Ask HN: Advice for freshmen entering college

Post by RK » Tue, Aug 11, 2009, 7:58 PM UTC

pwnix_rising wrote: post #96

nostrademons wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Curious, I regret not getting laid in college. Maybe it's best to accept hook-up culture for what it is, and accept that most college girls (and boys, too) are spoiled, immature, half-formed people. But where else can you find hundreds of hot young women that are looking for no-strings-attached sex? Then again, this is Olin, which may complicate things because just about every woman you meet is almost certainly someo…

Maybe it's best to accept hook-up culture for what it is I can't do this. I haven't met her yet, but I value my future wife enough not to have sleazy hookups while I'm young. It's not fair to her. Similarly, I'm not going to go out damaging young women because some elements of society say I "should" establish my manhood by behaving badly. These are other mens' future wives; I don't have the right to do that! But wher…

Post by scott_s » Tue, Aug 11, 2009, 7:59 PM UTC

run4yourlives wrote: post #67

noodle wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i don't necessarily disagree, but the OP clearly stated his goals as wanting to do well enough to have grad school as an option.

If you pass, grad school is an option. Maybe not the top echelon, maybe not right away, but it's always an option.

Post by noodle » Tue, Aug 11, 2009, 8:15 PM UTC

run4yourlives wrote: post #103

noodle wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

i was using an MBA as an example, as its usually the most exaggerated. another example is that there is a well known preference inside of google for PHDs from a specific set of schools.

Well, google may in fact have specific qualifications that they require in order to work for them, but that's hardly representative of whether or not you can be successful, unless your entire definition of success is a job at google. My point is that outside of academia and a few outliers, most employers don't give a lick where you obtained your degree. Sure, some people are charmed by an Ivy league school on your re…

Post by run4yourlives » Tue, Aug 11, 2009, 8:18 PM UTC

noodle wrote: post #115

run4yourlives wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well, google may in fact have specific qualifications that they require in order to work for them, but that's hardly representative of whether or not you can be successful, unless your entire definition of success is a job at google. My point is that outside of academia and a few outliers, most employers don't give a lick where you obtained your degree. Sure, some people are charmed by an Ivy league school on your re…

i don't believe the point is whether you will be successful with a PhD. you can be successful with a PhD from almost anywhere. you can be successful without one, too. the point is that the name on the PhD matters. and it does. it doesn't ALWAYS matter. but it does matter.

Post by cliffw » Tue, Aug 11, 2009, 8:25 PM UTC

michael_dorfman wrote: post #40

Choose your classes based on the professor, not the topic. Good professors can make a boring topic seem interesting; bad professors can make the most interesting topic seem boring. Therefore: ask around to find out who the outstanding professors are, and take whatever courses they are offering.