LakeClouds

We've all heard the stories of students moving home to mom and dad's basement after graduation. I'd like to hear from the CCers out there who are in this situation. What did you study? Where did you study? What are you doing now? What do you hope to be doing in 2-3 years?

domrom1

"What did you study? Where did you study?"

Not in the situation, but I'll guess that most people its "something impractical that was their 'passion'" to question number one, and somewhere unnecessarily expensive because of buying into some bogus ranking or other assorted bs.

CollectivSynergy

I wouldn't judge people moving back to mom and dad's basement so quickly. I know quite a few people with very good jobs who're living at home (I'm one of them). Assuming you have a good relationship with your parents and they want you around, there's no better arrangement. Free rent, free homecooked food, no laundry, and the fresh air of the suburbs for a couple of years before the city. All I have to do is handywork and tech support for the house. Commute's only an hour door to door, which isn't bad at all.

domrom1

yeah but how about bringing back a member of the opposite sex? Every time I'm home for the summer I feel very awkward about that.

turtlerock

Honestly doesn't need to be a member of the opposite sex. In any case, that's when you suggest to go back to their place.

Stressn

This is a fabulous book title.

chrisw

I lived with my parents after my lease ran out, and almost all of my friends from high school (far fewer of my college friends) are doing the same thing. If you have a job that makes it convenient to commute from home, why not take advantage of free rent and living with loved ones?

I moved after five months living at home because my commute was 35 miles each way, straight down I-95 during a Philadelphia rush hour. On a good day I spent two hours in my car. Granted, now I can't save anywhere near as much money as I did when I was living at home, I'm much happier now that I'm on my own. That said, there ain't nothin' wrong with people who are trying to save up to buy a house instead of rent an apartment.

ilovedcollege

I expect my D will be back home in September when her college apt lease expires. Hope fully she will have a job by the, or she will be working 40 hours a week trying to get one!
But this rent free thing is not happening. An un or under employed roommmate still has responsibilities. First thing I expect is to get the housekeeper back that I got rid of so I could pay tuition instead! I am confident that she can find a way to get $140 per month for that!
she will also be doing her own laundry, cook the occasional meal, and generally help out when I need it. Good roommates do that!

CollectivSynergy

I get asked that pretty regularly. As someone else already mentioned, her place Obviously my ex knew my living arrangements, and it was never an issue.

Rent free or not is obviously the parent's decision, but unless it's an unreasonable charge (ie, there's a spare, unused bedroom and the parents still want to charge market rates and chores), it's still a boon to live at home while working. I notice living at home is a lot more common in the tri-state area, especially for people who work in NYC or the surrounding hubs like Jersey City - high CoL and great mass transit make it a particularly good choice. Plus, it'll be the last point in your life you'll have quality family time with your parents.

turtlerock

I think a recent study did find that more homes in the US now more than ever are multi-generational. The combination of rising student debt and lack of strength in job markets were cited as the main reasons.

tedders83

Interesting thread... I for one plan to live with my parents after college until I can find a decent paying job (enough to live on). Which in this job market, may be a while.

That doesn't surprise me. My sister still lives at home despite having a job with a salary that some people live off of.

LakeClouds

Isn't one of the important post-college experiences learning to do this things on one's own? How will people cope when/if they get married later in life if they can't even take care of themselves?

Does this cause a big restriction in dating options? Need to find someone with their own place which seems to be a more rare thing these days.

Is this the case from those who posted already? What did people study and was it for passion or practicality?

turtlerock

Those statements seem contradictory. You insinuate that one needs to live on their own to learn to cope later in life, but admit that it's rare to find someone who lives on their own these days? So, for cause and effect, it's rare to find someone these days who can cope with things later in life?

I have no study to cite, though google would turn up smething I'm sure, but I think there are a facet of reasons why someone would need/choose to move in with relatives after college. I don't think what their major was is a singularly discern-able variable to the question. Different areas have different job markets, and in some other cases completely different kinds of economies all together, that the major of study chosen would not have much effect on the yield of actually landing employment.

I'd like to think that most living back at home need/choose to do so almost completely for monetary purposes and not emotional ones - and parents who lay down some house ground rules (cleaning, rent and other homely contributions) would significantly help the latter.

LakeClouds

Really? It would be great to hear people's experiences on this? Any recent grads that can comment on what they studied and whether they felt it had an effect on their job prospects?

turtlerock

Exhibit A) My wife born, raised, and schooled in Bay Area CA. Obtained a BA in Philosophy from prestigious local private college. Has worked as a US House Rep's local office aide, state programs evaluator, and after going back to school for her ABA Paralegal certification now works as a Paralegal in an immigration law firm. The last of which only corresponds the most to her original undergrad degree and of which she started working at 3 years after she obtained that degree. Though, she has lived out of her parents house since college graduation, with me of course. I can tell that she generally functions around the house better than her Mother does when we visit.

EDIT: So I guess that doesn't make her a post-grad basement dweller, but it was more for the example of an obtained degree that didn't have much effect on her job prospects.