What I Learned in College: A Cautionary Tale (1 Viewer)

[Bhagi Katbamna]

I've known people over the age of 40 that were starting medical school. My own class had a grandmother in it. I have a friend who had a career in engineering with AT&T then decided to go to med. school and was accepted(to Case-Western Reserve U. no less). So it can be done. Don't get discouraged and make sure you apply to a lot of schools. Oh yeah, if college is only there to teach you how to think(and you truly believe it is for that and nothing else) you will be a well-rounded bum(pun not intended).

 

[Sam Posten]

You missed the most important lesson:

Never let school get in the way of your education.

You can learn from books. You can learn from professors. But never again will you be surrounded in such a sea of learned people that have differing opinions on life, culture, and your area of interest as well. To not meet with them outside the classroom is a real tragedy. Even the geeky ones. Even the ugly ones. Even the loners. Even the smart ass, egocentric jerks.

All without mom and pop looking over your shoulder to see how things are going every instant. At once its both terrifying and liberating. Learning to relax and let off steam in such chaos, and learning self discipline in an atmosphere that allows such things as the 14 kegger downhill beer slides is what its all about. =)

Sam

 

[Dennis Reno]

Dome,
Lots o' good advice above! The members of the HTF always come through... sometimes
I felt the same way 10 years ago after graduating from college. The "friends" I made in college vanished and my old HS friends were all graduating as well and moving out of town. For the first 12-18 months I was in a stupor. I would summarize it as "This is IT?!?!" It seemed like such a waste.
Ten years later, I've been married nearly six years, have a beautiful baby and just purchased a great house. I'm in a job that can be frustrating at times, but in the end is challeging and very rewarding. Looking back I wouldn't change a thing.
Just a few things I learned over the last decade (everyone may not agree):
1. Your grades aren't that important - after your first job future employers are more interested in your job experience than in the grade you received in LIT 101
2. The friends you made in college will be your lifelong friends - for some this is true, for the majority of people I know, this is false. Personally I have stayed in touch with far more childhood friends than college friends.
3. A college degree is not a waste of time and money - its easy to begin doubting the value of a degree right out of college if/when the world doesn't come and beat down your door! You may not realize it, but your degree will open up a few doors. Its not a free pass, but it definately helps.
4. You don't have to love your job - its best to work in a field you really enjoy, but sometimes its not realistic. Bill collectors don't care how much fun you have at work, they want $$$! However, if you are doing something you hate, then you owe it to yourself to start taking the steps to make a change. It may mean making personal sacrifices, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Best of luck!

 

[Greg_R]

#3 - You aren't there to learn; you're there to be weeded out.

The most important thing I learned at college was how to work (not some equation or formula that can be looked up in 2 seconds). This included planning, researching, overcoming roadblocks & working with others (regardless of their personalities or capabilities).

When you get out into the real world, you are going to encounter problems (work your butt off & still fail, people you work with can't do their jobs, manager isn't that great, etc.). Hopefully college has exposed you to some of these situations and you are a better person for the experience. At my job (circuit design) the majority of our interview questions are not technical in nature... they are behavioral. Example: Tell me about a time when a person on your team wasn't pulling their weight. What did you do? These questions expose the work ethic, character and drive of the individual. Hopefully your college experience has prepared you to give examples and answer these kinds of questions. After all, most of what you learn in college is a foundation for the real cutting edge stuff you are exposed to in industry.

Good luck on the rest of your academic career!

Greg

Georgia Tech BCmpE '98

Georgia Tech MS ECE '99

 

[Dome Vongvises]

Dave F. said

Dome - I sorry to hear that your college graduation was sadly anti-climatic.

That pretty much sums it up. Oh well, I'm feeling better now. Episode II is coming out, and I'm writing my story.