define "over-educated"

no seriously. & why was it mentioned in my academic advising appointment

k…so, have you heard of the over-education epidemic? yeah, me neither.

what even is “over-educated” anyway? according to Miriam-Webster, the definition of overeducated is as follows: having too much academic education; more educated than is practical or useful. god, isn’t that the dream? I wish everyone was like that, maybe the literacy rate of us citizens would go up.

also, aren’t we all overeducated in some way? don’t you know things that aren’t needed or demanded of you? how many people do you know that have gotten degrees and “don’t use them” (but would never have landed where they have without that degree)?

hear me out here, but it seems easier to have the education that you need and to work your way up than to be stuck at a lower level because you don’t have the education to back you. after a quick google search of “why shouldn’t I get a masters degree” the four main reasons are: it’s expensive, it’s hard, it won’t necessarily make getting a job easier, and some variation of you think you have to/you don’t know what else to do/you don’t want to look for a job.

were all of these “don’t get a masters degree!” articles written by people who have only met insufferable idiots? unless you don’t understand how debt works or have your parents money to pay for your degree, you’re probably not getting a masters degree willy-nilly. I will concede that the “not necessarily making job hunting easier” is a fair point that a lot of people don’t know. but the “it’s expensive and hard” points? no shit. of course it is. have you seen the price of groceries lately? does anything in life come easy these days? whole articles, many of which are posted on college websites, to say “maybe think about it first!” when talking about signing up for a whole degree track to prove that you can think.

I’m currently following a degree path to do 3 years at community college, 1 year at a 4-year university, and 1 more year at that 4-year university to do an accelerated masters. so: 3years + 1year + 1year = 5years to get an associates, bachelors, and masters degree. at least 2 years of community college are fully paid for and there are lots of transfer scholarships for students with strong gpa’s. this feels like a buy one degree get two free deal. right?

I met with my advisor to figure out a class schedule that will A: satisfy my degree and transfer requirements and B: make me not want to lay in traffic. here’s the kicker: when I met with my advisor (& told him about my bogo deal) he academically advised me to consider that companies may not want to hire me because I would be overeducated with no experience and that I could always go back and get my masters degree later. (he also said that accelerated masters programs are a scam so you pay for graduate level classes sooner but I really don’t know how to unpack all of that right now)

“overeducation without experience” is also an odd problem to be presented by an academic advisor who should (in theory) have access to the same information that I do about all the undergraduate internship and apprenticeship programs available through my school. why is it assumed that I will have no experience by the time I am done earning my degree? most people either work (gaining experience) or intern (gaining experience!) while on summer break and, often, even while attending school. why not recommend doing a summer internship while still at community college so that I don’t end up with no experience and a masters degree?

why should I strive to have the goldilocks amount of education? because you don’t want to be undereducated! because then you’ll be dumb and live in a box under a bridge and end up on Judge Judy! but if you’re overeducated… you’ll also live in a box under a bridge? I’ve yet to hear someone complain that too many people have a path in life picked out and are well educated (@ me if you find someone who is seriously complaining about this and also believes in human rights).

regardless, taking the path towards “overeducation” doesn’t mean I’m stuck on that path. it just makes it possible for me to choose that when the time comes. having the classes and skills needed to be able to take that route (and, maybe, later, choosing not to) is way easier than trying to make up for not having the classes and skills needed.

another point that I’m angry about is “you can always go back later”. why would I purposely wait to do something that I’m pretty sure I want to do in the hopes that a future employer will pay for it (and probably have to work part time + go to school part time)? this path makes something that would be 1 additional year now, 3+ years later. (this also feels like such a man answer to me, but I’m unsure how to articulate the rage that comes with that)

needless to say, I’m sticking to the plan that I want to, regardless of what one advisor said (also, every single one of my teachers that actually know me have told me not to listen to that advisor and to go for the higher degree)

are you worried about being “over educated”?

See you in the writings,

xoxo Sara