Random Thoughts Thread

[oxymoron]

So about a year ago I convinced the dean of my college to wave all pre-reqs. In other words, I can take classes in any order I want.

I've been at the school for three years and still haven't found a way to work my major's 101 class into my schedule. Just looked at the fall time slots - nope, can't do it. At the rate I'm going I'll be taking the 101 class last.

What are you going to major in?

Computer Information Systems

Is college any where near as fun as they make it seem? I'm going to college in 2 years.

[TEKTORO]

The forums are pretty active today!

[flex wood]

The forums are pretty active today!

It's your fault.

[skate323k137]

Is college any where near as fun as they make it seem? I'm going to college in 2 years.

It's really just an extension of high school. It's really not that great. Only go if you actually know what you want to do; otherwise just try to find an entry level job to avoid massive debt while you figure out what you really want to do. Your undergrad doesn't mean jack anymore, and the job market is getting to a point where (in many fields) work experience is better than a degree.

This is my cynical 2c, however, I still think there's no reason to rack up debt for a degree you might not even be interested in and that probably won't get you a job. College straight from HS is a scam unless you have a full ride scholarship somewhere.

[dsheinem]

Is college any where near as fun as they make it seem? I'm going to college in 2 years.

It's really just an extension of high school. It's really not that great. Only go if you actually know what you want to do; otherwise just try to find an entry level job to avoid massive debt while you figure out what you really want to do. Your undergrad doesn't mean jack anymore, and the job market is getting to a point where (in many fields) work experience is better than a degree.

This is my cynical 2c, however, I still think there's no reason to rack up debt for a degree you might not even be interested in and that probably won't get you a job. College straight from HS is a scam unless you have a full ride scholarship somewhere.

Ah, the "college is about getting a job" view of higher education.

If you just want something that will train you for a job, go to a cheap tech school or some such. if you want a broader education that, if you take advantage of it, can open up your mind to new possibilities, new ways of thinking, and new experiences, go to a good college. Almost everyone changes majors at least once during their undergraduate career, and this is because most don't enter with a clear idea of what they are going to do, their mind gets changed when they are exposed to new ideas, etc. Certainly it's a good idea to seek out a school with multiple well-regarded programs to give you multiple options for a strong foundation for a later career, for advanced education, or for whatever you choose to embark on afterwards - but don't go to college with the mindset of "ok I'm here to get A, B, and C completed so that I can X, Y, or Z job when i'm done" or you will likely find that you are disappointed.

[skate323k137]

Don't go to college with the mindset of "ok I'm here to get A, B, and C completed so that I can X, Y, or Z job when i'm done" or you will likely find that you are disappointed.

I guess that's more of what I was trying to say. Just have an idea of what you're getting yourself into. I have so many friends with massive debt and/or pointless degrees and no career to show for it. It's kinda depressing.

I actually have an interesting story as to how I ended up where I am. I went to New Orleans after Katrina to work. At the time I was 19, living with my parents, and had taken some college courses but had no idea what I wanted to major in. I was making REALLY good money down there on a security contract, working at the FEMA trailer parks. I spent several months there, and saved up enough to cover a couple more years of community college. At that point I decided I wanted to go in to something with computers, since I'd always been good with them.

When I got home from New Orleans, my parents (who had always encouraged me to stay at home and go to a community college, at least for the beginning of my higher education) informed me that they were selling the house and I was not welcome to move with them. My money I had saved for school immediately went in to paying for housing, and I took a minimum wage job screen printing t-shirts.

I lived within my means, made enough to get by anyway. A couple years passed, and my friend who worked for a cable contractor let me know that they needed cable installers. I applied, got the job (a job with very high turnover due to long hours and typically poor working conditions), and started working 60+ hour weeks installing cable. I did that for a couple more years.

A few years ago, I met the guy who's my boss today at a local bar. We got to talking, and when he found out I knew how to use linux, he offered to get me a job as a system administrator. The job was a 40% pay cut from what I was making installing cable, however, I didn't have to work 60 hour weeks anymore. I interviewed really well due to being self taught, and knew more about linux administration than most of the applicants who had degrees. I'm still at that job, and I've nearly doubled my salary on skill and performance based raises. I make nearly as much as my dad did when he retired from a 20+ year career of programming. I never went back to school, and I still don't have a degree. I also don't have any debt

[dsheinem]

I never went back to school, and I still don't have a degree. I also don't have any debt

Sure, that's a great story and I applaud you for your hard work and effort...but you are also the rare exception. The fact of the matter is that, statistically, a degree = greater total wealth over the whole of one's life. Some of that undoubtedly comes from training in a certain field while in college, but much of it comes from exposure to and awareness of a wide variety of points of view, ways of thinking, etc. (both in the classroom and out). College teaches you problem solving skills, writing skills, critical thinking skills, etc. that, when done right, become applicable to a wide variety of future situations. You seem like you have/had a lot of those skills already, but most HS grads - even bright ones - don't.

[skate323k137]

College teaches you problem solving skills, writing skills, critical thinking skills, etc. that, when done right, become applicable to a wide variety of future situations. You seem like you have/had a lot of those skills already, but most HS grads - even bright ones - don't.

I'll give you that. My parents did a good job of making sure I had those skills long before I graduated high school.

The fact of the matter is that, statistically, a degree = greater total wealth over the whole of one's life. Some of that undoubtedly comes from training in a certain field while in college, but much of it comes from exposure to and awareness of a wide variety of points of view, ways of thinking, etc. (both in the classroom and out).

Granted. I still think it will be very interesting to see what that statistic looks like 10, 20, or 30 years from now. It seems like a degree is the new high school diploma. I have unemployed friends with degrees ask me if I can help them get a job on a daily basis.

[Xeogred]

Are you happy?

A guy at my work awhile back put it pretty well, to not worry about what degree you want, but what do to with one after you have one. What degree? Don't think about it. A degree is a key to many doors. I can never word it as well as he did, but I loved the outlook on it. Don't get too caught up on limiting yourself specific directions.

I have a real cynical outlook on the future of my generation, the job market/economy, and such myself. But I'm not happy at all doing pharmacy tech work and it's either this, or back to working on cars and racking up more cuts and burns on my arms. Can't say my resume is all that diverse and my connections have always been pretty limited.

I'm going to enroll in some online courses this semester though and prioritize school next semester (hope to work my schedule around it, rather than the other way around). At this point in life, I'm still completely clueless about what I want to do, but I'm going to continue to get absolutely nowhere doing nothing about it or worrying too much about it and not taking that step forward into the unknown. I'm kind of telling myself lately, maybe I'll just go to school forever from here on. Maybe a career or other things will fall into place eventually, but I'm not trying to get too caught up on that... my goal is to simply get out there again, socialize, learn more and gain more experience in whatever, and go from there.

Luckily I have a very good community college and can probably manage here and there financially with it, so time to make use of it. Kind of pissed I was too late to miss on campus classes this semester honestly, haha. No matter how much I'm on the computer or whatever, I've already been able to tell over the few years I've put a little time into school, online classes probably aren't really for me and I definitely prefer the classroom environment.

Anyways don't know if anyone here has knowledge on the subject, but I'm probably going to dab into CAD. I took Animation / Game Design in high school for two years but keep looking back and wonder if I would have liked CAD more which my school also offered. Always been into level design, maps, architecture, blueprints, the bones of anything... etc, if that stuff ties in a lot (sounds like it). It also sounds like the field is kind of halfway between being independent and structured... which is probably the ideal job for me, give me some instructions and rules to follow and I'll have at it. This is what I think recently made me consider putting IT off, I don't know if I'd care to be that one random guy running around doing random troubleshooting and finger crossing on fixing things, eh. I have no idea what it's like, but that's kind of what it sounds like and from what I see with our one IT guy in a building of 200 or something. It's also not that appealing to often hear the entry is helpdesk experience as well... yikes.

I don't want that corporate grind or the random surprises by the day, but lmao who knows what am I even talking about.

But yeah just trying to be positive and want to go back to school for fun.

[skate323k137]

This is what I think recently made me consider putting IT off, I don't know if I'd care to be that one random guy running around doing random troubleshooting and finger crossing on fixing things, eh. I have no idea what it's like, but that's kind of what it sounds like and from what I see with our one IT guy in a building of 200 or something. It's also not that appealing to often hear the entry is helpdesk experience as well... yikes.

Being that guy SUCKS.

I'm lucky, I actually really love my day job, and it affords me the income and free time to pursue my other hobbies. I did have to suffer through some time in the helpdesk, but it was totally worth it. I hope you can also find the same happiness.