....and so it begins!

[Katie]

Jimbo - my guidance councellor has brought me through that search about 3 times, and i have a list of colleges on collegeboard that he said might be good for me. i did some research on a bunch of them, and i liked Amherst because i want to go into computers, and their computer science department is up there with harvard, and that just wowed me.

i'm glad to hear tuition is tax deductable because its about 9800 dollars a year up at umass, just for instate students.. out of state, almost 20 grand, so its deffinitely going to be a state school for me.

i'm gonna enjoy my summer as its probably the last summer that will be pretty care free for awhile.

the whole, what do i wanna do with my life thing, is just like woah slow down! for the past i dont know how many years i've said computers, but now i'm starting to think of other things like broadcast communications.

they asked us in school during an assembly ' where do you think you'll be in 10 years ' and i said ' i don't know, i live in the now ' a bit too loud, and was told that was a bad answer that i shouldnt live like that. so that confused me even more.

anyways, thanks for the advice its appreciated

[Raven]

Originally Posted by Katie

they asked us in school during an assembly ' where do you think you'll be in 10 years ' and i said ' i don't know, i live in the now ' a bit too loud, and was told that was a bad answer that i shouldnt live like that. so that confused me even more.

Actually .....you are quite correct..Katie ...do live in the now...but also have long range goals or a long range plan.... but don't wait til yer forty to start really living...stop and smell the roses along the way. I'm sure many of people at S-B have thought about the years before they were married....had children ....or went into the military...started their career ect. and thought they'd would have fished more or done this or that differently ...hinesight being 20/20. So i reccomend you do both or have both..... the short term plan and the long term plan.... the best of both worlds. This last year represents a time of freedom that you may never experience again so take full advantage of it. ok?

[Backbeach Jake]

Good advice, Raven. Katie, never confuse the "Now" with the "Then". They're only a second apart. To stay in the "Now" you must think of the future. Forget Amherst, it's for immature spoiled twerps. Look to get the most bang for your educational buck. If I had to do it over, I'd stay home, commute to a state school, work locally and have a good time. Schooling fees are a crime these days.n Good luck Honey, keep your head on straight, and your eyes on the prize...

[Raven]

hold a stick of memory in your hand and marvel at the micro circuitry and think of it as the size of a grand piano in comparison to how big it is now as compared to how small it'll be in the future. people are wearing telephones on their ear these days and in the future comunication devices
might become implanted . Soon their will be computers built into our clothing to have an instantaneous fashion statement if desired.

terrorism is here to stay.... and the only way to thwart that is with surveilance and monitoring all citizens. Look at britain... in london alone i think there's 2 million camera's. hello big brother.

yesterday i saw a CNN spot about a guy who was thought to be a possible terrorist after september 11 th but as it turns out he was an american who was born in budapest ... i think... anyways he developed his own software that constantly monitors his exact location 24/7 and he has a website with a global position image or satellite view showing exactly where he was at all times 365 days a year...just to keep the FBI off his case.

security is the field to go into.... aided by computers yes... soon a terabyte computer will be in a wrist watch ....and it wont cost 2 million bucks.

[Saltheart]

I think you need to consider what will allow you to support yourself as well as what you enjoy. The days of studying french 18th centyry water color framing are over for most people. You will someday want to work and a good education means more oppurtunities to choose from.

I think something medical related is the way to go right now. Good work and should be plenty of jobs during your lifetime.

Do enjoy each day in college. Its the best time , way better than high school. Don't let drinking and drugs spoil your chance to learn. I'm no prude but don't go to far and let them rule your life.

Stay away from people who do stupid things like drinking and driving. Too many kids get killed because they do stupid things or hang around with stupid people.

Anyway , learn , enjoy the experience , prepare yourself for a good paying job. Don't worry about paying. Inflation usually reduces the real dollar amount you pay on student loans to about half and its the best money you will ever spend if it gets you a lifetime of good job oppurtunities.

[fishpoopoo]

Originally Posted by Katie

...the whole, what do i wanna do with my life thing, is just like woah slow down! for the past i dont know how many years i've said computers, but now i'm starting to think of other things like broadcast communications.

well, you'll have four years to find out what interests you AND what you're good at.

i think it's really important that you find one thing, focus on it, and do it really well.

one thing i heard about college is true ... you forget 90% of what you're taught in college, but if you've learned how to learn, then you will have done well.

if you have an idea of what you want to pursue - don't wait until senior year of college to look into that field. start networking ASAP with people who are in the field. use summer breaks as opportunities to get into summer internships. dont rely on campus career services exclusively. Networking...actively reaching out to complete strangers, and maintaining contact with them, is the way 80% of jobs are gotten nowadays (that's right ... the majority of jobs are NOT POSTED ANYWHERE). hmm, come to think of it, job hunting is a LOT like surfcasting. lol.

as you are thinking about careers, fresh out of college - work to LEARN. not necessarily EARN.

[Raven]

one way to network ...is to have lunch with people in the field
you want to be in...and ask them about how they got into
that field... and how they like it... no pressure- like on interviews.

Saltheart is right... hospital jobs pay well... but that might not be
your cup of tea...on the other hand....there are many diagnostic machines
and computers in hospitals that need constant maintenance or recalibration... to be accurate...

another field thats gonna explode soon will be robotics.

[Nebe]

Originally Posted by Bassturbed

one thing i heard about college is true ... you forget 90% of what you're taught in college, but if you've learned how to learn, then you will have done well.

I couldnt agree more.

[Backbeach Jake]

Two things that you want from College. One is the diploma. Nothing else opens doors faster. The other is connections, you will meet people who will help you and you will help later on in life. Remember that, it's just as important as the sheepskin. Interact, join smart kids clubs, whatever.. That's where you make connections, don't be shy..
Now young lady, on partying.... Never ever get so blotzo that you're able to be taken advantage of, in any way. There are some low SOB's out there. Have a good time but stay lucid, you'll thank yourself later. Have fun and learn.