How to game the U.S. higher-education system

I don't really see anything in the article that I would call "gaming" the higher-education system. Maybe you could argue that the concept of going to a cheaper school for undergrad and attending a prestigious grad school is gaming the system, but that's not exactly a secret.

Achieve straight A's in high school, do well on standardized tests, suck up to professors, study absurd amounts... This is more a guide of how to fall victim to the higher-education system.

Re: How to game the U.S. higher-education system

#5

Post by bobf » Thu, Oct 21, 2010, 6:50 PM UTC

I used a similar idea for my YC application answer to the non-computer hack question. Basically, I hacked the traditional education experience and graduated in 2.5 years, with ~$8500 of loans (without any scholarships/reduced tuition), and with lots of great work experience (I worked full time during school). Although I wouldn't advise this route for everyone, it worked out extremely well for me. Here are a few tips towards hacking the undergraduate experience:

1) As the author says, attend a high quality, low cost state school. If you're going to get a masters, undergrad institution doesn't matter beyond being able to get you into the masters program of your choosing. If you aren't going to get a masters, I would wager it doesn't truly matter what undergrad school you choose.

2) Determine your major before your first semester begins.

3) Plan your courses out meticulously, and don't take courses you don't need to.

4) Take as many classes online as you can.

5) Many professors lectures are fairly useless as they just regurgitate their powerpoint slides. Use this to your advantage -- do homework, work on your online classes, do freelance/telecommuting work.

6) Use a service like RateMyProfessors to find sensible professors - there are huge variances in amount of homework, number of tests, etc. between professors for the same course.

7) Night classes are generally easier and have less homework, because they are designed for non-traditional students with full time jobs during the day.

8) Take as many credits per semester as possible - for most majors, 15 is pretty easy for smart/dedicated people, even with working a part/full-time job. I took 24 my last semester, while working full time. It was basically hell, but you can do anything for 3-4 months of your life. (I probably wouldn't have done that, except an older guy I worked with said he had done 24 in his last semester of his masters program, working full time, and with a pregnant wife.)

9) Go year round, but take less classes in summer and get great internships/work more.

10) Books:

a) Make sure you need to buy the book. Lots of classes don't really require buying the book.

b) Make sure you really need the most recent edition, 95%+ of the time, the last edition or two editions ago was fine for me.

c) If you have to buy a book, get used on Amazon marketplace, half.com, etc. and resell them there after the class is over.

11) Get a job. This will help pay bills and reduce the amount of debt you take. Ideally, get one which will benefit your career path and allows you to work on homework. (I was a systems administrator in a generally not very busy swing shift - among other jobs.)

12) Change jobs as often as you can find something that looks better on your resume or pays more. Every job I took paid $10k+ more than the previous, except when I took a pay cut to do a summer internship at Goldman Sachs ($50k to $40k).

Re: How to game the U.S. higher-education system

#6

Post by dxq » Thu, Oct 21, 2010, 6:59 PM UTC

bobf wrote: post #5

I used a similar idea for my YC application answer to the non-computer hack question. Basically, I hacked the traditional education experience and graduated in 2.5 years, with ~$8500 of loans (without any scholarships/reduced tuition), and with lots of great work experience (I worked full time during school). Although I wouldn't advise this route for everyone, it worked out extremely well for me. Here are a few tips…

These points all individually look like good advance, but I can't stress #8 enough.

GET. A. JOB.

I'm a full-time college student attending a relatively cheap state school. I work nearly full-time as a software developer (full-time summers, every chance I get during school). I can afford to live on my own and pay my own tuition.

Though I can't tell you where I'll be five years from now, I'm sure that having zero debt and years of work experience won't hinder me.

Re: How to game the U.S. higher-education system

#7

Post by tiber » Thu, Oct 21, 2010, 7:06 PM UTC

Wow 2009 called and wanted your shitty irrelevant website back.

Re: How to game the U.S. higher-education system

#8

Post by mquander » Thu, Oct 21, 2010, 7:11 PM UTC

tiber wrote: post #7

Wow 2009 called and wanted your shitty irrelevant website back.

  user:    tiber
  created: 23 days ago
  karma:   1
  about:   Former K5er, /.er, digger

Too bad you didn't put your phone number in there, or I'd give you a call and ask for advice about how I can stay on the cutting edge of the Internet like you.

Re: How to game the U.S. higher-education system

#9

Post by mayank » Thu, Oct 21, 2010, 7:53 PM UTC

From TFA: > that's why profs shy away from foreign students: they can't contribute to discussions.

In a field like computer science, or indeed any engineering, I haven't known a single professor to "shy away" from foreign students. To put it bluntly, they wouldn't have much choice if they did.

The author prefaces his comment with "I don't mean to be a bigot", but unfortunately, just saying that doesn't mean what you say isn't bigotry. Lumping all "foreign students" into the same category sounds pretty bigoted to me. And I speak as a foreign student who is perfectly able to "contribute to discussions".

FFS, "foreign" != "can't speak English"

Re: How to game the U.S. higher-education system

#10

Post by ubernostrum » Thu, Oct 21, 2010, 8:03 PM UTC

bobf wrote: post #5

I used a similar idea for my YC application answer to the non-computer hack question. Basically, I hacked the traditional education experience and graduated in 2.5 years, with ~$8500 of loans (without any scholarships/reduced tuition), and with lots of great work experience (I worked full time during school). Although I wouldn't advise this route for everyone, it worked out extremely well for me. Here are a few tips…

All of this raises the obvious question: what thing of lasting value did you gain from doing this?