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Axion004
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Jan 27, 2010
Posts: 28
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 Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:25 pm Post subject: Looking back after being in Undergraduate study for 4.5 yrs |
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Looking back now from being in College for 4.5 years I have found out that:
A. I should have done more research before going straight into a University. The first two Universities I went to were not a good personal fit for me- I would have done better at a technical school or a religious/conservative University.
B. I was disillusioned about what College was all about. I expected my fellow students to be more interested in learning new material but there are simply too many activities that young people between the ages of 18-22 get distracted with.
C. The actual work-force itself is extremely boring(I've seen it through internships and part time jobs) and that would explain why so many young people find the desire to party/drink in College (Note: I obviously don't agree with this).
D. The main thing to do is to not take your grades and classes so seriously. You are going to be working for the rest of your life and you should not be stressed out over a bad class grade in College (It will become meaningless in the long run).
I guess if I didn't want to go to graduate school then I wouldn't be so concerned about my grades (Especially my final year).
E. The purpose of College is educate yourself. If you don't like what the teacher assigns as homework it is alright to spend some of your time studying something that is more interesting(Regardless of whether or not it is graded).
F. Once again you shouldn't take College too seriously. |
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ebec11
If only I could fly...
Joined: Jan 18, 2008
Age: 20
Posts: 7029
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for the advice  |
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gypsyRN
Deinonychus
Joined: Feb 25, 2008
Age: 33
Posts: 311
Location: Indiana, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 11:13 pm Post subject: |
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Nice post. Here are the big things I learned after 4 years:
I went to a small, private, religious university for my 4-year degree, and I REALLY wish I would have started out at the local community college to save myself THOUSANDS of dollars in student loans. Also, I could have used the extra two years in my parents' house to develop my social skills, save money, and make up my mind what I actually wanted to do with my life. I changed my major a handful of times, and I think if I had been 20 years old, rather than only 18 when I arrived at university, I would've made better use of my time and been more successful.
One thing I did learn is that despite the HUGE fear I had of attending a big state school, I would have done alright. Anywhere you go there will be people like you, and the odds of that are actually improved at a bigger school. I think I would've liked the special programs some universities have that enable you to be enrolled in smaller classes and live in a substance-free dorm or around others in the same general major as yourself. I also like the extensive variety of courses offered at big schools. My little college didn't even HAVE classes in evolution (which is a major passion of mine) because of its religious foundations.
Since finishing my degree I have attended 2 community colleges (for nursing), and 4 state universities (for grad. school and to take classes in my special interests). All of them were great experiences for the most part, and I wish I would have at least given myself the chance to save all that money, so that I wouldn't be so far in student loan debt today.
Great job keeping your grades up. I ended up at a 2nd-rate grad. school because my grades slipped when I lost interest in some of my senior year classes. Good luck in grad. school! |
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Axion004
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Jan 27, 2010
Posts: 28
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| Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 12:35 am Post subject: |
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Yes, if you plan to go to graduate school then the last 60-credit hours are important.
Almost all graduate schools I have looked at require a 3.0 Minimum GPA but to be competitive a lot of students have a 3.5+ GPA.
If you make a significant improvement in your grades over the last two years of your College then you can use this in your letters of recommendation and statement of purpose as an increase in motivation for more education. |
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