posted March 16, 2004 06:10 PM              

Anyway as I sit down at the kitchen table and contemplate everything from my pathetic transcripts, SAT score, lack of activities, and naive dreams. I've realized through much anxiety that I have either cut myself in the throat or the system of education has. I know I'm a smart person, I stay home and do my work, I don't drink, I don't do drugs, I'm not promiscuous, and I definitely don't plan on doing these things in the future. I consider myself to be a good college canidate, but at the same time I can't go to a great school because my transcripts make me out to look like a real idiot. Why? I'll tell you why, the school wants to help me, but at the same time it tries to beat me up, and then fail my ass.

Only a small group of kids can handle the work and get straight A's while working at Mcdonalds for 5 days a week. Does that make them smarter than me? Being from a public school I can tell you the education and the system is a complete failure. I know it and I can feel it. It's not fair that an SAT score will determine whether I go to a state college or a private college or any college. Being a junior I can tell you right now, being accepted into a certain college is the most competitive thing you will ever encounter, and some kids just crack under the pressure.

As for colleges themselves if you don't know this there are four types. Private Universities are mostly found in cities where there is so much to do, they're wickedly competitive, and extremely good to get into because they have the most connections to careers and opportunites. These are the colleges that everybody wishes they could go to, but they can't because they're extremely elite. Not to mention extremely expensive so they cut off almost everyone. They are either ivy league or a little bit below that. Examples: Brown University, Boston University, Harvard University, New York University...etc.

The second type are private colleges. Some of these colleges are very elite, and usually Roman Catholic. Others are usually average and hum-drum. They are found everywhere in towns of rural areas, or towns very close to cities, or in cities. They're also small. Some of these colleges can be specialty colleges like Emerson college which only focuses on communications.

The third type are State Colleges. These colleges end up being where everyone goes because they're cheap and pretty much allow everyone in. I have a problem with state colleges, the truth is I don't really want to end up here, but I'm afraid I won't have a choice. State colleges can be good and bad. Because they allow almost anyone in, a lot of the students become partiers, and don't do the work, as they slowly fail themselves out. I also have a conspiracy theory that education there is minimum, and not as good because of there high drop out rate. These colleges can be 2-4 or more years. These colleges are mostly best for aspiring teachers, nurses, and jobs like business management.

The fourth type is a community college. These colleges are extremely cheap, they allow everyone in, but they don't give you what you need to pursue an excellent career. They tend to be for immigrants or older working class citizens. Some students will go here for a year to transfer out somewhere better.

This is my problem, I don't want to go to a State College. PERIOD. But a lot of doors are beginning to close in on me. I don't have the transcripts, the hope for a high SAT, or the money. Half of it may be my fault but not without the fault of the school system that I can't get a really good education that I deserve. I guess it just depresses me that I won't be able to aim as I high as I wish I could. Where am I supposed to go?

posted March 16, 2004 06:47 PM            

Based on my personal experience I would say:

1) There is nothing wrong w/ a State school (esp. considering they vary greatly both within states and from state-to-state). Beware your view of them as horrible in comparison to the "Ivy League-type" schools - you risk having that exact elitist attitude that you accuse those colleges of having with disdain.

2) Go the State College or Community College route, and transfer (per what FishKitten said) with the exemplary grades. Do some community work while you're at it, (either now or once you're in college) volunteer for a suicide hotline or something like that - it'll go a long way towards getting you into the better schools.

3) If your parents don't claim you on their taxes when you get out of HS, you can qualify for more student loans by yourself.

4) You may want to consider majoring in Psych and going on to get a masters and your qualifications to counsel in your state. The only diff btwn a Psychiatrist and a (accredited clinical) Psychologist is often the ability to prescribe drugs and the ability to admit and discharge from hospital - but most Psychologists work w/ specific Psychiatrists so they can refer those patients that need pharmacological help or to be hospitalized to someone.

I have a good friend who is a Psychologist, and another who is working in a Doctoral program, so I know a bit of which I speak.

I myself wanted to be a Psychiatrist when I was younger, but realized they'd make me cut cadavers in med school, and being that I couldn't even dissect the frog in 10th grade biology w/ my weak stomach, that option was out.

Med school is EXTREMELY demanding (not to mention expensive), as is a pre-med major undergrad, just something to consider.

I think the volunteer work is a good place to start, again like FKitten said, there's a chance you could get into it and realize, "nevermind, this is NOT for me", or it could reaffirm your desire to get into that field.

posted March 16, 2004 08:29 PM            

First of all, in the business world, except for high profile positions in your megalacorps (AOL-Time Warner/Coca Cola, etc) it's my experience that people have degrees in subjects varying from interpretive dance to business - it appears that just having been to college will get you an entry level job in just about any department. The Sr. VP of Sales for DHL (when I worked there several years ago) had a degree in Anthro - he didn't even have his MBA or anything.

Anthropology means "The scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of humans."

The field is so broad, it depends your area of interest - if you were thinking of going to med school and thus don't mind dead people, yucky stuff, etc, there's Forensic Anthropology (Forensic anthropology is the application of the science of physical anthropology to the legal process.) - in a criminal investigation for example, they are the ones who work w/ human remains, they determine things like sex, age, time of death, cause of death, etc. There are a lot more options in that field, for more info: http://www.csuchico.edu/anth/ABFA/

Social/Cultural Anthropology is, basically the study of people, and of how they interact with each other in today's society, but it also include people who live with and study other cultures (from a distinct group like elderly Jews in a small US community to the Bushmen of the Kalahari). For more info on it: http://anthro.fullerton.edu/JobOpportunities.html and http://www.theasa.org/ The options are too broad to summarize here.

Actually, that link to Cal State Fullerton actually has a lot of good info on Anthro, including Biological Anthro and Archaeology (my focus, which works in tandem w/ the ancient history - since most of our info on Ancient History comes through the work of Archaeologists).

posted March 16, 2004 08:58 PM              

I already know that in my heart I want to study inside a city. The reason is because the city has much more to offer with culture, activity, and experience. It would be much better for me than to study in a suburban no-where-ville. I live only 20-30 minutes away from Boston. It's a place that I rarely visit and would like to do more often so I've chosen colleges in that location. My plan is to focus on doing well RIGHT NOW and when the time comes I'll apply to those colleges.

The four colleges I'm going to apply to (from hardest to easiest) are Boston University, Northeastern University, Emmanuel College, and a state school Umass Boston. I would happily go to Umass Boston but it's a commuter campus meaning I'll have to travel back and forth. Like I said I don't want to go to any suburban college because I just won't be satisfied with the experience.

As for anthropology or psychology, I don't know yet, because they're similar in nature. If I choose to study for MANY YEARS it will have to be one of these two. I want to do lots of traveling but at the same time I want a steady job with a family. My astrological chart tells me I can go either way, but I need to apply some sort of philosophy/spirituality/travel for me to be inevitably happy. Psychology might however win me over after all.

posted March 17, 2004 01:52 PM              

BU Terriers do it doggie style! I still have that old t-shirt from when my girlfriend went there in the early 90s. It's the bulldog on the fron that say BU Terriers, and the back just reads "Do it doggie style". Yes, I wear it around Hollywood and get laughs, as much as the Elvis and Capt. America impersonators, yet not quite as much as Wonder Woman, well not yet, workin on it

siriusly, look into housing, you will pay at the pump (since gas will go up, likely to over $3/gal by the time you are a sophmore), since our dependence on oil of all kinds will be lessoned quickly over the coming years...the Earth can't go on this way, you see, and the organisms that inhabit her will have to respect Her, since she's all we truly have in common with anyone else in the world at any moment. So expect to pay as much as if you lived there, and you will party right and not miss a beat while you stargaze on the BU Beach or just sit and watch the college crew boats row by. Think about it, is all I'm sayin.

posted March 17, 2004 02:56 PM              

I know I want to live on campus and not commute, I've known that since forever! I do want to live in Boston, and to live there you don't have to drive a car, which is a bonus assuming that gas prices may go even higher.

The three other colleges I've chosen are all very good. Emmanuel College is a coed college now, and I heard they have a very sweet gorgeous campus. I might go there! But on the other hand to go to B.U. would be amazing, but very expensive, and I have to think about graduate school too. However if B.U. accepts me, I will definitely go there, regardless of the negatives.

P.S. Carlo how did you know I live in Stoughton? When did I mention that before?

posted March 17, 2004 03:03 PM            

StarLover...some other things included under the Anthropology umbrella in most schools are Archaeology, Primate Behaviour, and Linguistics.

The Forensics part was extremely interesting for me. I found I didn't mind handling skeletons at all. Primate Behaviour was great as well. I had the opportunity to study it under Dr. Birute Galdikas. She is to Orangutans what Jane Goodall is to Chimps and Diane Fossey was to Gorillas. In face the three of them all knew each other and worked for the famous Dr. Louis Leakey. They were called "Leakey's Ladies" by the archaeological community.

posted March 17, 2004 03:07 PM              

FishKitten, what is the salary cap of an anthropologist/archeologist?

P.S. Yoohoo, Randall where are you? I was wondering what you do for a living?

posted March 17, 2004 06:19 PM            

Psychology - The good thing is that you can work just about anywhere...small towns, big cities, whatever. It makes you feel really good inside to help people. It is very lucrative financially. Once you have kids, you might want a stable, stay-at-home kind of job. Downsides...some people are just so ill that it is hard to deal with. You'll understand this as a fellow Pisces...I found that the pain many people go through stuck with me. I had a hard time just forgeting about it at the end of the day. Some of the horrible things that people had been through made me depressed and gave me nightmares, especially when there was no way to help them. That was the hard part...for a variety of reasons, you just can't help some people. Psychology kind of made me feel all used up, if you get what I mean. Plus...and this really freaked me out...some of the patients where I worked became fixated on their counselors. One fellow in particular wanted to do things to his doctor that revolved around sexuality and knives. The minute I started talking to him about it, I knew for sure that I didn't want people with those types of problems to even know that I exist. Mind you, as scary as that sounds, I doubt most Psychologists have to deal with anything like that. I also considered specializing in Family Counselling. But again, it really bothers me when you find people you can't help. Often Family Counsellors work with abused women and children. I found it very difficult to deal with people who stayed in a situation where someone had been abusing their children. So, it wasn't right for me. Thankfully, it is right for some people, because we obviously need Psychologists in this world.

Archaeology/Anthropology - I just loved this field. I have always been interested in ancient cultures. I found I had a burning desire to know all I could find out about Stonehenge, the Pyramids, the Nasga lines, the Mayans, where the Anasazi went, how and where humans evolved and all that we know about it, who really wrote the Bible and other religious documents and when, what changes have been made to sacred texts over the centuries...and on and on. Looking at all of human existence in a scientific way, then combining that knowledge with esoteric/psychic teachings filled that hole in me that nothing else could touch. Downsides...unless you decide to teach at a college or university, there is a good chance you will need to travel. Personally, I liked that part and anytime I got ready to settle down for a bit, I was easily able to get jobs in museums or archaeology labs. Part of the reason I got jobs so easily, however, is because I also have a degree in History and won a few awards for writing. The fact that you speak two languages would give you a huge advantage in this field! One other thing that some people consider a downside in Archaeology is that excavation is hard, dirty work. That didn't bother me at all and finding ancient objects was well worth the digging, but it did bother some people to work outside all day in all kinds of weather in a pit full of dirt. Frankly, I found it fun.

The thing is, once you start going to any post-secondary school, you will have to fill a variety of what are called "breadth" courses. These are things like introductory courses in humanities, language arts, psychology, anthropology, and lots more. You can select the courses you think you might like and by the time you have taken a couple of years worth, you will have a much better handle on what you you want to do.

posted March 17, 2004 07:23 PM              

As for psychology, you're very right, I would be freaked out of my wits to have my patients fall inlove with me. I would also feel a lot of emotional sorrow if I could not help someone, and then I would end up feeling their pain. Transference is certainly pretty common, and I guess my ideal would be to heal everyone, but I guess that may not be possible. I like psychology because it helps me understand myself which is why a lot of people get into it the first place, but I guess they're not aware of the actual practice. I guess I still have more soul searching to do.

posted March 18, 2004 02:25 PM              

Fishkitten I will definitely look more into anthropology/archeology! I think it might be very well suited for me. Probably more than psychology. We'll see!

posted March 18, 2004 04:51 PM            

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posted March 18, 2004 06:06 PM            

Boston sounds like a great choice for you, good luck!