The Naive College Student

[Sentinel X]

You make people like me look stupid.

But then again I went to school with geniuses, and my subpar GPA at my school was actually not that bad once I got out into the real world.

Dont feel bad. I basically aced my first two years of college and got straight A's but this semester is the first semester I could say was actually challenging and I had to study. If someone (with an IQ under 150) can get through college perfectly fine without studying then there is something really wrong if you ask me...well, unless your major was underwater basket weaving.

Btw, buying books in college as undergraduate is unnecessary for probably of 60% of your classes. You can do just as good listening to lecture notes or getting a past edition at your local library. Im a junior right now and I think I've only bought 4 books my entire time in school

 

[Darthphere]

Most classes I have nowaday never use the book. I know some Professors tell you that it's required but never actually use it.

 

[Catman]

it is Naive to only focus on school work and expect a job to just land on your lap. You need to go out there and make connections with people, which I did, but it doesn't always help.

If you're not spending at least your last year going to job fairs, putting out applications, getting to know people, and working with professors to try and get experience of some type, you're significantly hurting your chances.

The only reason I even got a job was cause I did an internship and was awesome in it. Sadly, with the economy nowadays, most jobs have a hiring freeze. So, a lot of really good interns are not getting job offers.

 

[wiegeabo]

The only reason I even got a job was cause I did an internship and was awesome in it. Sadly, with the economy nowadays, most jobs have a hiring freeze. So, a lot of really good interns are not getting job offers.

True. But I'm talking about people who don't even try. Even if someone doesn't get a job they applied for, they got their name out there. And that employer has their resume if a job opens up.

What I'm talking about are those that don't look ahead of time. I knew a number of people who didn't even start looking for a job until after graduation, usually thinking that degree=job. Well, guess what, you're not the only one getting that degree. All those other students you worked with in class and graduate with you, now they're competing against you for jobs.

Waiting until after graduation almost instantly puts them 3 to 6 months behind because that's how long it can take to find something. And that's when the economy is good. In the meantime, student loans are looming closer, bills might be piling, and they're moving back home because they have no real prospects.

 

[Anita18]

True. But I'm talking about people who don't even try. Even if someone doesn't get a job they applied for, they got their name out there. And that employer has their resume if a job opens up.

What I'm talking about are those that don't look ahead of time. I knew a number of people who didn't even start looking for a job until after graduation, usually thinking that degree=job. Well, guess what, you're not the only one getting that degree. All those other students you worked with in class and graduate with you, now they're competing against you for jobs.

Waiting until after graduation almost instantly puts them 3 to 6 months behind because that's how long it can take to find something. And that's when the economy is good. In the meantime, student loans are looming closer, bills might be piling, and they're moving back home because they have no real prospects.

It also depends on the jobs you look for. I think I started looking around graduation, and my sister was saying (in her sometimes self-important way ), "Welll, my friends all found jobs back in October" and I shot back, "That's because they all went into consulting, where all the consulting firms recruit at colleges in the fall. Sorry, academic research labs don't have the money to recruit."

Luckily the people in my field who were smarter than me were too busy applying or going to med/grad school, so I had the advantage of being the last one standing to apply for lab tech jobs.

Amusingly, it was my sister who took longer after graduation to find a job. But it wasn't really her fault - she graduated right when the economy was tanking so every though she was more qualified than anyone else her age, nobody was hiring.

 

[Lantern Venom]

Based on my experience, there's two types of college students. There's the one who works hard to get their degree but also does stuff on the side like internships and paying jobs related to their field. Then there's the one that only focuses on their school work. I find the latter to be very naive. They don't know what they're talking about half the time and expect an entry-level position to fall on their lap upon graduation. I feel bad for them, especially in this economy. Anyone agree?

I think the field might varies as to how much interships and part-time jobs would factor into success after college. My brother (a computer analyst) had several companies make him offers during his senior year in college that were contingent only upon completion of his degree. However, I know of many jobs where a college degree in only seen at the starting point for a potential hire.

 

[Spider-Who?]

Most classes I have nowaday never use the book. I know some Professors tell you that it's required but never actually use it.

in my experience, they tell you its required so that the campus book store can make money. of course, you never DO use the damn thing in the class, despite paying anywhere from 50 - 200 bucks on it.

 

[Darthphere]

in my experience, they tell you its required so that the campus book store can make money. of course, you never DO use the damn thing in the class, despite paying anywhere from 50 - 200 bucks on it.

Yeah, I haven't bought a book for like 3 years now lol.

 

[Matt]

Not when the professor makes you read certain chapters before lecture because you have a quiz at the beginning of class. Not when the professor gives tests that concern their lecture material as well as assigned reading material.

What classes did you have where you never had to read a book I have had classes where the professor said you really didn't need the book, only that it would aid his lecture material. But, most of my classes required text books because they made you read and do work outside of class.

I had classes where the professors required reading and included material not covered in lecture in quizzes and tests, but I dunno, based on what I learned in lecture, I was able to put the rest into place on my own, apply the theories, do all that fun stuff so I never really needed the book. I guess college just came naturally to me. Academics in general did, in fact as I never studied in high school either and graduated with a 4.0.

 

[Catman]

Raise your hand if you think Matt is lying. I understand where Matt is coming from since I was very similar. However, I couldn't pull that off in every class. Everyone sucks in atleast one subject. Math was my bad course. I definitely couldn't just sit there and absorb the lesson. I needed notes and studying just to get by. So, I doubt that Matt went through school without any headaches. I've never met anyone who could. There's always that one subject that's a struggle.

 

[SapphirePrima]

Taking Pre-Med classes/beign a Pre Med major would help with taking the MCAT. I don't see why people are dissing on it.

Also don't hate on the Liberal Arts majors.

 

[gap5ewl]

I guess I'm a naive college student then. I've put in for a few internships but didn't get them (probally because I applied too late) and currently not working. But I do love my major and am seriously going to start applying for internships next semester. I'm graduating next year so I got to get the ball rolling.

 

[SapphirePrima]

What's your major? How come you're not thinking about grad school?

 

[Matt]

Raise your hand if you think Matt is lying. I understand where Matt is coming from since I was very similar. However, I couldn't pull that off in every class. Everyone sucks in atleast one subject. Math was my bad course. I definitely couldn't just sit there and absorb the lesson. I needed notes and studying just to get by. So, I doubt that Matt went through school without any headaches. I've never met anyone who could. There's always that one subject that's a struggle.

Don't much care if you believe me. Testing never bothered me as I could just absorb. I never had that one class that really got to me. The only time I freaked about college is when I put off writing papers (I was a procrastinator) and I'd end up having to write a twenty page paper in one night.

 

[Prison Mike]

Most of my classes requires reading the textbook. My chemistry and physics textbook have practice problems that I work on before the exams. I could understand some people getting by without books if they only have liberal arts classes, but if you take science courses then you need to read the book IMO.

 

[Speedball]

Don't much care if you believe me. Testing never bothered me as I could just absorb. I never had that one class that really got to me. The only time I freaked about college is when I put off writing papers (I was a procrastinator) and I'd end up having to write a twenty page paper in one night.

I have the same problem. I took a whole bunch of history classes (enough to declare it my minor now), and I can remember the info, no problem when it came to tests. But we had to write papers, and I would ALWAYS wait till the last minute.

 

[SapphirePrima]

Most of my classes requires reading the textbook. My chemistry and physics textbook have practice problems that I work on before the exams. I could understand some people getting by without books if they only have liberal arts classes, but if you take science courses then you need to read the book IMO.

You don't need the book for most science classes if the teacher does notes.

 

[Prison Mike]

You don't need the book for most science classes if the teacher does notes.

not from my experience. my professors go over the basics but the bulk of the info is from the book. You need to read the chapter before the lecture and he'll go over it but studying only the notes is not enough to get a decent grade in the class. Also, you need the book for practice problems. Once you get to organic chemistry, you'll know what I'm talking about.

 

[SapphirePrima]

I guess you're right about that. But going into the science field that is expected.

 

[Prison Mike]

yeah. it really depends on the major and the school one is going to. I know a lot of people like to say they haven't used a textbook for any of their courses, but I would like to know what class/major they're in. Personally, I used my textbooks for 85% of the classes I've taken in college.

 

[SapphirePrima]

I'm an Creative Writing Major. Most of my major classes the book isn't a necessity because you can find plays/short stories in all kind of places. The only classes were I was ripped off in the book department were gen eds. actually.

 

[gap5ewl]

What's your major? How come you're not thinking about grad school?

Political Science and I'm definitely thinking of grad school. Most likely going into the MPA program (Public Administration).

 

[Bat Attack]

The only truly naive college student I've met is the one who thinks they can study with as little effort in college as they did in high school. RUDE AWAKENING...

Amen to that. High school is a breeze compared to college.

 

[Carcharodon]

The only truly naive college student I've met is the one who thinks they can study with as little effort in college as they did in high school. RUDE AWAKENING...

No. Not at all.

 

[The Riddler]

Based on my experience, there's two types of college students. There's the one who works hard to get their degree but also does stuff on the side like internships and paying jobs related to their field. Then there's the one that only focuses on their school work. I find the latter to be very naive. They don't know what they're talking about half the time and expect an entry-level position to fall on their lap upon graduation. I feel bad for them, especially in this economy. Anyone agree?

not really, because if they get a 4.0, it'd be worth more than a relatively useless internship/job.

ideally both is nice, but grades matter more to most people, especially for grad schools or for recognition.