Yuku free message boards

MoreUptempo wrote:

---

for those that have graduated, or are about to graduate, if you could start all over would you do it again? what would you do differently?

I would have majored in Engineering. I didn't know initially that law schools (and many graduate programs, for that matter) don't give a @%@+ about what you majored in, only that you worked hard, earned good marks, and have a favorable reputation with your professors. With a more practically applicable degree (right out of undergrad) like Engineering, I could have gotten a decent job while waiting to start law school, rather than be grinding it out where I am at currently. All things considered, it's not that big of a deal as I'm off to graduate school soon anyway, but it's always nice to have an "in-demand" four-year degree as opposed to one that only teaches you general analytics (political science). 

I would have also partied less and studied more, but that goes without saying 

not all of us have scholarships b

I would get no financial aid if I go to a CC. My income isn't low enough. 

My grants at a university wouldn't even cover books so fall back. 

I'm not sure what state you live in/are planning on attending college in, but I was in a similar situation when considering whether or not I should go to college. Considering all federal scholarship funds, grant funds, and loan considerations are based off of your parents annual income until you are 24 (or in graduate school), my income wasn't even close to what you would need in order to obtain any significant amount of grant money. Not to cover books, in the least.

What you have to consider is, is becoming successful in life pursuant some degree focus really something that you want to do? Do you want to become a doctor? A lawyer? An engineer? A PR executive? A sports agent? A Fortune 500 CEO? While it's certainly not guaranteed that you will become any of these things with a four-year degree, you will assuredly need one in order to consider yourself in the running. If it's really what you want, you'll do whatever necessary to make that vision a reality.

My senior year of high school, I filled out close to 200 scholarship applications, most with their own essays that I had to write. Yes, 200. That may even be a modest estimate. I finally got one –– only one –– and, coupled with a small amount of federal loans that I was able to take out in my own name along with the default award for California grant funds, I was able to fully fund my college education on my own.

If I didn't get that scholarship, I would have gone to community college for two years, and applied to 400 more scholarships. I would have worked a part-time job to cover what tuition/book expenses were remaining after I received the meager amount of state grants that nearly every student is entitled to. Then, after two years, I would have transferred to a school within the UC system to finish up my four-year degree. I'm not sure about other states, but in California, as long as you maintain a respectable GPA at your community college for two-years, its nearly a guaranteed transfer to a UC school thereafter.

In all, what I'm trying to say is that where there is a will there is a way, and if going to college is what you want to do, then you will figure out some way to do it. So long as you put in the work, many things are possible. Making excuses based off what you can and can't do due to your parents income will only take you so far in life. Not to say that is what you are doing, but I know how it goes when the buck stops and @%@+ gets real. Go out there and get it bruh. Good luck!