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College Advice I Wish I’d Taken

nytimes.com

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Re: College Advice I Wish I’d Taken

#21

Post by adamnemecek »

mcguire wrote: post #6
sgeisenh wrote: post #2

I disagree with a good bit of this advice. And I suspect it varies with the discipline of study. In a field like computer science, time is better spent working on personal projects, hashing out ideas with peers and exploring research opportunities than aspiring to get an A in every class. A's make for boring, one dimensional students. People who make priorities based on more complex factors than an arbitrary letter g…

College is the one time you have direct, easy access to all those things that those who didn't go or didn't take advantage of are now struggling to learn on their own. Books, videos, and websites are a poor substitute to having someone who knows sit down and explain stuff to you. Don't waste the opportunity.

> Books, videos, and websites are a poor substitute to having someone who knows sit down and explain stuff to you.

I beg to differ. I wish college was just me in my room for three months and then a final. No hw, nothing.

Re: College Advice I Wish I’d Taken

#22

Post by melq »

Alex3917 wrote: post #8
mcguire wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

College is the one time you have direct, easy access to all those things that those who didn't go or didn't take advantage of are now struggling to learn on their own. Books, videos, and websites are a poor substitute to having someone who knows sit down and explain stuff to you. Don't waste the opportunity.

> Books, videos, and websites are a poor substitute to having someone who knows sit down and explain stuff to you. For subjects like math and CS, these things are great substitutes. For things like mycology or religious studies, less so. I think there is something to be said for using your time in college to focus more on the subjects that are basically unlearnable via other channels. For things like CS though, just…

I agree that math/cs can be effectively self-studied by a lot of people, but it takes a lot longer than a weekend.

Re: College Advice I Wish I’d Taken

#23

Post by RhysU »

...aaaaaand learning things takes a back seat to credentialism in the whole article. We should go to college because it is the most cost effective way of learning things, not because our profs bestow favors on the front row.

Re: College Advice I Wish I’d Taken

#24

Post by twblalock »

RhysU wrote: post #23

...aaaaaand learning things takes a back seat to credentialism in the whole article. We should go to college because it is the most cost effective way of learning things, not because our profs bestow favors on the front row.

We have to live in the real world, where credentials matter. It's rational to take that into consideration when making decisions about our education.

Re: College Advice I Wish I’d Taken

#26

Post by sndean »

hprotagonist wrote: post #14

My top 3. 1. Show up to office hours. Even if you sit there and do nothing, TA's notice -- and TAs will absolutely spill the beans on what to prep for for exams, even unintentionally. 2. If you're so brainfried that you can't study any more, go to the gym. Not only is exercise generally good, I'm real convinced it's good for memory consolidation too. 3. If you're attending an expensive private university, networking…

> 3. If you're attending an expensive private university, networking is effectively what you're buying. Exploit ruthlessly.

Even if it's not an expensive school, email / talk to all your professors, classmates, lab partners, etc. I didn't start doing that until my 3rd year.

For me it was: My mentor's friend -> internship -> first job

Re: College Advice I Wish I’d Taken

#27

Post by slackingoff2017 »

Nothing in there about money? Here's one I figured out a couple years too late...

You got average grades and nothing unusual about you that would lead to scholarships? If you go to school the "normal" way you're likely to end up in huge piles of debt. Even if you go to community college first.

An open secret is location. Find a place in the country, or even another country, where college is subsidized for residents. Instead of going to community college in your home town, prioritize moving to that location ASAP.

Get a part time job, a crappy apartment, and start community college there. Pay close attention to their residency requirements to make sure you meet them as quickly as possible. Then transfer to the college of your choice and save tons of money

Re: College Advice I Wish I’d Taken

#28

Post by cyberpunk0 »

slackingoff2017 wrote: post #27

Nothing in there about money? Here's one I figured out a couple years too late... You got average grades and nothing unusual about you that would lead to scholarships? If you go to school the "normal" way you're likely to end up in huge piles of debt. Even if you go to community college first. An open secret is location. Find a place in the country, or even another country, where college is subsidized for residents.…

Soooooo fuck over the town for selfish, egotistical means. Got it.

Re: College Advice I Wish I’d Taken

#29

Post by ysleepy »

Sorry, but this does not contain any special insights. Reads like platitudes.

My luke warm insights:

- Stay fit, keep your back trained.

- Mitigate risks to your mental well being

- Socialize

- Do the work

- Take advantage of opportunities given to students (travel, discounts, university resources)

Re: College Advice I Wish I’d Taken

#30

Post by [deleted] »

Buttes wrote: post #11
ianai wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember being told my generation were going to have it rough. One old man in particular seemed to single out my profession (mathematics) as some sort of ultimate cure all that should feel the burden of solving all of societies problems. Pretty heavy to lay that on anyone. And yet I don’t know what I would actually suggest people consider. Health care does have good, local growth prospects at least. But that’s very…

Healthcare and tech are basically the two "jobs of the future". "Local growth" pfffft. More people need more healthcare. There are few surer things.

[deleted]
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