College Advice?

[BoneSnapDeez]

Working at whatever college you attend is definitely a smart idea. I worked in food services. 15-20 hours per week. Didn't make a ton of money, but enough for "fun" stuff like restaurant meals, occasional clothing purchases, textbooks for the next semester, etc. Essentially everything except for college expenses (tuition, room and board). Didn't ever have to call up the 'rents to ask them to send more dough.

I also found that working helped me structure my time more effectively. I got a 4.0 every semester I was employed.

[nullPointer]

I'm going to give you some unusual advice. A lot of people will disagree with this, and they may have statistics to back them up, but I've found it to be true for me. It may also be true for you.

I'm going to advise you to wait a few years before you go to college. Go live a little. Be young, wild, and a little bit stupid. Have fun. Wear protection. Get a job you don't hate, and work your ass off (even if it's part time). Fall in love, and get your heart broken. Then fall in love again. Use birth control. Take a few road trips. Join a band. Get drunk around people you like. Keep a spare condom in your glove box. Go to a music festival. Get all the youthful wild craziness done first. Then, go to college.

I think this is potentially fantastic advice, and as Samson points out; it may not hold true for everyone, but it was also certainly true for me.

Within a few months of graduating from high school my best friend since first grade died in a freak drowning accident. It completely put me into a tail spin, but despite being pretty lost at that point, I at least had the clarity of mind to know that diving immediately into college was going to be an extremely bad idea (particularly from a financial perspective). So I drifted for a while, and eventually landed at a job working in Yellowstone NP (technically it was 1 mile outside of the East Gate). I consider that experience to be equally important to my development as my time in college if not moreso, being that it allowed me to get my head back in the game. Working and living on lodge premises had many of the same hallmarks of college living (dorm life, making friends with people my age from all over the world, the possibility of getting kicked out if you goofed off too much), but without the added stress of maintaining a GPA. Make no mistake, I partied like there was no tomorrow and sowed my wild oats, but it was also in a relatively safe environment. Parties were generally held at campgrounds within walking distance which meant that no one was driving, and law enforcement was in the hands of park rangers who for the most part had better things to do than trying to babysit unruly kids (in my experience most park rangers take their careers as a result of interest in natural sciences rather than an interest in strict law enforcement - otherwise they would have become cops). Having said that, I also learned what it meant to have a real work ethic. As a chef's assistant I learned the work skills that would help me to pay my way through college, and I even met my future wife while working in Yellowstone. I wound up working year round in the park for five years (with a bit of time off each year between major tourist seasons - this was when individually operated snowmobiles were still allowed to tour the park).

When I was ready to go to school, I was truly ready. I had made peace with past events, and I had made peace with who I was/am. Whether it was true or not, I felt like I had some significant life experiences under my belt, and that I had accrued a bit more wisdom than someone fresh out of high school. I was no longer interested in partying as a major goal (and further I could hold my liquor quite a bit better than most wet-behind-the-ears freshmen). I was ready to focus on academics and expanding my world view which is exactly what I did. Now that may sound a bit dry, but reality it was anything but. It allowed me to immerse myself in academic studies which in turn exposed me to worlds unknown.

I even became a minor hero among my dormmates at one point one fateful evening when the campus cops came knocking based on reports of noise and drinking (which was totally the truth). I hadn't told anyone my age (since who needs the hassle of getting hit up to buy alcohol), but when everyone was looking at that campus cop in stunned silence, I calmly approached, produced my ID, and took credit for all the empty and half empty containers. "Yeah sorry, it's been a heavy week. It doesn't belong to these guys, and I never share. S'pose I might have a problem, but it's mine to manage" Now admittedly the campus fuzz let us off extremely easy, with an admonition to, "keep it down and get rid of all the containers," but it definitely made me more popular on my floor.

At any rate, it's probably true that not everyone needs the extra time in between high school and college, but it was absolutely beneficial to me (and probably crucial to my success that I allowed myself that extra time). Some people come out of high school with a life trajectory in their sights and the inertia to carry them. That wasn't me. I don't think that's even close to everyone. It needs to be said though that for many of those folks college is in fact what helps them find their trajectory. All the same, there's no shame in waiting and it is a valid path. Whatever you choose, use your time wisely (by which I mean do what's right for you), and have the wisdom and self introspection to recognize if you're floundering or stagnating.

One potential downside to taking the time off is that that I started my career and became a parent a bit later than some, but looking back I still wouldn't have it any other way.

[Golgo 14]

If you can get sex, drugs, or alcohol easily and without much forethought, freaking do it.

Come again?

Apparently. Drugs and alcohol too.

[Forlorn Drifter]

Come again?

Apparently. Drugs and alcohol too.

If he wants "the college lifestyle", he's gotta grab it while he can. I know that I personally don't have any chance for any of that besides alcohol, so I'm suggesting if he gets the chance then to go ahead and take it, if he so wishes.

[jp1]

Come again?

Apparently. Drugs and alcohol too.

If he wants "the college lifestyle", he's gotta grab it while he can. I know that I personally don't have any chance for any of that besides alcohol, so I'm suggesting if he gets the chance then to go ahead and take it, if he so wishes.

Well, it is his life to live. I make no judgments on those who do drink, or even those who do drugs as long as they aren't affecting anyone else's life with it. I just thought it was a weird "suggestion".

Option 4:
You should totally get all tweaked out and shit, they have the best drugs in college. It can even be beneficial to your grades to get on some black tar, or x. Snort lots of Oxycontin and cocaine, screw anything with legs, and do it all while on a constant binge of drunken stupor.

It's a weird suggestion given the OP question is all I'm saying. Whatever though, it is technically an option.

[prfsnl_gmr]

Whatever though, it is technically an option.

In that case, my suggestion win the Powerball lottery and, after doing so, just audit whichever college courses interest you the most (while spending your lottery winnings to speculate on the used video game market).

Again, the is technically an option.

[Forlorn Drifter]

Well, he only asked which option would be good, and other people started spouting off about safe sex and that, so I thought I'd throw out the other option there.

A guy I was once friends with is spend his college time getting tweaked as shit. He went to that college specifically so he could.

[TSTR]

inb4 list of colleges ranked by meth quality

[isiolia]

If he wants "the college lifestyle", he's gotta grab it while he can. I know that I personally don't have any chance for any of that besides alcohol, so I'm suggesting if he gets the chance then to go ahead and take it, if he so wishes.

I don't think that's an entirely accurate representation of the "college experience".

Essentially, it's moving out. Only, you're moving out to a gathering place where thousands, if not tens of thousands of people in your general age group and life situation are. Few tend to have many responsibilities, and it's usually more forgiving than "real life" anyway.

Plenty of people do take that as a chance to party, sure, but a lot more just find like-minded folks to hang out with, clubs or groups to join, and so on. You're not likely to get that same kind of cluster of your peers afterward.

[oxymoron]

a lot more just find like-minded folks to hang out with, clubs or groups to join, and so on. You're not likely to get that same kind of cluster of your peers afterward.

Yup, that's what I want to do. Drinking, smoking, partying the first 2 years got me in the position I'm in right now. I learned my lesson and tbh I'm over that lifestyle.