Originally published on April 29, 2016 (Episode 55)
Introduction
This episode in our “Higher Ed: A Guide for the Perplexed” series takes aim at helicopter parents. Our guest, Mike Edmondson, argues that parents’ expectations about majors, careers, and college life are often grounded in myths.
We discuss his new book Major in Happiness: Debunking the College Major Fallacies and what parents get wrong about higher education, careers, and how students can chart their paths. With some gentle (and not-so-gentle) admonitions, we try to reset the conversation about what college is really for.
About the Guest
Mike Edmondson was at the time of recording the Vice-President and Director of CORE (Careers–Opportunities–Research–Exploration) at Augustana College; he is now Associate Provost for Continued Learning at New Jersey Institute of Technology. He holds a PhD in history from Temple University and is the author of numerous books.
For Further Investigation
Edmondson, Major in Happiness: Debunking the College Major Fallacies (Business Expert Press, 2015)
Edmondson, Marketing Your Value: 9 Steps to Navigating Your Career (Business Expert Press, 2015)
Related Episodes
“Higher Ed: A Guide for the Perplexed”—the complete series
Listen & Discuss
What myths about majors and careers have you believed? Share this episode with a parent or student in your life who could use a clearer view of higher education.
