Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with university and job

Can someone attend school full-time and still get unemployment in Illinois?

sugarfish — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:18:24 -0800

Is it legal to draw unemployment benefits in Illinois while attending college as a full-time student? I'm asking this for my mom. She was laid off a few months ago and has been drawing unemployment while looking for work. The economy being what it has, she hasn't had much luck, and is considering going back to college. She wants to go full-time, though, and I'm not having much luck googling an answer about whether or not she'll be able to keep drawing unemployment (while still looking for work!) if she goes back to school. The Illinois unemployment website isn't very helpful, and when I search I keep getting a bunch of yahoo-answers like sites.

Thanks for your help.

You say you're an academic technologist? Tell me more!

mrmojoflying — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 18:06:23 -0800

Circumstances have led me to apply for university instructional technologist positions even though this is not what I have specifically trained to do. Now that I am getting interviews, I need perspective/resources. So, here's the story. My wife has accepted a can't-not-take-it graduate study opportunity as I finish my Ph.D. dissertation in literacy and new media. Because I'm limited by location for the next few years, even after I graduate at the end of the year, I've decided to apply for instructional technologist positions at local universities. Most of these positions are looking for people with B.A.s and M.A.s in the field of academic technology, but apparently what I do is close enough to warrant some interviews. The positions fit very well with my skills and abilities, my university work experience, my research and publishing credentials, and would benefit my interests, but I was never trained as an "instructional technologist." What I really need are information resources like professional organizations, list-servs, blogs, journals and so forth that allow me a glimpse into the disciplinary and professional culture (the intangibles) that more mainstream "academic technology" applicants will be familiar with. I'll take anything that helps me be just a little more conversant with the zeitgeist of what it's like to be a member of this profession.

Tell me about your job at a college or university

misoramen — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:38:54 -0800

Tell me about your (non-teaching) job at a US college or university! Specific things I'm wondering:

- Do you work full-time, part-time, overtime?
- Do you receive the benefit of taking classes for free?
- Are you able to avail yourself of that benefit?
- What was your training/history that enabled you to get your position?
- Do you work year-round, or only when school is in session (e.g. is August off, or spring break)?
- Do you know what background/training can lead to positions in admissions or academic advising?

Balancing work experience and college?

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:58:59 -0800

I am switching from full-time college with a part-time job to part-time college with a full-time job to gain more experience. I'm in the Web software development industry. How do I keep motivated and not get discouraged? I have had a part-time/full-time job since I was 15 developing a niche Web application. I've since graduated from high school and completed my freshman year at a nearby university working 30+ hrs/wk with classes 15 hrs/wk (not including studying) with a 3.5 GPA. The job is going downhill quickly with new management and many of my smart coworkers leaving for bigger out-of-state companies. If I could, I'd work somewhere else, but there isn't a lot of companies doing what I do in this area.

That's why, a few months ago, I resolved to quit the job by the end of summer to focus on getting my degree in Computer Science while living with my parents to cut expenses. I planned on doing some consulting type work, not for the money per se, but to keep my current skills.

A month ago, an ex-coworker called me asking if I'd be interested in joining their team at a company I always dreamed of working for. It's at a relatively large company in California. I decided that I should give it a shot because I have noting to lose-- and got the offer. It's definitely not over my head but it'll give me a new challenge. The job will start out using the skills I developed at my present job and I'll have the opportunity to learn more as I continue to work there. I'll get paid a lot of money and can live on my own. The people are great, I feel wanted, and the environment rocks.

The only problem is that I'm not through school yet! My friends and family think that this is a non-issue because I'm getting relevant job experience and the company will pay for school. My parents argue that continuing with school here will leave me without relevant experience when I graduate. Indeed, many of my coworkers are working below market to gain Web app experience-- and they have CS degrees from the university I have attended.

At the same time, I recognize the need for a good education. I know that the "CS theory" & math skills I have must be improved on if I want to continue a career in this field because the Web isn't going to be using my current skills forever. I plan on going to a local community college part-time with this full-time job. There is a university nearby but, of course, my admission there isn't guaranteed.

I'm concerned that I'll be a greater risk of getting discouraged with school. I'm concerned that I should be focusing on school to potentially transfer into a better school. (Basicially, that I should be a "traditional student" and not going part-time.) I'm concerned that if I don't take this job opportunity doing what I love, I'm going to regret it forever. However, I could leave this job after a year and return to the same university.

I'm looking for advice. I'm pretty much committed to taking the job right now but I'd like to get some perspective from others who have more experience than I do.

Here are a few starting points:

How do I transfer from a community college to a university as a part-time student? Should I look into online or distance education? Any gotchas? Should I be concerned about 7-10 year time limits on undergrad degrees?

Any wise words to keep me motivated to get through school and work? Will this job be an asset or a liability to applying for a university in a couple of years (think application essay and/or my knowledge gained on the job)?

Thanks everyone! You may contact me here: workingstudent@rocketmail.com

Personally, I'd rather be a rock star...

shoebox — Sat, 17 May 2008 11:19:55 -0800

What can I do with a degree in Physics? What doors and pathways will it open for me? How long will I need to study before I am able to call my self a Physicist and make a meaningful contribution in my field? I'm about to make what seems to be the biggest decision of my life. Applications have been sent and responses have been received. Now comes the hard part.

My parents (one of whom is a computer engineer) are hell-bent on making me an Engineer (EE or CE) and have resorted to every known form of propaganda and coercion to force me to think like them. To be honest, I don't really think engineering is suited for me. I can certainly do the mathematics and tackle the theoretical aspects of it, but have never had the practical ability needed. I am horrendous when it comes to using my hands to do anything constructive (although I excel at things destructive).

The main argument my parents use is that engineering will quickly land me a good job after graduation, opportunities will be plenty money will come easy, whereas pursuing a career as a physicist would involve me studying till I get my Masters or PhD and most likely end me up in some teaching position (do not want) or spend the rest of my life as a lowly (and poor) researcher.

My question basically is this: Are my parents wrong when they say Physical Sciences is career suicide? Will I be able to do as well out in the "real world" following a career in Physics (Theoretical or otherwise)?

P.S. I will most likely attending U of Waterloo (physical sciences) or McMaster U (either physical sciences or engineering). Since engineering involves a common first year here, I have the choice when it comes to specialization so I definitely have more choices than my parents present me with.

A sure MIIS.

dead_ — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:53:48 -0800

What can you tell me about the Monterey Institute of International Studies? I've got cold feet.

After applying to a few different graduate schools, I was accepted by my first choice, the Monterey Institute of International Studies. I prefer them due mostly to their language program and emphasis on career placement.

But I'm nervous.

It's a professional school and a bit different from more research-oriented institutions, which scares me. The student body is also a paltry 700 and I'm having anxiety attacks feeling like I won't fit into the school's environment.

If I choose to attend, I will be getting a master's in international policy studies.

I'm visiting the school this weekend, but in the meantime, can anyone tell me a bit about it, related to my above anxieties? How useful will this degree really be? What is Monterey really like when compared to a larger, top-tier public university with a similar program? Is the debt (maybe 40k) really worth an IPS degree?

These are probably questions I should answer on my own, but AskMe has helped before, and so if anyone here has any experience with MIIS, I'd love to hear it.

Majorly unemployable?

thisjax — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 22:17:24 -0800

Is it alright for me to leave my specific field of study from my resume if employers might find it...offputting? Here's the problem: I'm generally looking for IT-related jobs (so, back-end web development and junior SDE positions) for the summer. I've got the skills, and some relevant work experience, but the degree that I'm working towards (Hon BA in sociology and math), to some, might imply otherwise. I've dealt with a couple of HR people lately who've tried to shuffle me towards administrative positions and I'm beginning to suspect it has something to do with my (future) arts degree.

Academically speaking, I take comp sci courses, and my marks in them range from decent to very strong; same goes for math, it's my second major. I'm just a little worried that employers are tossing my resume when they see "bachelor of arts in sociology". Can I omit exactly which degree I'm a candidate for and just list my relevant courses? Is my somewhat irrelevant degree going to screw me over forever?

Teaching studio art at a university.

ontic — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 14:08:27 -0800

How does one get a tenure-track job as a studio art professor? My brother recently got his MFA (the terminal degree in the field) but it doesn't look like his graduate institution has much in the way of guidance. He also didn't get much experience teaching, but I know he'd be a natural teacher. How in general does one learn about the jobs teaching studio art, get a tenure-track one, and so on? What would application reviewers/interviewers be looking for? What do you do if you haven't had much teaching experience after the MFA? Are letters as important as in other academic jobs relative to teaching/slides/etc? What is the most important factor, usually? How important is breadth in what you can teach? Is anything particularly scary to committees interviewing candidates for studio art jobs?

Sorry for the massive number of sub-questions under the fold. I'm in philosophy, and I mostly know the ins and out of getting a job in that field -- there's a unified publication of jobs in addition to a big convention where the interviews happen. I also know what qualifications will get you so good of a job, what interviewers are generally looking for and so on. So I'm familiar with getting jobs generally in higher education, but I'd like to be able to help him more specifically.

Dressing past the interview...

srah — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 10:41:17 -0800

What should I wear to work in a higher education student services setting? Interview attire is one thing - I'm all set with that. But once I get the job, what should I wear to work? I want to build up my professional wardrobe and I want to do it right. There's plenty of information on the web about what's appropriate or inappropriate to wear to a job interview, but much less about what's appropriate to wear once you get the job. What information there is (I've read JT Molloy's New Women's Dress for Success) seems to be angled towards the corporate world, rather than higher education, and I feel like the rules are probably slightly different.

Background: It's my first professional job after back-to-back college and graduate school. I want to look professional to my co-workers/supervisor, but I thought that wearing a suit every day might be overkill in this setting. I want to be approachable by students but not look like one of them (I'm a petite and young-looking female, so this is a concern).

Please let me know what works/doesn't work for you!

best major for international student future visa

k8t — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 10:13:47 -0800

A young woman that I am helping has recently left her home country (a totalitarian regime by any account) and is going to be attending undergraduate university in the U.S. in the fall. The school has given her a full ride as her family lives in extreme poverty. After she is done with school, she'll probably want to stay in the U.S., what sort of major should she choose so that she'll have the best chance of getting a job after that will provide her with a visa? I know some will say to choose what she loves, but she needs to be strategic.