College Talk

[jgmx893]

Don't know if there's a thread on this yet or not.
Anyway, just a thread to talk about college/universities. Sports, academics, etc. Would be a great way to find other members that go to your school too.
I'll start off.
I'm a senior in high school right now and I'm applying early decision to Virginia Tech for Engineering, hopefully it falls through and I can continue my interest in the mechanical aspects of bikes and cars. I'm also applying to NC State and Clemson. Kind of threading the needle with trying to get into these three schools' engineering programs, but if there's no thrill/worry in life what life is there?
Anyone have any recommendations for me or words of wisdom?

 

[samwalters]

I'm trying to be a vet. My boyfriend is getting his degree in mechanical engineering. He's halfway there and transferring to ASU next semester. My words of wisdom: don't stop, don't take breaks, don't lose focus. I took a year and a half off and totally regret it. Also failed some classes by being lazy. I could be almost done by now.

 

[LandCruiser]

I'm trying to be a vet. My boyfriend is getting his degree in mechanical engineering. He's halfway there and transferring to ASU next semester. My words of wisdom: don't stop, don't take breaks, don't lose focus. I took a year and a half off and totally regret it. Also failed some classes by being lazy. I could be almost done by now.

Don't move and uproot your life to follow a man across the country unless he's willing to put a ring on your finger.

I've run into lots of girls who moved halfway across the country to split up with their boyfriends, often ruining their school/career in the process.

 

[BrianSD_42]

It could be that you lost focus because you needed a break.

I'm pretty convinced that a lot of people, especially young men would benefit greatly from taking 2+ years of of HS to figure out what they want to do in life.

Its sad but 100% true that the most popular major is always physcology (default check-box) because these young kids were WRONGLY told by their parents they need to get a degree, any degree to succeed. Its false.

You need the right degree to succeed in today, tomorrow's economy. These kids are just funneled into a money hungry system that has no accountability for long term success. Far too many end up choosing a cop-out major and missing out on opportunities in other fields. If they had only waited a bit, figured out life they would have been better off.

What I'm saying doesn't apply to every kid. Far from it. Just a disturbingly large %, I would say somewhere between 20% - 33% of college population.

STEM ---> success
Liberal Arts ---> move back in with your parents at 23

Now with that said - I don't believe all liberal arts is a waste just that the number of people who pick the degree is SOOo far off from the number of positions needed within society. When you have true statisics that show something like half of all phych undergrads do not pursue or do not qualify academically for a career in physch then that is a HUGE problem. The fact is that most end up in retail working for $12-15 / hour and it was entirely predictable.

I think we should have 100% free college for all STEM majors. Germany does this and they are succeeding with on of the strongest manufacturing industries in the world right now. They are investing in their people and we need to do the same. I want free education - but only for degrees that will build a better America for tomorrow.

 

[Druski]

I just graduated in May from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Civil Engineering, and my brother is a sophomore Mechanical Engineering student at Clemson. Both schools have really good engineering programs. I applied to both schools but USC offered me more scholarships so that's where I went. Plus I was already a fan of USC football.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I will agree 100% with Brian. You need the right degree to succeed today in the world economy, not just here in America.

To to OP: having had friends graduate from all three universities you speak of, I would say that VT has the best auto and mechanical programs. Their programs for future travel, such as harnessing solar energy for cars, is cutting edge. Friends that I know who have matriculated at NSU and CU, looking for employment in the automobile industry, often vie for positions at BMW. I think the company has a career fair every spring for potential students, but often know who they are looking for before that date. I had friends at GT as well, and they collectively usually got their first choice for employment more often than the previous three mentioned.

Student loans are bogging down students now and for the future. The elevated costs of college is getting absurd. It has been stated lately how there is a dearth of first time home buyers. It doesn't take a Mensa member to understand why.

IMHO, it would behoove states and the country itself to institute more job learning programs at the high school level, and not just for trades. By doing such it would give high school students the opportunity to further explore an interest they may have for a career field. Make it attractive for companies to come in and teach students to be potential workers, and in return companies receive not only good workers, but could also receive state incentives, such as a payroll tax exemption, for their time and effort.

 

[4Running Daily]

I'm trying to be a vet. My boyfriend is getting his degree in mechanical engineering. He's halfway there and transferring to ASU next semester. My words of wisdom: don't stop, don't take breaks, don't lose focus. I took a year and a half off and totally regret it. Also failed some classes by being lazy. I could be almost done by now.

I'm currently a freshman at ASU studying Mechanical Engineering.

 

[zopperman]

I graduated from UPenn in May and am now doing analytics at a law firm and I'm hoping to move into federal consulting or security whenever I'm done here. Was considering law school, but I don't think that's in the plan any more. IME, the nature of your degree if in something liberal arts ish (Mine was in criminal justice & English lit) doesn't matter so much. Engineering or other fields where you need specific knowledge are obviously different. Again, just my experience, but GPA gets you interviews for your first job through campus recruiting.

Also, I took a lot of cool and interesting classes and would say to make time for those. Don't lose sight of what you like. I kind of wish I did engineering of some kind.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Getting a degree in "criminal justice & English lit" and then working in an analytic field will (for most people) greatly depend on the type of math (if any) you took and the college you went to. You went to U-PENN correct? That is one of the most prestigious schools in the world. I have no doubt that many of the doors that are open - wouldn't have been if you had gone to a more generic school.

What I know is that many liberal arts programs only require statistics or TRIG without even requiring multi-variable Calculus as the highest math requirement for getting a BA. Some liberal arts students (my college roommate) take as little as 2 math courses in college in order to complete their BA.

Personally I don't see how anyone can actually work in analytics if they have never taken higher level undergrad mathematics, at least through calculus but probably much more.

I'm sure that those students who do take those classes, even if it is just enough to get a minor will certainly have many more doors open.

 

[KidVermicious]

I'm currently a freshman at ASU studying Mechanical Engineering.

OMG YOU'RE SAMWALTERS BOYFRIEND


:becky:

 

[4Running Daily]

OMG YOU'RE SAMWALTERS BOYFRIEND


:becky:

Thanks for making shit real weird hahaha

 

[zopperman]

Getting a degree in "criminal justice & English lit" and then working in an analytic field will (for most people) greatly depend on the type of math (if any) you took and the college you went to. You went to U-PENN correct? That is one of the most prestigious schools in the world. I have no doubt that many of the doors that are open - wouldn't have been if you had gone to a more generic school.

What I know is that many liberal arts programs only require statistics or TRIG without even requiring multi-variable Calculus as the highest math requirement for getting a BA. Some liberal arts students (my college roommate) take as little as 2 math courses in college in order to complete their BA.

Personally I don't see how anyone can actually work in analytics if they have never taken higher level undergrad mathematics, at least through calculus but probably much more.

I'm sure that those students who do take those classes, even if it is just enough to get a minor will certainly have many more doors open.

I agree to some extent - a lot of what I do isn't incredibly difficult math, just excel or even document based. I didn't take math past calc, there are some requirements for STEM classes but they are very lax.

The name definitely helps, I got the job through campus recruiting, but like I said before I think a lot of it is GPA based for these "fresh out of college" jobs - they are more interested to see that you can learn on the job etc. rather than come in with a specific pre-knowledge in XZY. Just my thoughts though.

 

[OL0033]

It could be that you lost focus because you needed a break.

I'm pretty convinced that a lot of people, especially young men would benefit greatly from taking 2+ years of of HS to figure out what they want to do in life.

Its sad but 100% true that the most popular major is always physcology (default check-box) because these young kids were WRONGLY told by their parents they need to get a degree, any degree to succeed. Its false.

You need the right degree to succeed in today, tomorrow's economy. These kids are just funneled into a money hungry system that has no accountability for long term success. Far too many end up choosing a cop-out major and missing out on opportunities in other fields. If they had only waited a bit, figured out life they would have been better off.

What I'm saying doesn't apply to every kid. Far from it. Just a disturbingly large %, I would say somewhere between 20% - 33% of college population.

STEM ---> success
Liberal Arts ---> move back in with your parents at 23

Now with that said - I don't believe all liberal arts is a waste just that the number of people who pick the degree is SOOo far off from the number of positions needed within society. When you have true statisics that show something like half of all phych undergrads do not pursue or do not qualify academically for a career in physch then that is a HUGE problem. The fact is that most end up in retail working for $12-15 / hour and it was entirely predictable.

I think we should have 100% free college for all STEM majors. Germany does this and they are succeeding with on of the strongest manufacturing industries in the world right now. They are investing in their people and we need to do the same. I want free education - but only for degrees that will build a better America for tomorrow.

Not 100% true. Business Administration and Management is the most popular major. Although Psychology is in the Top 5 depending on where you look. Coming from a current 3rd year psychology major, many of us don't plan on doing anything with a BA/BS in psychology, that is understood. The majority of us look to go to graduate school. I personally am also minoring in kinesiology and taking all the pre-reqs for PT school. I also have fellow peers looking to go to Medical School, Dental School, Vet School and so on. It all depends on the individual, and yes there are also people looking to do clinical psychology but there is way more to psychology than just being a "shrink". I'm happy with what I'm doing and I'm making the right sacrifices to succeed in my desired field. Even if college were to not work out for me I have the chance to succeed at my current job. I think at the end of the day whether you go to college or not if you really want to succeed you will. But I do agree with you in that this nation should invest in our future. STEM is the future of this country and the world.


To OP, regardless of want you end up majoring in always give it your all and don't slack off. Just set your mind on your ultimate goal and go out there and get it. Often times something as simple as missing one class can be the difference between an A or B in a course.

 

[zopperman]

STEM is the future of this country and the world.

Truth. look at trading - used to be thick necked football players pushing each other around on a floor now it's computer programmers..

 

[MtnT4R]

I went to college once, wasn't impressed. They took my money and a lot of my time before I realized I've learned(and retained) a lot more from the History and Science channels.

At least its good to see you all pursuing specific fields. DON'T get a degree in some general bullsh*t liberal arts field. It wont help you get a job and you'll be out roughly the same amount of money....pretty much what BrianSD42 said, but I don't feel like retyping my response now.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I listen to this great Podcast that I'd encourage anyone to check out.

This episode is particularly applicable:
Episode 485: What's Your Major? : Planet Money : NPR

They stated (if I recall correctly) that Psychology is the most popular in the United States and on the top ten lowest paid.

Many do go to some type of grad school but only a tiny fraction go to grad school in a field of their undergrad. IMO many go into some type of grad school just because they have no where else to go. The job market is mostly closed off.

I don't expect everyone to agree with my statements but I believe I'm pretty darn close to the truth.

I went to a huge liberal arts school and our most popular major was guess it .... physcology.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

I listen to this great Podcast that I'd encourage anyone to check out.

This episode is particularly applicable:
Episode 485: What's Your Major? : Planet Money : NPR

They stated (if I recall correctly) that Psychology is the most popular in the United States and on the top ten lowest paid.

Many do go to some type of grad school but only a tiny fraction go to grad school in a field of their undergrad. IMO many go into some type of grad school just because they have no where else to go. The job market is mostly closed off.

I don't expect everyone to agree with my statements but I believe I'm pretty darn close to the truth.

I went to a huge liberal arts school and our most popular major was guess it .... physcology.

i live with 5 people currently in college. majors are as follows;

mechanical engineering
forensic biology
accounting
business management/law
psychology

everyone except the psych major is driven, has connections, and is ready to take a job in their field of study. the psych major has a "if i get a job ill get a job attitude" and always says we don't know what were talking about if the idea of salary expectations comes up. i don't believe that people don't know about the potential for a career out of college, but the psych major i live with is pretty content to wait tables and has made it known. not to bash anyone thinking of this as a career, but i think grad school is necessary if you want to make a serious career out of it. she's just floating through college getting c's hoping one day to support herself. you can succeed with almost any major if you have enough drive and a good work ethic

 

[THatfield]

I'm studying Sports Management and Marketing at a local Community College before I transfer to a 4 year institution. I had a couple of scholarships to a local 4 year private school but I couldn't afford the remaining balance after the fact.

I'm hoping to wrap up my degree by the age of 23 or 24. It isn't easy holding down a full time job and school but welcome to the real world. Bills have to be paid.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Listen to the podcast I linked !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its not very long. Just over 10 mins.

 

[OL0033]

not to bash anyone thinking of this as a career, but i think grad school is necessary if you want to make a serious career out of it. you can succeed with almost any major if you have enough drive and a good work ethic

That's very true, and our professors make that very clear to us. There are entry level jobs you can get with a BA/BS in Psychology but nothing that pays well or that one would enjoy. You're right about succeeding if the drive and good work ethic is there. But unfortunately there are far too many people who lack both.