Recent/Soon-to-be Grads

Articles for recent college grads or students who are graduating very soon.

I Was Raped. Should I Tell The Committee?

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 …

I Was Raped. Should I Tell The Committee? Read More »

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

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 …

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

Unique & Obscure Degrees: Worth it?

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 …

Unique & Obscure Degrees: Worth it? Read More »

Double Degree: What’s The Point?

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 …

Double Degree: What’s The Point? Read More »

Does Everyone Starve in Graduate School?

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 …

Does Everyone Starve in Graduate School? Read More »

Education Management: Study Education or Business?

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 …

Education Management: Study Education or Business? Read More »

Should You Go To Grad School Somewhere Else?

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 …

Should You Go To Grad School Somewhere Else? Read More »

Are There Scholarships To Pay Off Student Loans?

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. …

Are There Scholarships To Pay Off Student Loans? Read More »

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

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, …

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

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

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 …

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

Finding Your Interests: A Few Ways to Get Started

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 …

Finding Your Interests: A Few Ways to Get Started Read More »

Too Late To Change Your Major. What Now?

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 …

Too Late To Change Your Major. What Now? Read More »

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

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 …

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

Grad Students: Kiss Your Parents Goodbye

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. …

Grad Students: Kiss Your Parents Goodbye Read More »

Abandon Your Passions For Boredom & Safety?

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 …

Abandon Your Passions For Boredom & Safety? Read More »

Can You Pull Pranks For a Living?

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 …

Can You Pull Pranks For a Living? Read More »

$90K in Student Loans and a Passion For Nothing

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 …

$90K in Student Loans and a Passion For Nothing Read More »

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

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 …

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

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

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 …

$85,000 Pharmacy School vs. $250,000 Medical School Read More »

Scroll to Top