text: My son earned an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering but has been working at Best Buy for the past year despite graduating at the top of his class and applying for more than 100 jobs in the last 12 months. Fortunately, he has been offered a full scholarship to Colorado School of Mines where he will earn his graduate degree. He will be 29 when he graduates - then he will start sending out resumes again. It's a cold, cruel world out there, even for college graduates who are willing to work hard. And it's pretty daunting for an 18-year-old fresh out of high school to face another 6+ years of school before anyone will even consider hiring them for a decent job.