of a true American farmer for decades. While this painting does represent farmers in the early part of the 20th century, the author feels obliged to say that it is time to drop this…

Discusses career opportunities in the restaurant, service, and retail business for recent college graduates as alternate routes to career success. Often, negative public perceptions of these occupations create unnecessary obstacles to potentially satisfying and long-lasting career options. (JPS)

The number of college graduates has increased considerably since 1960. However, the number of jobs requiring highly educated workers has not grown to the same extent. Thus, young, well-educated college graduates frequently replace older, less educated workers. The author challenges society to make more efficient use of its educational resources.…

Focuses on three specialized occupations--nurse, engineer, and lawyer--and looks at how people have transferred their specialized skills and knowledge from one field to another. Discusses options and obstacles when moving a career in the opposite direction. Offers 10 job-hunting mindsets to avoid. (JOW)

The number of jobs requiring four or more years of college education is projected to grow by 45 percent over the 1982-1995 period, compared to 25 percent for all jobs. (JOW)

Exhorts 1994 University of San Diego graduates to invest their talents in serving the common good, whatever their chosen professions. Professionals have the capacity for welcoming complexity, acquiring information without being overwhelmed by it, planning without being controlled by their plans, discovering relationships, and creating meaning from…

A commencement speech to aspiring teachers discusses the complexities of becoming a teacher to help graduates cope realistically with any obstacles they might encounter. The paper stresses that teaching young children is an intensely personal experience that is well worth the struggle. (SM)

An advertisement for higher education, and specifically for the City University of New York (CUNY), presents data to support arguments in favor of college education. The benefits described include: preparation for a career, increased job opportunities, occupational mobility, and personal fulfillment. Also listed are numerous occupations and the…

In a recent survey of continuing and professional education leaders, the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) reported that marketing budgets are steadily rising with institutions spending an average of $319 million on an integrated marketing mix that targets would-be students. What the numbers do not tell is the potential benefit of…

Gilkeson and Hanten describe their study of a random sample of 530 baccalaureate level and 504 master's level occupational therapists. Comparisons are made of demographic data, job responsibilities, and professional growth. A critique by Grant of the study follows, discussing the issue of postbaccalaureate education for occupational therapists.…

With competition for managerial jobs increasing, new college graduates entering the white-collar work force will need to be very visible, have many professional contacts, be well-trained and self-reliant, show fiscal prudence in their personal lives, take risks, and develop transferable skills for a fluid, uncertain workplace environment. (MSE)

South Carolina's Education Improvement Act (calling for improved teacher quality and development of an alternative certification program for college graduates with no previous pedagogical) provides an example of successful alternative certification programs addressing teacher shortages. Such programs can do a superior job of supporting teachers…

In this American Institute of Physics report, three questions are addressed: 1) What are the goals of undergraduate physics curriculum? 2) What are the common career paths of physics bachelors? 3) How well does the physics curriculum prepare our bachelors for these careers? The paper suggests that physics curricula 1) provide students with a…

Examined are jobs and earnings trends, occupational projections, women and minorities in the professional job market, and population and labor force trends. It is likely that the college graduate of the 1980s will be substantially better off in the labor market than those with less education. (SR)

Excerpts from interviews with Black students and graduates from Harvard Law and Medical Schools reveal the concern of these minority professionals as representatives of the Black community. Their experiences in graduate school and later in their professions are described. (JMF)