EPTAlso I just wasn't going to say anything... but I can't resist. Your suggestion to try various chemical substances, which I don't agree with, bothers me mostly because the only justification was that it's your last chance to avoid problems with drug tests. Really? That's why you should try it? I know you didn't mean it that way, but it comes across really oddly.
College advice - Page 2
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micronesia
United States24718 Posts
Also I just wasn't going to say anything... but I can't resist. Your suggestion to try various chemical substances, which I don't agree with, bothers me mostly because the only justification was that it's your last chance to avoid problems with drug tests. Really? That's why you should try it? I know you didn't mean it that way, but it comes across really oddly. | ||
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ieatkids5
United States4628 Posts
On March 21 2013 13:38 Lexpar wrote: How can you understand heroin and make an informed decision about whether you should do it or not without trying? #DevilsAdvocate #AnnoyingQuestions #FuckImSleepy because from what you know and the countless stories of lives being ruined by heroin, the risk of trying it most likely outweighs the experience gained. weed, on the other hand, has a much much lower risk-to-reward ratio. | ||
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ieatkids5
United States4628 Posts
On March 21 2013 14:02 micronesia wrote: Regarding the career advice towards the beginning of the blog, I find this is very difficult for many college students. So many don't know what things they really like and will want to do vocationally. It's easy to say "try different things and different classes and you will find stuff you like" but it doesn't work out that well for many people. I have quite a few friends who are in their mid twenties now and still don't know wtf they should be going for professionally. what would you suggest college students do to find out what sort of career they want to do, if they really dont know? i think doing what shady suggests is fine. 1) go out and try different things (take on internships, talk to and work with professors, get a part time job in the industry you're interested in, etc.) 2) really immerse yourself in the field as much as you can if you think you are interested so you can get a true feel for what it's actually like to work there. | ||
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419
Russian Federation3631 Posts
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micronesia
United States24718 Posts
On March 21 2013 14:14 ieatkids5 wrote: Oh, there's nothing wrong with it, but I don't think it will help most people. People either already know it, or it isn't enough to help them. Maybe I underestimated the 'in-between' group.what would you suggest college students do to find out what sort of career they want to do, if they really dont know? i think doing what shady suggests is fine. 1) go out and try different things (take on internships In what? You already need a good idea of what you are interested to take on internships, and the point of taking on internships is to get a better idea of what you are interested. Where does this cycle begin? Some people have a good idea when they enter college, but I think most don't. talk to and work with professors In which department? Even if you think you have chosen a major, I don't know how likely you are to home in on your interests by trying to strike up a conversation randomly with a professor. get a part time job in the industry you're interested in Same as internships2) really immerse yourself in the field as much as you can if you think you are interested so you can get a true feel for what it's actually like to work there. Yes it's easy to come up with a plan for how to decide if you like a field once you've decided on which field to try. It's not easy to come up with a field that is likely to be successful for many people though. I know I'm being annoying, but I feel this advice, which is commonly offered, is so general and at times obvious that it doesn't help most of the people who need advice.I'm probably venting due to a greater issue though. For example, you will often hear President Obama talk about how we need to do a better job of encouraging students to study science so that they can make new domestic advancements in science, but nothing is done to clarify the path from an interest in science to a job in science for most graduates (high school, college, etc). Many people get college degrees in things that aren't at all useful for them because they couldn't figure out what was right for them. My friend got a degree in psychology which has been almost useless (save for the fact that it at least shows he did ok in a college program) and after being unemployed for a while is working as a bank teller. I do not believe this is his long term plan, but he has yet to figure out what he should do. I wish there was more advice available for how to avoid these types of problems. | ||
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ieatkids5
United States4628 Posts
yes, you have a good point. and i agree that there is a big disparity between the students and the employers. hell, even school counselors and advisors aren't that great at what they do. i read a report about this disconnect, and how one of the big problems is that the advisors dont fully bridge the gap between what employers are looking for, and what students know about the path needed to get to a job. advisors are much more likely to recommend careers in academia over other choices, probably because that's the field they work in and are most knowledgeable about. i think the reason i believe that shady's advice was solid was because it was how i thought as a high school and college student, and i believe it worked for me. details: + Show Spoiler + i wasn't sure what i wanted to do in high school. i was good at science, and enjoyed world history. i ended up doing part time work as an administrative assistant at a small company just to make some money and get some experience. i ended up learning tons about the operations of a company, sales, finance, accounting, and the semiconductor industry. this wasnt really my thing, and i decided that i would study international relations in college based on the fact that i knew getting a job with a degree in world history would be hard, and based on the collegeboard description of the IR major. i did two internships while in college, one in a nonprofit advocacy group pushing for campaign finance reform, and one in an IR think tank where i did research on economic competitiveness. i found that i wasn't really interested in these two areas either. after graduation (last year), and now, i am working for an NGO that hosts a number of programs on clean energy, which is something i really enjoy. perhaps the number of people "in between" as you said may be higher, or it may be lower. we're not sure. but yeah, i agree with you that the steps between high school and a job are very unclear for students, and this is something that needs to be addressed. | ||
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spinesheath
Germany8679 Posts
On March 21 2013 13:38 Lexpar wrote: How can you understand heroin and make an informed decision about whether you should do it or not without trying? #DevilsAdvocate #AnnoyingQuestions #FuckImSleepy How can you make an informed decision about suicide without trying? Geez. I don't care if you do drugs, but I sure as hell don't like it when you say things along the lines of "do drugs, it will be good for you". | ||
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Carbonyl
United States334 Posts
On March 21 2013 14:42 micronesia wrote: I'm probably venting due to a greater issue though. For example, you will often hear President Obama talk about how we need to do a better job of encouraging students to study science so that they can make new domestic advancements in science, but nothing is done to clarify the path from an interest in science to a job in science for most graduates (high school, college, etc). Many people get college degrees in things that aren't at all useful for them because they couldn't figure out what was right for them. My friend got a degree in psychology which has been almost useless (save for the fact that it at least shows he did ok in a college program) and after being unemployed for a while is working as a bank teller. I do not believe this is his long term plan, but he has yet to figure out what he should do. I wish there was more advice available for how to avoid these types of problems. The oh-so-predictable cycle of professors teaching kids, so that they too may one day be teachers of new kids. I generally see Philosophy as this type of route (Lawyers excluded). What do you do with a Philosophy major? Teach philosophy! | ||
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Kishin2
United States7534 Posts
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applepielon
United States78 Posts
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Shady Sands
United States4021 Posts
On March 21 2013 18:11 applepielon wrote: LOL you're sort of a misogynist piece of shit, huh? Protip: change the mindset in 4 and 5 and maybe you'll be less of an asshole. Change the mindset to what? On March 21 2013 17:06 Kishin2 wrote: The last advice should be to discover your own personal tips and philosophies on how to live your life because you don't have the same personality or interests as the OP. Quite true. Care to share? | ||
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Thor.Rush
Sweden702 Posts
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Sated
England4983 Posts
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Bommes
Germany1226 Posts
On March 21 2013 07:48 Shady Sands wrote: 3. Get good at it - This relates back to #1. But instead of trying to seek 'hardcoreness' here, you're trying to seek expertise. You really won't figure out whether you like something or not until you hit that plateau of proficiency, so seek to get really good at whatever it is you are interested in. This is something I wish I'd done more of in college--I was satisfied at being mediocre in a bunch of things, and only now am I realizing that had I really drilled down and tried to become a master at a few things I could have become a much better person. But, is it that surprising to you that you didn't master anything? All your other points about life are about how you should look good to the outside and the outside only, your only advice in every part of your life is that you should try to be a fake to please everyone around you. Fake interest in other people that don't even interest you but could lead to rewards for yourself in the future, fake every single action around other human beings to a point where you should see yourself as an actor. The only reason for you to not be fake towards your future wife is that it is not possible to have your mask on 24/7, so it's necessary to not be fake. That's incredibly sad and empty. With that mindset it is very easy to be mediocre at a lot of things instead of actually liking a particular thing enough to get really good at it and actually spend the necessary time doing it, even if it alienates the people you call "friends" or other people around you. Which is always a thing that can happen if people don't really like you and only like the fake of you that you showed to them. | ||
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GERMasta
Germany212 Posts
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ZenithM
France15952 Posts
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Daswollvieh
5553 Posts
On March 21 2013 20:38 ZenithM wrote: A most convoluted way of saying "YOLO". Nailed it.  | ||
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c0ldfusion
United States8293 Posts
On March 21 2013 10:13 Holdenintherye wrote: 11. Help people you know succeed Yes, I've been preaching this for so long. I like having rich friends. I don't agree with most of what was written in the OP but, yeah, #11 is _very_ important advice. It's my only real regret from my 4 years. | ||
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talontromper
United States258 Posts
On March 21 2013 21:26 c0ldfusion wrote: I don't agree with most of what was written in the OP but, yeah, #11 is _very_ important advice. It's my only real regret from my 4 years. I kind of feel this way too, other than my circle of friends i didn't really keep in touch with/ help others succeed. I felt I was at the school for myself and only myself. | ||
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Smancer
United States379 Posts
If you have never been with women, you are very susceptible to falling for your first, or the first girl that treats you well. You end up getting married right out of college because you think you have found the one. Then 5 years later you realize you are a different person. Think of yourself 10 years ago. Are you the same? How much have you changed/learned? Try to keep in mind that 10+ years out of college you again will be a completely different person. I would say apply what shady said in number 2 to both classes and women. Date different people, figure out who you are and what you like in women. You wouldn't major in the first class you take in college, so why marry the first girl that comes along and likes you. | ||
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