On Keeping Costs Down

An article in the Washington Post out yesterday outlines some of the challenges in creating an affordable higher education system. We feel, of course, that institutions and government have largely failed in their obligations to keep education affordable for students. But students can help their own cause by keeping high grades and studying for the ACT/SAT in high school, and then by choosing more affordable in-state public schools, where tuition is likely to be lowest. The catch for humanists is that liberal arts degrees from the local school are less likely to have the cachet of a more expensive institution, so we recommend that humanities students supplement their studies with a second major, minor or an internship in another field. We also recommend that students keep costs down by continuing to apply for scholarships throughout their time in school (within their major or within their academic college, for example). Many campuses will also have job opportunities with flexible time commitments, like working in the library, the recreation center, or giving tours of campus. 

If you must attend a more expensive institution, be realistic about your options after graduation. Law schools, a common postgraduate option for humanities students, care above all else about your LSAT score and your undergraduate GPA. While coming from a more prestigious institution might help distinguish between comparable candidates, a few points on the LSAT or a GPA bump are much more likely to help your law school admission campaign than attending a more nationally visible school as an undergraduate. 

Graduate school admissions in the humanities do tend to care much more about institutional prestige, so don't make the mistake of going to the agricultural school down the road if your ambition is to take a doctorate at Harvard. But on the topic of having realistic expectations, attending Harvard is probably not a future goal anyone should be building their life around. Plus, a doctorate in the humanities is not generally considered a wise career investment. 

A final note: whether you are a college freshman or out of school, check in with your career services office. The more information you have about your goals and experience, the better they will be able to assist you. They might just tell you to make a LinkedIn and cross your fingers, but it's still an opportunity you probably can't afford to pass up.