A most depressing encounter

[RogueIce]

Teaches you how to fuck other people and make things work for you.

Speaking of classes that teach you how to fuck people...

I wonder if that rumor I heard of a Sex Ed class where the final project is to make a sex video is true or not...

I doubt it, but it would be interesting. Though you would want to take a long, hard look at your classmates before Drop/Add week is over, lest you scar yourself for life.

[Darth Wong]

Rogue, in all seriousness, do not pick a major based on whether you find it interesting. I've known too many people who went down that road.

Determine what you're good at, determine what you're capable of, determine what you're able to do for a living which will generate a stable income for yourself, and then do that, whatever it is. If it's accounting, so be it. If it's engineering, so be it. If it's teaching, so be it. If it's medicine, so be it. But if you pick a major because you think it will be fun to take, you aren't thinking ahead.

"Oh sure", you're thinking, "but I want to have a career I'll enjoy!" Well, suck it up. 99% of people do not enjoy their careers, and the remaining 1% are either pornstars or outlandishly successful in whatever careers they happened to undertake. It's a job for the average joe, and it pays the bills. And if you choose a career based on what is essentially whimsy and short-term entertainment factor, that is simply shortsighted.

[Phil Skayhan]

You're not taking CHM 2045? That's just general chemistry and isn't too hard.

I am taking CHM 2045, but there's evidently a CHM 2045 "For Engineering Majors Only" out there that I'm supposed to take as a Mechanical Engineer. And you're right, it's not hard, but it is boring as all get out. At least the lecture is (all she does is read, directly and without elaborating anything off of the slides). Lab is kinda fun, when stuff actually happens (unlike that solubility one, where almost nothing dissolved...).

Bah, suck it up and be an engineer!

So I can do what? Create web pages on Star Wars vs Star Trek?

I found out that the General Chem classes I took tranferred just fine to UDel for the College of Engineering as CHM 103/4. However they do not count for Chem Eng. That requires CHM 111/112. Which also means it'll be another year before I can take Organic since, again, there is a special section for Chem, Biochem, and Chem Eng majors.

And to touch on the subject of community colleges, there is a wide disparity in the quality of education between and within them. You usually find out just what it is when you attempt to tranfer to a four year college.

In my case, coming from the County College of Morris to the University of Delaware, 24 out of 40 credits transferred on a preliminary review. The ones that did not were primarily from my first semester when I took Telcom classes. There is only one class that didn't tranfer that I thought would: ENR 125 (Programming for Engineers). I thought for certain it was equivalent to CIS 181. Maybe it's because the class I took used Fortran and they use C++? Oh well, I'll ask when I have my interview with the Dean (required since this is not my first time at the U od Del) later this fall.

[Tsyroc]

Rogue, in all seriousness, do not pick a major based on whether you find it interesting. I've known too many people who went down that road.

I'll second that. My degree is in history because I liked it and thought I'd do much better in school if it was something I liked. Well that part worked it's just what you do in school isn't necessarilly the same as what you'd do in a job. I actually enjoy teaching on a limited basis, or helping with research but there is so much I don't like about the American school systems, plus the pay sucks so I am not working as a history teacher.

I'd suggest something like pharmacy since the pays good and there's a constant shortage of pharmacists but if you did that the Navy might not want to let you do the SWO thing, sending you into the medical branch instead.

Determine what you're good at, determine what you're capable of, determine what you're able to do for a living which will generate a stable income for yourself, and then do that, whatever it is. If it's accounting, so be it. If it's engineering, so be it. If it's teaching, so be it. If it's medicine, so be it. But if you pick a major because you think it will be fun to take, you aren't thinking ahead.

You have a little more leeway since you are going into the Navy but even if you are planning on making a career of it you should be prepared for the potentiality that the military could be downsized or that some unforseen circumstance might cause you to be discharged. I knew a lot of good officers who were let go after they'd been in over 10 years because they didn't make Lt. Comander.

Also, the last I heard the military retirement had changed so you can't collect on it until you're 65 so no more putting in 20 retiring and collecting 40% of your base pay at 38 years old. At least that is what I heard and it fits with the current cost cutting measures that the government has been sticking to the veterans.

"Oh sure", you're thinking, "but I want to have a career I'll enjoy!" Well, suck it up. 99% of people do not enjoy their careers, and the remaining 1% are either pornstars or outlandishly successful in whatever careers they happened to undertake. It's a job for the average joe, and it pays the bills. And if you choose a career based on what is essentially whimsy and short-term entertainment factor, that is simply shortsighted.

I think that is very good advice. I think very few people have the life ambition to work just to work so if you are at best going to tolerate your job then you might as well pick one that will make you financially secure and potentially allow you to retire early so you can goof off like you want.

Certainly if you can find something that you love to do and get paid for it than by all means. I think most of us would love something like that.

[Tsyroc]

Back on the topic of education things that scare you.

I had my Junior College Environmental Science Class and Professor arguing with me about where we get rubber from. They all insisted it was still all from trees while I tried to tell them it had been mostly synthesized from petroleum for a long time.

[RogueIce]

Rogue, in all seriousness, do not pick a major based on whether you find it interesting. I've known too many people who went down that road.

I'll second that. My degree is in history because I liked it and thought I'd do much better in school if it was something I liked. Well that part worked it's just what you do in school isn't necessarilly the same as what you'd do in a job. I actually enjoy teaching on a limited basis, or helping with research but there is so much I don't like about the American school systems, plus the pay sucks so I am not working as a history teacher.

I'd suggest something like pharmacy since the pays good and there's a constant shortage of pharmacists but if you did that the Navy might not want to let you do the SWO thing, sending you into the medical branch instead.

Well, they don't have much choice on that count, as I'll be commissioned into the unrestricted line, so they'd have to lateral me into it (I think that's the right term).

Determine what you're good at, determine what you're capable of, determine what you're able to do for a living which will generate a stable income for yourself, and then do that, whatever it is. If it's accounting, so be it. If it's engineering, so be it. If it's teaching, so be it. If it's medicine, so be it. But if you pick a major because you think it will be fun to take, you aren't thinking ahead.

Well, I don't foresee myself as being overly good at engineering. Sure, I learned the basics of statics and electrical, but I know well enough that I won't make it too much further than that.

You have a little more leeway since you are going into the Navy but even if you are planning on making a career of it you should be prepared for the potentiality that the military could be downsized or that some unforseen circumstance might cause you to be discharged. I knew a lot of good officers who were let go after they'd been in over 10 years because they didn't make Lt. Comander.

That sucks... I know my JROTC SNSI had to go at Commander because he got shafted by one asshole CO one time who gave him a less than outstanding fittie, so he didn't select for O-5 command, which made him retire with 21 in.

Also, the last I heard the military retirement had changed so you can't collect on it until you're 65 so no more putting in 20 retiring and collecting 40% of your base pay at 38 years old. At least that is what I heard and it fits with the current cost cutting measures that the government has been sticking to the veterans.

The fuck??!!

SInce we'll normally be commissioned at 22 (when we graduate college), that would require forty-three years in the Navy! Last I heard, the general "you will retire" cutoff was 30, barring making Admiral or STA-21 types. So, basically, if that's true (and I have doubts, based on how long you'll have to be in) it'll be either only prior enlisted or senior admirals who collect any retirement, or they'll have to up your maximum number of years in (which means revising "up and out" quite a bit, I'm sure).

"Oh sure", you're thinking, "but I want to have a career I'll enjoy!" Well, suck it up. 99% of people do not enjoy their careers, and the remaining 1% are either pornstars or outlandishly successful in whatever careers they happened to undertake. It's a job for the average joe, and it pays the bills. And if you choose a career based on what is essentially whimsy and short-term entertainment factor, that is simply shortsighted.

True, and by the way, thanks for the advice.

But really, outside of the Navy, I can't think of anything I'd particulary want to do, or for that matter, be overly good at. But it's something I'd have to really think on.

Well, actually, I think USF has a "General Engineering" thing you can get...it won't do any good for a PE license (at least from what I was told), but it'll be something, and would probably allow me to branch out into Aerospace, something I am interested in (I'm going SWO mostly because of my eyesight, which would bar me from aviation AFAIK, unless something happens and they allow laser-eye much more than they do now, and besides, I love sailing out at sea).

I think that is very good advice. I think very few people have the life ambition to work just to work so if you are at best going to tolerate your job then you might as well pick one that will make you financially secure and potentially allow you to retire early so you can goof off like you want.

Certainly if you can find something that you love to do and get paid for it than by all means. I think most of us would love something like that.

Indeed. Thanks for the advice, DW and Tsyroc. Like I said, Aerospace could mean fairly good money (assuming I find a job, but with military experience that may be a bit easier), and it's something I am interested in. Too bad USF doesn't offer it, so it'll be awhile yet before I can get it.

[Wicked Pilot]

Determine what you're good at, determine what you're capable of, determine what you're able to do for a living which will generate a stable income for yourself, and then do that, whatever it is. If it's accounting, so be it. If it's engineering, so be it. If it's teaching, so be it. If it's medicine, so be it. But if you pick a major because you think it will be fun to take, you aren't thinking ahead.

That's good advice. I majored in Aviation because I want to fly for a living, and minored in Physics because I though it was cool.

[Alyeska]

Rogue, in all seriousness, do not pick a major based on whether you find it interesting. I've known too many people who went down that road.

Determine what you're good at, determine what you're capable of, determine what you're able to do for a living which will generate a stable income for yourself, and then do that, whatever it is. If it's accounting, so be it. If it's engineering, so be it. If it's teaching, so be it. If it's medicine, so be it. But if you pick a major because you think it will be fun to take, you aren't thinking ahead.

"Oh sure", you're thinking, "but I want to have a career I'll enjoy!" Well, suck it up. 99% of people do not enjoy their careers, and the remaining 1% are either pornstars or outlandishly successful in whatever careers they happened to undertake. It's a job for the average joe, and it pays the bills. And if you choose a career based on what is essentially whimsy and short-term entertainment factor, that is simply shortsighted.

I started going that route with college. However, I got advice early enough in the game so that I could take advantage of my education. When talking with a local police chief, he stressed that I should not get an education bassed on law enforcement. He said thats useless because I will already be taught that when I get hired on eventualy. He stressed that I should get a degree in something else, preferably something that would be useful for many jobs because its a valuable resource to have.

Thanks to that advice I am applying for a Media Relations position at my local college.

[phongn]

Biology major.

And those do what, exactly?

You can do research on a bunch of things that are living, or go into some sort of professional school (Pharmacy, Medical School, Dental School, etc). There's not much you can do immediately out of school with a BS, though.

I'm being perfectly serious. That's like the math majors to me. What do they do? All I've ever heard is that they teach math. I guess biology would go study biology and work in that or something. But what's left to study? Evolution stuff?

IDMR is a math guy, IIRC, but he's rarely around here these days. You can do consulting for corporations and such; there is quite a demand for statisticians as well.

You're not taking CHM 2045? That's just general chemistry and isn't too hard.

I am taking CHM 2045, but there's evidently a CHM 2045 "For Engineering Majors Only" out there that I'm supposed to take as a Mechanical Engineer. And you're right, it's not hard, but it is boring as all get out. At least the lecture is (all she does is read, directly and without elaborating anything off of the slides). Lab is kinda fun, when stuff actually happens (unlike that solubility one, where almost nothing dissolved...).

Ahh, okay. The catalog said nothing about that, but that's USF for you. You will find that many of the huge-sized classes only read lecture notes and such.

[Strate_Egg]

I am guessing now that


A: No one has respect for Community Colleges.
B : No one has respect for non science/math related majors.


There is quite a trend on this board.

A: Just because someone goes to a community college does not make them stupid or lacking. Maybe they are poor enough not to afford a 4 year and need to save up more. Accordingly, that is my sitsuation.

B: I am also not a science major, that must mean im bsing my way through life. Very big of all of those that only think science/math are real subjects.

[Keevan_Colton]

There are so many stupid people out there its quite sickening....I recently returned to education after a break from it for depression and it was ridiculous some of the shit I enconuntered coming back to studying.
I decided to leave behind the Computer Science degree to move to a Journalism related course. I applied to a few that got good write ups from the industry....so, I went to Cardonald College (supposedly the best...) for an interview and as part of a small test on "current affairs" there were questions on "Big Brother" and "Stars in thier Eyes" two aboniable wastes of airtime that I'd not consider watching.....

Fortunately, after this I told them to go fuck themselves and went to another interview at Reid Kerr College instead, they've a Proffessional Writing course that I'm now doing that covers Journalism and Screenwriting....much better and more intresting....

Anyway....stupid people....there are lots of 'em about....

[Frank Hipper]

Community College. Has to be.

Fuck you very much. I got my AA at a community college before taking part in a joint program at said college with a 4 year university. Community colleges are not idiot schools. They are primarily 100 and 200 level classes of equal standing to any university or 4 year college.

No. They are not. But requirements are slack in comparison, and the student body can reflect that with examples like this.

Community College. Has to be.

Bingo! Floyd Junior College, to be exact.

[Alyeska]

No. They are not. But requirements are slack in comparison, and the student body can reflect that with examples like this.

Bullshit. Community colleges can be just as strict or loose as any 4 year college.

[Frank Hipper]

No. They are not. But requirements are slack in comparison, and the student body can reflect that with examples like this.

Bullshit. Community colleges can be just as strict or loose as any 4 year college.

Floyd Junior College would appear to be a little on the slack side, though. Yes? Their entrance procedure may not allow this kind of idiocy 100% of the time, but this example is nothing for them to be bragging about.

[Alyeska]

No. They are not. But requirements are slack in comparison, and the student body can reflect that with examples like this.

Bullshit. Community colleges can be just as strict or loose as any 4 year college.

Floyd Junior College would appear to be a little on the slack side, though. Yes? Their entrance procedure may not allow this kind of idiocy 100% of the time, but this example is nothing for them to be bragging about.

This is an example of a single community college lacking in certain areas, not an example that all community colleges are bad.

My community college has entrance exams and depending on how well you do they require you to work your way into a subject by taking lower level science, math, or english classes to get you to college level. If you don't manage that, you don't get your degree. There might be a few more idiots taking classes then 4 year colleges, but in a community college degree seeking students aren't the only ones in there. The CC strictness comes in on the actual degree requirements.

[SWPIGWANG]

What is so great about science and logic? Science can observe reality, bullshit can define it.

People on this thread are screaming at the appearent "stupidity" of the masses but do people really need to know what is the moon or how gravity works? Does it really matter that people don't know how rubber is made or how the death star can beat nonexistent ST-lazer immunity? The joke is really on you, as the "bullshiters" that can read, understand and create bullshit are the ones with power. Society have defined itself a loop of self reinforcement, and it would remain until it collapses.

[PrinceofLowLight]

That's not has as bad as what I've seen. In a history class in Freshman highschool year, someone seriously asked if Italy was a "city or a country."

[SWPIGWANG]

We all know itally is a boot, so that should answer it.

[Johonebesus]

People on this thread are screaming at the appearent "stupidity" of the masses but do people really need to know what is the moon or how gravity works? Does it really matter that people don't know how rubber is made or how the death star can beat nonexistent ST-lazer immunity? The joke is really on you, as the "bullshiters" that can read, understand and create bullshit are the ones with power. Society have defined itself a loop of self reinforcement, and it would remain until it collapses.

Well, the people in power must make decisions about science and medical policies. Now, when Congress has to decide which studies to fund and what organizations to give grants to, do want them to be so ignorant that they think the moon and the sun are the same thing? Imagine how the discovery of penicillin would play out now. I can just imagine someone like O'Reilly saying, "this idiot ruined his experiment, of course wasting whatever money was spent on his original research, and now he wants us to give him more money to study fungus? You want to know why it killed his bacteria? It's poison, there, I just saved us a huge grant."

[Slartibartfast]

Funny thing is Political Science degrees can actualy be very practical. Teaches you how to fuck other people and make things work for you.

Some people are born Political Scientists...

EDIT: I should have said A LOT of people, but whatever.

[Tsyroc]

That sucks... I know my JROTC SNSI had to go at Commander because he got shafted by one asshole CO one time who gave him a less than outstanding fittie, so he didn't select for O-5 command, which made him retire with 21 in.

That's pretty similar to the people I mentioned although none of them mentioned the specifices. It all sounded like they didn't get the absolute best fitrep sometime early in their career and that hurt them when they went for Lt Commander.

The fuck??!!

SInce we'll normally be commissioned at 22 (when we graduate college), that would require forty-three years in the Navy! Last I heard, the general "you will retire" cutoff was 30, barring making Admiral or STA-21 types. So, basically, if that's true (and I have doubts, based on how long you'll have to be in) it'll be either only prior enlisted or senior admirals who collect any retirement, or they'll have to up your maximum number of years in (which means revising "up and out" quite a bit, I'm sure).

Like I said I'm not sure if it's true or not but it kind of makes sense in a way. However, I should point out that I didn't mean that you'd have to stay in until 65. The standard retirement times still apply but you just won't be able to collect military retirement until you reach "official" retirement age. Basically the same age at which you could collect social security.

I could be wrong about this one but you might want to really look into it because you might have to do some serious planning for the interum periods even if you stay in for 30.

By the way, doesn't your ROTC time count towards your retirement?

But really, outside of the Navy, I can't think of anything I'd particulary want to do, or for that matter, be overly good at. But it's something I'd have to really think on.

That's cool. Just make sure you play things smart and you'll be able to make a good career of it. You might have a better shot at the long term thing because you're going SWO. All the people that I knew that got "downsized" for the good of the Navy or stuck at one rank had been in the "Flyboy" field. Although, I did read that article earlier this year about an over abundance of SWOs. Hopefully that won't be the case in a few years.

[RogueIce]

That's pretty similar to the people I mentioned although none of them mentioned the specifices. It all sounded like they didn't get the absolute best fitrep sometime early in their career and that hurt them when they went for Lt Commander.

Yeah. It's annoying, because one dumb ass CO can ruin the career of an otherwise outstanding officer.

Hell, Nimitz ran a battleship aground! Imagine if they ran things then like they do now!

Like I said I'm not sure if it's true or not but it kind of makes sense in a way. However, I should point out that I didn't mean that you'd have to stay in until 65. The standard retirement times still apply but you just won't be able to collect military retirement until you reach "official" retirement age. Basically the same age at which you could collect social security.

I could be wrong about this one but you might want to really look into it because you might have to do some serious planning for the interum periods even if you stay in for 30.

That would make more sense, but still be a pain in the ass. Something to look into though, thanks for the info!

By the way, doesn't your ROTC time count towards your retirement?

AFAIK, no, it won't. I think it only counts for the prior enlisted (MECEP, STA-21, etc.).

We have a pair of Marine Reservists who it might also count for. Sidenote on Reservists in NROTC (probably similar in the others): if you get the scholarship, they'll discharge you from your reserve, so you won't get called up and sent away. If you're college program (or it's equivalent) they won't, meaning they're still free to ship your ass off.

Just another thing seperating the Scholarship from the nonscholarship folks. But what else is new?

Cool. Just make sure you play things smart and you'll be able to make a good career of it. You might have a better shot at the long term thing because you're going SWO. All the people that I knew that got "downsized" for the good of the Navy or stuck at one rank had been in the "Flyboy" field. Although, I did read that article earlier this year about an over abundance of SWOs. Hopefully that won't be the case in a few years.

Yeah. He was a SWO, but it was a bad time. Earlier, it may not have mattered, but he went up for it at the end of the Cold War, with all the ship decommissionings, so there were suddenly less O5 Commands available.

But still, one bad fittie can fuck you over, it seems. Which sucks if you get a moron CO (or one who doesn't bullshit on his adjectives ) who just didn't like you, or something else like that.

And in that article, new JOs are getting less chances to earn the various qualifications, which are key to advancement in the first place. So, unless they get their act together, it's gonna be interesting to try and make a career as a SWO, to say the least.

[StimNeuro]

Community College. Has to be.

Bingo! Floyd Junior College, to be exact.

Floyd Junior College? As in Floyd County, Georgia? Which Subwway was this?

[The Cleric]

I want to be an engineer because I can make a lot of money. And I'm good with math. I'd love to be a history prof, but I can't make as much money.

I have the good fortune of living very close to one of the best (if not THE best) community colleges in the US (Anne Arundel). However, I want to go to University of Maryland, College Park. I'm a high school senior, so I only have 1 more year left (yay!! and I can go to R movies by myself on oct 2!! yay again!!).

Liberal Arts. What total bull shit. I throw any letter away that claims that the college is a liberal arts school. The only thing you have to learn from a 4 year liberal arts degree is "Do you want fries with that?" Most people who plan to be wealthy, stable, and successful in life take one of the hard sciences. That's not to say that you CAN'T make $ with a LA degree, but it's damn hard.

[Johonebesus]

Floyd Junior College? As in Floyd County, Georgia? Which Subwway was this?

East Rome, that is, on Turner McCall blvd, Rome. It's the one next to the ratty theater and the Applebee's.