What do you do and where?

[Nerf]

Well, I am English Lit. At least people will know I'm somewhat literate.

There are quite a few jobs that pay extremely well and simply require a degree in *anything*.  Hell, I'm cranking out a degree in marketing to be a catastrophe insurance adjuster.  My degree will have zero relevancy to the job, but it's a requirement for any of the large insurance companies.  So in 4 years, I'll get paid to tell people bad things just after horrible, catastrophic things happen to them.  That makes me the happy.

On starting college late - I wouldn't have learned a goddamn thing had I went when I was 18.  Learning how a system works before you start theorizing how to make it better is never a bad idea, the one thing I'm not looking forward to is the people.  I've found that college freshman generally have absolutely no idea how the world works, and are thusly qualified to tell you A) exactly what is wrong with it B) How to fix it C) How much of a better job they could do, as opposed to someone who's been doing it for 30 years.

[Raging Turtle]

Well, I am English Lit. At least people will know I'm somewhat literate.

Speaking as someone with a degree in English Literature, there are very few jobs you're going to be able to get on the strength of your degree alone (as opposed to something like accounting or mechanical engineering).  There are certainly companies that just want to know that you have a college degree and will then evaluate you on your other qualities during the hiring process, but no company ever says 'We absolutely need an English Lit major for this position'.

Since I graduated three years ago, I've taught English abroad for a year, and then spent two years teaching sailing, and now I'm a week or three away from going abroad again.  I've greatly enjoyed the last three years, but I honestly could have done the same thing with a degree in basket weaving and I can't see a long term career in either position. 

I enjoyed being in English major as an undergrad (it certainly wasn't all that hard and I can write far better than 95% of the people I know if I put some effort in), but if I had to do it all over again, I'd definitely major in something more, you know, useful.

[Furiously]

If I could have done it all over again, I would have gone the GI Bill route. I wasted the first 2-3 years of college being drunk all the time.

The people that had had 5-10 years of experience in the world and knew what they wanted out of college were so much more successful and interesting in discussions it astounded me. I recall one class where one student verbally went off on the professor who attacked some idea of theirs. It was fascinating to see them present a logical argument, and the next day the prof apologized to the class and the student for being wrong.

[Viin]

GI Bill is good. Sucky that reservists don't get to use it once they get out though - I only have until spring to burn $30k!

[Oban]

Well, I am English Lit. At least people will know I'm somewhat literate.

Speaking as someone with a degree in English Literature, there are very few jobs you're going to be able to get on the strength of your degree alone (as opposed to something like accounting or mechanical engineering).  There are certainly companies that just want to know that you have a college degree and will then evaluate you on your other qualities during the hiring process, but no company ever says 'We absolutely need an English Lit major for this position'.

Since I graduated three years ago, I've taught English abroad for a year, and then spent two years teaching sailing, and now I'm a week or three away from going abroad again.  I've greatly enjoyed the last three years, but I honestly could have done the same thing with a degree in basket weaving and I can't see a long term career in either position. 

I enjoyed being in English major as an undergrad (it certainly wasn't all that hard and I can write far better than 95% of the people I know if I put some effort in), but if I had to do it all over again, I'd definitely major in something more, you know, useful.

Seems like everyone I meet at the competing cell companies is either an English Lit or Fine Arts major.

Do you want 1900 WCDMA service with those fries?

[Cheddar]

Military -> College is one of the bestest paths in life, IMO.  GI Bill + motivation 4tw.  Also, it is nice to know you have the military to fall back on is wonderful!

Also, I have found people tend to respect you more and give you opportunities you would not have without the military thing.  It definitely has given me an edge up, work/education wise.

[Engels]

I did the opposite of Murgos, and I agree with him completely.

You're a deckhand on a fishing boat?!  :-D

[Velorath]

Long overdue, but I currently work at a movie theater in Redwood City (as I've mentioned elsewhere).  I'm trained in pretty much every aspect of the theater but I spend most of my time in the projection booth and the money room.  Before this, I was in charge of shipping and receiving at the local Toys R Us.

[Selby]

I did college right after school because it was what I was supposed to do.  The military didn't want me, so I went to school instead.  Working a full time job in the real world of programming and IT gave me such a disdain for the CS program that the only reason I graduated with a CS degree is because I already had 6 out of 10 classes done for it by the beginning of my 3rd year.  My electrical engineering degree was big on theory, but they forced you to actually do a semester long project for 5 semesters which was harder and more work than anything I have ever done in the real world regarding engineering.  Being in a room full of professors who actually know how the real world works and not just theory drilling you on your designs and over miniscule choices over why you chose that BJT vs another and what the math meant as to how it was biased and why your 1k resistor should have been a 2.2k... a very uncomfortable experience but one that really made me appreciate how to go in front of a room of people smarter than me and convince them I knew what I was doing.  It made me not worry a bit about going toe to toe with our CTO and VP of engineering over my designs at my current company.  Not all colleges are like that though, most are big on theory and poor on application.  I got lucky.  And I was lucky to be done with college by 24 rather than just starting it (as much as I enjoyed it at the time, I can't see going back any time soon).

Music theory probably would have been more fun, but I wouldn't have been able to do much of anything with it compared to what I get to do now.

[stu]

Military -> College is one of the bestest paths in life, IMO.  GI Bill + motivation 4tw.  Also, it is nice to know you have the military to fall back on is wonderful!

Also, I have found people tend to respect you more and give you opportunities you would not have without the military thing.  It definitely has given me an edge up, work/education wise.

For sure. I decided while I was sweating my balls off during two tours of Iraq that I was going to get out as soon as my contract was up and then go off to kick ass in college. College rocks.

[Engels]

Grats, and welcome home.

[Yegolev]

I did the opposite of Murgos, and I agree with him completely.

You're a deckhand on a fishing boat?!  :-D

Almost.  I put fizz in soda.  If I wanted to get into management, the lack of a degree would be a roadblock.

[Strazos]

Aww, no MBA for Da Da?

[Tale]

Also, I have found people tend to respect you more and give you opportunities you would not have without the military thing.  It definitely has given me an edge up, work/education wise.

He's a wiseguy, fugeddaboudit? Oops, sorry, I may have my evil empires confused.

[Cheddar]

I have a major interview with my company tomorrow.  More details to follow.   

[Yegolev]

Aww, no MBA for Da Da?

Nothing but lots and lots of college credit that somehow does not add up to a diploma.  I am pretty sure I could qualify for a Bachelor of General Shit.  Two good years of general engineering, one year of theatre, half year of mechanical engineering, one or two years of mathematics, and one year of aviation management.  That was also padded with some electives and things like Spanish, Bowling, Photography, and other forgotten arcana.

[Signe]

I have a major interview with my company tomorrow.  More details to follow.   

Good luck!  I'll root for you! 

[Bunk]

Aww, no MBA for Da Da?

Nothing but lots and lots of college credit that somehow does not add up to a diploma.  I am pretty sure I could qualify for a Bachelor of General Shit.  Two good years of general engineering, one year of theatre, half year of mechanical engineering, one or two years of mathematics, and one year of aviation management.  That was also padded with some electives and things like Spanish, Bowling, Photography, and other forgotten arcana.

My friend, I believe you might qualify for the Van Wilder degree in Professional Studentry. Still, considering all I have to my name is two terms of Electronics CORE that I really never used, four photography classes taken in my thirties that have made me the "free wedding photographer" for my buddies, and a very exciting MCSE in NT4 - I envy you.

[schild]

I have the second most useless college degree in the world.

It might as well not be a degree.

I did some drinking in college. Maybe some partying. Definitely a lot of cigarettes and alcohol.

I only took 1 English course.

I got a B because I pointed out an error of questionable grammar in the project sheet for the final. Whoops.

[Cheddar]

Interview went very well.  During interview I was e-mailed that I had received a promotion.  More of a title promotion, but hey.  It bolstered my spirits and I should know by end of next week if I got the biiiig promotion.

[Abagadro]

All this talk of school reminds me that my three year old asked me what "grade" I was in this week. I had to count it up and realized I was in 22nd grade. 

[Signe]

All this talk of school reminds me that my three year old asked me what "grade" I was in this week. I had to count it up and realized I was in 22nd grade. 

That made me laugh unexpectedly which turned into a coughing fit while I was swallowing water.  If you weren't a lawyer, I'd sue you for something!   

[Engels]

My friend, I believe you might qualify for the Van Wilder degree in Professional Studentry. Still, considering all I have to my name is two terms of Electronics CORE that I really never used, four photography classes taken in my thirties that have made me the "free wedding photographer" for my buddies, and a very exciting MCSE in NT4 - I envy you.

Depending on what you end up doing, education can be pretty useless for your career. Most folks go to college before they know what they want to do. I think education is great for developing as a person, but you can also do that by self-tutelage, if you have the discipline. Look at Lum, he's edumacated up the wazoo, but no official education outside of highschool, if I remember his tale correctly. Then look at the boorish MBAs that stalk our world. All that college and all they do is bring misery through accounting. 

[Raging Turtle]

I'm currently living in Barcelona for about a month, and then deciding if I want to stay here or move somewhere else, like Istanbul. 

Love the city and it's amazing how fast my Spanish is coming back.  Catalan is a bit harder.

[Oban]

I have had so many chances to go to Barcelona for work, but every year I just push it aside.

Thanks to the movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109219/ I have a romantic ideal of the city in my head.  Always worried that if I actually go, all that will change...

I hope you enjoy your time there.

[Engels]

Well, I was born and raised in Barcelona, so I'm currently green with envy at both of you.

Here's a view from my family's apt there.

[Phildo]

I only took 1 English course.

I got a B because I pointed out an error of questionable grammar in the project sheet for the final. Whoops.

Heh, I got a C in my english course because the instructor didn't like men.

[Bunk]

Well, I was born and raised in Barcelona, so I'm currently green with envy at both of you.

Here's a view from my family's apt there.

You lived accross the street from a gingerbread house?

[Signe]

He lived across the street from a park that hosts some of the coolest and weirdest pieces of art in the world.  (especially the Gaudi stuff) I'm so jealous.  I'd love to live in Barcelona for a year or so.  (in Engel's family apartment!)

[Engels]

To be fair, that photo was taken about 4 blocks and a jaunt across a wooded hill path from my apartment. Parque Guell is close, but not right outside the window. I WISH we could afford that kind of real estate. The top photo, tho, is taken from the apartment's balcony.

[stray]

Identity Protection/Identity Theft.

[EDIT] Oops! The damn exhibitionist in me.... Lets not go there.  :-D

[Strazos]

Well, looks like I did not actually get picked up by the USAF. Apparently, the recent selection board was incredibly brutal, with something like a measly 31% selection rate; past graded [read: flight-types] boards were more around 80+%.

So, that's one dream shot to shit. Time to give Plans B1 and B2 a shot. I really don't want to have to fall back on Plans C and beyond.... 

[Signe]

Well, looks like I did not actually get picked up by the USAF. Apparently, the recent selection board was incredibly brutal, with something like a measly 31% selection rate; past graded [read: flight-types] boards were more around 80+%.

So, that's one dream shot to shit. Time to give Plans B1 and B2 a shot. I really don't want to have to fall back on Plans C and beyond.... 

Aww... I'm sorry. 

[Cheddar]

Well, looks like I did not actually get picked up by the USAF. Apparently, the recent selection board was incredibly brutal, with something like a measly 31% selection rate; past graded [read: flight-types] boards were more around 80+%.

So, that's one dream shot to shit. Time to give Plans B1 and B2 a shot. I really don't want to have to fall back on Plans C and beyond.... 

Sorry to hear that, man.  All I can say is keep plugging away; main thing you pick up while in the military is how to pick an objective then work towards it.

[Murgos]

I remember talking to guys who sat on the selection boards.  By all accounts they are brutal.  The bad candidates are easy to weed out so everyone left is usually an A+ candidate so who gets picked and who doesn't can come down to very minute and seemingly trivial differences.

Don't take it personally, not being augmented isn't a reflection on your quality it's just a matter of too many people and not enough positions.  I know people who had to try several times before they got in.