University/College

[fox099]

I graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a BS in Chemical Engineering and am hoping to pursue a MS in Mechanical Engineering this fall at Purdue. Like some others here, I spent time at a community college before going to a full-scale university. It was nice as my high school (I did a dual-enrollment program) paid for everything! If you can, definitely go to a CC prior, as many people find that it is not right for them and if you commit the time and money of a traditional university you might find yourself two-steps back after the first year.

[Limewater]

Letting one's career dictate what the do in life is, in my mind, not a good idea at all.
Very few people who I've met say "well I'm going to uni to do <course> so then I can get a job". It's usually the ones whose parents pressurise them.

Amazingly and incredibly, even if you major in something that appears to have a direct career path, you don't actually have to go into that field as a career. Except in a very small number of circumstances, they don't force you to sign an employment contract when you begin a major in Accounting, Engineering, or Nursing.

With all due respect, you are *starting* college in October.

[Markell1991]

Well your first point goes without saying. I don't think anyone goes to university thinking it will DEFINITELY get them a job, or that they have to. Yes, I am starting uni in October, thanks for reminding me. I have got a pretty good idea about what it is like: I have done on term at uni, but decided the course was shit.

[Limewater]

Well your first point goes without saying. I don't think anyone goes to university thinking it will DEFINITELY get them a job, or that they have to. Yes, I am starting uni in October, thanks for reminding me. I have got a pretty good idea about what it is like: I have done on term at uni, but decided the course was shit.

[Markell1991]

Amazingly and incredibly, even if you major in something that appears to have a direct career path, you don't actually have to go into that field as a career.

This is you thinking that I think that people have to go into a profession matching their degree (eg. Medicine/Doctor, English/Author or Journo).
I said that I don't think this is the case whatsoever. Plus, thank you for your politeness and subtlety in the conversation.

[Limewater]

Amazingly and incredibly, even if you major in something that appears to have a direct career path, you don't actually have to go into that field as a career.

This is you thinking that I think that people have to go into a profession matching their degree (eg. Medicine/Doctor, English/Author or Journo).

No, not really. Of course you don't really think that folks have to go into a profession matching their degree. That was the point of your earlier post. It's just the unwitting implication of your dismissive comments about folks going into a major because of the job it will get them later.

You essentially said: "Just get a degree to get a degree. None of that matters anyhow-- all that matters is the extra-curricular stuff. Except for those folks who pick a major to get a job. Those folks will be unhappy in the jobs they are saddled with by their majors and they're just doing it because their parents forced them."

[Flake]

I chuckle at the kids who are ruining their credit and amassing crippling debt to get fine arts degrees. Seriously, who needs 4.5 years of school to learn how to ask 'Paper or Plastic?'.

[Ack]

I chuckle at the kids who are ruining their credit and amassing crippling debt to get fine arts degrees. Seriously, who needs 4.5 years of school to learn how to ask 'Paper or Plastic?'.

I actually made it through college with a English degree without getting into debt. It was when I went for a Library graduate degree that I ended up doing myself in.

The truth of the matter is that right now the job market sucks for a lot of people, regardless of your degree. A good friend of mine went into debt and graduated with his bachelors in Aerospace Engineering and was told that he'd have a job six months before graduation. Graduation came and went, and still no job. He spent a year pushing carts at a Sam's Club before saying "Fuck this" and going back to graduate school. He's halfway through now, but his market still hasn't improved enough.

[pakopako]

The truth of the matter is that right now the job market sucks for a lot of people, regardless of your degree.

Ugh, is this ever true. Before this grozggy haze I am in makes me complain more, let me just say that certain places are going to be "what is all this experience you have, you need more degrees" while others will go "why you spend so long in school; you need more experience".

If I had a hotlink to a facepalm, this is where it would go.

[Markell1991]

Amazingly and incredibly, even if you major in something that appears to have a direct career path, you don't actually have to go into that field as a career.

This is you thinking that I think that people have to go into a profession matching their degree (eg. Medicine/Doctor, English/Author or Journo).

No, not really. Of course you don't really think that folks have to go into a profession matching their degree. That was the point of your earlier post. It's just the unwitting implication of your dismissive comments about folks going into a major because of the job it will get them later.

You essentially said: "Just get a degree to get a degree. None of that matters anyhow-- all that matters is the extra-curricular stuff. Except for those folks who pick a major to get a job. Those folks will be unhappy in the jobs they are saddled with by their majors and they're just doing it because their parents forced them."

Problemo solvdo.