Question At the crossroads of destiny

[Kyle]

For those of you who don't know this about me, I am a 17 year old senior only weeks from graduating high school. My last day is on May 25th, and graduation is on June 7th. It does not do itself justice by saying that I'm nervous, which I am, but more so to say I am beyond excited, I am ecstatic and in dire hope that the future brings a strong light on me. My grades aren't perfect, I'm 47 out of a class of 350, but i'm actually pretty popular in my school especially in my class as everyone knows me as the kid that loves space, and I'm also the best artist in the school.

Anyways, I was wondering and calling out - are there any other seniors on here? Or anyone who wants to share their graduation experiences? I'm attending a community college, then going onto USF. I haven't determined a degree yet, because there are such limited choices.

Wish me luck!

 

[Arrowstar]

I would highly recommend you consider aerospace engineering has a course of study in college. California has some excellent universities and a career in aerospace engineering is one way to get yourself far more involved in space than you could be otherwise. (There are other routes, too, but aerospace engineering will be one of the most focused paths.)

 

[Kyle]

Thanks for the advice! But I'm already committed to a Community College for at least the next two years.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

I would suggest a mechanical engineering degree, with a specialty in aerospace applications. There's always a need for mechanical engineers, but not always for Aerospace. Besides, the only real significant difference is that you take more classes on fluid dynamics. You can always go back for a MS in Aerospace Engineering. Some companies will even pay you to do that.

 

[Star Voyager]

I too am a 17-year-old senior. I'm number 20 out of 93, have a 3.5 GPA out of 4.0, got rejected by the USAF Academy and Georgia Tech, but was accepted into ASU and have yet to hear back from Texas A&M. I am working on both my driver's license and my private pilot's license. I'm considering UCF, as that's down the road from Tampa. Currently, I'm trying to find a summer job and any other easy money to help cover some expenses. Best of luck to you, Kyle, and other seniors around the country !

 

[Tommy]

Well, first I'll say that grades are MUCH more important than popularity when it comes time to get admitted or get hired. Once you have a job, keeping it seems to have more to do with popularity than performance (as long as you aren't a complete failure, anyway!)

I suggest staying with art classes in addition to pre-engineering (if your school offers that). You won't need to decide what specific type of engineering until you transfer to a four-year college.

While engineers aren't exactly a dime a dozen, and engineer with artistic talent and ability is even less common. With the trend toward commercial spaceflight, companies that want to attract passengers will need to keep artistic design as a priority - people won't want to take the "ugly" ride when there's a pretty one a couple pads over.

In short, reach for your dream - but keep your feet on the ground and play to your strengths. If art is your strength, do NOT neglect it - even if you plan a career as a non-artist. That artistic ability will help you every time you need to make a presentation, or design a product, or even just create a resume. And you'd be suprized at how much the penmanship on your job application counts for!

 

[PhantomCruiser]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting your lower level coursework at a community college. Particularly all the humanities (comp I & II, Lit, public speaking, history, etc). It's much easier on the wallet.

Are you wanting to get an associates degree, or just take two years at community college and then transfer? Either way, do pay particular attention to the requirements of your follow on college. Some things may not transfer if the two schools don't have an articulation agreement.

You are the same age as my daughter. She's off to Tennessee Tech in the fall, and a little apprehensive. She's applied for an Air Force (farce) ROTC scholarship and plans to major in some computer science/programming and graphic art something-or-other.

 

[Zatnikitelman]

I graduated from high school almost 4 years ago now and have been majoring in Computer Science ever since. Tommy is right that grades are much more important than popularity, but don't try to go it alone either. Due to various decisions and other stuff throughout my life, I've been having to go through college essentially alone and it's nothing I recommend. It's been unbearable at times and I hope no one else has to go through this.

 

[Kyle]

Tommy, I didn't want it to sound like I make bad grades, I maintain a solid B average in school, just that I'm down in class rank because there are people who maintain a 5.79 GPA+ who take 7 AP classes + 3 online honors classes. I'm popular not in a snobby way, but in a way that I'm well heard of for my abilities and knowledge, not on the sports team, that and I have quite a sense of humor.

For what it's worth, I'm going into the United States Navy after a 4 year degree in at the moment looks like will be either political science or technical engineering and maybe meteorology- where I plan to be accepted into Officer Candidate School to start out as an Ensign. I've been planning for years, so thanks for the advice guys but I was more asking what was your graduation experience like? Because in all honesty, I've been planning and waiting for years for after high school and during high school I haven't planned for it.

 

[PhantomCruiser]

I was more asking what was your graduation experience like?

For me... Anticlimactic. Went to Burger King with a few friends. I was back at home by 10 PM. I did find a girl who was attracted to me, we dated for a year until I went off to the Navy.

 

[TMac3000]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with getting your lower level coursework at a community college. Particularly all the humanities (comp I & II, Lit, public speaking, history, etc). It's much easier on the wallet.

I couldn't agree more.

Associate Degree, Computer Programming
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
Graduated August 2001

Associate Degree, Accounting
Orangebug-Calhoun Technical College
Graduated May 2010

 

[Tommy]

I wasn't trying to imply that your grades weren't good enough. Just saying that popularity, no matter how well deserved, won't help get into a college. Knowing the right people can help you get a job, but you only need to know one person (the right one person) for that - being sociable and likable will increase your odds of knowing that "right person".

There is NOTHING wrong with being a "likable" person, and the ability to make friends is VERY important in life. They are the ones who sill help you get through life with some sanity remaining!

As to graduation, it all depends on your attitude and how much you put into it. It's easy to expect that you will immediately feel different, more mature, and that isn't the case.
It's more like you've just finished the Fellowship of the Ring, and can now look forward to The Two Towers - and you've still got The Return of the King after that!

You have survived High School, and all the drama that entails - don't be afraid to feel some pride and relief in that. Chances are, you'll be to busy attending your own, and your friends, graduation parties to worry about what it all means, so just enjoy the day. In many ways it's like a birthday - only bigger because it only happens once. At the risk of sounding materialistic, the loot (er, I mean gifts) usually isn't to bad either!

I don't actually remember much of my graduation. Here in northern Wisconsin binge drinking is a time honored way to celebrate just about everything - but I guess times have changed (I could drink legally at 18, and nobody cared if you were still a couple months shy of legal).

If you will be entering the military after graduation, I would strongly consider ROTC. It will help you pay for college, and give you a head start (both in experience and rank) when you start active duty.

Congratulations and good luck!

 

[Urwumpe]

I've been planning for years, so thanks for the advice guys but I was more asking what was your graduation experience like?

Very anticlimatic. I had been drafted into the German army a few days earlier and had been already in the middle of basic training, when I graduated. I was half asleep when I got my final grades, and had to leave early at the graduation ball, because I had to be back in the base at 6 AM on a Sunday.

 

[Unstung]

I am planning to major in astronautical engineering (aerospace engineering is not offered; it's either astronautical or aeronautical engineering). I'd much rather work with spacecraft than any other machine, but I wonder if the choice is too specialized and therefore an unsafe decision. However, I read that there is an engineering 'brain drain', and/or not enough people are getting engineering degrees.

Although I have been accepted into the engineering program, I've considered other majors: specifically quantum physics and astrophysics. Unfortunately, I doubt quantum physics is offered in-state (but it would be nice to understand quantum processes that are very difficult to teach myself). Is it possible to start taking physics and transfer to a university that offers quantum mechanics? If so, I don't know if it's a very economical decision. I prefer sticking to engineering.

 

[MaverickSawyer]

I'm not the best source of information on graduation, since I was part of the first graduating class at my high school, and there was only 20 of us total. It was fairly laid back. Now, I can ask some of my friends who were part of a 500-person graduation ceremony. I have no idea what that's like.

 

[Ark]

I burnt up what little college savings I had on a worthless automotive tech associates a few years ago and have had nothing but dead-end, low-pay jobs since. Think long and hard about the financials of what you want to do, the "but I'm doing what I love!" rationalization won't pay the rent.

That warning aside, the actual experience of graduation was unremarkable and over quickly. Everything is saturated with the bright and hopeful future nonsense and you want to stab the next person who asks "what are you going to do with your life?" Everybody is run through a ceremony in front of their parents and given a nice rolled up piece of paper that states their actual diploma will come in the mail. Then everyone is shuttled off to one last social event where we all desperately try to get into each other's pants before the end of high school.

In my opinion, high school is largely meaningless by the time you get 5 years down the road. But if you're thinking "At least I don't have to put up with all that petty popularity contest social bull", you're wrong. The real world is exactly like high school. People are shallow, self-absorbed, ignorant, and advancement is all about who your parents are friends with and whether your superiors like you. You'll work your ass off and watch clueless morons get promoted above you because their dads golf with your superior. You'll watch a seemingly innoculous mistake of yours become a career-threatening disaster after it circulates around the feedback loop that is an office full of yacking women. Real life is not a meritocracy, it's a competition to see who can play other people better.

 

[Melvin]

I burnt up what little college savings I had on a worthless automotive tech associates a few years ago and have had nothing but dead-end, low-pay jobs since. Think long and hard about the financials of what you want to do, the "but I'm doing what I love!" rationalization won't pay the rent.

That warning aside, the actual experience of graduation was unremarkable and over quickly. Everything is saturated with the bright and hopeful future nonsense and you want to stab the next person who asks "what are you going to do with your life?" Everybody is run through a ceremony in front of their parents and given a nice rolled up piece of paper that states their actual diploma will come in the mail. Then everyone is shuttled off to one last social event where we all desperately try to get into each other's pants before the end of high school.

In my opinion, high school is largely meaningless by the time you get 5 years down the road. But if you're thinking "At least I don't have to put up with all that petty popularity contest social bull", you're wrong. The real world is exactly like high school. People are shallow, self-absorbed, ignorant, and advancement is all about who your parents are friends with and whether your superiors like you. You'll work your ass off and watch clueless morons get promoted above you because their dads golf with your superior. You'll watch a seemingly innoculous mistake of yours become a career-threatening disaster after it circulates around the feedback loop that is an office full of yacking women. Real life is not a meritocracy, it's a competition to see who can play other people better.

I rarely agree with anything you type, but this is perfect.