UNEMPLOYED GOING TO GRAD SCHOOL
I have never heard of Cullowhee and didn’t have the faintest idea what a “Catamount” is. If you have never been to Western Carolina University, you may not be familiar with these terms either. Cullowhee, home to Western Carolina, sits smack in the middle of the Blue Ridge Mountains between Knoxville, TN and Asheville, NC. It’s also home to the Catamounts, WCU’s mascot.
I attended journalism school at Michigan State University and love my Spartans (who WILL take the NCAA championship next year,) but if I had to do it over again I would definitely choose a school like this. In my older years I have grown to enjoy hiking, mountain biking and whitewater rafting, unlike my younger years revolved around beer and sleep. But the older, wiser me would relish in the opportunity to live and learn on a campus that is surrounded by some of the most amazing natural resources east of the Mississippi.
Apparently Western Carolina University isn’t just popular because of study breaks floating on the Tuckasegee River or on the hiking trails in the surrounding Nantahala National Forest. The school has seen a sharp increase in the number of graduate school applications because of the faltering economy. Scott Higgins is the Dean of the Graduate School and Research at Western Carolina. He says the school has seen an 11 percent jump in applications and a 30 percent increase in admissions, a trend we found at The University of South Carolina, Texas Tech, Princeton and The University of Alabama. We found laid off workers who never thought of going back to school for a masters degree until they found themselves out of work. We also found a graduating senior who had a job offer retracted when the company suddenly posted record losses. Displaced workers and students fighting for a few jobs are finding that Graduate School is the best place to wait out a hard economy and faltering job market. Take a look at the story I shot with Reporter Marianne Silber, Intern Becky Hood and Photographer Mari De Carvahlo on a couple of students who have no choice but to get a masters. By the way, Webster’s Dictionary defines “catamount” as any various wild cats such as a cougar or lynx. Many species which have roamed this part of the country for years. In case you were wondering.
Click on link below to watch story:
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Brooks Blanton has been with FOX News since July of 2006 as a producer based out of the Network's southeast bureau in Atlanta. Prior to working for Fox he was a senior producer, investigative producer and assignment editor for stations in Phoenix, Arizona. He has covered many impacting stories such as the deadly track of the Super Tuesday storms that ripped across Arkansas and Tennessee in February 2008, the deadly shootings at Virginia Tech and the celebrations in Miami when Fidel Castro gave up power over Cuba. 
I’m doing the same thing — but at Rutgers!
Western Carolina University is an outstanding school. Our son will graduate in May with a degree in History and has enjoyed his four years there. The school is just the right size, where you don’t feel lost in a sea of students.
Good job dude!!! I really like the pace … no matter what they say about you, you’re alright!
Let’s do it again soon.
I’m an adult honors student at the University of South Alabama, majoring in Geography with a minor in computer science. Its a great way to spend time that would normally be spent watching TV or say…cutting the grass.
Very good story surpirsing to see these rates so high. I wonder how well this ploy will work when it comes time for applying for a job. Some fields better than others. You may end up having too much education for entry level jobs in some fields. This also might cause these companies to hire someone else for less money with less education.