Recent/Soon-to-be Grads

Is Tattooing Worthy Of My Art Degree?

January 4, 2011

Jacob’s a tortured artist — and he hasn’t really even started being an artist yet! I imagine his situation and mindset are not uncommon, though, for art students about to jump into the professional world. Hi Judge Josh, I am at a crucial moment in my educational life. I will graduate next semester with a […]

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I Was Raped. Should I Tell The Committee?

December 28, 2010

Sarah was finishing up a stellar undergrad career at a very selective university, and then she was raped. That changed things, but it didn’t derail her, and she needs some advice on how to continue righting the ship. Hi Judge Josh, Hi! I’m a longtime reader and fan of your Q&A section, just never thought […]

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Bad College Advice, Volume I

December 13, 2010

Man, Rebecca’s been getting some terrible college advice. I want to thank her in advance for allowing me to smash some of it here in a public forum. My question has two parts. I will be graduating with my A.A.S in Accounting this December with a 3.6GPA after taking classes for four years. Congrats! It […]

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When It’s OK to Lie

December 8, 2010

Sheri’s trying to get me in trouble today. Hey Josh, Hey! I’ve got a pretty great thing going on. I’m currently a debt-free sophomore in college with a 3.86 cumulative GPA, my family is supportive of me, and I’ve never had any trouble with people bullying me about my race, religion, or other attributes. To […]

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Questionable Letters of Reference (Bonus…we need guest posts!)

November 1, 2010

Before I get to Kristina’s question today, let me first announce that WE NEED GUEST POSTS! For the next two weeks, anyway. I’ll be on the road constantly for the ad agency over the next two weeks (Santa Fe, N.M. and Vienna, Austria), so if any of you razor-sharp co-eds out there feel like pounding […]

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Unique & Obscure Degrees: Worth it?

October 29, 2010

María has a question about college life outside the U.S., but that’s cool, because, in the immortal words of Lil’ Wayne, “We worldwide, hustlas!” I have a question regarding college majors. My situation is unique for this site because I don’t live in the US. But I read the advice you give and you’re always […]

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Double Degree: What’s The Point?

October 27, 2010

Tamorie is a woman of few words. But every word counts. Love your work! Aw, shucks… I have a quick question. What’s the benefit of a second bachelor’s degree? Is there one? Great question. I’ll assume that what’s given rise to this question is you being in some proximity to students pursuing or discussing double-degree […]

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Should I Go To Law School?

October 13, 2010

Erik is poised to become one of our nation’s 8.7 trillion practicing attorneys. Is it a good idea? Hey Judge Josh, My name is Erik. I really dig all the insightful school and career advice Outlaw Student and has to offer. Thank you and keep up the good work! Thanks, man! I really appreciate that! […]

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Does Everyone Starve in Graduate School?

October 7, 2010

Mike’s headed off to grad school — that lovely purgatory between the dream-world of college and the hellish incinerator that is the working world. Is grad school the bread line that it’s mythologized to be? Hey, thank you for taking the time to answer my question and give advice on others. You’re welcome. Thanks for […]

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Education Management: Study Education or Business?

October 4, 2010

Anita is steadily climbing the ladder in the education industry, and because she’s an older student, it’s important that she chooses her steps carefully. When you don’t have a couple of spare decades to recover from mistakes, it’s important you make as few as possible! I am a non-traditonal student (43) and just got my […]

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Finding a Career Outside Your Major

October 1, 2010

Emma’s note is a great way to start a Friday for me, because it’s 180 degrees from what I normally get. When it comes to jobs, most of you guys want to know how you can find jobs related to your major and doing what you went to school to do. But Emma wants to […]

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Should You Go To Grad School Somewhere Else?

September 23, 2010

Jeeves is not a butler. He’s a pretty accomplished undergrad at Illinois who isn’t sure whether to trust the traditional wisdom that says you oughta go to grad school somewhere different from where you did undergrad. After all, what if your undergrad school has an absolutely phenomenal, world-renowned grad program? Hello! As everyone has already […]

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Are There Scholarships To Pay Off Student Loans?

September 20, 2010

There are scholarships you can get while you’re still in high school, and of course there are scholarships for undergraduate school and graduate degrees. But what about money for life AFTER college? That’s what Olga wants to know. Hello, I have $26,000 in student loans for bachelors in org. behavior and leadership. I graduated Dec. […]

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Use Grants To Repay Student Loans?

September 17, 2010

Kara’s done pretty well by herself. Good grades, community service, grants, and now admission to grad school at one of the best universities in the world. Yes, the entire world. But even the most accomplished among us can rarely escape student loans, and she’s no exception. Up rises the question once again, then, about how […]

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Flunked Out of College. Can I Get Into Grad School?

September 15, 2010

A few days ago, we talked about whether you can get into grad school with a GPA of under 3.0. Conclusion: Yes, but it’s hard, and you’re going to have to make up for it with other strengths (experience, recommendations, research, etc.). But now Kelsey has upped the ante. A low GPA is one thing, […]

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Should You Mention Your Disorders?

September 14, 2010

Scott’s in a jam! He’s good enough to excel at Harvard grad school if he can get in, but he’s got some black marks on his resume (black marks for Harvard, anyway). But there are good explanations for them. Problem is, the explanation may create new problems. I’ll let him tell it. Hello Judge Josh, […]

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Grad School & Low GPA: Can You Get In?

September 9, 2010

Eleanor is a very succinct lady. She’s now the current champion in the Outlaw Student Shortest Email Ever category. Is there a way to enter grad school with a low GPA? That’s it. Now, if was as much of a smartass as my friends think I am, I’d just answer “No” and hit save and […]

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Use Subsidized Stafford To Pay Unsubsidized Stafford? Does Your Education “Expire”?

September 1, 2010

Sierra is our official Outlaw Student of the Day (light bulb?). She wants to strike out on her own and go to Germany, she’s getting timid and bad advice from people close to her, and she’s creatively trying to solve her own financial problems. LOVE HER ALREADY. Hey Judge Josh, I have two questions for […]

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Finding Your Interests: A Few Ways to Get Started

August 31, 2010

Yesterday we started talking with Chablis about how to right the ship after you’ve realized you don’t want to pursue your chosen course of study and it’s already too late to change your major. We also discussed how surprisingly difficult it can be to discover what your own interests are. Today, as promised, we’ll take […]

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Too Late To Change Your Major. What Now?

August 30, 2010

Chablis is my cohort in journalism disillusionment. Degree in hand, she’s found that the profession just isn’t all it was cracked up to be way back when she started studying it. Now she’s struggling through a career she doesn’t like and looking for something better. Hi Josh, (tips hat)… Mornin’ ma’am. After ten long years […]

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Private Student Loans & No Cosigner?

August 27, 2010

Sarah’s almost done with school, but senior year is going to be brutal. Private student loans may be the answer, but she’s lacking a cosigner. I’ll let her tell the rest. I’m an undergrad college student, going into my senior year. I graduate next May & start applying to grad schools in December! Congrats! Up […]

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Cost of Attendance: Can Your School Cut Off Your Student Loans?

August 24, 2010

Marissa’s a smart gal. She’s done her student loans homework and she knows how much she’s allowed to borrow from the federal government each year. She’s got kids to feed and bills to pay, and she’s counting on using those loans to do so. Problem is, well before she reached that point, her school has […]

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Grad Students: Kiss Your Parents Goodbye

July 21, 2010

Ashley’s off to grad school and is afraid her parents’ high incomes will hurt her when it comes to financial aid. She’s even thinking maybe they should divorce to make them look poorer on paper. Hold your horses, Ashley! There’s an easier solution which allows for, among other things, Mom and Dad to stay hitched. […]

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No Post Today. Sick Daughter.

July 15, 2010

Hello, my good friends. Just a quick note to tell you that I will not be doing my regular post today because I’m home with a sick daughter who’s spiking a 104+ fever. Be back at you tomorrow. Study hard, eat your vegetables, etc. Your pal, Judge Josh

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Abandon Your Passions For Boredom & Safety?

July 9, 2010

Rachel’s the kind of girl I started this site for — someone who’s getting rotten advice from the people close to her. And so, loyal fans, today I spring into action on her and your behalf. Behalves. Whatever. Hi Josh, This fall, I’m going to be a Junior in college. My declared major at present […]

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Can You Pull Pranks For a Living?

June 30, 2010

It’s a classic story: boy gets good grades in high school, boy gets full-ride scholarship to great engineering school, boy does well in engineering school, boy instead opts for a career of pulling practical jokes on people. If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it 1,000 times. Here’s Ren: Hey Josh! I’ve really enjoyed reading […]

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Changing Paths: From Chef to Computers

June 29, 2010

Isn’t it funny that the main reason you GO to college in the first place is to be exposed to all kinds of different choices — both in what you can study and what you want to pursue as a career — but you only get a short amount of time to experience those choices […]

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$90K in Student Loans and a Passion For Nothing

June 28, 2010

If you’re a college or even a high school student, you have to have been locked away in a cage somewhere if you’ve never been given the advice to “follow your dreams” and/or “do what you love” or “find what you’re passionate about.” But what if you have no dreams, you don’t really love any […]

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Does It Really Matter Where You Get Your Master’s?

June 24, 2010

If you read this blog often, you’d probably think that I’m on the payroll of the American Association of Community Colleges, as strongly and often as I advocate for doing your first two years at a community college. That’s exactly what Nate did, and he’s kept his student loan debt down to $5,000. Now, he […]

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$85,000 Pharmacy School vs. $250,000 Medical School

June 23, 2010

Student loan debt is a necessary evil. Problem is, once you understand that it’s a necessary evil, you’re sorta lulled into thinking about the “necessary” part and less about the “evil” part, and then you wake up one day asking yourself how you ended up owing the government somewhere around the GNP of Honduras. Unfortunately […]

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