Questions related to careers

[bushwhacker]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have a few question for ADULTS ONLY.

What did you take in school / college / university, what job do you have today, and what do you wish you had known back then?

I'm considering a computer related field, but I'm willing to consider other sciences, but I saw all the different directions and now are just trying to get a good starting point.

I only want to hear the answers from the adults. Thank you.

Lucan

P.S. Thanks Goalie for the advice on this.

And... keep zipperman out of this topic please.

 

[SNGX1275]

Not sure you really wanted to ask all this. For ease of reading I'll toss it in a quote box.

PROGRAM CODE: 27156004 CATALOG YEAR: FS2002

THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ROLLA

GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS GRNDWATER & ENVIR GCHM

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE



DATE TYPE SCORE %% MSS SSP DATE TYPE SCORE %% MSS SSP

04/2003 QUA 0630 57 00 00 04/2003 VER 0470 51 00 00

04/2003 WR 0045 45 00 00

=================================================================

------> AT LEAST ONE REQUIREMENT HAS NOT BEEN SATISFIED <------

=================================================================

OK 1 ALL SENIORS ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE SENIOR ASSESSMENT

PRIOR TO GRADUATION. CONTACT YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR

INSTRUCTIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEMESTER OF

GRADUATION.

EARNED: .0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP

WS03 GEOLOGY ASSES 0.0 S

=================================================================

OK 2 CUMULATIVE HRS. A 2.00 GPA REQUIRED TO GRADUATE FROM UMR

EARNED: 140.0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP 2.781 GPA

=================================================================

OK 3 ALL COURSES TAKEN ON UMR CAMPUS MUST HAVE 2.00 GPA

EARNED: 137.0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP 2.776 GPA

AP98 MATH 4 3.0 EXE FS98 CHEM 1 0.0 WD

FS98 CHEM 2 1.0 C FS98 CHEM 4 1.0 A

FS98 ENGLISH 20 3.0 B FS98 FR ENG 5 0.5 A

FS98 MATH 2 5.0 B FS98 MATH 4 0.0 WD

FS98 MATH 6 0.0 WD FS98 MIL ARMY 10 1.0 A

WS99 CHEM 1 0.0 WD WS99 COMP SCI 53 3.0 D

WS99 ECON 122 3.0 B WS99 ENG GR 10 3.0 B

WS99 FR ENG 15 0.5 A WS99 MATH 6 2.0 C

FS99 CHEM 1 4.0 C FS99 COMP SCI 73 2.0 C

FS99 COMP SCI 77 1.0 A FS99 HISTORY 176 3.0 C

FS99 MATH 8 5.0 D FS99 MIL ARMY 20 1.0 A

WS00 CHEM 3 3.0 C WS00 ENGLISH 105 3.0 B

WS00 GEOLOGY 52 4.0 B FS00 ENGLISH 106 3.0 B

FS00 GEOLOGY 113 4.0 B FS00 GEOLOGY 223 3.0 A

FS00 GEOLOGY 224 1.0 A FS00 MIL ARMY 30 1.0 A

WS01 GEOLOGY 130 4.0 B WS01 GEOLOGY 220 4.0 C

WS01 HISTORY 275 3.0 C WS01 PHYSICS 23 0.0 WD

SS01 GEOLOGY 373 3.0 A SS01 GEOLOGY 374 3.0 B

FS01 BIO SCI 251 3.0 A FS01 ENGLISH 160 3.0 B

FS01 GEOLOGY 275 3.0 B FS01 GEOLOGY 301 3.0 B

FS01 PHYSICS 21 4.0 C FS01 PHYSICS 22 1.0 A

WS02 GEOLOGY 260 3.0 A WS02 GEOLOGY 375 3.0 B

WS02 GEOPHYS 381 3.0 B WS02 PHYSICS 25 4.0 C

WS02 PHYSICS 26 1.0 A WS02 STAT 215 0.0 WD

FS02 GEO ENG 331 3.0 B FS02 GEO ENG 337 3.0 B

FS02 GEOLOGY 332 3.0 C FS02 GEOLOGY 340 3.0 B

FS02 GEOPHYS 285 3.0 B WS03 ART 80 3.0 B

WS03 GEO ENG 248 3.0 B WS03 GEOLOGY ASSES 0.0 S

WS03 GEOLOGY 210 1.0 A WS03 STAT 215 3.0 C

=================================================================

OK 4 COURSES TRANSFERRED TO UMR

EARNED: 3.0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP 3.000 GPA

WS00 MATH 21 3.0 B T

=================================================================

OK 5 HONORS AT GRADUATION BASED ON THE UM CUMULATIVE GPA

3.2 CUM, 3.5 MAGNA, 3.8 SUMMA

EARNED: 137.0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP 2.776 GPA

=================================================================

OK 6 SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE A 2.00 IN MAJOR FIELD OF STUDY

EARNED: 51.0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP 3.078 GPA

=================================================================

NO 7 LAST 60 HRS SHOULD BE ON CAMPUS. 15 HRS OF THE 60 MAY BE

TRANSFERRED WITH DEPT APPROVAL. MORE THAN 15 REQUIRES

DEAN APPROVAL.

--> NEEDS: 1 SUB-GROUP

- 1) ( 39.0 HOURS TAKEN )15 COURSES TAKEN 2.871 GPA

NEEDS: 21.0 HOURS

SELECT FROM: ******** ***

=================================================================

OK 8 COMMUNICATION COMPONENT

EARNED: 20.0 HOURS 2 SUB-GROUPS 2.450 GPA

WS02 GEOLOGY 375 3.0 B

WS01 GEOLOGY 220 4.0 C SS01 GEOLOGY 374 3.0 B

FS01 ENGLISH 160 3.0 B

WS01 GEOLOGY 220 4.0 C WS01 HISTORY 275 3.0 C

=================================================================

OK 9 GROUNDWATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY EMPHASIS

REQUIREMENT

EARNED: 15.0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP 3.000 GPA

FS01 GEOLOGY 275 3.0 B FS01 GEOLOGY 301 3.0 B

WS02 GEOLOGY 375 3.0 B FS02 GEO ENG 331 3.0 B

FS02 GEO ENG 337 3.0 B

=================================================================

OK 10 MINIMUM OF 126 HRS REQUIRED (ADDITIONAL HOURS MAY BE

NEEDED TO SATISFY ALL REQUIREMENTS BELOW)

EARNED: 140.0 HOURS 2.781 GPA

=================================================================

OK 11 HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS (15 HRS)

EARNED: 18.0 HOURS 3 SUB-GROUPS 2.666 GPA

FS99 HISTORY 176 3.0 C

WS99 ECON 122 3.0 B

WS00 ENGLISH 105 3.0 B FS00 ENGLISH 106 3.0 B

WS01 HISTORY 275 3.0 C WS03 ART 80 3.0 B

=================================================================

OK 12 REQUIRED BASIC SCIENCE COURSES

EARNED: 29.0 HOURS 5 SUB-GROUPS 2.153 GPA

AP98 MATH 4 3.0 EXE FS98 MATH 4 0.0 WD

FS98 MATH 6 0.0 WD WS99 MATH 6 2.0 C

FS99 MATH 8 5.0 D WS00 MATH 21 3.0 B T

WS01 PHYSICS 23 0.0 WD FS01 PHYSICS 21 4.0 C

FS01 PHYSICS 22 1.0 A

WS02 PHYSICS 25 4.0 C WS02 PHYSICS 26 1.0 A

FS98 CHEM 1 0.0 WD FS98 CHEM 2 1.0 C

WS99 CHEM 1 0.0 WD FS99 CHEM 1 4.0 C

FS98 CHEM 4 1.0 A

=================================================================

OK 13 BASIC COMMUNICATION COURSES

EARNED: 6.0 HOURS 2 SUB-GROUPS 3.000 GPA

FS98 ENGLISH 20 3.0 B

FS01 ENGLISH 160 3.0 B

=================================================================

OK 14 OUT OF DEPARTMENT COURSES REQUIRED

EARNED: 9.0 HOURS 2 SUB-GROUPS 1.888 GPA

WS99 COMP SCI 53 3.0 D FS99 COMP SCI 73 2.0 C

FS99 COMP SCI 77 1.0 A

WS02 STAT 215 0.0 WD WS03 STAT 215 3.0 C

=================================================================

OK 15 REQUIRED GEOLOGY

EARNED: 30.0 HOURS 2 SUB-GROUPS 3.133 GPA

WS00 GEOLOGY 52 4.0 B FS00 GEOLOGY 113 4.0 B

FS00 GEOLOGY 223 3.0 A FS00 GEOLOGY 224 1.0 A

WS01 GEOLOGY 130 4.0 B WS01 GEOLOGY 220 4.0 C

FS01 GEOLOGY 275 3.0 B WS03 GEOLOGY 210 1.0 A

GEOLOGY 51 0.0 WX

SS01 GEOLOGY 373 3.0 A SS01 GEOLOGY 374 3.0 B

=================================================================

OK 16 REQUIRED GEOPHYSICS

EARNED: 3.0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP 3.000 GPA

WS02 GEOPHYS 381 3.0 B

=================================================================

OK 17 ELECTIVES (30 HRS)

EARNED: 33.0 HOURS 4 SUB-GROUPS 3.000 GPA

FS01 GEOLOGY 301 3.0 B WS02 GEOLOGY 260 3.0 A

WS02 GEOLOGY 375 3.0 B FS02 GEOLOGY 332 3.0 C

FS02 GEOLOGY 340 3.0 B FS02 GEOPHYS 285 3.0 B

WS00 CHEM 3 3.0 C FS01 BIO SCI 251 3.0 A

FS02 GEO ENG 331 3.0 B FS02 GEO ENG 337 3.0 B

WS03 GEO ENG 248 3.0 B

=================================================================

OK 18 FREE ELECTIVE (4 HRS)

EARNED: 12.0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP 3.333 GPA

FS98 FR ENG 5 0.5 A FS98 MATH 2 5.0 B

FS98 MIL ARMY 10 1.0 A WS99 ENG GR 10 3.0 B

WS99 FR ENG 15 0.5 A FS99 MIL ARMY 20 1.0 A

FS00 MIL ARMY 30 1.0 A

=================================================================

OKOPT OTHER COURSES TAKEN AS GRADUATE CREDIT OR MARKED AS

REPEATED COURSE GPA ADJUSTED

EARNED: 30.0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP 3.100 GPA

SS03 ENG MGT 314 3.0 A SS03 ENG MGT 361 3.0 B

FS03 ENG MGT 313 3.0 B FS03 ENG MGT 382 3.0 B

FS03 ENG MGT 386 3.0 B FS03 ENG MGT 441 3.0 B

WS04 ENG MGT 380 3.0 B WS04 ENG MGT 385 3.0 C

WS04 ENG MGT 420 3.0 A WS04 ENG MGT 480 3.0 B

=================================================================

OK 19 EXTRA TRANSFER COURSES NOT COUNTED TOWARD A DEGREE

EARNED: .0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP

=================================================================

OK 20 EXTRA COURSE WORK DONE ON CAMPUS THAT DOES NOT COUNT

TOWARD A DEGREE

EARNED: .0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP

=================================================================

EXCEPTION PROCESSING MESSAGES FOLLOW:

SUB GEOL 301 FOR GEOL 376 - LAUDON,R - 05/03

WAIVED GEOL 51 - LAUDON,R - 05/03

Then

 

[SNGX1275]

PREPARED: 11/03/07 - 19:34 <removed>

<removed> ADVISOR: Ragsdell,Kenneth M

PROGRAM CODE: 20700062 CATALOG YEAR: FS2003

THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ROLLA

ENGINEERING MANAGEMENT GENERAL

MASTER OF SCIENCE

=================================================================

DATE TYPE SCORE %% MSS SSP DATE TYPE SCORE %% MSS SSP

04/2003 QUA 0630 57 00 00 04/2003 VER 0470 51 00 00

04/2003 WR 0045 45 00 00

=================================================================

ALL REQUIREMENTS IDENTIFIED BELOW HAVE BEEN MET

=================================================================

OK 1 A GRADUATE FORM I MUST BE SUBMITTED WITHIN SIX WEEKS AFTER

THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND SEMESTER IN RESIDENCE.

EARNED: .0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP

=================================================================

OK 2 CUMULATIVE GRADUATE CREDIT TAKEN AT BOTH GRADUATE AND

UNDERGRADUATE LEVELS (MUST HAVE 3.0 GPA)

EARNED: 30.0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP 3.100 GPA

SS03 ENG MGT 314 3.0 A SS03 ENG MGT 361 3.0 B

FS03 ENG MGT 313 3.0 B FS03 ENG MGT 382 3.0 B

FS03 ENG MGT 386 3.0 B FS03 ENG MGT 441 3.0 B

WS04 ENG MGT 380 3.0 B WS04 ENG MGT 385 3.0 C

WS04 ENG MGT 420 3.0 A WS04 ENG MGT 480 3.0 B

=================================================================

OKOPT GRADUATE CREDIT FROM POST-BAC AND DUAL STATUS - (INFORMA-TIONAL ONLY)


EARNED: 30.0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP 3.100 GPA

SS03 ENG MGT 314 3.0 A SS03 ENG MGT 361 3.0 B

FS03 ENG MGT 313 3.0 B FS03 ENG MGT 382 3.0 B

FS03 ENG MGT 386 3.0 B FS03 ENG MGT 441 3.0 B

WS04 ENG MGT 380 3.0 B WS04 ENG MGT 385 3.0 C

WS04 ENG MGT 420 3.0 A WS04 ENG MGT 480 3.0 B

=================================================================

OKOPT UNDERGRADUATE CREDIT RECEIVED AS A GRADUATE STUDENT (IN-FORMATIONAL ONLY)

EARNED: .0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP

=================================================================

OK 4 GRADUATE DEGREE WITH NON THESIS - AT LEAST 6 HRS ARE RE-

COMMENDED TO BE OUTSIDE OF THE MAJOR DEPT - (30 HRS)

EARNED: 30.0 HOURS 2 SUB-GROUPS 3.100 GPA

SS03 ENG MGT 314 3.0 A SS03 ENG MGT 361 3.0 B

FS03 ENG MGT 313 3.0 B FS03 ENG MGT 382 3.0 B

FS03 ENG MGT 386 3.0 B WS04 ENG MGT 380 3.0 B

WS04 ENG MGT 385 3.0 C

FS03 ENG MGT 441 3.0 B WS04 ENG MGT 420 3.0 A

WS04 ENG MGT 480 3.0 B

=================================================================

OK 5 COURSES NOT USED TOWARD GRADUATE DEGREE

EARNED: .0 HOURS 1 SUB-GROUP

=================================================================

********************* END OF ANALYSIS *********************

Bachelors of Science in Geology and Geophysics with an emphasis in Groundwater and Environmental Geochemistry.

Masters of Science in Engineering Management.

Currently an Associate Research Engineer for University of Missouri-Rolla. I've worked here for 3 years now, and have progressed as far as I can in the pay scale with a Masters degree. So now I'm faced with a decision of finding another job or proceeding with schooling and getting a PhD in Geology.

What do I wish I had known... I wish I had taken a Co-op or Internship partway through school, to help get my foot in the door with a company, plus it would have been that all so important real world expierence.

I also would have cheated more in my comp sci classes (if you notice on that first quote I got a D in CS 53 and a C in CS77 or whatever the 2nd one I took was - first was C++ and second was FORTRAN).

Edit: Resume found here
That should give you an idea of the type of work I've been doing over the past 3 years.

 

[poertner_1274]

Wow, what a loaded topic....where to start.

I can definitively say this right off the bat "Spend more time studying than partying!!!" I made some stupid choices and could have gotten a lot better grades than I did. I do not intend to brag, but I did not have to spend much time studying for tests, as I took good notes in class and the information typically stayed with me. However my GPA when I finished was 2.8, and if I would have taken more time to study I could have been around 3.5 and had a lot more career opportunities. That is one thing I wish I could go back and change.

Sometimes it's not a bad idea to go into a college and not know what type of field you want to be in. I went to school with SNGX and it is a heavy Engineering school. You were able to take almost 1.5 years of classes in different categories (yet still applied to the hours needed to graduate) and get a feel for what type of career you were interested in. I had a few friends who came in as 'Undecided' and went from there. Sometimes at a young age you are unsure of what you would like to do.

Lastly, remember that your degree (diploma) typically gets you in the door with a company. They know you are smart and can graduate from college, then they typically train you on how they want you to do things.

If I can think of anything else I'll add it. Sorry, but I'm sure this sounds like rambling (and it indeed was), but I am trying to do this in a hurry before my son gets cranky.

 

[ravisunny2]

What did you take in school / college / university, what job do you have today, and what do you wish you had known back then?

Did you want the semester wise breakup ? That would take too much space.

School : ICSE (eqivalent to Sr. Cambridge)
College : B.Tech. & MS Mechanical
College : MS Mathematics

Work descr : CAD systems analyst

Don't have any regrets. All my education has been useful.

Would do the same, if I was given another chance.

 

[TimeParadoX]

School: I went to a special school where I could graduate earlier, I got out of 12th grade at 15 years old
College: University of Dallas in Computer Arts ( I do animations and texture art )
Work: Animator

I answered as simple as possible, I don't want to do with SGNX did and post 500000000 topics on it :haha:

 

[poertner_1274]

I don't want to do with SGNX did and post 500000000 topics on it

I don't think he typed that all out himself....He mentioned something about email....copy....paste!

 

[SNGX1275]

It was a degree audit report for both of my degrees.

 

[Tedster]

1. I have an associates in Electrical & Mechanical technology. I have a bachelor's in Business Marketing and I am working on a master's in Human Resource management.
2. I am a career soldier and I am about to change career paths from enlisted (17 years) to officer. I will do at least 10 to 13 more years. I will be transferring from a combat field (Air Defense) to Quartermaster which is more in line with my degrees and work experiences.

3. I strongly discourage entering the computer science field. It is super saturated with employees and there is virtually NO job security. All of my peers from high school and college in the computer science and information management fields have been in, out, or between jobs in the last 20+ years since high school. This obviously is very stressful and even more so for those who are planning or have a family.

 

[bushwhacker]

3. I strongly discourage entering the computer science field. It is super saturated with employees and there is virtually NO job security. All of my peers from high school and college in the computer science and information management fields have been in, out, or between jobs in the last 20+ years since high school. This obviously is very stressful and even more so for those who are planning or have a family.

That is what I heard from other people in my area.

 

[Julio Franco]

Hope this helps...

I always knew I wanted to study something related to Information Systems, but knowing exactly what was the harder part.

Before I graduated from high school I started TechSpot although it was meant to be a small personal project (kind of like blogs today). Two years later, I already had a job but still wanted to get a degree obviously.

So I divided IT degrees in these four categories:

• Hardware engineering
• Software engineering
• Management Information Systems
• Digital Arts

I already had some background on programming but because of TechSpot and my personal preferences I decided MIS was my thing.
I believe this kind of breakdown within IT related careers will help you.

I went to college in Ecuador for a couple of years until I transferred to the US where I am today (University of Florida at Gainesville). I already graduated with a Bachelor in Decision and Information Sciences (basically MIS), and a minor in Entrepreneurship. Now I'm a semester away from graduating from a Master also in MIS.

Back to your original question...

What did you take in school / college / university, what job do you have today, and what do you wish you had known back then?

Let me use some bullets just so I don't go rambling all over:

• Considering my IT breakdown will likely help you to narrow your search for a good school and degree
• Always, ALWAYS look at the classes for each school you want to apply, sometimes degree names can vary and be deceiving
• GPAs are not very important for your education but they might be when you go out looking for a job. As some other member mentioned, the worst you can do is regret years later that you didn't put all your efforts into it when you could have done so much better.
• College is not only about the education but also about the experience IMO. That's why studying abroad was important for me. You get to know people, cultures, and so on.
• I would say that during the first two years of your career you can spend less time worrying about the future and just enjoy the ride. In the later years however, it should be all about your career path, where you want to be... great schools often offer students the opportunity of meeting potential future employers, my point is in the later years it's not only about the education but about the extracurricular activities related to your career path that can make the difference.
• In my specific case TechSpot takes away pretty much all of my "extracurricular" time, but I have managed to do both for many years now and I have complemented what I've learned doing either. You could just as well find something you love to do in the later years of your degree, or find a company that will employ you during the summer where you can get lots of industry insights and experience..

I think that's all that comes to mind for now

 

[Mictlantecuhtli]

Hrm.. after comprehensive and upper secondary school I had a compulsory military service (NCO in Army Signal Forces), then tried studying information technology for about a year in a polytechnics school.

It didn't motivate me, so I switched to studying English translation and interpretation in a university (I had computing in translation as a minor subject).

I took a break from that as well after three years (I had my reasons), and decided to look for a job or training for one.

So, now I'm a web developer / programmer / system administrator in a small company.