Holy shit, I graduated college

[ezrast]

oh god what do i do

no seriously

what do i do

[Signe]

Quick!  Get drunk!  But before you do, congrats, college boy.   

[ezrast]

Did that already. I have some priorities, you know.

[Mosesandstick]

In this job market? Go back!

[pxib]

Go network with any teachers you developed a positive relationship with. They occasionally have loose connections within industries related to your major and will write quality letters of recommendation for you. Whether that succeeds or fails, go get a job... whatever you can find. Even if it's outside your chosen field, employers like evidence that you can come to work on time, follow orders, and function with coworkers and the public. Start making money and keep your options open! Rent somewhere cheap, ideally with roommates. Learn to cook good food with cheap ingredients. Don't date the unemployed. Budget. Consider both the benefits and the costs of any job you pursue: Is bad management, a two hour commute, and paperwork you take home every night worth an extra $700 a month and a dental plan? Speaking of which: floss.

Welcome to the rat race.

[dd0029]

Start making money and keep your options open! Rent somewhere cheap, ideally with roommates.

Live at home if you can.  It can be annoying as fuck, but the savings are significant.

[K9]

Did you enjoy what you did?

What did you study anyway?

[Morat20]

Yeah, what do I do really depends on "What's your degree in".

[Cadaverine]

Congrats, and my condolences.   As for advice?  Go back to school, and get a degree doing something cool & outdoorsy, like geology, or something.

[ezrast]

Math and political science. The poli sci I'm lukewarm about. It's a fascinating subject but I wasn't especially good at it, though that may have been partially due to my dissatisfaction with my school's department. I do enjoy math and intend to go to grad school for it at some point.

A few of my professors really liked me so I'm good as far as rec letters go. I'm not in debt so moving back in with Mom and Dad is going to stay on my list of things to avoid for now.

floss.

You had to put the hardest thing last, didn't you.

[Merusk]

Math and Poli Sci?  Doesn't that mean "back to school" no matter the job market?  Either to get the next level of degree in either to teach or for a Masters in something else for a career.

Anywho, grats on completing college!

[Nebu]

Find a new mountain to climb.  

Congrats on graduation!

[pxib]

Three to five days of bleeding and pain and your mouth will get used to it and stop giving you such a hard time. I recommend the synthetic "glide floss", and remember up and down is more important than front to back. You're polishing the hidden sides of your teeth rather than merely lacerating the gumline.

[Strazos]

Yeah, remember to get WAY up above the gumline. It's really awkward to watch at first.

[Sheepherder]

Fuck flossing, this calls for another beer.

[trias_e]

Let me know if you figure it out  : )

[Nebu]

The best thing about finishing college is the realization that after bitching about it for 4 years, being a student was still better than almost any job that your degree will get you. 

[Selby]

The best thing about finishing college is the realization that after bitching about it for 4 years, being a student was still better than almost any job that your degree will get you. 

Maybe for you.  I never worked so hard as a student doing all sorts of projects and labs by myself or with flunky drunk wannabe engineers.  The real world was completely different (kinda, still have to deal with shitty project members) but at least I get paid and don't have professors threatening to fail me.

[Nebu]

Maybe for you. 

Maybe.  College was stupid easy for me.  Work, not so much.  I guess that's why I did 10 years of additional education beyond my undergrad. 

Then again, it's been a long time since I've held a position that didn't require a terminal degree.  That could be it too. 

[Merusk]

College was shit.  Shitty shitty shit shit fucking hell.  It was the worst seven years of my life (and hey that was with only one year out of program to decide if I wanted to finish) and I regret to this day the path I took.  The sole reason I haven't gone back or looked at post-grad degrees with any seriousness is the lousy time I had in school.

Mamas don't let your babies go into Architecture.

[Strazos]

Damn, college sucked...possibly because I didn't live there, but that's a different issue.

Now? I get paid when I go back to school.

[ezrast]

Math and Poli Sci?  Doesn't that mean "back to school" no matter the job market?  Either to get the next level of degree in either to teach or for a Masters in something else for a career.

That's what I hear. I also hear that most people end up in a field that has nothing to do with their major anyway. Either way, I'm okay with washing dishes for a little bit until that happens. I did apply to a couple grad programs that I haven't heard back from yet due to some complications (read: I fucked up my apps), and I'll get more serious about that in a year or two.

The best thing about finishing college is the realization that after bitching about it for 4 years, being a student was still better than almost any job that your degree will get you. 

While I didn't exactly hate school, the idea that college is the best years of one's life is pretty much the most Cthulhu-esque abjectly terrifying thing I can imagine, for a number of reasons.

Anyway, thanks for all the congrats.

[Margalis]

Just do what I did and become a self made hundredaire. 

[Lantyssa]

College was shit.  Shitty shitty shit shit fucking hell.  It was the worst seven years of my life (and hey that was with only one year out of program to decide if I wanted to finish) and I regret to this day the path I took.  The sole reason I haven't gone back or looked at post-grad degrees with any seriousness is the lousy time I had in school.

Mamas don't let your babies go into Architecture.

Architecture is absolutely no fun.  I was chronically depressed through most of college and I bet I still had a better time of it.  I'd even wager the night I broke up with my first girlfriend and drank almost two bottles of hard liquor was better.

Architecture.  <shiver>

[Bzalthek]

Math and Poli Sci?  Doesn't that mean "back to school" no matter the job market?  Either to get the next level of degree in either to teach or for a Masters in something else for a career.

That's what I hear. I also hear that most people end up in a field that has nothing to do with their major anyway. Either way, I'm okay with washing dishes for a little bit until that happens. I did apply to a couple grad programs that I haven't heard back from yet due to some complications (read: I fucked up my apps), and I'll get more serious about that in a year or two.

The best thing about finishing college is the realization that after bitching about it for 4 years, being a student was still better than almost any job that your degree will get you. 

While I didn't exactly hate school, the idea that college is the best years of one's life is pretty much the most Cthulhu-esque abjectly terrifying thing I can imagine, for a number of reasons.

Anyway, thanks for all the congrats.

Redo the apps now.  A "year or two" easily becomes a decade, and you don't want to spend a decade doing shit you're overqualified for.  And I hear you on "best years"  It's bull shit drunken frat rose colored glasses.  Most people can't remember the suck because they were either stoned or drunk.  Make an appointment with those teachers who liked you and have a serious discussion about the future.  Take em out to dinner if you can afford it.  The proper amount of schmoozing can turn advice and a letter of recommendation into "I know a guy..."  Getting a decent job due to inside connections is much more stable than trying to win a stranger over.  Especially in this job market.

On the other hand, high schools are hurting for math and science teachers in some states.  The pay is shit but the work is there for anyone capable of handling smug cunt teenagers from what I hear.

[K9]

Yeah, what do I do really depends on "What's your degree in".

Well, what I do entirely depends on what I did for my degree, stop being a dick.

Math and Poli Sci?  Doesn't that mean "back to school" no matter the job market?  Either to get the next level of degree in either to teach or for a Masters in something else for a career.

That's what I hear. I also hear that most people end up in a field that has nothing to do with their major anyway. Either way, I'm okay with washing dishes for a little bit until that happens. I did apply to a couple grad programs that I haven't heard back from yet due to some complications (read: I fucked up my apps), and I'll get more serious about that in a year or two.

The best thing about finishing college is the realization that after bitching about it for 4 years, being a student was still better than almost any job that your degree will get you. 

While I didn't exactly hate school, the idea that college is the best years of one's life is pretty much the most Cthulhu-esque abjectly terrifying thing I can imagine, for a number of reasons.

Anyway, thanks for all the congrats.

Taking a gap year to look around at the world and see what genuinely interests you is far from the worst option. If you can make it productive, rather than a year of dossing around, it can be very useful. The gap year I took gave me time to reflect and I ended up changing direction to do stuff I was more interested in, and I am very glad I did that. My feeling since I left uni is that there are so many careers I had never even been aware off, less considered, that taking time to see what's really interesting to you and figuring out what your priorities are is useful. Anyone mathematically literate will never never be a lost cause in the employment market, so consider what matters more to you. Do you want to use the skills you learned at college or can they just fuck off? Do you want money, or time (very few careers let you have both)? Do you want to raise a family at some point, do you want to work in other countries? Do you want a challenging job or one that's just routine? Do you crave recognition or attention? I would let these questions and similar sit on you and figure what matters most there.

[ezrast]

Yeah, what do I do really depends on "What's your degree in".

Well, what I do entirely depends on what I did for my degree, stop being a dick.

I think you got reverse-chasmed.

[schild]

I'm kgonna throw this out there: If you didn't enjoy college you're really not prepared for real life.

This is not specifically pointed at the conversation starter.

[Merusk]

 

Nobody enjoys a major that expects all-nighters the entire time you're in it, not just during 'cram week'.   

Prof: I don't like what you did here, here and here in plan and your elevation is a mess.  Redesign it and show me a model tomorrow in studio.
Arch Student:  Again?!

Yeah, fuck my college experience.

[Grimwell]

Avoid debt at all costs.

Apply for cool jobs you want, don't wash dishes. The lower you start, the harder it is to crawl up. Aim high and miss higher than the bottom. Network, make friends, and stay out of debt.

Debt is bad. Avoid it.

[Lantyssa]

I'm gonna throw this out there: If you didn't enjoy college you're really not prepared for real life.

With the power of hindsight, I would have to agree for the most part.

[Soln]

Avoid debt at all costs.

....

Debt is bad. Avoid it.

Best advice ever.   So hard of course when people are often trying to convince it's fine. For example, student loans...

[NiX]

Avoid debt at all costs.

....

Debt is bad. Avoid it.

Best advice ever.   So hard of course when people are often trying to convince it's fine. For example, student loans...

Agreed with all of this. I'll be stuck with my student debt for a LONG time.

[Nebu]

I'm going to disagree conditionally about student loans.

1) You are your best investment in yourself.

2) If working a crappy, low paying job negatively impacts your performance in school it is often better to borrow.  This is particularly important if you have postgraduate aspirations.  Further, most people will experience 2-3 career changes in their lives.  A successful undergraduate career can keep doors open. 

3) Pedigree matters.  Borrowing a little now for a stronger pedigree will often pay off handsomely in salary differential.  Two candidates may be equal in ability but one will score the interview based on how they look on paper. 

4) You must manage your debt intelligently.  Borrowing more than you need is a recipe for disaster. 

5) Many programs will repay student loans with a minimal commitment.  This is particularly true if you happen to be a) an underrepresented minority or b) willing to work in an area of national need.

There are many other factors as well, but these are the usual high points I hit with my advisees. 

[Stormwaltz]

Avoid debt at all costs.

....

Debt is bad. Avoid it.

Best advice ever.   So hard of course when people are often trying to convince it's fine. For example, student loans...

Agreed with all of this. I'll be stuck with my student debt for a LONG time.

In nine months, I'll finally pay off my college loans. I'll be 36. Fortunately, I'm buying my first house, so that will take up the slack.

Aside from those and a car, I have no debt. I lived my life with no credit cards*, and only one previous car loan, which I paid off. Living within my means earned me a credit score of 808, and made has really greased the wheels for doing grown-up stuff.

tl;dr - These men speak the truth. Heed them.






* After my parents' divorce in high school, I was fielding calls every afternoon from credit card companies and utilities we owed money to while she worked two jobs. I decided then that Visa, Mastercard, and Discover could all die in car fires.