<p>I had a depressing conversation earlier. I stopped by the local McDonalds and the girl on the register noticed the Duke shirt I was wearing and proceeded to tell me how “Duke changed my life”. She graduated from college last spring and said that Duke was the best thing that had happened to her. I sincerely doubt that that many alumni from Duke are manning cash registers in fast food stores but it was certainly depressing to meet one.</p>
<p>What is the point of this post? At any rate, it appears ex Duke Career Center Director Sheila Curran would disagree with you:
[Career</a> Consultant Sheila Curran: “Graduate School Is Not The Answer” - BusinessWeek](<a href=“Businessweek - Bloomberg”>Businessweek - Bloomberg)</p>
<p>I’m not sure what was going on at that McDonald’s, but I have one thing to say to you belevitt, “bummer!” LOL You must be bawling all over the place! I still don’t get how that would happen, but oh well. Sorry to be a little inconsiderant, but how do you react to that?
:(</p>
<p>I’m sure it’s a temporary job…</p>
<p>Um… maybe she was lying? Duke is the 13th best school in the world. I HIGHLY doubt that any recent alums are working registers at McDonald’s. </p>
<p>I suppose it’s possible, but I’m curious as to the reasoning for posting this. To sway undecided admitted applicants? Probably. This equals bias, which equals no meaning or significance. Please ignore this post.</p>
<p>If the OP wants to explain his/her bias, that would be great. But please, OP, don’t cover it with a story like this.</p>
<p>I’ve met ski instructors, baristas, tutors, and all kinds of temporarily employed people from all kinds of great schools. Life is not a predictable treadmill, and people make short-term choices along the way for the freedom to write, paint, audition, or apply to law school… That’s just fine.</p>
<p>I met a recent Harvard grad who was unemployed. If you got into Harvard, would you refuse to go there because of that?</p>
<p>Just because she is working at Micky D’s doesn’t mean that is all she is doing. She could be a grad student looking for extra money. Lets not be so quick to judge others.</p>
<p>There are several possibilities:</p>
<p>1) it is a temp job while she is job searching
2) her family owns that MacDonald’s in question and require whe work herself up from the entry level like everyone else before taking over that store
3) her family, who own their own large business, suggested she learn what a real job is like before taking her into the family business
4) she needed part time employment while cramming for the MCAT/LSAT/GMAT</p>
<p>It is good for the soul to work a real, stressful, people-facing job. Everyone should do it at least once. The kind of job where you go home at the end of a 40 hour week with a $230 paycheck (after taxes), you have tired feet and a sore back, are emotionally exhausted and you ask yourself how people can possibly live on those wages…</p>
<p>This thread is kind of cute.</p>
<p>I’m going to guess that the people who say “Duke is one of the best schools in the country! How could someone be doing a crap job?” have not yet graduated.</p>
<p>Just… be prepared. The real world is not the hype you have been led to believe it is by a school/business whose vested interest is in convincing you they can make all your dreams come true. Even if you’re doing something amazing, it’s very likely you might need that crap job to do that amazing something.</p>