Unemployed Woman Sues College — Does She Have a Case?

August 4, 2009

It might be a first. Twenty-seven-year-old Trina Thompson filed a lawsuit against Monroe College for $70,000, the total of her tuition, with the claim that her alma mater has failed to deliver on its promises.

She graduated in April with a bachelor's degree in IT and hasn't yet found employment, a fact that she blames on the lack of leads and career advice from Monroe. A spokesman for the school insists the lawsuit is without merit. Do you think Trina has a case?

Source: Getty

23 Comments

luvluvg 3 years 40 weeks

I think not! Employment after college is certainly not solely based on the college helping you. If it were, then she might have a case.

3 years 40 weeks

The thing that makes me laugh is the bumper sticker "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance." We've been fed a lot of nonsense. As if attending college (or any education above the 3 R's) guarantees anything at all other than debt, a few bad habits, and perhaps an STD. My advice to young people: First, educate yourself in handling your finances, and then consider whether college makes any sense for you. In many cases, you'd end up much better off in any economy as a mester plumber. Sock away 100K in the four years that you gain. I disagree with the lawsuit, but it is food for thought. These colleges need to be put on notice that they cannot continue raising tuition to far outpace inflation. We need more value. Much of the "value" is in our minds. I am shocked at the number of kids from New York who attend uncompetitive out-of-state colleges (in e.g. Virginia). Not everyone needs a B.A.

kurniakasih 3 years 41 weeks

What a crock of BS. Yep. I agree with everyone. 2.7 GPA is NOT impressive. She should use this time she used spent on lawyer and lawsuit for finding a job.

babysoftpink 3 years 41 weeks

Rather than spending time and money on the law suit, won't it be better if she focuses her efforts on job searching? Anyone can find a job if she so want it. Just need to be positive instead on blaming everyone else including her school.

WeTheLiving 3 years 41 weeks

My morning radio show discussed this a few days ago and it's just sooo ridiculous!! The college career center does not promise to get you a job. And that's not their responsibility, they are there to help you search and apply for jobs, not to do all the work! Besides, she could probably get A job, maybe not the job she wants, but some job. I can't even imagine this case will make it to court, and if it does I'd be one pissed off juror wasting my time with this. I hadn't heard about the 2.7 gpa, but that is not impressive at all. Don't most majors require a minimum 3.0 gpa? And imo, this isn't going to help with her job search. Who wants to hire someone who is lawsuit happy?

Deidre 3 years 41 weeks

Thanks for posting this story, Savvy, I needed a laugh this morning :) What a friggin joke this woman is...

snarkypants 3 years 41 weeks

2.7 at a not well-known school? wow. i hope she loses and never finds a job. i wouldn't hire her after hearing she tried to sue her school!

MartiniLush 3 years 41 weeks

Sheesh, whatever happened to PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY?? I can only imagine how she comes off in an interview. :oy:

mek123 3 years 41 weeks

I agree with everyone else who posted, she has entitlement issues here. School is for education not job placement.

skigurl 3 years 41 weeks

haha i wouldn't advertise a 2.7 GPA

MrsRachel 3 years 41 weeks

Wow. 2.7 and she thinks she's all that? Wow. When I was looking for my first job after college (which I got after tons of pavement pounding!) every website, guidance counselor, library assistant, etc, said that unless GPA was OVER 3.8 don't even mention it! What a fat, lazy, selfish, self-centered, entitled country this has become!

LadyLiLa83 3 years 41 weeks

So does this mean my husband should sue his college because they told him his chosen field would be year-round and he hasn't had work for 4 days because they're slow? I LOL'ed at "any potential employer would pounce on someone with a 2.7 GPA". She reminds me of the lady who was trying to sue Sally Hansen because SHE microwaved hot wax til it was literally boiling over in the jar and still applied it. DUMBASS. Next moron please!

berichard 3 years 41 weeks

If she just put that energy into finding a job, she might not need to sue anymore.

GlowingMoon 3 years 41 weeks

2.7. LOL Riiiight, and it's the SCHOOL's fault that she can't find a job. :)

luna08 3 years 41 weeks

What a whiner. 2.7? Seriously?

Alithyra 3 years 41 weeks

I saw this first this morning. Still: Seriously? And a 2.7 is not impressive. That is barely above a 'C' average and therefore barely above average. Career advisement centers do not come with job guarantees. "Life is what happens when we are busy making other plans."

chatondeneige 3 years 41 weeks

Spectra - there's one right here. I work serving despite my BA. Unless there was a contract guaranteeing employment as a result of her degree, I don't think she can realistically expect to win this. I'm shocked a lawyer took this. (S)He must expect the school to decide it's not worth fighting and settle out of court.

simplyfab87 3 years 41 weeks

She has no case. I know so many people in this situation, myself included. Unfortunately, they promise you an education not a job.

Spectra 3 years 41 weeks

If every underemployed/unemployed college grad sued their alma mater, every school in the nation would be flat broke. I know SO many people who graduated with bachelor's degrees and now work in fast food or retail because that's the only job they could find.

lilkimbo 3 years 41 weeks

Colleges keep attendance records? Since when? Anyway, this is ridiculous. I guess it's easier to find someone to blame than to really get out and pound the pavement (or, heaven forbid, to take a retail or food service job until something more ideal comes along).

Chouette4u 3 years 41 weeks

From CNN: "As Thompson sees it, any reasonable employer would pounce on an applicant with her academic credentials, which include a 2.7 grade-point average and a solid attendance record." Maybe she should start looking for work in Lala Land, since that's clearly where she lives!

GlowingMoon 3 years 41 weeks

I agree with Zivanoid.