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datamanc3r

#21 July 26, 2010, 05:43:42 pm

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Hah, guess we do have a lot of EE here.

Quote from: DietCoke on July 26, 2010, 04:30:43 am

Stick with EE man, do a double major if you're really passionate about sociology. Being a social worker is the fucking dregs if you have any spark of hope in your soul of maybe affecting greater societal change, you'll be driven insane.... and that's assuming you can even find work in the field! Almost every social science undergrad major I know is working jobs they hate and have nothing to do with what they studied, the ones that were lucky enough to score jobs doing things like social work are pretty set in a stable career path but always have the most depressing stories.
I switched from an engineering course to environmental science, it was a massive mistake and something I'm paying for by returning to school in the fall(electrical engineering in fact).

If you really love sociology, go for it and don't look back, just be prepared for graduate school if you want to work a fulfilling job in the profession.

Yeah...I actually looked into this a lot and from what I've read sociology pretty much leads to governmental work if you don't have a Ph.D.That's so damn depressing, too, because there are loads of things you could be doing with sociology, but the government is usually too incompetent to do any good in those areas. And that's ultimately a problem with the government's money management. Christ if they could have gotten rid of the pork barrel, reigned in those special interests, spent a hell of a lot more on education, and funded more scientific and social research, we would be doing a lot better now, and I definitely wouldn't mind going into governmental work. But nowadays job security is iffy. I guess I'd rather be doing EE than be stuck in the bureaucratic ladder being unable to do the things I set off to do. Maybe I could join a nonprofit or something. And I always wanted to do peace corps...

Yeah, I'ma stay the course for now. A friend of mine's dad is a researcher at UCSD for EE, and another friend of mine's dad works at Qualcomm. I can use those as launching points. In the meantime, next semester is going to be easy because I only have to take physics III and C/C++ programming (finished with my math classes for transfer woot!), so I'ma GET A JOB, save up for a car, and save up for dp on an apartment. But mostly, I'll take it easy. I took waay too many classes those last two semesters, which really screwed up my GPA. But I can swing by with a 3.3 if I ace these next two classes. Hopefully I'll transfer. Dear God, I hope I do.

My original plan was to go from EE into international patent or copyright law. It would kick ass to work for the UN and travel places, which is the only reason why I'd go into law -- otherwise, it reeks of paperwork and bureaucrats. Being able to travel is probably one of EE's saving graces if you're high up enough. Not to mention some measure of job security. Still. I can't help but think that I could be doing better.

"I would be totally embarassed to write this, even as a fakepost. it's not funny except in how you seem to think it's good. look at all the redundancies, for fuck's sake. "insipid semantics, despicable mediocrity" ugh gross gross. I want to take a shower every time I read your prose." -Steel

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Beasley

#22 July 27, 2010, 05:44:38 am

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Quote from: DietCoke on July 26, 2010, 04:30:43 am

I switched from an engineering course to environmental science, it was a massive mistake and something I'm paying for by returning to school in the fall(electrical engineering in fact).

what didnt you like about enviormental science man? im kind of looking at that as an option as of now

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Barack Obama

#23 July 27, 2010, 10:54:39 am

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Quote from: Beasley on July 27, 2010, 05:44:38 am

what didnt you like about enviormental science man? im kind of looking at that as an option as of now

it's like not-quite-a-science-major major. You'll get some chemistry, ecology, geology/hydrology, climatology, and whatnot but you won't come out of school with any sort of specialization that makes you valuable in the labor market.

I mean sure I can be a lab tech, work for Dept. of fish&wildlife or something, maybe move on to saftey&health/industrial hygiene but that's not what I want to do with my life.

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Maximo

#24 July 29, 2010, 12:12:02 pm

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i know how you feel man i always thought that i would be interested in computer science and i finished my first year of college in may, but idk if i want to do computer science anymore... i've been interested in programming since before i joined gaming world. and i joined gw when i was 11. damn time flies. but yeah i really want a job where i travel to places and help people. like i guess i could do peace corps but what with a cs degree you know? i love computers but i like helping people who need it a lot more than making hello world show up on the screen haha

im thinking about anthropology because i took a cultural anthropology class my first semester and its by far my favorite class so far. i just dont know what i would do with an anthropology degree. hell i like studying plants and animals i was thinking about biology too. maybe being a nutritionist or something with that idk. and at the same time i want to join the fbi or a private investigation team to track identity theft and fraud. i even talked to this guy about it who told me if i went to school for it he would love to have me do an internship with forensic investigations. he was the head of that branch and i made him his lattes at starbucks!

ughhhhhhhhhhhh talking about it makes it worse

Put some sand in my roommate's sheets today...

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datamanc3r

#25 July 29, 2010, 05:02:59 pm

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Don't discard the idea of peace corps just yet. CS degrees do have the potential to do some good. There's a place in indonesia which was dirt-poor and had absolutely no resources. Once a stable infrastructure was developed there, these people literally had no way to enter the marketplace. A couple of Americans saw some potential there and taught them programming and data entry. This market turned out to be the place's biggest exports. They're not doing super-well, and their electricity is still subsidized, but they can afford their own things. It's a step in the right direction. Programming and data entry take considerably less materials than manufacturing does, which used to be a prerequisite for industrial society. Now it is theoretically possible for a group of people in any social standing, whether it's horticultural, agricultural, or maybe even foraging, to go straight to post-industrial.

Anyway, once solar-wind become cheaper, then loads of countries will be able to make a living. CS majors would definitely be able to help then.

"I would be totally embarassed to write this, even as a fakepost. it's not funny except in how you seem to think it's good. look at all the redundancies, for fuck's sake. "insipid semantics, despicable mediocrity" ugh gross gross. I want to take a shower every time I read your prose." -Steel

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Mince Wobley

#26 July 29, 2010, 05:50:17 pm

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India is already doing all the programming the world needs. Give up.

Play Raimond Ex (if you haven't already)

I'll not TAKE ANYTHING you write like this seriously because it looks dumb

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datamanc3r

#27 July 29, 2010, 06:15:26 pm

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India outsources all the time, mostly data-entry jobs.

"I would be totally embarassed to write this, even as a fakepost. it's not funny except in how you seem to think it's good. look at all the redundancies, for fuck's sake. "insipid semantics, despicable mediocrity" ugh gross gross. I want to take a shower every time I read your prose." -Steel

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Barack Obama

#28 July 29, 2010, 06:17:44 pm

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Quote from: Maximo on July 29, 2010, 12:12:02 pm

i know how you feel man i always thought that i would be interested in computer science and i finished my first year of college in may, but idk if i want to do computer science anymore... i've been interested in programming since before i joined gaming world. and i joined gw when i was 11. damn time flies. but yeah i really want a job where i travel to places and help people. like i guess i could do peace corps but what with a cs degree you know? i love computers but i like helping people who need it a lot more than making hello world show up on the screen haha

im thinking about anthropology because i took a cultural anthropology class my first semester and its by far my favorite class so far. i just dont know what i would do with an anthropology degree. hell i like studying plants and animals i was thinking about biology too. maybe being a nutritionist or something with that idk. and at the same time i want to join the fbi or a private investigation team to track identity theft and fraud. i even talked to this guy about it who told me if i went to school for it he would love to have me do an internship with forensic investigations. he was the head of that branch and i made him his lattes at starbucks!

ughhhhhhhhhhhh talking about it makes it worse

Check around for some nonprofits, charities, or NGOs. These organizations need CS/tech people, but be willing to relocate anywhere in the world and don't expect the kind of pay you'd get working for some company in the US though.

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Vellfire

#29 July 29, 2010, 07:22:54 pm

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i'm not really surprised by how many people think they wanna go into CS but then realize they don't, but at the same time i sometimes feel like i'm the only person who genuinely loves CS and wants to do it forever :<

I love this hobby - stealing your mother's diary
BRRING! BRRING!
Hello! It's me, Vellfire! FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER! ... Bye! CLICK! @gidgetnomates

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datamanc3r

#30 July 29, 2010, 08:28:32 pm

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You sad, sad cubicle person.

"I would be totally embarassed to write this, even as a fakepost. it's not funny except in how you seem to think it's good. look at all the redundancies, for fuck's sake. "insipid semantics, despicable mediocrity" ugh gross gross. I want to take a shower every time I read your prose." -Steel

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dada

#31 July 29, 2010, 09:19:40 pm

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Quote from: Vellfire on July 29, 2010, 07:22:54 pm

i'm not really surprised by how many people think they wanna go into CS but then realize they don't, but at the same time i sometimes feel like i'm the only person who genuinely loves CS and wants to do it forever :<

Come be a web developer. It's fun, you get to do programming, it's got more advanced stuff to work on for hardcore CS freaks, it pays and it means you won't end up in a cubicle.

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Vellfire

#32 July 30, 2010, 03:08:49 am

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Quote from: Dada on July 29, 2010, 09:19:40 pm

Come be a web developer. It's fun, you get to do programming, it's got more advanced stuff to work on for hardcore CS freaks, it pays and it means you won't end up in a cubicle.

I've actually been considering this a lot lately since I've been learning a lot more about web programming. There's a local shop that's looking for someone to overhaul their website (they're actually iirc a pretty well known/big/something supplier of like trading cards and board games and that sort of thing, but since the dude mostly sold stuff online/at conventions it didn't matter where he put the warehouse so he moved near my hometown since cost of living was so cheap and he liked being there). A friend of mine was offered the job but she doesn't have time for it and since she knew it was near where I lived she passed it onto me, I'm thinking about taking it up and seeing what it's like to actually make a website for something more professional than what I've done in the past. To be honest I don't think I know enough of the programming just yet to do something that big, but then again I probably have done more web programming than my friend already so I guess they are more concerned with just finding SOMEONE. It definitely sounds like a fun thing to do especially considering I've bought stuff from them before so idk I guess it's making a site for both something in my community and something I would actually USE myself.

edit: tbh this

Quote from: Juris on July 29, 2010, 08:28:32 pm

You sad, sad cubicle person.

kinda made me angry because HEH YOU CAN'T LIKE CS WITHOUT BEIN IN A CUBICLE YOUR WHOLE LIFE. SLAVE TO THE MACHINE ETC. ETC. even if you were joking i think that's a really really dumb attitude to have towards it especially since a lot of the other majors listed here have just as much of a chance of havin you end up a regular salary worker in an office too

Last Edit: July 30, 2010, 03:10:28 am by Vellfire

I love this hobby - stealing your mother's diary
BRRING! BRRING!
Hello! It's me, Vellfire! FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER! ... Bye! CLICK! @gidgetnomates

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datamanc3r

#33 July 30, 2010, 08:03:26 am

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It'd be surprising if you weren't angry. I'm kind of glad you are. Shows that you've still got the stuff in you not to be taken down by the monotony of the job which exists only on the surface stereotype. In reality there's an art under the code, inasmuch that it is as standalone as Michaelangelo's David. It's a testament to you, and you've got the right to be goddamn pissed if someone were to caricature it with as careless a comment as 'LULULUL CUBICLES.'

I did mean it in a somewhat joking way. Of course, as demonstrated by my inability to adhere to a job which entails government enslavement, even at the cost of my country and the ideals I want to promote, I have a severe stigma against being stuck in walls. You'll have to forgive me for my upbringing. You're talking to someone who used to sleep in a walk-in closet. It's not a 'dumb attitude' as much as it is a legitimate reaction to having been conditioned to hate the sensation of being 'stuck.' My parents are stuck in figurative cubicles. That's the crux of the problem. I realize now that you, on the other hand, are not actually 'stuck' but rather you are actually in a position where you want to be. Maybe I'm jealous of that? I dunno. I hope not. Goes against how I see myself. Still, there is the possibility that I meant my comment in the most evil, scathing, jealous way because you've found a way to be free and I haven't. I wouldn't put that past myself. But if that's the case then you should just laugh at me.

If I meant it, then it was because I am jealous. If I didn't, then it was a joke. Either I meant it or I didn't. Therefore, either I am jealous, or it was a joke. Each way, you should laugh. Unless of course you think the joke was in bad taste and not aesthetically pleasing to your funny bone. I can't help you there. Although, I must admit that the joke was pretty low level.

Take pride in your anger. Next time, I expect that you just flame me for being stupid. It's what GW does best.

Last Edit: July 30, 2010, 08:15:02 am by Juris

"I would be totally embarassed to write this, even as a fakepost. it's not funny except in how you seem to think it's good. look at all the redundancies, for fuck's sake. "insipid semantics, despicable mediocrity" ugh gross gross. I want to take a shower every time I read your prose." -Steel

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Beasley

#34 July 30, 2010, 07:22:23 pm

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Quote from: DietCoke on July 27, 2010, 10:54:39 am

it's like not-quite-a-science-major major. You'll get some chemistry, ecology, geology/hydrology, climatology, and whatnot but you won't come out of school with any sort of specialization that makes you valuable in the labor market.

I mean sure I can be a lab tech, work for Dept. of fish&wildlife or something, maybe move on to saftey&health/industrial hygiene but that's not what I want to do with my life.

ya. if i DO go that route, id quite probably double major in poli sci as well. Use my enviormental studies degree to specialize in international development and aid.... i think that would open some doors that would allow me to:

1) help people
2) travel
3) pull down a decent salary

three things i would like to do with my life! and IF i keep my grades solid, i think that could leave the door open for law school as well... but maybe it will turn out i just LOVE biology and wanna do that instead.

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Barack Obama

#35 July 31, 2010, 02:35:10 pm

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Quote from: Beasley on July 30, 2010, 07:22:23 pm

ya. if i DO go that route, id quite probably double major in poli sci as well. Use my enviormental studies degree to specialize in international development and aid.... i think that would open some doors that would allow me to:

1) help people
2) travel
3) pull down a decent salary

three things i would like to do with my life! and IF i keep my grades solid, i think that could leave the door open for law school as well... but maybe it will turn out i just LOVE biology and wanna do that instead.

Just an FYI, environmental studies is even more worthless than enviro-sci. Also, your list is pretty unrealistic and you're probably going to end up with just one of those(if you're lucky, two).

help people.... Help who do what? I think the most good you could do would be working for NGOs in developing countries or maybe some kind of advocacy group in the US, either way you ain't getting much in terms of salary especially if you're traveling. I understand the sentiment here, but you should take a look at who's at the helm of the "green industry", where all the money comes from, and where it goes. They're not hiring idealistic young environmental science/studies undergrads that's for damn sure and I think you'll find that 'helping people' takes a backseat to just about everything going on wherever there's money being made.

If the environment is really your thing, look into hydrology and civil/environmental engineering, that's a good kind of practical expertise that can actually really help people. It'll definitely satisfy all 3 things on your list and is a profession that'll be in high demand for a long time.

Last Edit: July 31, 2010, 02:43:10 pm by DietCoke

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everyclear

#36 August 02, 2010, 05:41:08 pm

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Do you guys know anything about taking time off before going to graduate school and that sort of thing? Not that I have any idea yet what I want to do actually once I get to grad school, (clinical psychology, genetic counseling? etc) but I was wondering about doing a year or two off before going. I know I have some friends who want to do some field work overseas somewhere for a year or so (where at? I don't know, europe? africa?), and I was wondering if that would be something beneficial for me, or if there would be oppurtunities in places like that which would (or wouldn't?) be beneficial in having before figuring out where and what to do in graduate school (not to mention, the whole figuring out what to do with the rest of my fucking life problem)? I'm kind of at the point here where I'm really starting to wonder and figure this shit out, ya know?

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