|
Hi.
Jul 24, 2010 14:54:22 GMT -5
Post by Merlin 2592 on Jul 24, 2010 14:54:22 GMT -5
Do I know you people? Yep, it's me... although I'm not such a pain in the neck kid anymore! I hope, anyway. I'm just dropping by to see how everyone is doing, I miss all the activity here, I used to check this board like it was a religion, and then...well it all just kind of fell apart. I'm going to stop being all sentimental before I shed a tear, haha. How is everyone? Hopefully you're all doing well. - Brian
|
|
|
Hi.
Jul 25, 2010 9:56:34 GMT -5
Post by Notesurfer on Jul 25, 2010 9:56:34 GMT -5
Yo. We're still here (mostly).
|
|
|
Hi.
Jul 25, 2010 14:32:27 GMT -5
Post by N3B on Jul 25, 2010 14:32:27 GMT -5
I'm having a massive argument verging on legal action with a former roommate who is, incidentally, a paranoid schizophrenic. Or at least, I sincerely believe that he has the signs of it, just based on his behavior and how he tries to justify himself. This has been going on for two weeks now, so if he doesn't cooperate by Monday the rest of us are going to call his dad (who co-signed the lease) and settle it with him.
Meanwhile, I'm taking a summer class to fulfill a requirement for my degree. It's not going so well, largely because I've had to dedicate much of my time on the weekends arguing with the obstinate former roommate, when I should be studying for exams.
Otherwise, I'm passing the time until fall semester starts, when I can get back into a schedule of consistently doing things, by trying to read some books and by playing video games. All-in-all, life is pretty typical at the moment, except for that blasted roommate. Anyway, I gotta stop obsessing over that issue and get back to studying.
Nice to see you dropping by.
|
|
|
Hi.
Jul 25, 2010 18:56:50 GMT -5
Post by Merlin 2592 on Jul 25, 2010 18:56:50 GMT -5
Good to here you're all still kicking, I've came up with the brilliant notion of adding the boards to my favorites list so it pops up and screams to me to become active again... And yeah, I read about your roomate when I was lurking a day or two ago, he seems like a real richard... Did you ever get your belongings back? Hopefully his dad doesnt side with him during the settling of this whole ordeal. [if that makes sense.] As for me? I just graduated high school and have no idea as to what to do with my life...I'm thinking of community college [because I was a slacker, I wont lie... general studies at my school was very boring and so I didnt put forth much effort...and I really couldnt decide on a career field...I mean I like alot of things and it was a conflict of interests...and I just noticed that I'm still typing in brackets which is kind of odd!] Have Raven, Niff, Majora, Kidgame, Jeral, Garrant...etc. etc. popped by? I wish I remembered the link to kid games forums.
|
|
|
Hi.
Jul 25, 2010 20:28:54 GMT -5
Post by N3B on Jul 25, 2010 20:28:54 GMT -5
Niff shows up from time to time, but there aren't a lot of us that regularly visit.
When it comes to college---this advice is probably too late since applications were due back in November and December---it's probably not worth pursuing a terribly expensive education unless you know what you're interested in. I was successful enough in high school that I had high aspirations for college, almost primarily to be competitive with peers. When I got to college I realized I didn't know what I wanted to do, and three years and $60,000 out of my parents pockets, and I had to make a move almost out of desperation. I couldn't even transfer to the departments that I really wanted because of bureaucratic regulations (you can't switch into certain majors after your fifth semester, apparently).
Community college is definitely not a bad option, because it gives you the opportunity to try different things both at your own pace, and at relatively little cost. The typical 4-year university is pretty hardcore about expecting you to know what you want to do, and that you get in and get out as quickly as possible. So if you spend too much time there exploring your options, it soon becomes too late to do much of anything, and then you gotta spend thousands of extra dollars making up for it.
Some people, ultimately, are not cut out to be students. I don't mean this as an insult that some people are too incompetent to handle it, but some people function better when they can just get into the "real world" and start working. My brother is definitely like this, and I'm beginning to suspect I am as well. It might be worthwhile for you try a little of both, then. Find a reasonably paying job somewhere that will give you decent hours but without too much commitment, and take classes on the side. In this manner you can figure out what your interests are while essentially supporting yourself. It also leaves your options open without shoe-horning you into certain circumstances.
I don't know what Connecticut's like, but Virginia has a policy that easily lets you take two full years at a CC and then transfer into a 4-year university, while paying the same tuition you were paying in the CC. I don't know all of the specifics, but it's not unheard of for you to be able to transfer into a "more prestigious" university if you later decide that academia is your calling, or that academia will ultimately be beneficial for you.
Alternatively, there are many independent businesses which will provide you with both work and the education---they'll pay for you to take certain classes to get a certain certification if you work for them and all of that. Many places will provide you with the necessary training on-the-spot, and if you can establish yourself and get experience in a particular field, that can be almost as valuable (if not more, in certain cases) as a college degree.
You've probably already heard most of this, but I hope it helps you to find some direction and what you want to do in life.
|
|
|
Hi.
Jul 25, 2010 23:05:39 GMT -5
Post by Draxas on Jul 25, 2010 23:05:39 GMT -5
Howdy there.
Yeah, a lot of the activity here has died down, but a few of us still post fairly regularly, and a bunch more lurk around.
As for college, just bear in mind that the longer you're away from school, the harder it gets to go back and get into the mindset for it again. I've been out of school since 2001, and even though I know that getting my Master's would probably help my career, I just can't see myself exerting the amount of effort necessary for it while also working the way I do. So if you do plan to go back to school, don't take too much time off.
Community college is a good option if you're not sure where you want to take your education, or if you're strapped for cash. In NJ where I went to school, there was a transfer program in place so that CC graduates could transfer into the state school of their choice, with their Associates credits counting fully toward a Bachelor's degree, so I suspect the arrangement is probably pretty similar everywhere since it sounds like VA has the same program from what Nick said.
If you do decide to get out and work, like I said above, make sure you don't take too long to get back to college, I'd say one year tops. I'm not sure how the working conditions are in VA, but in my experience, most doors in the northeastern US job market are closed to you without at least a Bachelor's degree, and a lot more places want a Master's or a large amount of high level work experience right off the bat. Of course, I'm in a technical field, so YMMV, but I can't stress the importance of getting an advanced degree enough. Nowadays, a high school diploma or Associate's simply doesn't cut it for most jobs.
|
|
|
Hi.
Jul 26, 2010 18:06:19 GMT -5
Post by Merlin 2592 on Jul 26, 2010 18:06:19 GMT -5
Interesting that you mention that, as I live in New Jersey with my father at the moment... My father and step mother had a bit of a strife over lunch, so I went and got me and my father some sandwhiches from a Wawa since we were busting our asses fixing her car. On the bright side I have a starting point today, the woman who is in charge of hiring introduced herself to me, apparently the need a new gas attendant. So I have a place to start. Does it offer any sort of prestige? Hell no. Does it present itself in a fashion most timely? Oh yeah. So now I can start putting aside some cash while I unravel my life. Thanks for the advice everyone, on a note. Merlinuberedit: *<-- hah * Yeah, speaking of lurking we have 30 guests and one invisible member... D:
|
|
|
Hi.
Jul 28, 2010 15:38:30 GMT -5
Post by N3B on Jul 28, 2010 15:38:30 GMT -5
Virginia's got the Newport News Shipyard, which is supposed to be a pretty big deal as far as naval bases, ports, and shipyards go. I think it's like the second-biggest shipyard in the world or something, but it's definitely the biggest on the east coast and the only one which handles nuclear-powered ships and what not.
But, the NNS always needs people to do the actual vocational work like welding and mechanical stuff. A few of my friends from high school got some sort of employment there (without any college experience) and they claim to be making "pretty good" money. I assume they had to do an internship or something, involving certification classes for some sort of field, I don't know.
|
|
|
Hi.
Aug 10, 2010 20:59:36 GMT -5
Post by niff on Aug 10, 2010 20:59:36 GMT -5
helloooo.
i'm currently doing my preliminary certificate in computer and mathematical science, leading on to a proper bachelor of computer science. hopefully one day i'll move over to america some day, and make loads of cash. for now i am content with learning c++/c# and inevitably making indie games for years until i get noticed somehow.
i switched to this after paid gigs got a little bit.. dead-endy, and music school was far too expensive for the return it'd get me later on. may as well focus on my other passion that will make me money eventually, right?
this all changed over 2 years. i would recommend, if you can, to just.. take a break! i did, and it was well worth it. let me get my head on straight, and discover new and exciting ways to unscrew my head and put it back on the next morning. met a nice lady friend, and now am setting myself up to be a hopefully rich bastard later on. we'll see!
there's a vague point to the rambling. you're not gonna find out what you really want to do ASAP, most likely. live life a little and see what happens i suppose.
|
|
|
Hi.
Aug 10, 2010 23:16:20 GMT -5
Post by Razor on Aug 10, 2010 23:16:20 GMT -5
Heya. I dropped out of grad school after a nervous breakdown. Otherwise going well?
Just moved to a new apartment, looking for both a job and a career.
|
|
|
Hi.
Aug 11, 2010 3:06:35 GMT -5
Post by N3B on Aug 11, 2010 3:06:35 GMT -5
Grad school's the real kicker, I hear. Even though I know it'll help career standings, I don't know if I'm up for it. I'm so sick of being a student and putting up with the unending BS of the education system---I'm anxious to get into the "real world" and gain real experience. I just don't know if I can handle the extra work, pressure, and BS.
|
|
|
Hi.
Aug 11, 2010 9:01:44 GMT -5
Post by Draxas on Aug 11, 2010 9:01:44 GMT -5
Grad school's the real kicker, I hear. Even though I know it'll help career standings, I don't know if I'm up for it. I'm so sick of being a student and putting up with the unending BS of the education system---I'm anxious to get into the "real world" and gain real experience. I just don't know if I can handle the extra work, pressure, and BS. Hear here. I know grad school would be a wise idea to further my career, but considering how much I hated going to college in the first place, and the fact that I'm nearly 10 years out of school at this point, I'm not sure I'll ever get motivated to go back. People keep saying that "it's totally different" and "it won't be as horrible as your bachelors since you're showing the drive to continue learning instead of just going to school because you have to" but I don't buy it. It would cost no small amount of money to head into what could well be a continuation of one of my personal hells, and when I look at it that way, suddenly I'm not so keen to continue my education.
|
|
|
Hi.
Aug 17, 2010 8:37:11 GMT -5
Post by sinim on Aug 17, 2010 8:37:11 GMT -5
I'll check in myself. I'm still around. For those of you who remember my annoucement here back in november, my son was born July 17th. He's kept me pretty busy. Still, I have time to log on while I'm at work and I would love (looks at Draxas) to see CoR get moving again. I don't want to start over, I just want to finally get to a point where the characters start meeting each other.
|
|
|
Hi.
Aug 17, 2010 9:00:56 GMT -5
Post by Draxas on Aug 17, 2010 9:00:56 GMT -5
Congrats, Sinim.
As for Clash, well... I just don't know if I can regularly devote the time to it that it deserves anymore. As wonderful and unserstanding as my wife is, she still tends to get upset if I ignore her and spend all my time on the computer, and I can't reliably post that sort of volume from work anymore. Rest assured that if I feel I can do it justice, I'd try to pick it up where we left off.
|
|
|
Hi.
Aug 18, 2010 21:52:14 GMT -5
Post by niff on Aug 18, 2010 21:52:14 GMT -5
my girlfriend is like that. but usually i just stay up late to play games while she sleeps, making us look fairly stereotypical, haha.
congrats sinim!
|
|