<p>My kids and their buddies:</p>
<p>A son called me this week to report two close friends from his undergraduate days just got tenure track jobs in humanities fields. Both were interviewing for the first time after completing their PhDs. Of course, hundreds of applicants didn’t get those jobs. These were students who knew in high school they would be going on to graduate school and they did everything possible to maximize their chances of success. Blossom is correct that most students change their majors and their minds. I am now seeing what happens with some of the ones who don’t. </p>
<p>Hooray! Hooray!</p>
<p>Several science kids I know are leaving academics for business or combining post-docs with part-time consulting positions. They are all very nervous. They had counted on more opportunities and stability. </p>
<p>The MBA kids seem to be doing the worst in finding steady work, even when they have degrees from the right schools.</p>
<p>So far, no one has fallen back on Plan B of Law School. That is a lot different than what happened with my generation. </p>
<p>As far as I can tell, these tenure track humanities kids may turn out to be the most successful professionally in the short run. Who would have guessed?</p>
<p>On the other hand, they would have all gone to graduate school for the sheer joy of the experience. Everyone told them there were no jobs and they certainly had Plan Bs in mind.</p>