Set up for disappointment?

[careerstudent]

I was just thinking.....

Us QLCers were in college and/or got out of college (or were supposed to :D ) during the time of the internet boom. Therefore, our expectations were set according to what those college graduates were experiencing relative to the job market at that time, i.e. endless jobs, unfathomable salaries, endless startups, etc. Could this be a contributing or the direct factor to us all experiencing a quarterlife crisis? Any comments?

[and1grad]

I think that this situation in particular would depend on your field of study. Personally, I had no desire to work in an internet or computer-related field so the "dot com era" had little effect on me. I think QLCs have more to do with society changing from people just wanting to live comfortably to everybody desiring "excess." Seems like everybody is trying to become Donald Trump tomorrow so whatever we do accomplish doesnt seem good enough. I think society has pushed our generation away from wanting to do well enough to provide for our families to wanting to have that extra property in the Hamptons, stock options, and an 8 y/o in Yale. Otherwise, we're not a success. That being said, I think the internet boom just helped it along.

[engr]

I can definately see your point. I graduated in '98 and went to an engineering school where those that were in electrical and computer engineering, Info Systems or whatever, were literally seduced by these techology companies trying to recruit top talent. I mean HUGE parties hosted by hot women, plant trips, HUGE starting salaries, signing bonuses, etc. etc. etc. I was just a civil engineering major, so I had NONE of those experiences (nobody recruited for civils at my school), so I was never directly exposed to the notions of unfathomable salaries and endless jobs, but, admittedly I saw enough to make me think that, yeah... I, too, would be livin' it up in about 5 years time.

Riiiight......

As I sit here now, I am struggling to find a way to pay off some debts and apply for a mortgage for a modest house just outside this low cost of living city I am in.

[careerstudent]

You definitely have some valid points. Society has pushed us all past the point of accumulating enough to survive. Our generation was raised on the pursuit of excess, instead of the pursuit of happiness. It is so nice to get outside perspectives on these things. Thanks.

[kimmer23]

well everyone at my school (UMBC-we were big on science and technology) definitely jumped on the information systems bandwagon. at least 50% of my school was IFSM, including myself. i think a lot students parents pushed them into that major because of the money and how it was all the rage at the time. i remember it was a nightmare scheduling classes and trying to get an appointment with an advisor because everyone else in the school was also IFSM. IFSM students were getting awesome jobs before they even graduated and were on their way to making really good money. i guess all of us IFSM students had our heads in the clouds thinking about the good jobs we would have and the money we would be making. then reality hit after school was over and it had all gone downhill by then. i guess its safe to say that if you really cant figure out a major and just want to make sure there will be a market of needed jobs after school, then to stick with something like teaching or nursing because we always need those.