College

[Bannanachair]

So I've been spending the past few weeks looking at colleges and universities, and since you guys are almost all slightly older than me and mostly in college by now, I was wondering if you'd be willing to tell me a little bit about your schools., and about schools that you looked at. You don't need to tell me what schools specifically, by the way: You can just say "I go to a small liberal arts college and I like..." or "I go to a large research university..." or other things like that if you'd prefer (though the actual name of the school would be useful so that I can more directly compare it to my current list).

I also am trying to decide whether to go to a small liberal arts college, like Bates or Amherst, or a slightly larger but still small university, like Carnegie-Mellon (but those are all in my long-shot/reach schools range, not my regular application range), so if anyone has any experience with those specific types of institutions I would really appreciate hearing about your experience. I haven't applied yet; I'm going to be applying to start in the Fall 2019 semester.

It will also be the first time I'll live back in America since I was seven, which I'm looking forward to.

[Tikobe]

For the most part, I attend a community college. It's cheaper and since it's close to where I live I don't need to worry about having to pay for a dormitory and stuff.

When I get my associate's after this though, I'll go to an uni that also close enough to where I don't need to pay for a dormitory.

At this point, I'm really more focused on actually being able to pay for my degree than anything else.

[Benzo]

What in particular are you wanting to go for? While online courses used to be a complete mockery, they've gotten better over the years. I went to IU Bloomington for a bit, a couple community colleges (Ivy Tech in various locations) and taken online courses offered from Michigan State and honestly, Michigan State taught me the most for Python/coding and for the cheapest price by a mile.

Otherwise, if you're looking for advice, the best I could say is this; Be sure to look at more than just the University while browsing. The town is going to be just as important if not moreso. You want a place you can be comfortable in and can meet all your accommodation needs. Living within walking-distance to the grocery store was an absolute life saver in Bloomington.

[Benzo]

I should add that I believe online degrees are still pretty much just laughed at and really work best with "technical skills" for lack of a better term.
My "certificates" in Python are pretty much worthless, but Michigan gave me the ability to create a project or projects that can take place of a standard degree.
Basically, just skills you can physically show off, I guess. You'll still be laughed out of any law firm if you try to apply with an online degree.

[Bannanachair]

Jul 14, 2018 9:25:18 GMT -4 Benzo said:

What in particular are you wanting to go for? While online courses used to be a complete mockery, they've gotten better over the years. I went to IU Bloomington for a bit, a couple community colleges (Ivy Tech in various locations) and taken online courses offered from Michigan State and honestly, Michigan State taught me the most for Python/coding and for the cheapest price by a mile.

Otherwise, if you're looking for advice, the best I could say is this; Be sure to look at more than just the University while browsing. The town is going to be just as important if not moreso. You want a place you can be comfortable in and can meet all your accommodation needs. Living within walking-distance to the grocery store was an absolute life saver in Bloomington.

I am on the fence about what I want to go for. I structured much of my life around becoming a mathematician or a physicist, just based on my highschool course selection, but I've also recently (as in, over the past few years) started thinking a lot about maybe writing full time instead, so I also want the flexibility to easily change majors or wait before declaring my major if I want to go from physics to creative writing.

[Benzo]

Ehhh... I would avoid majoring in Creative Composition as it's hard to get that kind of career. The more general/vague your degree, the better. I know too many people who's lives are now ruined between student debt and a completely worthless major not getting them a job anywhere.

[Tikobe]

Jul 18, 2018 14:28:11 GMT -4 Benzo said:

Ehhh... I would avoid majoring in Creative Composition as it's hard to get that kind of career. The more general/vague your degree, the better. I know too many people who's lives are now ruined between student debt and a completely worthless major not getting them a job anywhere.

Alternatively, a kinda-specific major with good variation of available jobs works, too. I'm currently a criminology major and in addition to the availability granted by your standard Criminal Justice degree, a job as a general criminologist is available, as well as other careers such as a jury consultant.

Granted, to be a criminologist requires at least a masters (And even then it's still better to have a doctorate) but it still gives me more avenues to work with if things don't work out.

Also, be careful of competitive careers. My sister just started at the Culinary Institute of America to learn how to be a patisserie. While CIA is expensive, she only needs an associate's for her degree program. The problem is that career path isn't the easiest thing in the world. I'm kinda scared for my sister right now.

[passion fruit]

right now im in a community college. though im planning on transfering to a 4 year college once i figure out what i want to do with my life.