6 hours 1 min ago

An unhappy graduate in New York is suing the university where she studied because she has been unable to find a job since finishing her degree.

Trina Thompson claimed Monroe College in the Bronx had failed to support her after she completed a BBA in Information Technology.

She filed a legal action last week, after four months of fruitless job hunting, the New York post reported.

The 27-year-old is demanding to be repaid her $70,000 (£41,700) tuition fees.

Ms Thompson said the university's careers service had not provided her with the contacts and advice it promised before she began studying.

A spokesman for the university rejected the claim.

Monroe College PR director Gary Axelbank said the lawsuit was completely without merit because the college does assist its graduates in finding employment.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090803/twl-jobless-graduate-sues-her-ny-univers-3fd0ae9.html

:lol: It's not the college's fault that she can't get a job right now. It's a tough market out there, especially for those who just got out of college.

This case should be thrown out of court. I am a big fan of education and I'm all in favor of anybody going to college and getting a degree. That said there are no gaurtees (or however you spell it), that once you graduate you will be able to get a gig immedietly. We are in a recession and quite a few people who are unemployed are college graduates.

:lol: It's not the college's fault that she can't get a job right now. It's a tough market out there, especially for those who just got out of college.

exactly. i remembered when my brother graduated with a BSc in computer science from hertfordshire university over 6 years ago or something like that. yes, the job hunting process was long and hard but he finally managed to get a job working in the I.T department in a bank.

there are some degrees out there which are deemed worthless by some employees and in today's recession, it is difficult for anyone who is unemployed, especially a college or uni graduate who has a degree to get a job, at all. although i think that this person went way too far with what they did. considering how much in debt students are once they finished college/uni, the last thing they want is to be accused of being greedy, as well as looking desperate.

I sympathise with her because I can relate to her situation (I too have recently completed a degree and am looking for a job.) However, I don't think the university should be sued in this case. I know she must feel frustrated but unfortunately the only thing she can do is keep trying...hopefully she will find employment somewhere.

Ever hear of ringing up groceries or flipping burgers until something better comes along? :rolleyes:

Even though she sounds crazy this story does highlight one thing

"COLLEGE IS OVERRATED"

Ever hear of ringing up groceries or flipping burgers until something better comes along? :rolleyes:
:yeahthat

There's a word for this - LOLsuit

There's a word for this - LOLsuit
That's basically it!! :lol:

Ever hear of ringing up groceries or flipping burgers until something better comes along? :rolleyes:
BUT SHE HAS A COLLEGE DEGREE!!! That excludes her from any job not requiring one!! :snob:


/sarcasm :fart:

I would have freaked if she would have been a law student and tried to sue the school. I'm glad they aren't going through with this stupid lawsuit.

Andrea

I understand and feel her frustration but suing NYU is just ridiculous. And to those stating that she should consider doing retail or fast food cannot empathize. I have invested so much time into receiving a top notch education and if I were ever to be in the same position, I wouldn't be flipping burgers either. It lessens your marketability as a job seeker.

Or just look at those collecting the maximum allowed in unemployment benefits. It some cases (in California) it could be up to $13 or $15 hourly. These people get criticized for not settling for jobs that pay that amount or slightly less. But why should they?

I sympathise with her because I can relate to her situation (I too have recently completed a degree and am looking for a job.) However, I don't think the university should be sued in this case. I know she must feel frustrated but unfortunately the only thing she can do is keep trying...hopefully she will find employment somewhere.

good advice :) !

Even though she sounds crazy this story does highlight one thing

"COLLEGE IS OVERRATED"

so true solomon. just because one has a degree does not automatically guarantee him/her full- time employment or a well paid job. a degree if anything is just a piece of paper with your achievements on it. nothing more. and i'm sure there have been plenty of talented and intelligent people who have never been to uni or college in their lives to study.

and so to all those parents who try to force their kids into college and university- they better think again. it's not just the issue of money and whether they'll be able to afford it or get some help paying for it, but rather is the course actually going to lead to employment afterwards?

BUT SHE HAS A COLLEGE DEGREE!!! That excludes her from any job not requiring one!! :snob:


/sarcasm :fart:

to have a college or uni graduate working at mickey D's or KFC, there is just something wrong with that. don't want to sound like a snob but they deserve better than that.

the other issue i want to raise however is that colleges and universities advertise and run courses, trying to get students to enrol onto them when the truth is, the vast majority of them do not lead on to employment. i read accounts by ex- media studies and art and design graduates, who having finished their education, when they enter the job market, they do not end up working in the field where they did their specialised subject. instead, they end up doing sales or retail work, even signing on the dole.

however, it shows in this world today, you cannot have your cake and eat it, as the saying goes.

but do you guys think that colleges and universities should be held accountable for running 'mickey mouse' courses, where in which many of the students do not end up working in their respective field, after they have graduated?

and so to all those parents who try to force their kids into college and university- they better think again. it's not just the issue of money and whether they'll be able to afford it or get some help paying for it, but rather is the course actually going to lead to employment afterwards?

I'm personally very glad I went. I had a great time and met some great people.

University RULES! :)

I'm personally very glad I went. I had a great time and met some great people.

University RULES! :)

i went to university too, unfortunately unlike yourself, the course was badly run and the timetables often changed. for instance, during the third year we were supposed to have 10 final year option modules- 5 in each semester but ended up with 6 of them, 3 in each and they were not the ones i wanted to do. i so wanted to do scriptwriting but it wasn't on there.

i went to university too, unfortunately unlike yourself, the course was badly run and the timetables often changed. for instance, during the third year we were supposed to have 10 final year option modules- 5 in each semester but ended up with 6 of them, 3 in each and they were not the ones i wanted to do. i so wanted to do scriptwriting but it wasn't on there.

Sorry about that - which university did you go to?

I went to Anglia Ruskin. It can be quite disorganised (I think most universities are probably quite disorganised, really) but generally things still got done. I also think it's quite a friendly university. I studied English and Writing - the English department was a friendly department.

Sorry about that - which university did you go to?

I went to Anglia Ruskin. It can be quite disorganised (I think most universities are probably quite disorganised, really) but generally things still got done. I also think it's quite a friendly university. I studied English and Writing - the English department was a friendly department.

mines was thames valley university in ealing, west london. really terrible place to study. in the guardian website, for example, it is ranked 90 something out of 100 in the top 100 universities in the whole of the UK. which says something about its reputation. or be it, lack of.

:mad: mines was thames valley university in ealing, west london. really terrible place to study. in the guardian website, for example, it is ranked 90 something out of 100 in the top 100 universities in the whole of the UK. which says something about its reputation. or be it, lack of.

Anglia Ruskin (which is in Cambridge, but not part of Cambridge University, it's a separate uni) isn't ranked highly either. I think in 2007 or 2008 it came bottom of the league table. Nevertheless, I had a good time and enjoyed my course.

ARU probably has had its share of badly managed courses - I'm just thankful that mine wasn't one of them.

Maybe if it were some kind of cheesy sch she might have a remote chance but NYU I strongly doubt it. And yes, like someone earlier said why doesn't she just take any job for right now - flipping burgers, temp work, etc. It would give her structure and it does look good should she get some kind of good interview.

and so to all those parents who try to force their kids into college and university- they better think again. it's not just the issue of money and whether they'll be able to afford it or get some help paying for it, but rather is the course actually going to lead to employment afterwards?


If I had kids, I would want them to go to college. For one reason - when this economy turns around (and it WILL eventually turn around) they will have the skill set that will get them a higher paying job sooner rather than later.

Someone in my class today made a good point about this. He said if she wants her tuition money back, they should also take her degree back.

After many years of not working and raising my children I took any kind of job just to work and get back out into the job market. Right now I'm working in a store as a cashier. For a while... I couldn't find a job that can work around my schedule. I do work part time because I'm still needed at the home. I have worked in Wall street, The world trade center, Banks etc. I no longer live in NYC so my options have come down. I'm sure if I was still in NYC I would do better than where I'm at now.

I know many. many people who have degrees and can't find the jobs they want. This has been happening for awhile now.

If I had kids, I would want them to go to college. For one reason - when this economy turns around (and it WILL eventually turn around) they will have the skill set that will get them a higher paying job sooner rather than later.

i'm not saying that education is a bad thing altogether. lots of employers are looking for people, especially graduates and people with the right skills for the job. it is just that there are many people who have the qualifications but of whom do not or couldn't find work, and there are those who don't have diplomas etc and yet are not willing to shell out thousands of pounds or dollars just to study. the situation we have right now is not as straightforward as it was say 20 years ago.

it depends very much on the type of job field it is- with the arts for example, it's one thing having talent but it is much harder trying to land that gig as an artist, actor, performer etc. even if you have a bachelor of arts degree.

Someone in my class today made a good point about this. He said if she wants her tuition money back, they should also take her degree back.

That's not a good point at all. Tuition is just monetary, superficial. A degree is earned through hardwork and dedication. It's not like she went to University of Phoenix. LOL

Universities should be more considerate of the economical climate and lower tuition fees instead of raising them.

That's not a good point at all. Tuition is just monetary, superficial. A degree is earned through hardwork and dedication. It's not like she went to University of Phoenix. LOL

Universities should be more considerate of the economical climate and lower tuition fees instead of raising them.

I think it is, because it's not like it would ever happen. She would never get her money back, but if she did it would be a fair trade.

The college I went to in 1993 was $12,000 a semester so I wonder what it will be in the fall of 2009

$20,000?-lol

Lol I love how everyone thinks that 4 years of college will guarentee you a job. Even my parents who obviously have more experience in the real world than me, say "oh you will have your degree". I'm currently getting a BFA in Theater, lmao. How useful is that? I love the school I am at though and if I changed my major I would lose all my scholarship money.

College is for learning, not for making a buck.

I went to a Big Ten school. I got two undergraduate degrees, one in English and one in German. I couldn't find a job in either of my fields, so hey, I decided to keep busy and took a job as a bank teller. Then that moved up to a Head Teller. Then a Retail Trainer. Now I'm up for supervising the payroll department of a bank. I never could have gone so high without my degree, but guess what? I needed both a degree and experience. The problem is too many grads are too proud to take a job they consider "beneath" them. Yes, I was certainly over-qualified to work as a bank teller, but I'm very glad I did. You can't get anywhere in today's economy without both education and experience.

to have a college or uni graduate working at mickey D's or KFC, there is just something wrong with that. don't want to sound like a snob but they deserve better than that.

That right there is the attitude that leads straight to the unemployment line. Humility gets you further in today's market than a Harvard degree.

That right there is the attitude that leads straight to the unemployment line. Humility gets you further in today's market than a Harvard degree.


I disagree, someone fresh out of college can get a MUCH BETTER job than a Fast Food Job. Most Fast Food Jobs are for Highschool or College Students, or Throwbacks