College Majors Disrupted

This article draws from the expertise of Jeff Selingo who is a best-selling author on the college admissions process as well as a frequent contributor to the New York Times and other news outlets. Recently, Jeff wrote an article touching on the changing landscape of college majors.

"More than one-third of the top 20 skills requested for the average job in the U.S. have changed since 2016." (Selingo) Did you know that?

What does this mean for the class of 2025? As we are struggling through the latest admissions debacle, the class of 2025 is waiting in the wings and I have a few recommendations:

First, when credible admissions data is finally released in July/August 2024, take some time to look at the colleges who did not have higher acceptance rates. In my cursory review this morning, I will hedge a bet that the top 20 schools in the U.S. will report higher than normal applications and lower than normal acceptance rates. Seems logically sound, but where do the students who were not offered admission end up going?

Students who applied to reach and safety schools may have decided to attend a college that was not originally in their plan. This may be in part due to the botched FAFSA and delay in sending financial data to their top schools or it may be the result of a change in majors and the job-market.

After reviewing the data for the acceptance rates and finding some patterns for higher admittance programs, take a look at the college majors. The job market is changing and employers are looking for skills that may not have been available five years ago. This means colleges and universities need to be agile and accommodating to meet workplace demands. Subsequently, smaller schools may have an advantage in this area where an older program is closed to make room for a new opportunity. Two disciplines come to mind: education and the ever-growing field of Sports and Health/Nutrition Science programs. From certificate or credentialing at two-year schools to full-fledged doctoral programs, this is a growing market with demand for expertise. College majors are in the middle of a disruption...related to workplace demand.

Finally, do some investigative work on career and work force education programs. The trades are underemployed right now and demand is high for skilled workers. From entry-level careers in union-sponsored programs (electrician, welding, HVAC and plumbing) to advanced credentialing in robotics, semi-conductor or molding programs...these high paying jobs are recruiting high school graduates to replace their retiring population. Two-year colleges are partnering to with local manufacturers to develop programs specifically to train new employees with the cost to student little to nothing - just a guaranteed job and requirement to work for a certain number of years. Who wouldn't want a guaranteed paycheck in today's market? And...one that is higher than previous years? Learn more here.

Look for an update to this post in July/August with some more detailed admissions data for the 2023-2024 cycle.

Lake Michigan College Summer Camps

Sharing links to summer camp offerings at Lake Michigan College.

Full disclosure, I work here...I actually teach in the Hanson Tech Center where the Fab Lab camps are offered. Amazing building, fantastic tech and assistance in your projects. If you have a budding builder or techie, I highly recommend the 3-D printer class or the Arcade building. Both fill up quickly and I also love seeing the arcades the students build.

Are you more interested in Visual and Performing Arts camps? Lake Michigan College offers those as well...and while we may be losing one of our esteemed faculty temporarily, it is worth explaining why. Dr. Pat King is a Fulbright Scholar winner and will be on academic leave for the next year while he completes his research - fully paid! In the meantime, join LMC's other amazing VPA faculty for Brass Chamber or Recording Arts Camps.

Links to camps here.

How important is a college major?

One of the most challenging aspects of consulting is assisting students with the dreaded "what is your major" question. On a personal level, I hate this question because it can be so limiting. From a faculty perspective, I understand the need for course planning and budgeting decisions based on enrollment numbers.

However, in light of the recent FAFSA issues...something comes to mind: if you have all the time and resources available, what major would you choose? How important is a college major?

In a perfect world, incoming freshmen would have an opportunity to explore courses and job shadow during their first year. The reality is only a few schools offer such "exploratory" programs. They are competitive and also cost money - some students may end up paying for an additional year of college just to "find" their spot in the world. Interdisciplinary studies are another option or a well-rounded liberal arts education which offers exposure to critical thinking, analysis and professional skills that anyone interested in a career will need.

Take a look at this recent story in Forbes about how a successful financial advisor used his degree in English to his advantage. Read more here.