***The Bored Thread.. hey, thats not a scooner its a sailboat!***

[jpalamar]

I wish I knew everything that I do now... because my parents were so set on like 3 career choices that I never even realized 99.9% of the other jobs out there. I'm extremely interested in aminal science, specifically medium sized cats. Its a shame it is one of those degrees were you can't really work and go to college full time for. Lots of field and lab work involved. Even food would be fun to go back for. Would love to own a legit food truck or be a personal chef.

[Zaior]

I wanted to be a marine biologist my whole life. I love sharks they have hold a huge fascination from me. But the average marine biologist makes close to nothing and I've always wanted a big family so it came down to which would bring me more happiness and I know I'm really young to make that decision but I really feel I made the right decision and I don't regret it. Scuba diving and cars can be a hobby for me which I will still enjoy. Since I've started working at the auto auction I've realized that I really think business (and some sort of "money-related" degree) is my calling. I love the sales aspect, I like how you have to look at all the possible gains and losses. I wouldn't have ever gotten this job if I had chosen to go to school for Marine biology. It's funny how these things work out

[Big_Jim]

be careful with turning your hobby into your job. I've done that with many hobbies so far. Started out very young with computers. Built my first PC with components my dad had laying around when I was about 10 yrs old. Was working at my dads friends computer parts sales and repair business at 14, and at 29 I'm still in the IT field and I hate it. Always loved working on cars, got into a custom car shop building custom stereo systems/FG trunks and what not, now I dont really enjoy doing the work for myself. Same thing with photography. Started shooting as a hobby, and turned that into a part time job shooting for bars and clubs in the area. Haven't picked up my camreas in over 18 months and sold a lot of it off.

[jpalamar]

I want someone to get some good audio clips of my exhaust.

[Zaior]

That's why I'm dropping these auto courses. I really don't want to hate this hobby

[piku]

What the ****, this thread blew up

[grimm]

i think it all depends on the person, I love what I do, photography, web design, graphics, and I have as much fun still doing it on my own as I did before, I just find having the time to do it much harder do to me enjoying other hobbies as well.

[Antonio]

I wish I knew everything I know now years ago as well. I've wasted 3 years of my time and tons of money on a piece of paper that I don't even use, or probably will ever use to be honest.

I had similar dreams as you, wanted to be a Marine Biologist and study sharks and other wildlife. Student Counselors all said it was a great idea and follow my dream. Well, one semester in at college and talking with people actually in the field, they made far more money teaching than they did with their job. It's next to impossible to get anywhere and make money from that field. Not to mention many labs and research groups work off grants and government money, which could close down anytime they pull the plug.

So I changed schools/majors and did graphic arts. I enjoyed it at first, and very soon came to hate it. Not to mention that was at the beginning of the graphic arts boom and every goth kid with no job, and way too much free time to play around with photoshop thought they were a graphic artist. Every job interview I went to for a graphic artist job had a bunch of other people ahead of me, some with years of experience and an amazing portfolio. There was 1 interview where I just turned around and walked out.

Talk about people filling your head with false dreams. 97% job placement the college said....what they don't tell you is if you can't get a job in your field, they'll give you a small scholarship to come back and take a different field and try that one.

Thankfully for me, I kept working full time as I went along and finished with no real student loans to speak of and kept myself independent throughout the whole process. That's when I found Comcast. My girlfriend at the time, her sister's boyfriend worked there and helped me get a job. Now in just 6 1/2 years, I've moved up several training levels, halfway on my way to an associates for free paid by my company in my field, and making a respectable salary.

Wish I could have done this from the very beginning. I could have been a supervisor by now most likely, or higher at Comcast by now

[mckpat03]

I wish I wouldn't have spent as much money I did to get the degree that I did. School debt to my eyeballs. It's absurd how expensive school can be. I wish I had taken a different path.

[Scapegoat]

i wish i knew i could make the money i make now, 15 years ago when i was just dabbling around with websites. I'd be a much better programmer/webdev than i think i am.

[jpalamar]

Originally Posted by mckpat03

It's absurd how expensive school can be. I wish I had taken a different path.

Its hard for me to justify going back when I figure its going to cost $30-50k to be competitive in education these days... probally more with how fast tuition is going up thanks to the .gov. A BS/BA is the new high school diploma. I'd be 35-40 until I was done school to get a slightly better then entry level position. Paying the loans off until I was probally about 50. Then have a whopping only 15ish years to make money to retire.

[Scapegoat]

i plan on going back. not for a degree though. I'm thinking of taking some graphic design courses so i'm more competant w/ photoshop and design. I've a great eye, and believe i've got some good ideas in my head for web design. its just making them appear that is difficult, so some training there would help immensely

[piku]

Originally Posted by Scapegoat

i plan on going back. not for a degree though. I'm thinking of taking some graphic design courses so i'm more competant w/ photoshop and design. I've a great eye, and believe i've got some good ideas in my head for web design. its just making them appear that is difficult, so some training there would help immensely

I feel the same way about this. I can easily identify great and ****, and have an idea of how things should look but I can't seem to get there.

The simple fact is a good designer who can code really well is a unicorn worth tons of $$

[jpalamar]

Originally Posted by piku

The simple fact is a good designer who can code really well is a unicorn worth tons of $$

If they radiate rainbows its even better.

[grimm]

you should hire a freelance guy to train you, having to learn at the rate of an entire class is not efficient. I get custom training on the software i use in house so i can jump past the things i know and ask the questions i need to without having to sit there while someone finds the gradient tool icon.

If either if you guys needs help let me know, I would help you out as best that I can. My first suggestion would be to use illustrator and not photoshop.

[Big_Jim]

Originally Posted by jpalamar

If they radiate rainbows its even better.

What about defecating bacon?

[mcperson2k]

Didn't read everything, but DCCC is partnered up with WCU. All credits transfer, and if you complete a 2 year program at DCCC, your guaranteed acceptance to WCU. (They are also partnered up with other schools in the area) If you don't receive an Associates degree though, they can decline you.

And just a heads up, if you live in PA, DCCC is NOT cheaper than WCU. They are about equal, and in a lot of instances, WCU is cheaper. PA resident's actually pay out of state tuition at DCCC. All of their campuses are in PA, but their actual corporate building is not. It's a total scam.

[jpalamar]

Originally Posted by mcperson2k

Didn't read everything, but DCCC is partnered up with WCU. All credits transfer, and if you complete a 2 year program at DCCC, your guaranteed acceptance to WCU. (They are also partnered up with other schools in the area) If you don't receive an Associates degree though, they can decline you.

And just a heads up, if you live in PA, DCCC is NOT cheaper than WCU. They are about equal, and in a lot of instances, WCU is cheaper. PA resident's actually pay out of state tuition at DCCC. All of their campuses are in PA, but their actual corporate building is not. It's a total scam.

There are specific programs at DCCC that are designed to transfer but not all programs are elligable. SHow me where your guarenteed acceptance cause I've never heard of that before.

Depends were you live in PA. The following districts get reduced tuition at DCCC($104 per credit): Garnet Valley (Bethel residents only), Haverford, Interboro, Radnor, Ridley, Rose Tree Media, Southeast Delco, Springfield, Upper Darby, Wallingford-Swarthmore (Swarthmore and Rutledge residents only), Chester-Upland, and William Penn

[Zaior]

I'm not 100% sure but I think Springfield pays taxes to DCCC so people from my school district have a discount. Or something like that I've only heard people talk about it

[Zaior]

Well I'm not too worried about getting in with my grades. More just that I get all my required classes. I have a 4.0 now and I was 6th in my class at SHS (if that even applies to transferring in college). I just need to talk with a counselor and make sure everything transfers