They get paid mad money! You'll be able to invest it and buy a McDonald's franchise by the time you're 35.

Did you leave out the "years older than the age of your great grandfather when he died" part?

Nah, by the time you're 122, you'll own the whole McDonald's empire.

Stop taking advantage of susceptible teenagers, Krem.

But, anyways, by the time I'm 122 (in the year 2110), food at the Ritz Carlton will be prepared at McDonalds-like speed. It might not be delivered at this speed, but it'll be made at it.

That's a bold prediction, young one!

Torrino enjoys subliminal self-one-up-manship.

I've been getting a ton, though, too. At least two in the mail everyday, especially within the past month (most of them end up in the trash), and a gazillion via e-mail (most also ending up in the trash). It was kinda fun at first, but now I just wish the University of Missouri, Miami, Rockhurst, Evansville, Obscureville would save the paper.

Yes, I do. But, a last, with all the good ones, there's a bunch of crap. Today was Long Island University and Eckerd College. UPenn and Lehigh dropped a note in the mail today, though (and Colby in e-mail)

Woah. Eckerd College is next door to my old house. Wanna see a really scary picture?



that's their campus. Look at the top leftish. Below that bridge, on the right side, there are two houses on the water by themselves. You can baaaarely see them. They look like little specs. Thats my house! Eeek. :-$

MORE ADVICE -- TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT

Please keep in mind that I didn't major in business, so your mileage may vary.

Smaller schools will try to sell you on the "personal attention" thing. Don't buy it. Sure, you might get personal attention, but there is a possibility of negative personal attention. If one faculty member doesn't like you, or if you screw up, the whole department knows and you can't really escape it. At the very least, ask the small school what sort of personal attention they offer other than small class size. That usually stops them in their tracks.

I've attended a small private school and a large state school, and I would pick the state school every time. Larger state schools have standardized procedures, such as real help centers with real operating hours and real TA's, good office support, and graduate research groups with money (this is a BIG plus), not to mention a whole office just for job placement. (this is real personal attention.) \:D/ At a smaller school you have to chase everything down by yourself. And it's very inefficient. If you don't have full-time people who are there just to help you, where do you go? You have to go to some secretary or faculty member who isn't used to that job. They might even think you're bugging them. Not good. I'm sure some of the top-tier private schools have established some student support, but they might be too expensive.

Your first two years will be all big classes, that's true. Even then, you will be in small recitation classes or labs (~20 students) with a TA who will know your name. Once you get past your sophomore year, you will be in smaller classes no matter what your school size. You'll be taking seminar classes or doing semester projects where you'll work directly with faculty. You might be able to latch onto a faculty member then. Oh, and one more thing: larger schools offer more classes at different times. Some schools only offer classes during the fall, or every four semesters. If you can't fit it in at that time (or if you fail it ), you're stuck. At a larger schools you can try again. And larger schools have more interesting classes and interdisciplinary material.

If you're going to be in a popular major with lots of students, I like the mid-size state school, something the size of U Va. Big enough to have all tht extra support stuff, but small enough that upper level classes are small. I've heard horror stories about several ultra-large state schools, like those with 48,000 students. At that point, even the upper level classes will have too many students. I heard one horror story about an econ major who graduated from Minnesota. Not a single one of her econ classes was taught by a prof. It was giant lectures and TA's all the way through. #-o Avoid that.

Being piled high with work is the reason you may want to take 5 years to finish.
It's not a "shameful" thing, believe me. A LOT of students take 5 years for just engineering, and if you're double majoring nobody will question that extra year. If you're double majoring in topics that takes less lab time -- like econ or business, you might be able to double up your pre-requisites and squeeze out in four years. However, it might be well worth your extra $15K or so to take that extra year. You will get better grades, you will be less stressed, and you will have an extra summer if you need to work or to make up classes. You will also have some time to do all that networking and latching on to faculty, maybe join a research group in the department. Better yet, get to know the businesses in the area by interning during the school year if you have time. Summer interns are seen as throwaways because they arent' there long enough to learn anything. But if you're a constant employee, even if it's only a few hours each week, you learn the ropes and become a fixture. That's where the jobs are.

Keep in mind that "extras" at a less-known school is almost as good as doing the minimum at a "name" school. That's why they have resumes and interviews.

I started my studies at Clayton College and State University, a small, formerly community college just south of Atlanta. The biggest problem with this type of school is variety. They don't have a large selection of degrees, and many of the ones they are getting are just starting up. They do not allow double-majors and also are only going to approve minors starting this fall.

It is strange also, because in my four semesters thus far, all of my professors remember me and will say hello and some even stop to talk to me (or vice versa). Being in my sophomore year I just found this a little strange. It also may be that I'm a reporter (and News Section Editor) of the school newspaper, and a Student Government Association Senator and have interviewed several of them for various reasons.

That being said, I've decided to transfer to another school next year, as I enter my Junior Year of Biology (essentially Pre-Med). I will be attending the University of Georgia hopefully starting in January.

The phone calls annooyed me more.

I completely agree with everything erendis said,

I have been to a large state school, a meduim school, and a small engineering college...the latter is my elast favorite, the social life is horrid, if you have a problem with one professor (as I did) you are screwed, the choice of classes is less, its pricy, alot of them have so-so reputaiton (there are a ton fo small private colleges in MA, is it really worth $35K, no).

I always say, ask yourself if you think the school you are attending is worth the money, ia hve gone to schools that cost $5000 a a y ear and oens that cost almost $40K a year, and you get the same mix of students in both places.

I took five years, there is no shame in it, and if you study abroad it will likely mean you have ot stay the extra year...don't rush and enjoy it.

I'm going to try to study abroad in Italy next year if possible.

Oh, that would be fantastic.... I'm taking Italian next year, and this summer.

I started mail from colleges. Yay. I feel special. Two so far.

Brown University
Miami Univeristy (Not U of M)

I'm going to Brown over the summer...6 weeks, I think. Summer college. No parents. Fun. :razz:

That's the only letter I got from Brown. Something inviting me to their summer program.

Today was a big day, package wise...
Gannon University
Lafayette College
Porvidence College
St. John's College
University of Delaware
University of Rochester
Vanderbilt University
Washington College

they offered that to me. Im too busy to go. But if I did, I would meet you

Heh. I heard a joke the other day (I forgot where it was) about Brown being full of angsty little preppy boys that got rejected by Harvard. Have fun, Ross. :razz:

Yeah. That's the mail you got from them? Cool.

It probably came out of Ripper's mouth.

Georgetown is full of angsty little preppy boys that got rejected from Harvard. I know. I've been there and the kids are all snooty and think they belong someplace better...

No, I've gotten two from them. That one was first, then an information thingy about a week later. I feel special. Heh.

Interesting to think, we could meet. And make love :razz:

I'll go get some coffee with you. But, I'm a little iffy about the love part...

You should visit Brown during the summer. Tell me when and I'll go seduce the tour guide, take her uniform (it can't be that womanly...), and give y'all a shabby tour of the school.

Maybe my information piece is in the mail. I'm pretty sure I got the summer program guide because of PSAT scores, though...

I got Miami U today by e-mail. Actually, 'twas the only one I got by e-mail outside of York (for the 2829203838th time...)

Ill take what I can get from teh sexy.

The University of Delaware has an excellent honors program, academic wise.

Personally I had the kids I went to school with, but I disliekd them less then the kids I met at Brown.

Providence College is overpriced and not worth it, trash that mailing.

Providence College costs as much as any college outside of MD. Seriously. Even University of Michigan would cost around $20k per year, compared with the $35-ish-k that Providence costs. But, it doesn't really appeal.

The kids at my school are like the kids at Brown. They get whateeever they want. Half of my class has a math or science tutor... $150 SAT tutoring per hour. 20 sessions. Check!

Seriously, Ross, you must live on same alternate reality plane. When I was in highschool, kids were fucking stupid and proud of it.