Help disx do something with his life

come to a place, south of teh border, down Australia way.

If you're paying for it - I'll be on my way.

itll prolly cost less than going to college in teh States.
isnt it morbidly expensive there?

one way ticket is all you need.
you can crash at my place.

Well, to go to a nice college it is... Like, if I was rich, I'd go to Rice University - it's supposedly the best education for the price. It's considered Ivy League, I think, and it's only $18 grand a year. University of Texas is approx $10k a year, I think and then most of the regular state colleges are approx $5k a year. I'm gonna end up at one of those $5k ones, unless I can get some crazy scholarship or something to Rice, which is nigh impossible. Maybe I'll got UT, but I doubt it, I'm thinking I'm going to go to University of Houston, right now... I really need to look into financial aid and all that and see what's available. I dunno, maybe I can go to UT, but who knows... How much does it cost in Australia? Of course, after conversion rates and all..

Man, I could so use a crapload of cash real quick. So many things I all of a sudden want to do... I think I finally woke up guys. Hoo ray and all. (Bet you anything I get killed in the next year, now that I'm finally motivated and wanna do something, haha, irony has made me it's bitch. =\)

But yeah - like:
Learn French
Learn to play violin, guitar, bass, drums and to sing
Learn to swing & ballroom dance
Learn to fight, some kind of martial art, not sure which, i dunno

Seriously, I'm going to make myself a sexy bitch. Watch out, and stuff.

fuck it man.

get a 3000$ ticket on a plane to here.

$3000 for a plane ride? Seriously? Ouch. I'm so naive when it comes to travel prices...

I'm planning to stay here - but I do intend to take at least 1 semester out of the country - ideally in europe - france or ireland are my 2 picks, so far.

Well, there are tons of things you can do in an urban setting, but I think your best bet would be business or economics or something along those lines. Frammy would probably know better than I would. But, as I recently discovered, make sure you're doing something that you actually enjoy. For the last year and a half or so, I've been forcing myself toward a Biochem major, which I recently realized I hated. So, bye bye Biochem, hello either Zoology or Botany. Haven't quite decided which yet. Anyway, point is, and I'm sure you've heard it a million times, find something that you enjoy doing. If not, you'll just be torturing yourself for the sake of money, which, for one, isn't guaranteed, and for another, isn't worth it. Oh, and re: studying in other countries: DO IT!!! You only get the opportunity once.

Yeah - you semi-inspired me on the other countries thing.. I was looking into going to school in Ireland, and most of the colleges seemed to be about $9k a year, which isn't bad, but fuckin.. when i looked at all the 'study abroad' programs, they had everything at $20k a year, which sucks. So I kinda abandoned that, and now I'm thinking I'll just try and go to Europe for 1 summer semester (those programs had that at about $3k, which is great)... I'd love to go for a year or two, but it just seems too expensive. I mean, I could say "just get financial aid and you can do whatever you want" but I think it's better to stay a little more realistic about it and keep my sights on UofH & a summer abroad, rather than a year or two abroad and/or UT or Rice... That's just kinda silly, it seems, but I still intend to try and get as much free money as I can, and see where I can go with it.. But I'll probably end up at UofH...

And yeah, I PM'd Frammy about that, cos I figured he would have some tips, big wall streeter that he is, and all, haha. And definitely intend to stick with something I enjoy, which is why I'm trying to stay with a philosophy major and see if I can't get a 2nd major to augment that...

I wouldn't rule out out of state schools if I were you. Yeah, the first year you'll be paying out of state tuition, which sucks butt, but if you stick around and fulfill some small requirements, you can get residency in the state and get your tuition majorly reduced. And I don't know the study abroad policies at the UoH, but here at the UW, it's actually almost cheaper for me to go to Scotland than it is to stay here. I'll be there for a year and I'm paying the same tuition I do right now, room and board rate that's actually cheaper than my current, but with a $900 fee for concurrent enrollment and paper processing. They kinda ass-rape you there, but all in all it's a pretty damn good deal for studying in a foreign country for an academic year. And keep your options wide open about everything until you start looking for specifics, too. Last thing you want is to focus your vision to quickly and end up missing an opportunity elsewhere.

Yeah, for sure, I've gotta to check into what they have available at UofH as far as studying abroad goes.. Right now, I'm just concentrating and getting a job again, now that my ankle's healing up, and signing up for classes this fall again at the local community college... Just taking all the core classes needed for a Bachelor of Arts, which I can use for lots of diff things, specifically for philosophy, but I can always change with that...

check your mail box, sweetie.

btw, i did not major in economics or business. i majored in history, minored in german and ancient history. it taught me how to do research, support an argument, write well and think. what is more important than education, talent and skill are soft skills and aptitude for quick learning. if you do not know how to work and play well with others, don't ever think you'll get a special key to the executive washroom. if you have an aptituide for quick thinking and sales, your future in whatever field you choose will be a prosperous and long-lived one.

when may parents sent me off to college, my dad told me you're going to college get an education not to land a job. if you want a job, start looking now. the education you get is the foundation for everything else you will do in life, but you get to choose the direction. not the degree. do remember that.

as far as i am concerned your philosophy major is a good call, expecially if you double in economics. businesses today need people who can THINK. that sort of background can lead to a mangement role (and i am not talking franchise restaurant management - although there you can make some good money too, especially at the regional level). it can also take you into the realm of organizational dynamics and organizational psychology. you might need a master's to go that route, but there it is.

there are many good consulting type companies in houston, too, btw, that you should consider contacting. and, i do not mean the human resources department. i am talking the senior management. my rule is always start at the top and work your way down. if you want help writing a letter to get you a meeting with an executive in an industry you're interesting in, let me know. i am very good at getting meetings.

do let me know. framstedt has spoken

well since i am a torontoian i dont know how helpful i would be. but i used to volunteer at the guidance office so perhaps i can be of some assistance.

see, 2 years ago, when i was applying to universities here in toronto, i stumbled on to the "arts and science" program at mcmaster university. see at the time, it is one of the hardest program to get into: out of the 2000+ applicants, they only accepted less than 60. *snob alert*. so i applied to that, and the infamous U of T (toronto). now for the artsci program, in order to get in, you have to write 5 mini essays and from these essays, the panel will get a better picture of who you are and why you are eligible. if you were reading the posts, you would have seen samples of it (american psycho and the abortion one)

anyway, i got in, all teary eyed cause i thought i wouldnt be eligible. now 2nd year in my program, i have no clue why i'm here. my whole family hated my decision to go to MAC, but that's another story. at the end of my 2nd year i decided to double major (in psych). see, the thing is that although artsci is a great program, NO ONE KNOWS SHIT ABOUT IT. when i go out and people ask me about it, they either do 2 things : a) back away slowly while maintaining eye contact (as if i am going to attack, please...like i have so much time on my hands), or oh at least you got into an university. see the problem with my degree (H. artsci and H B. SC) is not no one knows what artsci is. see artscis are preparing us to be, ideally, renaissance people (that was the only reason why i'm in this prog), to make you so green that you have plants growing out of your ass, and for the medschool/lawschool/gradschool bound. well i thought about law school, but really .... do i really want to be a lawyer? my dad said to me once... the only reason why i cannot get into med/law school is nto because i am not smart enough..but because i am lazy

the problem with me is that i am not motivated..if i am, i can really fully realize my potential. after last year's experience at the film festival, i found out that my true calling is for film...and journalism. but my parents, being conservative deny me of such goals. apparently i am a great writer but my parents wouldnt allow me to be a writer..and it pisses me off because i am getting far better marks in writing and film, rather than psych. a lot of people told me that it would be such a waste if i dont go into film or journalism. in fact my film prof told me last year to switch schools because mac isnt for me beacuse it doesnt provide me with my needs...sadly he was my 2nd year film prof. meaning, i did not transfer.

hmm what was the point of my post? to shine some light? education does not necessarily equals jobs. a lot of people have their BAs but work in something out of their training. people are like monkeys and they get retrained all the time. see i was thinking that because i am a great talker, perhaps i can be a good PR person....or if i want to go the "safe" route...go to law school and become an entertainment lawyer. i really dont know. ideally, i'll be an investigative reporter, an editorial writer or a filmmaker (i love film). but...sigh..i dont know

disx..tuition in the states is horrible. and we think we have it bad in cananda. tutition is around 4K cdn, and if you live at home, that's all it'll cost. and this is not some crappy college (no offense...college are for some other things..more hands on, so i odnt have any disrespect for them...it's just a bad stereotype that i realized that it was false many years ago..sadly no one else does). at u of toronto, queens, waterloo, mcmaster, tuition shouldnt cost more than 5K cdn. that's why a friend of mine was going to transfer from alambama to mac...but he said he was "intimiated" by us canucks..crazy american

okay i rambled on and on...ask me questions and i will answer
it's early..a bit too ealry to think straight

hmm..philosophy major...hmm..well it depends what you want to do. see for me, it was always ME first than money. so thats why i have no problems with being a writer or a filmmaker, but my parents insist that i do something money oriented and take up writing and film on the side. but the counter argument is how the hell am i going to fully realize my potential if my focus is all diverted

Thanks a bunch man, and that's kind of what I was thinking with the Philosophy degree. It's something I love to do, and that's a big thing, cos I know if I'm not enjoying what I'm doing, I'm not going to do it. So that's why I'm pretty sure I'm sticking with that, and I'll just add whatever I decide would be compliment it. I'll definitely contact you if I need some help meeting with people. Thanks, again.

Yeah, see, I'd like to write, too, but I don't think I'm very good at it. And I love films, too, but I don't really have much experience with that. Also, as I've said a few times, my friends and I are going to make a movie, and I'm going to be one of the main characters, so I'm going to get a taste of acting, and it's got me really excited, and I'm thinking of taking some classes with that, too, here at the community college... But all of that.. that's the "i wish" jobs, that I just don't see myself ever really making it in, so I'm thinking, I ought to just stick with philosophy, cos it's a subject I love, but it's something I can apply to pretty much anything in the job market... You know? I mean, being an actor, would be amazing, but I just don't see that happening... But who knows, huh?

see because of stupid SARS (meaning my sister's wedding in taiwan), i turned down stage managing duties, and also potential acting jobs at school. i want to try auditioning next year and instead of being backstage all the time, i can finally join the actors on stage and "take a bow". in terms of filmmaking, i really dont have much experience but i am eager to learn more. i love film and have great respect for filmmakers, cinematoghers, and everyone involved...including the grip boys. i mean one of my dreams is to see my name on the silver screen...and perhaps it will come true..haha...hmm..yes...it will..just need to pull some strings..but that[s cheating..
anyway..i live in toronto, hollywood north (but now..all productions are in vancouver.in fact it's bursting at its seams..due to stupid SARS)..
but yet..i am rambling

have you taken any philosophy courses...you would be amazed to find that it is actually very very mathematical

I've only taken Intro and Philosophy of Religion - no math, yet. Argh. I've grown to hate math. But I could see how it is.. logic and all that, but that's the fun kind of math - I hope. Maybe not... Blah. I'm sure I'll be disappointed and end up totally changing plans..

i tried taking philosophy in OAC (grade 13) but my teacher was an ass..and i hated him, so i dropped the class (i was doing the crazy overloading, and i decided to drop dead weight). see the thing with philosophy is ..well i guess i am very socratic in that, philosophy cant be taught. you either get it or you dont.
or was it plato...great ..i',m very bad at doing all of my readings for class..i tend to just skim...need to start reading

hmm...logic CAN be fun...it's apain in the ass to sit there in an exam trying to think of examples that violate whatever ARG conditions..i remember i had to sit there to give an hybrid, non valid or whatever argument

Well, I had a good teacher. Same guy for both classes, and he was probably the best teacher I've ever had. Ever... So yeah.. that helped, I guess.

it does..a lot

forensics or something cool, so you can be a crazy detective and i can have someone that actually listened to me for one time in my life!! forensics!! forensics!!! yaaaayyyy!!!!! that was so the gayest. sorry.

i'm about to fall out of my chair. after the whole cynicism thread, i thought our friend was a lost cause. so glad to see you've come around!!

just for the record, rice isn't ivy, although it is a highly selective school. if you can get in, great, but you might want to consider going somewhere that will give you a scholarship. also, don't chose a school out of name recognition...go some place where you'll actually get an education.

and that's all the advice i can offer, as fram has pretty much said everything else. history majors rock!

dude, if i knew what disx should do with his life, i'd probably know what to do with mine, and therefore prob. wouldn't be on this message board, now would i?

Fuck college disx, your a smart guy, you should be selling your bad ass avatars on the net for some cash. Start your own company. Invest in something.

But if you're going to do the college thing, major in something that you can at least tolerate for the four or however many years it takes you to finish.