Jorge Said:

I think i made the biggest mistake going to a state college? Help!!?

We Answered:

I was a high school senior last year, I applied to one state college near home, and 3 UC's. I was accepted to all of the UC's and decided to go to UC Berkeley. I believe I feel similar to the way you do now.

I thought Berkeley would be full of opportunities for all of the money I am spending on it (25,000 a year), and I thought I would receive an excellent education at such a prestigious school. I was wrong.

Berkeley is not full of enlightened, open-minded people. Many of the students here are cutthroat -- they will do anything to get into graduate school, at any costs, without regard to their fellow students. The people at this college have never gotten anything less than an A in any class -- they've never gotten a B on an exam, they've never gotten a B on a paper, they're intelligence is just as inhuman as their personalities are. They've already gone to community college for 2 or 3 years while they were in high school, so all of the freshmen have pretty much learned everything they are studying in their classes already. The competition is unbearable. Unless you think you are like these people, the chances of getting more than a 2.5 GPA are very slim.

Some say that the opportunities at Berkeley are here for those who want to find them. There are student clubs to join, and activities to do. However, most of the clubs meet at night, and it is dangerous to walk around at night. When I first moved in, 10 people were robbed, shot, or experienced armed robbery in a 10 day period. One must be willing to risk their life to make friends at Berkeley.

The education is sub-par. I don't believe I will be prepared for my job at all if I stay here. Many of the professors hate teaching. They are only here to do research, and they therefore don't spend time teaching the material. Instead, during their lectures, they talk about the research they are doing with vocabulary that is incredibly precise and oriented only with their research -- they are impossible to understand. Some other professors like to rant on about their personal life, or how much they hate the authors of the textbooks that the students are using.

Professors, teaching assistants, tutors, and graduate student instructors don't care about the students learning. The system of the campus is just an assembly line -- the students go in without an education, and they come out with an education. There is no time to stop and ask the student what he or she wants, or if he or she needs help. Everyone just moves along, learning the standardized book material that everyone else is also learning. There is very little freedom to make one's own decisions. Most people leave the campus being prepared to do well on exams, but not being prepared for real life.

I think you'll find some similarities between UC Berkeley and the other UC's, and this is why I give the example of my college experience. I think I made a mistake coming to this school -- but I wouldn't have believed anyone else if they told me this -- I had to experience this myself. Next year I am transferring to a State university near by my home.

The reasons why a State University is better than a UC:
1.) There is less competition -- this means it will be easier for you to get good grades, which are important if you want to go to grad school.
2.) You'll be more prepared to do well in your career. State universities emphasize hands-on learning, internships, and preparedness, while UC's care about tests and papers.
3.) You'll be surrounded by people who have personalities, rather than robots just trying to get good grades.
4.) You'll avoid being caught up in the system of UC's -- survive or be left behind.
5.) You'll have more time to enjoy college -- make friends, join student clubs or student government, play a sport.
6.) You'll save money, and you'll get something better then you would have gotten if you spent 5 times as much money.

I think you made the right choice. But I completely understand how you feel. When my parents told me I should go to a State college, I didn't want to go. I told them I had to go to a UC -- it was my dream! But it hasn't lived up to my expectations at all. I see that they were right in the first place. Many people have to learn the hard way and experience different colleges for themselves.

And don't worry so much about the prestigiousness of the college you go to, This is all a joke to get more money out of students. As long as you go to an accredited college, you're going to get a good job in whatever field you choose. Perhaps an even better job, since you will be more prepared for real life, and you'll have better grades that are more reflective of your capabilities.

So just relax and have fun at the college you chose. I think you made the best choice.

Eric Said:

My highschool career plan.?

We Answered:

Relax!! I just started college this year and honestly its no where near as hard to get into as they make it seem in high school. I had a 2.7 in high school and i had the same freak out.

But the thing i wished someone told me that nobody gives a damn what you did in high school. What really matters is that you get into school and once you in college thats when it actually matters.

Because let me tell you right now....nobody gives a damn what i did last year lol

And let me tell you...with my grades being terrible in high school i can STILL go anywhere i want in the country. Because i makes straight A's now....so relax now and worry later mmkay? :]

Thomas Said:

My son has cerebral palsy 100% disabled.His Social Sec $$ and ins.has been denied Who can help me get it back?

We Answered:

Yes! get an attorney, they can help you and want charge to till they win the case. And usally they only charge 20% of what they get back for him.

So I know there are lawer's out there that will take your case.

This is the way the government does people now, that is why many these days have to go to attorney's to have the to plead the child's case.

I have a nephew that is going on 18 and has the same thing and is on disability and will be for the rest of his life, cause he can't work.

So please don't give up, get yourself a good lawer, and sooner the better, cause we just don't know what is going to happen in the future when social security won't be around for our children and there children.

So now is the time to put up a fight!!

If you lose this round, pick up and start again with another lawer.
Keep trying, the government wants people to give up, that is why they make it so hard.

This is just the way this system is now and if you don't fight for what you know is right, then the government wins.

What I mean by fighting, is to do so legal!

That way you can say that you gave it your all. Also it doesn't hurt to pray to Jehovah God as well.
He said to turn to him when you are troubled, now is the time, do it for your child.

God be with you my dear and give you strength.

Patsy Said:

Stay at home Mommy and im torn between my career choices help- college mommies?

We Answered:

You can go to school at any age, there is no expiration date. Suggest working around the schedule check other schools and pursue SLP.

This however is what interests ME. I am a nurse, L&D is hard to get into, and 1 death totally changes your perspective on what should be the happiest time in a families life. Nursing is once again flooded, the nursing shortage is over, and resume's are now mandatory, so is years of med/surg. Nursing hours stink on ice, the benefits suck, and you get stuck for extended shifts.

Social work is very depressing, case loads are ridiculous, things don't get done the way they should.

Christy Said:

Questions about college, please help! Information included.?

We Answered:

Your GPA is really low for the schools you mentioned. I'm not sure what you wanted to major in, and that should affect where you want to go.

Rose Said:

How to switch to a career in finance?

We Answered:

I don't believe you will need to switch because now a days there's a lot of Financial Analyst positions that are looking for individuals with computer science, programming, language, etc. experience. Just look for positions in BSA - Business Systems Analyst, Financial Analyst, etc. It will be helpful to have some finance and accounting experience but it's not at all necessary.

Good luck!