HEY JUPITER

Once I gain more experience as a science writer, I am going to begin to focus my writing on the strong disconnect between science, math, college, and the practical needs of living, breathing students who are graduating with tremendous debt in the current economy.  I feel a little shell-shocked and like I’ve been dropped off a cliff because I didn’t go on to graduate school.  There are no entry or low-level science jobs for someone with just a B.A.  All of those jobs are being filled by people with PhDs and most job postings now list a PhD or an extraordinary background with a 4.00 GPA as the minimum requirements for consideration.  There are B.A. engineering jobs, but few employers are going to settle for or take a risk on a physics major when she/he has her/his pick from a glut of college graduates with engineering degrees entering the job market, no matter how good that physics major is at “problem-solving,” “critical thinking,” or “leadership and responsibility”.  I have skill, ability, and a strong work ethic, but there are just no jobs for me to take.  According to government data, 50% of recent college graduates are either unemployed or, like me, are on minimum wage and just barely earning enough to make their monthly student loan payments, forget starting their lives as active, contributing members of society.