College compared to the real world

**Keiron** · 02-29-08, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by draco7891

College isn't quite so much about learning a job as it is gaining the experience and enjoying the diversity of the world. If you lock yourself into one particular topic, you'll get bored and discouraged. Use it as a tool to explore the world, alternate viewpoints, ways of thought, etc. College has to be an experience, not a job.

Draco

That right there that is bolded, is exactly how I'm really right now though. We get all this work to try to perfect our skills and all that jazz, to supposedly "prepare us for the real world better" that right now it literally feels like we are doing a job that we aren't getting paid for. I'd say about 99% of the people in the program at my school (the GD and 3D people) say pretty much the same thing and get very little to no sleep because of projects they have to do for our major, plus other classes, plus trying work, spend time with the family/have a social life (if any...). I swear out of the 20 or so people that they allow into the program each year, about half drop or change majors before their senior year. Hell I've ever heard our processors say that the program is like having a job (or second job) because of what they expect us to do.

I'm wondering if it isn't the course work as much as the way we are being taught then. It seems they want nothing but good designers that will be working for these huge corporations in NY, Dallas, Denver, and all the major big cities. I can see it as a good thing to try make us better designers and all, but sometimes some much is too much...

Maybe we're just complaining too much who knows, because our professors tell us that there are schools that make their students take 4 track classes a semester were we have at least 2, but those schools are more specialized as well were we get a well rounded education.

**Manse** · 03-01-08, 07:54 AM

I may be the exception, but at least in engineering (if you have lots of hands-on labs) you learn a lot of practical application type-stuff. My EMC professor pushed the theory into the world of understanding, especially for stuff like electromagnetic interference. Granted, since I swapped engineering fields when I got out, and haven't touched a circuit since I got my degree, I've lost a lot of that to the darkened recesses of my brain.

As to your question, K, if you want to swap careers, you have to try and get a feel for where you want to go. With the courses you already have, what would you think about journalism? I imagine at least some of your GD classes would carry over. Plus, I'm pretty sure the military is always looking for good journalists and spin doctors.

**Keiron** · 03-01-08, 09:21 AM

I don't think I could do it. The way everything is usually spun is just annoying and I generally hate the way media is handled. I'd be afraid that I'd either become something I loathe or what I'd be trying to write/publish would be edited by someone else like my superiors who would totally screw up what I had said to begin with.

I've been trying to figure out where I want to go for some time. Problem is I'm pretty indecisive and enjoy doing a lot of things. I'm afraid though of picking the wrong career since I've already been in school for about 5 years now give or take and I've only got an AA in New Media Communications (closest thing at the time that would transfer and go towards GD) and I'm just now second guessing myself, probably because of the track classes I'm currently in though.

I know there are number of options available to me since I already have some of the skills for a few different areas, which I enjoy almost equally. Problem now is just finding one to stick with that I'd feel I'd be able to keep doing and enjoy doing for the 40+ years or so...if I'm that lucky.

**dex71** · 03-01-08, 09:21 AM

Everyone at one point or another feels as if they are in the wrong field(usually on Mondays

).
Go get that internship,but realize that no matter what you do...there will be good days and bad.Its true that you will only use about 1% of what you learn in school,but like iy was said before in this thread,its the theory and applications.What you dont realize is all of the other stuff you learn makes you well rounded and easier to adapt in different aspects of your field.School is not only about learning a job,but learning to to deal with the real world.The stress NEVER stops.(wait till you have 2 sick kids,a bitchy wife,mortgage payment due,and a pile of work to be done.....then a lawn to mow or a car to repair.ect...)you just become better at dealing with it.School is like the boot camp for the real world.Keep your head down and and work at it....you'll get thru it and be a stronger person for it.Graduation is not the end,but the begining.
Also....Quit comparing your work to the other students work.If you admire their work....LEARN FROM IT!!! Dont get yourself down as none of it counts yet.
Hope this helps...