The recent student protest at a career conversation talk hosted by a retired CIA agent raised questions about career choices and their moral ramifications. College is a transitional period in which students engage in intense pursuits and self-discovery to prepare for the real world. Students then decide how and where they want to capitalize on their education after graduation.
What is an appropriate career for a Middlebury student? The editorial board could not agree on an answer. The question does not account for privilege, immigration concerns, money constraints, and the reality of a difficult job market. We think Middlebury’s role in shaping the future workforce is to encourage students to explore career paths that can improve the world while still serving each student's needs. To do so, Middlebury should encourage broader, all-encompassing career exploration during students' four years.
In an ideal world, everyone would have the financial freedom to choose a career that aligns with their interests and provides meaningful contributions to society. The brightest minds should go into professions that can “save lives” and “change the world.” This is an optimistic sentiment, but unfortunately, it is not the reality for most people. That is why a utopia is a fantasy: It is neither indicative of nor an accurate representation of society. In this case, it does not account for all of the factors behind career decisions.
At the end of the day, many Middlebury students will move into lucrative professions in the financial industry, spanning from investment banking to private equity to consulting. It is not a shock that Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are consistently among the College’s top employers. Despite concerns about what working for certain banks and financial corporations means to a liberal arts student who is meant to go forth and “change the world,” these types of jobs promise stability and security to high-achieving students. Middlebury’s comprehensive fee, reaching almost $100,000 for the 2025-2026 academic year, is reason alone to go down this path.
We call on Middlebury to make a stronger effort to encourage greater career exploration among the student body. Some students enter college with passions that are not necessarily aligned with the most profitable professions. It would be a shame for these students to lose this sense of purpose and self-identity in the face of necessity. The $4,000 summer internship grants for unpaid internships and non-profit work are a step in the right direction. It is an example of the college facilitating the connection between academic interests and career exploration by providing the resources required. MiddCORE’s leadership and career exploration programs are another good example of exercises that help students envision their future life choices through an ethical lens. However, the internship stipend is often insufficient, especially after taxes for non-U.S. residents, compared with paid summer internships.
We want to reemphasize that we are not attempting to define certain careers as ethical or unethical. Working certain jobs does not make someone immoral or lacking in integrity. There is room for ethical work in an ethically ambiguous company or job – a definition we could not agree on. The concern lies in how Middlebury is preparing us to use the skills we learned here to enter the realities of the world around us, with their ambiguities.
It is also important to acknowledge the nuances of the institutions we work for rather than sugarcoating or minimizing the effects of certain work. Many industries and companies have caused harm or damage. Rather than being complicit in these wrongdoings, there should be reflection and understanding of the implications of a certain job or profession.
At the end of the day, it is virtually impossible to agree on what is an ethical career choice versus what is not because it does not exist. The important thing is not where you choose to work, but how you choose to carry your personal values into the work you do.
