College Roundup

[Thrifty]

1) how close is your school to where you live?
about an hour drive, not fun, but I have a husband, child, and sick mom who I am living with rent free so moving closer is not an option.

2) When did you start, and how close are you to graduating/getting any certificate or end-goal? Well I am just about to start my master's degree. I will start on Sept 7th, and be finished in about 11 months. Yay for advanced standing programs.

3) What are you getting your end-goal piece of paper in? My certificate will be a master's in social work with a concentration in interpersonal practice with a focus on health

4) ...Books. How much did you spend this time? So far 60, with one of them being 20 (score), no clue the cost of the rest yet.

5) Excited to go back, or dreading it? Other? Sooooo excited, I was planning to go straight through to my master's but had a surprise pregnancy in the last semester of my bachelor's program, so I took a year off. Also University of Michigan is my dream school so I am beyond thrilled!

[Jester]

Texas Tech? Oh please Now that we've got a football coach that isn't trying to eat Arby's out of business - you just wait and see!

As I said, Rock Chalk, bitches.

Keep dreaming. Your fat coach WAS the reason you guys were as good as you were.

And TT was pretty good 2 years ago, losing only once during the regular season. (OT: Their former coach, who is in litigation with TT over his firing, is currently residing in my lovely island paradise. Apparently he has ties here.)

OT: The Pac10 is going to change their name when the other 2 teams come in.

Good. At least we won't look as stupid as the 12 team Big 10 or the 10 team Big 12.

(I've already started calling it the PAC12, and I am perfectly fine with that.)

[ThanosIsKing]

1) how close is your school to where you live?
About 5 miles. It takes me half an hour on the light rail to get to campus.

2) When did you start, and how close are you to graduating/getting any certificate or end-goal?
Started 2005, graduating Spring 2011.

3) What are you getting your end-goal piece of paper in?
BA in Theatre.

4) ...Books. How much did you spend this time? Any outliers or honorable mentions?
My TV production book cost $100.

5) Excited to go back, or dreading it? Other?
Kinda excited. I mean, it's my penultimate semester. Though I'm kinda scared also. Don't know what I'm gonna do with that degree. Wait tables?

[AdminAssistant]

Kinda excited. I mean, it's my penultimate semester. Though I'm kinda scared also. Don't know what I'm gonna do with that degree. Wait tables?

There are SO many other things you can do with a theatre degree. I'll need to know more about you, your interests, where you are, etc. before I can offer any specific advice. However, some general stuff: This is your last year, so you want to make sure your resume is in good shape. Ask to sit down with one of your professors to work on it. If you're an actor, you need an acting resume that's much different than a regular resume. If you're a techie, you'll need a tech resume.

Try to do as much production work as you can without committing academic suicide. Variety helps as well. You may be an actor, but if you can also stage manage, that can get your foot in the door a lot faster. Also, the ability to run a light board or sound board can be very helpful. Your program should have also made you take classes in costume and set construction. These are skills that you can emphasize. Don't forget administration. Theatre companies need people to run the box office, usher productions, put up posters, and do flunky-type marketing work. DO NOT BE TOO PROUD TO BE A FLUNKY.

If you want to work in the theatre, and not use a theatre degree as a springboard to law school or a master's, the most important thing is to be working in the industry. You will get farther in the theatre by working behind the scenes and auditioning than you will waiting tables and auditioning. Work in the business if at all possible. If you can make it to a professional audition this year (like SETC), do so. If you want to get an MFA (and you will eventually), then you need to go to URTA (it's for actors and designers).

Location: Don't go to New York. New York eats people alive and spits them out again. LA is actually better for young actors than New York, because you have a better chance of at least doing extra/walk-on work for films. Places with a vibrant regional theatre scene are better: Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, San Francisco, St. Louis, Kansas City, Minnesota, Denver, Portland, OR....the list goes on and on. These places also usually have a lot community/store-front theatres where you can build your resume. That might mean working for free (and this is when you wait tables), but you'll get experience and contacts.

Most importantly, don't let people get you down about your major or career path. There are many opportunities to get a real, decent paying job in theatre. If somebody asks you what you're going to do with your degree, tell them that you're going to get a job with it, because you ARE. I'm on the academic side of things these days, but I'm always happy to help and offer advice any way I can. I do know many people who make decent livings as actors, designers, and technicians. It's possible.

[Whiskey]

I cant wait until i'm in real college so I can be all hoity about my school and stuff like jester and admin

Most importantly, don't let people get you down about your major or career path

The only people i've ever had give me shit about my major are Undecided's and people without degrees (not counting other people poking fun, that doesnt count, every department gives the other shit).

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

HEY! I resemble that remark!

After Saturday's game, you sure do.

BA-ZING!

[AdminAssistant]

Ah, I guess we lost.

I was too busy fleeing to KC to avoid the madness. Seriously folks, it's a freakin' game. It does not give you right to park wherever, cause all kinds of traffic that this town is NOT equipped for, and then clog up downtown and party into the wee hours.

[Taboo]

1) how close is your school to where you live?
About 40min by bus. I like my area, so it's doable.

2) When did you start, and how close are you to graduating/getting any certificate or end-goal?
Started 3 years ago, graduating with my bachelor's in May.

3) What are you getting your end-goal piece of paper in?
Illustration. I don't really care about having the degree, though; I'm just here to learn and now I feel mostly done.

4) ...Books. How much did you spend this time? Any outliers or honorable mentions?
Don't really take many classes that require textbooks, but I remember once dropping about $700 on supplies at the start of the semester. Oi. I'm up to about $150 worth of paper this year and counting. (Yay for book-making classes!)

5) Excited to go back, or dreading it? Other?
Excited to get it over with, at this point.

[trailerparkmedic]

1) how close is your school to where you live?
About 5 miles.

2) When did you start, and how close are you to graduating/getting any certificate or end-goal?
Started pre-reqs 4 years ago, started the nursing program a couple of weeks ago, and I'll be graduating in December 2011.

3) What are you getting your end-goal piece of paper in?
Nursing

4) ...Books. How much did you spend this time? Any outliers or honorable mentions?
I did well--I spent about $700 for $1300 worth of books. I'll be using most of the books for the rest of school so it feels a little less bad.

5) Excited to go back, or dreading it? Other?
I was terrified and excited to start. I start working with patients in about a month, and I'm still kind of terrified of that.

Where do I go to school? I live in Houston and I'm working on my bachelor's in nursing.

[Jester]

As I said, Rock Chalk, bitches.

Oh, and Rock Chalk, bitches.

North Dakota State? REALLY?

Ah, I guess we lost.

Not quite as enthusiastic now as you were before North Dakota State rocked your chalk, huh?

[AdminAssistant]

Not quite as enthusiastic now as you were before North Dakota State rocked your chalk, huh?

Yeahhhhh....

Okay, let's get honest here. On one hand, I do like going to a big school with a good athletic program that wins on a regular basis (on the basketball court, anyway). However, when it gets to the actual games, I'm too busy either 1) cowering in my home, afraid to leave lest the royal blue shirt zombies attack or 2) doing my damn homework to actually keep up with who won and who lost. (Although, if I need to get to bed early on the night of a game, it's nice when we lose. Town's quieter. ) I'm sure I would be a better KU fan if I didn't live in the town and have to deal with the BS. Or if I actually knew a thing about football.

The latest act of brilliance is putting the Governor's Cup (KU v. KState) in Lawrence instead out in Arrowhead Stadium. On a weekday, no less. It'll be over Fall Break (no students), but they've already sent out a memo to staff that, basically, "FU, you can't park on campus that day."

But yeah, I don't know WTF was up with that loss to North Dakota State.

[Jester]

Yeahhhhh....

Okay, let's get honest here. On one hand, I do like going to a big school with a good athletic program that wins on a regular basis (on the basketball court, anyway). However, when it gets to the actual games, I'm too busy...

Then might I suggest you don't talk so much smack?

But yeah, I don't know WTF was up with that loss to North Dakota State.

"Rock chalk, bitches." Hee hee!

[ArenaBoy]

1) how close is your school to where you live?

I live in the town the school's based in but it takes me 5-20 minutes to get to class if I walk.

2) When did you start, and how close are you to graduating/getting any certificate or end-goal?

2006, hopefully finishing next summer

3) What are you getting your end-goal piece of paper in?

BA in Communication/Journalism.

4) ...Books. How much did you spend this time? Any outliers or honorable mentions?

$350.

5) Excited to go back, or dreading it? Other?

Other. I don't mind school and I like going back but I also realized that I want to finish and just get out of Michigan.

[hinakiba777]

1) how close is your school to where you live?
Between 12 and 16 hours usually. That's two hours to the ferry, 8-12 hours on the boat, and two hours to my school. Sometimes the boat takes longer. >.<
2) When did you start, and how close are you to graduating/getting any certificate or end-goal? 2006. I had almost enough credits to graduate but not in one subject. So 4 or 5 semester left. So 2012 or 2013.
3) What are you getting your end-goal piece of paper in? I FINALLY decided on English Literature with a combine focus in Modern, Dramatic, and Canadian Literature. (Those are all the focus areas for English at my university). Though then I will need to get my Education degree.
4) ...Books. How much did you spend this time? Any outliers or honorable mentions?
I'm taking Fall semester off to make some money so no books this time. Though I will say for Winter 2010 I got a 113.00 book for a class only for the prof to announce he would simply put the readings for that text online for us. Very annoy.
5) Excited to go back, or dreading it? Other?
I am VERY excited to go back. I really want to be there now. I'm kind of regretting not going back for Fall Semester. I will be so happy when I'm back at school in January. I can't wait to be on my own again, having class and seeing friends. The only thing I'm dreading is my unknown housing situation. I don't want bad roommates. I want the campus apartments and not residence. I want to be on campus. Also, there is almost 0 parking on campus now and they did a lottery in Fall for who would get a parking pass. I'm worried I won't be able to get one for Winter. Which makes my getting a car really useless should that happen. *sighs*

[Gawdzillers]

1) My college living space is two blocks off campus, but my parents' home is about an hour away.
2) Just started this year, so probably 4 or 5 years to a BA.
3) Majoring in Biology right now, but I'm probably gonna switch to Pre-Med because I didn't know Pre-Med was a major when I enrolled (all I knew about college before I got here was that you live with people you don't like and your football team gets to be on TV).
4)About $500 on books. I got my Chemistry book used, so now they want me to buy an Access Code for $33 so I can do optional assignments online. Fuck that shit.
5) I'm excited because it's a lot easier than high school (so far), but I have no friends here and I'm not good at making them.