It's been interesting to read all the posts about college stuff.
The sole family contribution to my college education (in 1958) was $10 from my grandmother, for a dictionary. I turned down a full music scholarship to U. Miami (for bassoon) because I knew I was no musician. Turned down a teaching scholarship to a state teacher's college because I didn't want to be a teacher... plus my waitress mother didn't have any money for dorm housing, food, etc. and it was 400 miles away.
Instead, I went to school at night after work for most of the next 10-12 years, in 2-3 different states. I was making more money as a R&D tech than graduate engineers, so I finally gave up on a degree. Since I'm an autodidact, it really didn't matter in the long run anyway.
I'm of the opinion that there are many financial opportunities to be created that require a skill, often lost skills, that do not require a degree. Too many people with advanced degrees are flipping burgers in a large portion of our country.
Money Matters - Part 10
Maybe a combo graphic arts/engineering. If they seemed interested.....
Hubby worked very hard there. He did the 5 yr nuclear engineering and had his master's at the end . He left the industry in 90 to start teaching.
Doesn't sound like you needed college, Darius. It takes a lot to know what you like and what you need to do to be your own person, but that's clearly the best way.
I'd like my kids to all get jobs this spring. Right now my DS and his dad are in the garage doing body work on the car (the other DD drove into a teacher's car last week). At least he's learning practical skills. They have the entire front end of the body off, pounding it out, using body compound, epoxying new headlights in. We made her help for a while.
Some schools permit both in a double major. WPI started a new architectural engineering program. Don't know if they're hard up for any applicants to transfer over, though.
DS had a very bad personal interview there where they told him not to even apply because his grades weren't in the "required" A-minus range. It took half a year to recover from it and to decide to apply anyway. He's barely able to shop around given the attitudes he's encountered saying he won't even get in. I was there. He does nothing to deserve the wrath that gets directed at him sometimes. Then a daughter goes in a bit unsure, and it's all about offering encouragement and dangling their number of Fullbrights or presidential scholars when she says her grades. Grades aren't the only measure of a person's academic worth, although they do show a willingness to work hard.
Darius, is an autodidact someone who has a photographic memory? BTW, there is a daylily called Darius. I'll post a pic of it.
Rosemary, it's great your kids are learning practical skills. Those are always good.
As for grades, you're right, they aren't the best measure of academic worth.
Karen
Ha, my message got lost, and then posted later. Never saw that before!
As for changing majors to get into a school, we're not up to that kind of strategy. When people do that it often backfires anyway. RPI warned people not to do that in their meeting because they don't permit switching to the popular major, mechanical engineering.
Re: grades and ability. Sometimes great grades but kid never studies, so when they get challenged with something more difficult, they struggle as compared to kids who have learned to work hard from the git go. Perseverance is important.
I remember a meeting at the Coast Guard Academy where an officer told the kids if they really didn't want to go there, but the parents did, then just misspell Coast Guard Academy. That was a sure way to be rejected.
For me, finding the place where I felt I belonged was and still is primo in my choice of where...then I work out the how.
Okay, I looked up autodidact, and looks like I'm one, also. I have taught myself to do many things. Gardening, photography, etc. Whenever I was very interested in anything, I've always spent lots of time reading up on it and putting it into practice, as well as doing some formal classes and such.
Karen
Maybe autodidact is another name for "quick study."
About finding a way to go where you're most comfortable, DD wonders if she can transfer to her first choice college if she does well at a different school. But it's likely she'll be happy somewhere else.
Our pediatrician was telling me he was worried about his daughter's struggles to find the right job, even after getting a Fulbright scholarship and going to (his birth country) Korea. If his kids and their great academic record can't find a 'good' job, what hope do we have? His son got a history degree, and Dad said if he wanted to take MCAT that Dad could at least be able to help him in the medical field.
The young adults still have to wait for the baby boomers to retire. Many hoping for academic jobs, for example, will have moved on to other fields by the time the positions open. I for one didn't want to have to do that, and did move on. In my case it was during the last recession and subsequent un- funding of human services research. They still haven't restored the mandates for evaluation research and accountability that were begun in the 70's when there were also federal grants to train the researchers.
My kids were telling me more stories about who got in to different top colleges for early decision. Not necessarily the brainiest, most academically oriented, or even the nicest people. The admissions offices are flooded, and can generally only go by the paperwork they receive. It's just an increasingly impersonal process in many cases.
Remember Joni Mitchell? What song said "Heart of humor and humility will lighten up a heavy load" ? The road ahead is full of twists and unexpected turns, and we use our abilities in all sorts of unexpected ways.
Not looking forward to it!
The NYT carried this interactive map this morning... sure points out the differences in how I experience the economy from here, and how you experience it from DC up the east coast to NH. My own county (according to that 2009 map) gets almost 33% of total income from government programs like unemployment insurance, veterans' benefits, Income benefits (low income support like aid to families with dependent children, food stamps, disability, earned income tax benefits, and of course, Medicare and Medicaid.
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/02/12/us/entitlement-map.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1
sigh
Some surprises there, merely looking at the map. Not just what I would guess are the poorer areas.
Another question for you, Rosemary. From my magazines, websites, etc., on photography, it's apparent that senior portraits are a MUCH bigger thing now than when I was that age (actually, seems everything is a much bigger deal now). What is your experience? Are you shopping around, interviewing, checking websites and portfolios, etc.??
Senior High school portraits are just ungodly expensive!!!!!
I've always bought one of the cheapest yearly packages of school pics anyway. My DD's best friend is a serious amateur. We paid her to take photos of DD in our backyard which we could then print thru online or whatever. can't find one right now but I thought it every bit as good. We had the cap and gown at home and did some with gown some wtih casual dress.
Interesting map, Darius. I hadn't realized unemployment was THAT high in much of Pennsylvania, so I can see why fracking is getting some traction.
There is a HUGE markup in senior class pictures, Victor. In our case, one company got the contract, but of course we were only obligated to have them for the yearbook. Around Christmas I was thinking about going somewhere else when a salesperson called and offered a huge discount because of the three kids. Just shows how much mark-up there is. Still cost more than I care to think about. But the bright side is the kids don't want so many wallet photos anymore. They have all their electronic media instead.
And I can't imagine what Darius was researching when she located that map. I'd bet no one else here comes is close to what our county ranks as dependent. 41.6% And it isn't a retirement community. Sheese.... and it has always been noticable at the time of the month when the checks would hit.
Currently, we have major gas exploration in this area as well as fracking. I am less than enthusiastic but it has brought more money into an economically deprived area.
Finished my taxes. I need to replan my deductions because I got a refund - need that money during the year instead of letting it be borrowed interst free. Guess the difference was the class I didn't teach in the Fall - would have rather had the money from the class instead of the refund.
Yep rather have my $ and have to pay then have them use it
You mean waste it.
hee hee Yeah!
Yup.
New thread time.
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