What's after college....?

[munch]

I guess the whole sex thing depends on how seriously you take college?
but it shouldn't be the focus regardless.

hell, I don't know if I think working has given me any less free time than working?
if you don't plan to start a family early and whatnot, working shouldn't hinder you from doing fun things if you balance it out. weekends are kinda free too, usually. depending on your work of course. and where you work.
just try to stay in good health and shape, and it shouldn't be that much of a problem. you'll just have a different schedule and adapt to that.

I don't really know if this will apply to everyone but I've worked and studied back and forth, and I definitely haven't had more free time when studying.

[Sygaldry]

I guess the whole sex thing depends on how seriously you take college?
but it shouldn't be the focus regardless.

That said, college is the only time in your life that you will be surrounded by so many willing, attractive, young members of the other sex!

Keeping on top of your studies should be your priority but it should not take too much of your time. You will have ample free time to do what you want and chasing skirts is definitely a choice you will have!

On a more serious note, 18-25 are some of the most important formative years you will have. Only you can decide how to spend those years but they will have a bearing on your later years in some way shape or form. I don't mean you need to decide what you want to do for the rest of your life (I still haven't), but these are identity forming years that will shape who you are as a person.

[HoffmanMyster]

Keeping on top of your studies should be your priority but it should not take too much of your time. You will have ample free time to do what you want

Just gonna add that that really depends on what you're studying...

[noisyturtle]

Keeping on top of your studies should be your priority but it should not take too much of your time. You will have ample free time to do what you want

Just gonna add that that really depends on what you're studying...

2nd

[Sygaldry]

Keeping on top of your studies should be your priority but it should not take too much of your time. You will have ample free time to do what you want

Just gonna add that that really depends on what you're studying...

Well yeah, I'd say med school and law school are things that WILL take all of your time but those are after college (in the US anyway).

I had plenty of free time in one of the top ECE programs in the world for a couple semesters (still had time to join a top raiding guild during WoW's heyday) and when I changed majors to liberal arts, I pretty much never studied.

Your mileage may vary.

[HoffmanMyster]

Your mileage may vary.

Boom.  Sums up the thread nice. 

[Sygaldry]

Your mileage may vary.

Boom.  Sums up the thread nice. 

The man of mystery just approved (part of) my post! 

[iri]

I guess the whole sex thing depends on how seriously you take college?
but it shouldn't be the focus regardless.

That said, college is the only time in your life that you will be surrounded by so many willing, attractive, young members of the other sex!

especially if you are studying in a small institute of theoretical physics.

[intelli78]

Hahahhaahaha...

hrrm......

It really depends on how much sex you have IN college, and whether or not you're bored with it...

If you still like sex -after-college-...  then that pursuit will carry you for the next 10 or so years..

@ age 30-35+...  generally self awareness kicks in assuming you're financially settled, and you will begin to question existence more so than pursue mere gratification..


This all comes down to having enough sex such that it's no longer a novelty.... 


now, if you ask.. Tp4  what's after sex...

Nope ... that's it, you've experienced the epitome of what your brain can interpret as GOOD..


The alternative that exceed Sex, is Cocaine (think, sex-overclocked).
---We knows where this ends..


Now,  onto having children..   generally, because of the sex, you're gonna have kids,  but if you manage to hold off kids all the way until self-awareness..   you'd see that kids are not really the answer to fill that void of unknown knowledge of the universe..

TL;Dr After college is cocaine

[tp4tissue]

Hahahhaahaha...

hrrm......

It really depends on how much sex you have IN college, and whether or not you're bored with it...

If you still like sex -after-college-...  then that pursuit will carry you for the next 10 or so years..

@ age 30-35+...  generally self awareness kicks in assuming you're financially settled, and you will begin to question existence more so than pursue mere gratification..


This all comes down to having enough sex such that it's no longer a novelty.... 


now, if you ask.. Tp4  what's after sex...

Nope ... that's it, you've experienced the epitome of what your brain can interpret as GOOD..


The alternative that exceed Sex, is Cocaine (think, sex-overclocked).
---We knows where this ends..


Now,  onto having children..   generally, because of the sex, you're gonna have kids,  but if you manage to hold off kids all the way until self-awareness..   you'd see that kids are not really the answer to fill that void of unknown knowledge of the universe..

TL;Dr After college is cocaine

The issue with cocaine is..  it's just so much better than everything else..

[Sygaldry]

I guess the whole sex thing depends on how seriously you take college?
but it shouldn't be the focus regardless.

That said, college is the only time in your life that you will be surrounded by so many willing, attractive, young members of the other sex!

especially if you are studying in a small institute of theoretical physics.

It helps that the school I studied at is a huge Big 10 school (I think this gives away where I studied but there are enough of us grads that I still retain anonymity I think). Though our theoretical physics program isn't the best, our engineering physics program is ranked first in the nation -_-

[SpikeBolt]

I actually enjoy working more than I enjoyed studying.

[Lurch]

Hahahhaahaha...

hrrm......

It really depends on how much sex you have IN college, and whether or not you're bored with it...

If you still like sex -after-college-...  then that pursuit will carry you for the next 10 or so years..

@ age 30-35+...  generally self awareness kicks in assuming you're financially settled, and you will begin to question existence more so than pursue mere gratification..


This all comes down to having enough sex such that it's no longer a novelty.... 


now, if you ask.. Tp4  what's after sex...

Nope ... that's it, you've experienced the epitome of what your brain can interpret as GOOD..


The alternative that exceed Sex, is Cocaine (think, sex-overclocked).
---We knows where this ends..


Now,  onto having children..   generally, because of the sex, you're gonna have kids,  but if you manage to hold off kids all the way until self-awareness..   you'd see that kids are not really the answer to fill that void of unknown knowledge of the universe..

TL;Dr After college is cocaine

The issue with cocaine is..  it's just so much better than everything else..

cocaine isn't anything special
it just smells good

[SpAmRaY]

Hahahhaahaha...

hrrm......

It really depends on how much sex you have IN college, and whether or not you're bored with it...

If you still like sex -after-college-...  then that pursuit will carry you for the next 10 or so years..

@ age 30-35+...  generally self awareness kicks in assuming you're financially settled, and you will begin to question existence more so than pursue mere gratification..


This all comes down to having enough sex such that it's no longer a novelty.... 


now, if you ask.. Tp4  what's after sex...

Nope ... that's it, you've experienced the epitome of what your brain can interpret as GOOD..


The alternative that exceed Sex, is Cocaine (think, sex-overclocked).
---We knows where this ends..


Now,  onto having children..   generally, because of the sex, you're gonna have kids,  but if you manage to hold off kids all the way until self-awareness..   you'd see that kids are not really the answer to fill that void of unknown knowledge of the universe..

TL;Dr After college is cocaine

The issue with cocaine is..  it's just so much better than everything else..

cocaine isn't anything special
it just smells good

Tell us, what does it smell like?

[tp4tissue]

Hahahhaahaha...

hrrm......

It really depends on how much sex you have IN college, and whether or not you're bored with it...

If you still like sex -after-college-...  then that pursuit will carry you for the next 10 or so years..

@ age 30-35+...  generally self awareness kicks in assuming you're financially settled, and you will begin to question existence more so than pursue mere gratification..


This all comes down to having enough sex such that it's no longer a novelty.... 


now, if you ask.. Tp4  what's after sex...

Nope ... that's it, you've experienced the epitome of what your brain can interpret as GOOD..


The alternative that exceed Sex, is Cocaine (think, sex-overclocked).
---We knows where this ends..


Now,  onto having children..   generally, because of the sex, you're gonna have kids,  but if you manage to hold off kids all the way until self-awareness..   you'd see that kids are not really the answer to fill that void of unknown knowledge of the universe..

TL;Dr After college is cocaine

The issue with cocaine is..  it's just so much better than everything else..

cocaine isn't anything special
it just smells good

Tell us, what does it smell like?

stop to savor the scent of cocaine ?  i don't think so...

[jdcarpe]

...I studied at is a huge Big 10 school (I think this gives away where I studied but there are enough of us grads that I still retain anonymity I think).

Go Boilermakers!

[Sygaldry]

...I studied at is a huge Big 10 school (I think this gives away where I studied but there are enough of us grads that I still retain anonymity I think).

Go Boilermakers!

Nope. The other Big Ten school nearby

(although I almost went to Purdue on a full scholarship for undergrad)

[HoffmanMyster]

...I studied at is a huge Big 10 school (I think this gives away where I studied but there are enough of us grads that I still retain anonymity I think).

Go Boilermakers!

Nope. The other Big Ten school nearby

(although I almost went to Purdue on a full scholarship for undergrad)

I know which one it is.    And assuming I'm right, I toured there.    Nice campus.   

[Sygaldry]

...I studied at is a huge Big 10 school (I think this gives away where I studied but there are enough of us grads that I still retain anonymity I think).

Go Boilermakers!

Nope. The other Big Ten school nearby

(although I almost went to Purdue on a full scholarship for undergrad)

I know which one it is.    And assuming I'm right, I toured there.    Nice campus.   

[Flyersfan1]

_O_ T_ _ E_T_ R_?

[HoffmanMyster]

_O_ T_ _ E_T_ R_?

That's my suspicion.   

[CPTBadAss]

Am I the only one who worked far too hard in high school and college and now spend my time ballin outta control?

[jdcarpe]

Am I the only one who worked far too hard in high school and college and now spend my time ballin outta control?

Asian stereotype?



OT: Why is that word "stereotype?" Is there a monauraltype?

[HoffmanMyster]

Am I the only one who worked far too hard in high school and college and now spend my time ballin outta control?

Fixed that for me.

[Sygaldry]

Am I the only one who worked far too hard in high school and college and now spend my time ballin outta control?

Asian stereotype?

I could be Asian, and I could have NOT studied or worked hard at all, and I could NOT be ballin outta control.

Just saying. 

[Lain1911]

You can start pursuing things you desire if you haven't already. Problem is school doesn't teach you how live a life a peaceful contentment. Just teaches you how follow orders, or if you are really ambitious you'll start a business and be slightly unhappy to find out you know have to figure out how to run a business because school doesn't teach that either assuming you don't have a family business. Graduating is like reaching max level in a video game. After the max level you can start playing the actual game and start to realize the "leveling up" part feels more like a waste of time and all that matters is getting the best gear or being satisfied with your character. And of course looking at the beautiful scenery the devs made.    

[vivalarevolución]

HUNTERANGEL121:

In short, life is what you make of it, and its meaning is the meaning you attach to it.

Up until now people have probably been telling you what to do, how to live, what to think about, what to value.

If you want, you can continue to cede control over your life to other people; go with the flow, try to copy what other people seem to do; adopt whatever career path seems easiest and most natural; try to learn to develop relationships (as a friend, a lover, a disciple, a mentor) with people who seem socially acceptable within your circle of acquaintances; apply yourself to working hard on whatever your job tells you to work hard on; set your ethical standards and boundaries based on the prevailing order around you; work to build your reputation and status.

(The biggest attraction of every religion is this ceding of control: by following a particular practice with a group of other followers, you gain structure, and can adopt the meaning that the religious organization or text has already decided on. This allows you to avoid worrying about them, at least delaying such consideration to some time in the indefinite future.)

Many people (perhaps most) decide to live like this, or feel forced to by circumstance. Along the way, it is still possible to take pleasure in small things, to live to help other people, or to hedonistically throw yourself at whatever seems most exciting. Or alternately it is of course possible to rage against the world, or sink into apathetic depression.

There is nothing inherently wrong with living any particular way: indeed, none of us is far enough outside the game to give you a real answer about what this whole life thing is about or what you should do. I personally don’t think such an answer from outside is possible. The answers have to come from your own introspection and conviction.

Personally, I think it is important for every human to take the time, from time to time, to (a) consider what he or she is doing, and the purposes it serves, and to (b) try to empathize with all the other people around, consider their thoughts, goals, values, and actions, and to try to construct a generous and open minded interpretation of their reasons for acting the way they do. (Very occasionally no generous interpretation is possible, but in my opinion it’s always worth trying.)

All the best luck.

Come on, guys.  Most the advice in this thread has been garbage or meant in jest, but I echo jacobolus has said.  Those books also seem like fine recommendations.

The OP asked a good question about his future: what's life like after college?  First of all, consider it a privilege to be able to live in a time and place that allows for the opportunity and leisure to attend college and determine your future, rather than simply fighting for survival.

Adding to what jacobolus said, the biggest element of life after college, to my experience and knowledge, is responsibility.  It depends how much you are willing to take on, and for what.  Are you willing to support yourself and take care of yourself?  Maybe a family as well?  Do you want someone else to determine your values for you?  Do want to work for a company doing the tasks assigned to you or try to create something on your own?  Do you want to make your own decisions and take responsibility for them, or have it determined for you?  You can be responsible for creating your own meaning and purpose, or have someone else do it for you.

On a more lighthearted note, there is more than work.  You can always continue learning, you can raise a family, you can live on your own, you can seek fulfillment from your work, or use a job as a way to pay for other things that give you fulfillment outside of work, you can try to become rich so you can buy lots of things and take extravagant trips or retire early.  You can make a modest salary and live a simple life.  You can travel constantly, or root yourself in one place.  You can revel in the beauty of each day or always pine for something more, or do something in between.  You can visualize your future, or shy away from any grand visions, living day-to-day.  You can live in fear and hesitance, or make yourself uncomfortable by challenging yourself.  But nobody says that you have to do anything.

Also, be prepared for boredom:  http://lists.extropy.org/pipermail/paleopsych/2005-May/003252.html

[isaiahaustin92]

This thread is making me stress over school now...

[jdcarpe]

Come on, guys.  Most the advice in this thread has been garbage or meant in jest, but I echo jacobolus has said.  Those books also seem like fine recommendations.

The OP asked a good question about his future: what's life like after college?  First of all, consider it a privilege to be able to live in a time and place that allows for the opportunity and leisure to attend college and determine your future, rather than simply fighting for survival.

Oh yeah?

I didn't really mean to sound pessimistic, but maybe I was just in a mood. Anyway, the point of life is to live it. We live in an age where many people have the opportunity to live a life of the mind, rather than simply meeting their basic needs to sustain their life.

[DasHHKBProM]

.

[HoffmanMyster]

A viscous cycle.

I'm going to go ahead and pretend that this wasn't a typo, but was instead a clever engineering joke.  )

What sort of consulting did you do?  I'm not that interested in consulting, but it is feasibly something I could get in to, so I'm curious to hear more about that.

[henz]

I like beeing challenged in the daily work life, if i cant im switching jobs Im working as a consultant that suits me perfectly.
Have 1 kid that takes up most of my free time, when i get the oppurtunity to do something else i either hang out with my wife,play games or work on my private projects.
Have to teach my kid to code early, so he can finalize my projects

A viscous cycle.

I'm going to go ahead and pretend that this wasn't a typo, but was instead a clever engineering joke.  )

What sort of consulting did you do?  I'm not that interested in consulting, but it is feasibly something I could get in to, so I'm curious to hear more about that.

circular dependencies. Good Shiet >_<

[Parak]

Step 1: Find what you love doing.
Step 2: Do it for a living.
Step 3: If you ever stop loving it, repeat from Step 1.

[vivalarevolución]

Come on, guys.  Most the advice in this thread has been garbage or meant in jest, but I echo jacobolus has said.  Those books also seem like fine recommendations.

The OP asked a good question about his future: what's life like after college?  First of all, consider it a privilege to be able to live in a time and place that allows for the opportunity and leisure to attend college and determine your future, rather than simply fighting for survival.

Oh yeah?

I didn't really mean to sound pessimistic, but maybe I was just in a mood. Anyway, the point of life is to live it. We live in an age where many people have the opportunity to live a life of the mind, rather than simply meeting their basic needs to sustain their life.

I did not intend to ignore others that put some thought into their response or be too repetitive.  Things get by me sometimes.

[vivalarevolución]

Step 1: Find what you love doing.
Step 2: Do it for a living.
Step 3: If you ever stop loving it, repeat from Step 1.

If you want to get paid, should we consider the value of to others of the chosen activity?  I always liked this little graphic:

[Sygaldry]

After graduating college the first time I hired at a well paid engineering job at a well known aerospace co. Although the pay was terrific the job was not, it was not challenging me mentally. I got bored and fast, Mondays were horrible always counting down the days to Friday. Fridays we're counting the longest possible time before I had to go back to work on Monday. A viscous cycle. I was not happy living life, ineeded a change. At This point, I closed solitaire , minesweeper, gh, and Craigslist  on my workstation and  stated getting into programming, this was the best thing I ever done in my life.  Went back to school on the current employers dime and now completing my senior year of a cs degree. I'm having a great time learning this new field! Coding is like a paint brush for geeks(grrrrr... and brogrammers that's another topic.. Don't get me started on those tools) Instead of working at Starbucks with an art degree, the cs degree is actually respected. Just last week I was offered a job at Amazon as an software dev engineer. I am ecstatic! Making close to 1.5x my wages as a mechanical eng. and I can bring my dog to work!

Bottom line,imho it all depends on how you carve your path in life and how many forks you allow in it, having college in that path is a great start!!

Sidenote: college ... In my experience is just a tool that shows future employees you have the ability to learn and memorize arbitrary cocepts at a certain level, not actual tools used in the work force, I've learned more attending YouTube university than I ever could have at university of Washington and they are rated 6th overall for their cs program.

SpaceX?

A few of my buddies from college work there.

[JackMills]

OP, yes after college comes work and you make money with it, but you gain skills as well. And you can strive to become better at your job.
But the hard part, for me, is finding the job best suited for you. You need a good balance between challenge, fun and income (this is in order of importance).
And life after college is so much more than only a job. If you want skills and challenges, try to balance a social life with a wife, kids, hobbies and that job you love so much.
I enjoyed college a lot, spend nights drinking in a bar, working in a bar, drinking while working in a bar. Spend nights of stoned gaming, stoned anime watching. And in the end I got a degree as well, fun times. But I wouldn't go back, I find the life after college challenging, but the key is figuring out what you want to accomplish and that was the hard part. It took me some years, but I have finally figured it out and I am planning my path accordingly.

[intelli78]

There is one answer that I think is the most exciting, and only 1 person has mentioned it: start your own business. Don't work for the man, become the man.

[HoffmanMyster]

There is one answer that I think is the most exciting, and only 1 person has mentioned it: start your own business. Don't work for the man, become the man.

I started my own business.  It's called Hoffman Working Force.  I "contract" with one company for an undetermined amount of time, and they pay me a flat rate to perform a wide range of duties.  If I decide it's not for me, I can move on.   

Okay, that's super snarky.  I don't mean it that way.    But what I'm saying is that if you're working voluntarily, doing something you enjoy, it's really not bad.    Plus, I don't have loads of stress that I can only suspect owning a business would bring with it.

[intelli78]

Sure, it's not for everyone. But it's an adventure. When you're a kid, you never really know what's around the corner. There are always new and exciting experiences. I think OP is dreading a "flatline" after college. Not to say your life is "flatlining," but if you go for a traditional career path, you take the good and the bad that comes with stability. The good is that you have relatively lower stress and a steady paycheck. The bad is that for the most part, you know exactly what you're signed up for and it's not going to change much. 'n'a mean?

[HoffmanMyster]

Sure, it's not for everyone. But it's an adventure. When you're a kid, you never really know what's around the corner. There are always new and exciting experiences. I think OP is dreading a "flatline" after college. Not to say your life is "flatlining," but if you go for a traditional career path, you take the good and the bad that comes with stability. The good is that you have relatively lower stress and a steady paycheck. The bad is that for the most part, you know exactly what you're signed up for and it's not going to change much. 'n'a mean?

Absolutely.    I wasn't refuting that, I was just saying that working for "the man" isn't all that bad if you truly choose it instead of being forced into it.

In my field with my interests, I pretty much just can't do what I want without working for a big company.  There's no way I could get the capital to play with expensive machines all day.    It very well might be something I work toward, but starting at a regular company and getting experience is really great.   

Oh, and also, I'm currently working with two processes out of like ten that my company does.  So if I want some other experience I can always move around and try new things. 

[paicrai]

stuffed animals and aesthetics i hope

[C5Allroad]

This thread is making me stress over school now...

After the college presentation at school the other day is when I started thinking about all this. Lol.

[vivalarevolución]

Sure, it's not for everyone. But it's an adventure. When you're a kid, you never really know what's around the corner. There are always new and exciting experiences. I think OP is dreading a "flatline" after college. Not to say your life is "flatlining," but if you go for a traditional career path, you take the good and the bad that comes with stability. The good is that you have relatively lower stress and a steady paycheck. The bad is that for the most part, you know exactly what you're signed up for and it's not going to change much. 'n'a mean?

There is one answer that I think is the most exciting, and only 1 person has mentioned it: start your own business. Don't work for the man, become the man.

If you're going to start a business, be prepared to fail and be challenged. 

[Sygaldry]

This thread is making me stress over school now...

After the college presentation at school the other day is when I started thinking about all this. Lol.

Wait til you're done with school and need to find a job.

Save the stress for then，enjoy school while you still can.