School Bells

[Scheherazade]

Excellent news, Niamh! :)

[Niamh]

Excellent news, Niamh! :)

((((((hug))))))) Thanks for everything.

[Scheherazade]

((((((hug))))))) Thanks for everything.Aww, thanks for the hug but I haven't done anything. It is so nice to see you so excited about going back to your studies :)

Just try not to remember too "fondly" when the deadlines approach and you don't feel like doing your assignments! ;)

[papayahed]

I'M GOING BACK TO COLLEGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :banana:



Alllllllllll Riiiiiiiiiggghhhhtttt:banana:

[Annamariah]

So the classes begun today. I arrived at the university rather early, which turned out to be a great idea, as it took me 20 minutes just to find the correct classroom which was in the first floor, but which you couldn't reach unless you went via the third floor (now just how stupid is that? But I guess that will not be the case forever, as the remodelling of the building is still a work in progress). Well, I finally found the correct place, but when the teacher arrived, he said that we can't really do anything because a) there were no headphones and b) the computers weren't connected to the network, so we couldn't do the Russian listening comprehension exercises the course is all about or even get the study material...

After such an encouraging start to the new semester the next class was a bit easier to find, though it took quite a long time to get there, as it was in another building. The teacher spoke all too quietly in a huge classroom (she refused to use the microphone), and as Swedish grammar is not very interesting at any rate, it wasn't always that easy to follow the lection.

After my second class I was already very hungry, but didn't have the time to have lunch, as half-an-hour break between the classes just isn't long enough to even get past the queue in the cafeteria.

My third class, which is the reason I cannot attend a compulsory literature class (which has a HUGE amount of reading I now had to study on my own and just hope to pass the exam) was frankly a disappointment. Because they changed all the courses now I have to take this course which is obviously meant for first-year-students, and as a third-year-student there's hardly anything I don't already know. It's so very frustrating to sit there just to be able to write about the lection later, especially when I know I'm missing another class that would probably be much more useful.

I didn't find any of the teachers I need to talk to about the courses I'm not able or allowed to attend, I didn't have time to have lunch in the cafeteria at all, as I was called to work straight from school and basically my whole day pretty much sucked.

I just hope it will get better! :p

[Maximilianus]

Anna, look!! The teacher at the computer lab says all machines are connected now!! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-greet013.gif

.... better luck tomorrow http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-greet009.gif

[papayahed]

So the classes begun today. I arrived at the university rather early, which turned out to be a great idea, as it took me 20 minutes just to find the correct classroom which was in the first floor, but which you couldn't reach unless you went via the third floor (now just how stupid is that? But I guess that will not be the case forever, as the remodelling of the building is still a work in progress). Well, I finally found the correct place, but when the teacher arrived, he said that we can't really do anything because a) there were no headphones and b) the computers weren't connected to the network, so we couldn't do the Russian listening comprehension exercises the course is all about or even get the study material...

After such an encouraging start to the new semester the next class was a bit easier to find, though it took quite a long time to get there, as it was in another building. The teacher spoke all too quietly in a huge classroom (she refused to use the microphone), and as Swedish grammar is not very interesting at any rate, it wasn't always that easy to follow the lection.

After my second class I was already very hungry, but didn't have the time to have lunch, as half-an-hour break between the classes just isn't long enough to even get past the queue in the cafeteria.

My third class, which is the reason I cannot attend a compulsory literature class (which has a HUGE amount of reading I now had to study on my own and just hope to pass the exam) was frankly a disappointment. Because they changed all the courses now I have to take this course which is obviously meant for first-year-students, and as a third-year-student there's hardly anything I don't already know. It's so very frustrating to sit there just to be able to write about the lection later, especially when I know I'm missing another class that would probably be much more useful.

I didn't find any of the teachers I need to talk to about the courses I'm not able or allowed to attend, I didn't have time to have lunch in the cafeteria at all, as I was called to work straight from school and basically my whole day pretty much sucked.

I just hope it will get better! :p

yipes!!!

[Annamariah]

Today I found two of the teachers I was looking for, and I just MIGHT be able to take some courses (I'd probably mostly have to do them independently, but that doesn't matter) that were problematic. Now there's only a few more teachers to hunt down :banana:

I still can hardly wait for the weekend, though, I really need some sleep (starting a new school year, all the schedule problems and going to work at the same time is really quite exhausting...)

[Niamh]

I got my registration email today and started looking around the student area of OU.
We have an online library!!!!!!!

[toni]

Niamh is that an Open University? Cool! I attend one, too. :)

[Niamh]

Yes it is!
Do you really??? what are you studying? whats it like?

[Maximilianus]

Today I found two of the teachers I was looking for, and I just MIGHT be able to take some courses (I'd probably mostly have to do them independently, but that doesn't matter) that were problematic. Now there's only a few more teachers to hunt down :banana:

I still can hardly wait for the weekend, though, I really need some sleep (starting a new school year, all the schedule problems and going to work at the same time is really quite exhausting...)

Look, the two teachers taken down: http://www.freesmileys.org/emoticons/emoticon-misc-005.gif http://www.freesmileys.org/emoticons/emoticon-misc-005.gif

... and Anna the teacher hunter, hunting down more teachers: http://www.freesmileys.org/emoticons/emoticon-misc-027.gif


I'm glad you're solving your problems, but go get some sleep as soon as you can :nod:

[AmericanEagle]

Some random thoughts about being back in school:

- so many expensive books and readers to buy
- so many assignments will be due at around the same time
- I hate cross-campus treks
- U of T is so stingy; it needs to offer more scholarships
- the ES lecture hall chairs are really comfy
- JBI, I went looking for the reading room that you told me about, but I couldn't find it

[Annamariah]

Look, the two teachers taken down: http://www.freesmileys.org/emoticons/emoticon-misc-005.gif http://www.freesmileys.org/emoticons/emoticon-misc-005.gif

... and Anna the teacher hunter, hunting down more teachers: http://www.freesmileys.org/emoticons/emoticon-misc-027.gif


I'm glad you're solving your problems, but go get some sleep as soon as you can :nod:

:lol: As you can see, those teachers were still alive and kicking after I'd dealt with them :lol:

I've only got one class tomorrow, and it's not until 3 pm, so I'll be able to sleep a nice and long night, and then it's weekend and I can rest some more :) (Though I guess I should get started with my homework as long as the amount of it is still manageable... But hey, there's plenty of time for that on the weekend.)

[toni]

Yes it is!
Do you really??? what are you studying? whats it like?

Yes I do! :D It's an option for students like me who have a full-time job and still want to finish college. Right now I'm taking an undergraduate 2-year Arts course, which is roughly the same as Liberal Arts. In OU, most of our lessons are done online, we have a forum where we upload our homework (usually essays/criticisms) and discuss lectures - we call it our virtual classroom. A face to face class is done around 3 times a month, where you actually have to go to the University to meet your professor and submit hard copies of your homeworks or take your exams.
After completing all the requirements of the 2-year course, you may continue to study and earn a degree in whatever field you wish- (I plan to take up Education).
Hope I made sense! :lol: What are you taking up, Niamh?

[Maximilianus]

:lol: As you can see, those teachers were still alive and kicking after I'd dealt with them :lol:

I've only got one class tomorrow, and it's not until 3 pm, so I'll be able to sleep a nice and long night, and then it's weekend and I can rest some more :) (Though I guess I should get started with my homework as long as the amount of it is still manageable... But hey, there's plenty of time for that on the weekend.)

Well, giving this matter a conscientious analysis, if we kill teachers we can never get them to reschedule our courses, and if such a terrible event takes place, then we'll never graduate, so I thought it would be wiser to shoot sedative darts at them, nail them against a wall while they sleep (in our case it would be Lit Net's wall :D) and have them do our bidding.... well more like YOUR bidding, since YOU are the one needing a reschedule of courses. Of course if you need ideas for torturing methods, just let me know, I am at your service and can suggest many wonderful procedures, a few of my own devise :p :lol:

Have a great weekend and rest a lot :nod: .... and kill no teacher.... while you need them :cold: .... :lol:

[Niamh]

Yes I do! :D It's an option for students like me who have a full-time job and still want to finish college. Right now I'm taking an undergraduate 2-year Arts course, which is roughly the same as Liberal Arts. In OU, most of our lessons are done online, we have a forum where we upload our homework (usually essays/criticisms) and discuss lectures - we call it our virtual classroom. A face to face class is done around 3 times a month, where you actually have to go to the University to meet your professor and submit hard copies of your homeworks or take your exams.
After completing all the requirements of the 2-year course, you may continue to study and earn a degree in whatever field you wish- (I plan to take up Education).
Hope I made sense! :lol: What are you taking up, Niamh?

I'm doing AA100 Arts past and Present. :)

Hey JBI, found out what it roughly costs for an overseas student to do a course in Ireland. For mainstream Uni's you are looking at about €10,000 a year. For lesser ones it can be anywhere between €3000 and €8000.

[Veho]

I'm doing AA100 Arts past and Present. :)

Hey JBI, found out what it roughly costs for an overseas student to do a course in Ireland. For mainstream Uni's you are looking at about €10,000 a year. For lesser ones it can be anywhere between €3000 and €8000.

I'm starting that course as well. I'm just waiting for my confirmation e-mail/letter. It'll be good to have someone to chat about the course with :)

[JBI]

Some random thoughts about being back in school:

- so many expensive books and readers to buy
- so many assignments will be due at around the same time
- I hate cross-campus treks
- U of T is so stingy; it needs to offer more scholarships
- the ES lecture hall chairs are really comfy
- JBI, I went looking for the reading room that you told me about, but I couldn't find it

I'm sorry then - I don't think I can point it out any clearer without taking a picture - it really is right near the doors.

As for books being expensive - I've bought most of the books for 4 classes and already have hit 550$ - with two more full year courses to go, and a scholarly addition of Spenser that will probably set me back 40$ or something - luckily OSAP is generous.

[AmericanEagle]

^ Which doors? There are so many of them.

U of T needs to be more generous with scholarships, or at least offer renewable entrance scholarships. I received a non-renewable $2000 scholarship from my college for my first year, and despite getting good grades in my first and second years, I haven't received anything else from them since.

[JBI]

^ Which doors? There are so many of them.

U of T needs to be more generous with scholarships, or at least offer renewable entrance scholarships. I received a non-renewable $2000 scholarship from my college for my first year, and despite getting good grades in my first and second years, I haven't received anything else from them since.

I got 750$ for good grades last year, and I get decent amounts from the government (they pay nicely, since my parents are semi-retired, so I qualify for pretty much maximum OSAP) - as for the doors - the ones lead to directly by the Steps, the main entrance, as seen in the diagram I drew for you :().

[AmericanEagle]

^ The St. George street entrance?

That's great that you got $750 :)

York offered me a renewable $2000 scholarship, and Ryerson offered me a renewable $2500 scholarship. I turned them down to go to U of T; I guess I wanted the prestige.

Well, I'm not too sad about the York and Ryerson scholarships. I was able to maintain an annual GPA of 3.5+ in both my first and second years, which means that I got my Queen Elizabeth II scholarship renewed.

[JBI]

^ The St. George street entrance?

That's great that you got $750 :)

York offered me a renewable $2000 scholarship, and Ryerson offered me a renewable $2500 scholarship. I turned them down to go to U of T; I guess I wanted the prestige.

Well, I'm not too sad about the York and Ryerson scholarships. I was able to maintain an annual GPA of 3.5+ in both my first and second years, which means that I got my Queen Elizabeth II scholarship renewed.

U of T for some reason didn't give me any entrance, even though I had a 91% in high school. Though, York offered me a 4000$ a year, so I perhaps made a slightly poor choice, perhaps - though, given the strike last year, I am glad I didn't go there.

[AmericanEagle]

^ $4000? Is that an automatic entrance scholarship?

I had a 93.7% average in high school, and I only received the $2000 scholarship from my college; I didn't get the $5000 U of T Scholars Program.

[Niamh]

I'm starting that course as well. I'm just waiting for my confirmation e-mail/letter. It'll be good to have someone to chat about the course with :)

No way! Cool! there are some groups for the course on FB and one of the students set up a forum for all us oct 09 starters too. :)
http://aa100oct09.forumotion.net/

[Annamariah]

Well, giving this matter a conscientious analysis, if we kill teachers we can never get them to reschedule our courses, and if such a terrible event takes place, then we'll never graduate, so I thought it would be wiser to shoot sedative darts at them, nail them against a wall while they sleep (in our case it would be Lit Net's wall :D) and have them do our bidding.... well more like YOUR bidding, since YOU are the one needing a reschedule of courses. Of course if you need ideas for torturing methods, just let me know, I am at your service and can suggest many wonderful procedures, a few of my own devise :p :lol:

Have a great weekend and rest a lot :nod: .... and kill no teacher.... while you need them :cold: .... :lol:

I managed to get an answer from one of the teachers I've been looking for via e-mail, and he was very co-operative. I guess it's a good thing I hadn't managed to nail him on the wall before this, or things might not have gone this smoothly :lol:

Now I should start doing homework, or at least tomorrow. I've already got an essay to write, a possible translation assignment to look for and I should also start the Russian listening comprehension exercises and write something about one lecture we had last week. And I'm pretty sure there were some Swedish homework to do also...

[Maximilianus]

I managed to get an answer from one of the teachers I've been looking for via e-mail, and he was very co-operative. I guess it's a good thing I hadn't managed to nail him on the wall before this, or things might not have gone this smoothly :lol:
Great News!!!! .... now you can use the nails for other teachers, so you won't need to spend on more nails. Very cheap results :lol:

Now I should start doing homework, or at least tomorrow. I've already got an essay to write, a possible translation assignment to look for and I should also start the Russian listening comprehension exercises and write something about one lecture we had last week. And I'm pretty sure there were some Swedish homework to do also...
Good luck!! ... and remember to take it easy... and get some rest from homework to homework :D

[JBI]

^ $4000? Is that an automatic entrance scholarship?

I had a 93.7% average in high school, and I only received the $2000 scholarship from my college; I didn't get the $5000 U of T Scholars Program.

U of T didn't give me anything - not that I expected them to, but York offered me 4 000$/year for getting over 90% in high school - the government though has been nice to me, and they put the majority of my osap as a check rather than a loan, so I've been doing alright even without the scholarships (plus I live at home, so I don't need to front cash for rent).

And by the way, 93.7 in high school is pretty damn good - who the hell beat you? Must be some sort of inflation going on in some institutions for anyone to get that high an average (95+) and get the big money.

[Veho]

No way! Cool! there are some groups for the course on FB and one of the students set up a forum for all us oct 09 starters too. :)
http://aa100oct09.forumotion.net/

I've just had a look on that forum, it looks really useful - I'll have to join!

[Niamh]

cool! let me know who you are... you'll know me right away!

[AmericanEagle]

And by the way, 93.7 in high school is pretty damn good - who the hell beat you?

Many people said to me: "You weren't even born in Canada. English isn't even your first language. How could you get a 93.7 average in high school? How could you get accepted to U of T St. George? How could U of T St. George offer you a scholarship?"

You have no idea how upset I was by those comments :(

So your comment, JBI, really means a lot to me :)

[Niamh]

Many people said to me: "You weren't even born in Canada. English isn't even your first language. How could you get a 93.7 average in high school? How could you get accepted to U of T St. George? How could U of T St. George offer you a scholarship?"

You have no idea how upset I was by those comments :(

So your comment, JBI, really means a lot to me :)

If thats the case Eagle, then getting a 93.7 is an even bigger feat because of those circumstances. the people who made comments like that are just jealous. :)

[AmericanEagle]

^ Aw, thanks Niamh :)

[Veho]

cool! let me know who you are... you'll know me right away!

My username is the same as the one I use on here :D

[Niamh]

So i saw!! :D Its going to be great having someone to chat to here about the course alright!

[Annamariah]

I'm already in trouble with my homework - I just can't understand those Russian listening comprehension exercises! Clay buildings and feeding monkeys, clearly not my piece of cake, at least not in Russian :(

[AmericanEagle]

as for the doors - the ones lead to directly by the Steps, the main entrance, as seen in the diagram I drew for you

I went back today, and I still couldn't find it. I'm still not sure which entrance you're talking about, so I took pictures of all the entrances.

[Scheherazade]

So, the deed is done... No coming back.

I have officially applied and got accepted by both of the courses so now I am doing two part-time courses simultaneously. With the second one, they caused me a little trouble because they offer it only after people complete the other course I am doing but after the assessment test and interview, they agreed to let me take it. So, all is good! :D

Next eight months will be looooonnnggg but I am looking forward to it all.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/4827/geekinside.gif (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/geekinside.gif/)

[Maximilianus]

I'm already in trouble with my homework - I just can't understand those Russian listening comprehension exercises! Clay buildings and feeding monkeys, clearly not my piece of cake, at least not in Russian :(

You'll do fine! :thumbs_up
Go get that Russian lesson and show it who you are!! :D
... and if it gets really impossible, you can always do this with the teacher: http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-violent006.gif ..... :lol:

[Scheherazade]

... and if it gets really impossible, you can always do this with the teacher: http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-violent006.gif Hey Max! Go easy with those smileys... There might be some teachers lurking amongst us!

:p

[papayahed]

So, the deed is done... No coming back.

I have officially applied and got accepted by both of the courses so now I am doing two part-time courses simultaneously. With the second one, they caused me a little trouble because they offer it only after people complete the other course I am doing but after the assessment test and interview, they agreed to let me take it. So, all is good! :D

Next eight months will be looooonnnggg but I am looking forward to it all.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/4827/geekinside.gif (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/geekinside.gif/)



Allllllll Riiiiiiigghhgghhhtttt!!!!

[Maximilianus]

Hey Max! Go easy with those smileys... There might be some teachers lurking amongst us!

:p

Don't worry Scher, teachers should already know by now that students make fun of them! It's a normal process in human nature! :D
As a side note, I have a great relationship with almost all my teachers. We even greet each other and smile to each other when we meet at different crossroads of life :p :)

[*Classic*Charm*]

Congrats Scher!!

I've officially had three days of class now. My schedule is awful, but I think I'm going to like my classes. My nutrition class is fun so far- lots of Biochemistry!!

How's everyone else doing?

[JBI]

I went back today, and I still couldn't find it. I'm still not sure which entrance you're talking about, so I took pictures of all the entrances.

Those are the entrances - take either the main one from saint George, or the one from Huron, as there are two rooms - walk in, take 5 steps to the left from St. George, or from the right from Huron, turn 180 degrees, and proceed through the door.

[AmericanEagle]

^ You told me that the rooms were on the ground floor. That's not the ground floor ;). No wonder I was confused.

I've been in those rooms. There are always so many people in there.

[JBI]

^ You told me that the rooms were on the ground floor. That's not the ground floor ;). No wonder I was confused.

I've been in those rooms. There are always so many people in there.

Hmm - they were empty all summer - and that is the ground floor - or at least, it should be, as it is the floor where the entrances are. If you want quieter, better to just go to a high floor in Robarts and get lost amongst the tables scattered over the stacks - or Gerstein isn't bad, if you can stomach the BO of the engineering students (snicker). The reading rooms at Sidney Smith though should be less busy around 8:00.

[AmericanEagle]

and that is the ground floor - or at least, it should be, as it is the floor where the entrances are.

No, that's the first floor. The ground floor is where the cafeteria (and Tim Hortons) is located.


The reading rooms at Sidney Smith though should be less busy around 8:00.

I usually don't go to the rooms after 8PM. I'd prefer not to stay that late on campus. It takes me 75-90 minutes to get home using the TTC, so I usually just leave as soon as my classes are over.


if you can stomach the BO of the engineering students (snicker)

Let's not be mean ;).

[papayahed]

if you can stomach the BO of the engineering students (snicker).



Let's not be mean ;).


Don't forget without those engineering students your areas of study probably wouldn't be around.:santasmil

[Annamariah]

As a side note, I have a great relationship with almost all my teachers. We even greet each other and smile to each other when we meet at different crossroads of life :p :)

Yeah, me too! I like most of my teachers and they seem to like me too, even if I do ask too many questions sometimes :D

Today was an awful day, but mostly because I'm ill. Well, my two classes were the most boring I've got, which didn't help... But I survived! Now I'll just have to write an essay or two today and then I can spend tomorrow almost entirely in bed, which should do me some good :)

[Maximilianus]

Yeah, me too! I like most of my teachers and they seem to like me too, even if I do ask too many questions sometimes :D
It's their job to like us, they get paid for it :D :lol:

Today was an awful day, but mostly because I'm ill. Well, my two classes were the most boring I've got, which didn't help... But I survived! Now I'll just have to write an essay or two today and then I can spend tomorrow almost entirely in bed, which should do me some good :)
Aww, what happened Anna, you caught a flu or something alike? Already seen a doctor? :(
GET WELL SOON :nod:

[Annamariah]

Aww, what happened Anna, you caught a flu or something alike? Already seen a doctor? :(
GET WELL SOON :nod:

I have an extremely sore throat, no fever yet (though I feel like it might be on the way too). No reason to see a doctor, I think, I don't think it's the swine flu... Or at least I hope it isn't :D

[Maximilianus]

I have an extremely sore throat, no fever yet (though I feel like it might be on the way too). No reason to see a doctor, I think, I don't think it's the swine flu... Or at least I hope it isn't :D
Check the fever regularly :nod: and go see a doctor if it goes near or above 38, just in case. It's better to prevent than it is to heal :nod:

[Nightshade]

So, the deed is done... No coming back.

I have officially applied and got accepted by both of the courses so now I am doing two part-time courses simultaneously. With the second one, they caused me a little trouble because they offer it only after people complete the other course I am doing but after the assessment test and interview, they agreed to let me take it. So, all is good! :D

Next eight months will be looooonnnggg but I am looking forward to it all.

http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/4827/geekinside.gif (http://img27.imageshack.us/i/geekinside.gif/)

Congrats!!
Gosh I am feeling jealous of all you students, at the same time I really need this year off soooo..
have fun!!

[Niamh]

congratulations Scher!!!!

[Scheherazade]

Allllllll Riiiiiiigghhgghhhtttt!!!!
Congrats Scher!!
Congrats!!
congratulations Scher!!!!Thank you all very much ladies but it is rather premature for the congratulations...

Please wish me luck and let's celebrate in June (hopefully when we all pass) :D
Don't forget without those engineering students your areas of study probably wouldn't be around.:santasmilTru dat!

Having said that, the engineering students keep me employed; their literacy skills are usually so poor that they end up having to take extra English classes.


Night> Why not take an OU course as well? Just for fun? Those short, taster courses are so tempting! :D

[AmericanEagle]

Don't forget without those engineering students your areas of study probably wouldn't be around.:santasmil

Well, engineering students make fun of us arts students, too. It's sort of a "friendly" rivalry.

[papayahed]

Having said that, the engineering students keep me employed; their literacy skills are usually so poor that they end up having to take extra English classes.


I would argue but ya'll have seen my writing. :eek:
But really who needs literacy when you have numbers????:banana:


Well, engineering students make fun of us arts students, too. It's sort of a "friendly" rivalry.

erm, I know. Rarely do I get the chance on this board to poke at the artsy types.

[JBI]

No, that's the first floor. The ground floor is where the cafeteria (and Tim Hortons) is located.



I usually don't go to the rooms after 8PM. I'd prefer not to stay that late on campus. It takes me 75-90 minutes to get home using the TTC, so I usually just leave as soon as my classes are over.



Let's not be mean ;).

Ah, we'll leave it at that - it clearly is the ground floor though - it is labeled one, at any rate.

[AmericanEagle]

^ Are you sure about that? The floor that I'm describing as the ground floor really is labeled "Ground Floor." I saw it on the floor directories.

[Scheherazade]

Well, engineering students make fun of us arts students, too. It's sort of a "friendly" rivalry.Well, I think engineering students have good reason for that!

:p

[kasie]

Don't encourage them, Scher, they don't need any help, they can manage it all by themselves (she says, having been married to an engineer.....).

[AmericanEagle]

Where is JBI when you need him? Instead, he leaves me here to defend arts students on my own.

[papayahed]

Where is JBI when you need him? Instead, he leaves me here to defend arts students on my own.


eh, he probably just got scared and is waiting for this to get buried. ;):p

[Nightshade]

:lol: :lol: :lol:
why is it always the artsy lot and the engineers?
Im guessing maybe us social scientists are too busy just sitting back and observing you to actually participate!

[Annamariah]

I study at the faculty of arts, and I'm the first to admit that most of the studying done there is completely useless :p Not what I study, though :lol: No, seriously, translation is probably the only practical thing that can be studied there and also the only one that prepares you for working life (unless you want to become a teacher, that is :))

There are really far too many jobless people who have a master's degree from the faculty of arts, desperately looking for work, any work...

[Maximilianus]

There are really far too many jobless people who have a master's degree from the faculty of arts, desperately looking for work, any work...

And, in general, do they ever get to find one related to what they studied?

[Annamariah]

And, in general, do they ever get to find one related to what they studied?

Some of them do, but many of them don't, I guess it's not far from the truth to say even that most of them don't. That's exactly why I was hesitant about going to university at all (I considered going to some "ammattikorkeakoulu" instead, they are schools that prepare their students for some profession), but then I found out about translation department and thought I'd give it a try :) (And I'm very happy that I did.)

[Maximilianus]

Some of them do, but many of them don't, I guess it's not far from the truth to say even that most of them don't. That's exactly why I was hesitant about going to university at all (I considered going to some "ammattikorkeakoulu" instead, they are schools that prepare their students for some profession), but then I found out about translation department and thought I'd give it a try :) (And I'm very happy that I did.)

How sad it must be to have studied something and not being able to make a living out of it. You were lucky to find something you like and can live by :nod:

[Annamariah]

I know :)

It's not as if those who study something like art history didn't know they'll probably never find a job related to their studies - most of them realise that when they apply to university. I guess there's always plenty of people who just want to study for the sake of studying something they're interested in and don't think that much about how to make their living for the rest of their lives. After all there are many professions that don't require any particular education, but which you might get if you've got a master's degree from the university.

[Maximilianus]

I know :)

It's not as if those who study something like art history didn't know they'll probably never find a job related to their studies - most of them realise that when they apply to university. I guess there's always plenty of people who just want to study for the sake of studying something they're interested in and don't think that much about how to make their living for the rest of their lives. After all there are many professions that don't require any particular education, but which you might get if you've got a master's degree from the university.

Yes, that happens. Many people study something just for the love of it, which is much better than loving nothing at all and, therefore, doing nothing at all purposeful with their lives :nod:

[Annamariah]

Yes, that happens. Many people study something just for the love of it, which is much better than loving nothing at all and, therefore, doing nothing at all purposeful with their lives :nod:

That's right. It's not like I'd recommend studying something you don't even like just because it will help you to a profession which will earn you a lot of money. I would't have the motivation needed to pass my studies should that be the case - which is the reason I didn't go to Helsinki University of Technology to become a Master of Science when I had the chance to. (Half of my family was extremely disappointed when I made the decision, but I guess they've accepted the fact that I'll be a much better translator than I would have been if I became and engineer :lol:)

[Maximilianus]

That's right. It's not like I'd recommend studying something you don't even like just because it will help you to a profession which will earn you a lot of money. I would't have the motivation needed to pass my studies should that be the case - which is the reason I didn't go to Helsinki University of Technology to become a Master of Science when I had the chance to. (Half of my family was extremely disappointed when I made the decision, but I guess they've accepted the fact that I'll be a much better translator than I would have been if I became and engineer :lol:)

Oh yes, engineering is for engineering-minded people, not for us :lol:
It's like medicine, I can watch all those seas of blood on TV, but I couldn't be a surgeon at all. I would faint right there, after vomiting a bit and then the poor patient would be as good as dead :lol:

[Annamariah]

Oh yes, engineering is for engineering-minded people, not for us :lol:
It's like medicine, I can watch all those seas of blood on TV, but I couldn't be a surgeon at all. I would faint right there, after vomiting a bit and then the poor patient would be as good as dead :lol:

Haha, that's exactly why I never even considered becoming a doctor even though my mother would have been very happy to see me in medical school :lol: I'm fine with watching those bloody operations on tv or reading about them, sure, it's fascinating, but to actually be there among it all and do something useful - no, that's not something I could do :D

[Maximilianus]

Haha, that's exactly why I never even considered becoming a doctor even though my mother would have been very happy to see me in medical school :lol: I'm fine with watching those bloody operations on tv or reading about them, sure, it's fascinating, but to actually be there among it all and do something useful - no, that's not something I could do :D

Sure, we'd better stick to our language studies and the like, so no one will have to be put at risk :p ...... though it's been proved that words can either heal.... or wound :brow:

[AmericanEagle]

I'm baffled by these anti-arts sentiments, given that this is a literature forum. Where I go to school, the study of literature is classified as an arts program.

In other news, my Queen Elizabeth II scholarship finally got credited to my ROSI account.

[papayahed]

I'm baffled by these anti-arts sentiments, given that this is a literature forum. Where I go to school, the study of literature is classified as an arts program.

In other news, my Queen Elizabeth II scholarship finally got credited to my ROSI account.


Oh. I apologize if my ribbing caused you to think I had any anti-art sentiments.

[JBI]

Meh, science people just seem to hate arts students because arts students actually study something that is interesting. That's generally the problem - it's a sort of grudge, held, assuming the sciences student doesn't become a doctor, because the future incomes of both areas of studies ultimately end up the same in the end. So, in truth, while the science student, especially the engineers, need to be geeky, and study tedious formulas, diagrams and whatnot, the student of arts can approach things which they actually care about, assuming they are people actually interested in what they learn.

I can't see myself sitting around talking to people about molecular biology or whatever, or chemical laws, but I can see myself discussing (as this board is proof of) art, poetry, or better yet - discussing things in other languages. When it comes down to it, sciences seem kind of boring.

[AmericanEagle]

Oh. I apologize if my ribbing caused you to think I had any anti-art sentiments.

No worries :)


When it comes down to it, sciences seem kind of boring.

I think the problem is that people don't seem to realize that arts and sciences aren't mutually exclusive. Although I am an arts student, I did take a variety of courses when I was in high school, which included Grade 12 math, science, and humanities courses, and I did enjoy them all.

[Hurricane]

I love the humanities and I definitely have a higher aptitude for them than anything else, but I've always been interested in pretty much anything. When I was declaring majors last year, I was about a hair's breadth away from being an aerospace engineer, naval architect, or oceanographer.
I love the way that scientists and engineers attack problems and find solutions (plus learning how the world works on a physical/chemical/biological level), but at the same time, I like the analysis skills required by the study of history. I don't think that the sciences and humanities have to oppose one another, and both are a vital part of a good education. A person should have a working knowledge of almost everything (particularly writers).

[Maximilianus]

Meh, science people just seem to hate arts students because arts students actually study something that is interesting.
I'm a living proof that there are exceptions to this general rule. I've always admired and respected artists and their arts, even being sort of a computer geek, if I can be called that way just because I've been studying about computers.

So, in truth, while the science student, especially the engineers, need to be geeky, and study tedious formulas, diagrams and whatnot, the student of arts can approach things which they actually care about, assuming they are people actually interested in what they learn.

Science students can also be actually interested in what they learn. Their formulas may look tedious to an artist, but not to many of those involved in formula-based sciences. You see, the same as painters find beauty in what they paint, a mathematician may find beauty in resolving a theorem (though most of them, I admit, don't perceive the concept of "beauty" the same as an artist does, because their field of action is more "objective", and thus they don't express themselves the same as an artist would).
Now, when formulas become really tedious even for science students, I've seen an interesting approach implemented by several science teachers of today. There was this lady unable to remember a complex formula at the end of an exam, so she said "I can't remember it" and then her teacher replied "Young lady, I have no use for you remembering formulas by heart. What I really need to evaluate is how you use the formula once you see it, so if you can't remember how it goes, just look up the formula in your book and after that, just use it". And that's what she did. It was a type of exam with open books, as though they were told "solve the problem no matter what tools you use, even your class notebooks, everything counts".
I call this an artistic approach to science, and maybe this teacher was in some way a sort of artist himself. Just my thought.


I can't see myself sitting around talking to people about molecular biology or whatever, or chemical laws, but I can see myself discussing (as this board is proof of) art, poetry, or better yet - discussing things in other languages. When it comes down to it, sciences seem kind of boring.
Sciences are generally boring when students are taught in a theoretical way, without a view of the possible applications. For example, if physics teachers considered the use of a trebuchet to explain the principles of levers, that would be real fun, because you would be hurling stones at a target and at the same time you would be understanding how levers work. Science can be taught by playing games, when people want to teach and learn in a non-boring way.

I think the problem is that people don't seem to realize that arts and sciences aren't mutually exclusive.
This is but a piece of great truth :nod:
Has anyone ever seen a fractal? One of these computer-generated pictures? I believe that if you use a formula to create a picture, you are creating a form of artistic expression through a science, and I think it's perfectly valid. Many fractals look really artistic, even beautiful, though being generated by a mathematical formula. I think sciences can create art and arts can create sciences, the latter of which I comment below.


I don't think that the sciences and humanities have to oppose one another, and both are a vital part of a good education. A person should have a working knowledge of almost everything (particularly writers).
Nicely put. Actually, many sciences (if not all of them) are direct descendants of some form of art. For example, the first engineers were not scientists at all, they were artists. Now someone may well wonder who they were. Very simple: artillery craftsmen, makers of bows, catapults, trebuchets and every other ancient weapon. These people first devised their creations in an artistic way, by trial and error. There was no mathematics at those ancient times, no physics, no known gravity laws, just trial and error. What's more artistic than building a machine without following any specific method or pattern, but just pure instinct? Of course, after that there came the first modern engineers figuring out formulas from what they found in the operation of catapults and the like siege engines, and hence giving more accuracy to future devices and even applying the newly discovered principles to applications different from war, like those cranes we see today at the docks, lifting extra-heavy loads.

[papayahed]

Science students can also be actually interested in what they learn. Their formulas may look tedious to an artist, but not to many of those involved in formula-based sciences. You see, the same as painters find beauty in what they paint, a mathematician may find beauty in resolving a theorem (though most of them, I admit, don't perceive the concept of "beauty" the same as an artist does, because their field of action is more "objective", and thus they don't express themselves the same as an artist would).


Agreed. Artists aren't the only ones that can be passionate about their work.

[Annamariah]

I know many people who study in Helsinki University of Technology to become Masters of Science and most of them really seem to enjoy their studies. I also studied a lot of mathematics, physics and chemistry in upper secondary school, but even though I liked maths a lot, physics just wasn't really my piece of cake (I did pretty well in my matriculation examinations, but I didn't enjoy it), so I decided to continue my studies in languages rather than in engineering.

I don't know how it is in whicever part of the world you live, but at least here a Master of Science will probably have much larger income than a Master of Arts, because there just isn't enough work for all the Master's of Arts that have got anything to do with what they've studied and so most of them get a job from another field completely.

Here the Faculty of Arts is full of lifestyle students who don't really have any idea what they're going to do once they graduate, but in the meantime they enjoy student life, have some part-time (or sometimes even full-time) job and every now and then take some exam at the university or write a few papers and then finally graduate in twice the time that it would take if they studied full time. I suppose this is partly because they know that once they graduate, they don't really have much of a chance to find a job that has got anything to do with what they've spent all these years studying.

[AmericanEagle]

JBI, didn't you say that you were thinking of majoring in computer science or engineering? If that was the case, then you must have taken a combination of Grade 12 calculus, geometry, data management, chemistry, biology, and physics. Did you not enjoy them?

I remember reading an article in the Toronto Star about how more males were applying to computer science and engineering programs in university than females. The article stated that because those programs require a specific math course (geometry), girls were at a disadvantage. Math is supposedly taught in a competition-based environment, which would appeal more to male students, while female students would prefer courses that were taught in a cooperation-based environment.

[JBI]

JBI, didn't you say that you were thinking of majoring in computer science or engineering? If that was the case, then you must have taken a combination of Grade 12 calculus, geometry, data management, chemistry, biology, and physics. Did you not enjoy them?

I remember reading an article in the Toronto Star about how more males were applying to computer science and engineering programs in university than females. The article stated that because those programs require a specific math course (geometry), girls were at a disadvantage. Math is supposedly taught in a competition-based environment, which would appeal more to male students, while female students would prefer courses that were taught in a cooperation-based environment.

I have all the high school science credits done. It doesn't matter though, I did not enjoy them, and cannot enjoy them - I'm good at them, especially computer science, as it functions kind of like language, and therefore works with the same sort of logic, but even so, it's all so tediously boring - sitting in a room writing lines of code for hours on end isn't my idea of a career - that's why I ended up opting out of it, since I knew I wouldn't be happy doing that for the rest of my life.

That's probably why there are so few women in engineering and computer science, not because women aren't smart enough, or inclined for those subjects (women, in general, seem to be smarter than their male counterparts), but because, quite simply, the people who study these subjects are the most troll-like people, or, at least at U of T, at any rate, all, assuming they can grow them, with beards and socially awkward plaintiffness, and an unrefined sense of self-superior geek-angst - the kind of people who seem to think socializing isn't worth the time, and everybody else is a moron who knows nothing.

When you think about it, someone like me studies languages, studies means of communication for the sake of being able to communicate with more people, in different languages, about different subjects. Somebody who studies computer science studies how to put commands into a machine, in order for the machine to in some way interact with other machines, and a human, as a means of doing something removed - the actual anti-social nature of the subject is excuse enough not to study it - I think the only thing that made me consider it in the first place was the fact that a) I am good at it, and b) I could've made big money and retired early. But even so, I'm of the mind that I can make it in other fields, and the 40 odd years of torture don't seem worth it.


The actual difference between the genders, that is, biological differences, has nothing to do with it. I think it's just that the fringe-sort of geek culture is more prominent amongst men than women - the whole video game sub-culture, and popular science youth-culture is most certainly geared toward men more. When I think about it, generally, if I were thinking from the perspective of what I think a normal person thinks like, I generally would think of a guy obsessed with video games and computers as a tech geek, a nerd, whereas if I were thinking about a girl, it would be completely different - I'd probably think of her as someone who lacks friends and social skills, and is ultimately a complete reject - the subcultures that seem to feed these areas of study seem dominated, at least where I grew up, by uninteresting men who feel more comfortable in front of a screen than in front of people.


As for what I said, I think many of you will think it somewhat rude, and perhaps offensive, but I think, from my cultural background, that is, growing up in Toronto, it seems to make a little bit of sense. There are actually tons of scholarships and work opportunities directly targeted at females as a means of trying to even out the playing field, but, when I think about it, only three girls were in my first year computer science class of about 100, and one of them, a friend of mine, ended up opting out of computer science because she couldn't stand the environment, whereas another didn't do well, and the third, a very, very bright woman in her thirties who had just emigrated from Taiwan (if my memory serves me correctly) seemed to know she didn't fit in there very well (though, she certainly got the right answers).

[papayahed]

I have to go see the space shuttle but when I get back I'll respond.:D:D

[AmericanEagle]

As for what I said, I think many of you will think it somewhat rude, and perhaps offensive, but I think, from my cultural background, that is, growing up in Toronto, it seems to make a little bit of sense.

I also grew up in Toronto, and I do see your point about the stereotypes of the engineers and computer scientists. I admit that that's probably why I didn't choose to go into those programs, though I did do well in Grade 12 calculus and data management; I didn't take Grade 12 geometry because of the horror stories surrounding it.

[JBI]

I also grew up in Toronto, and I do see your point about the stereotypes of the engineers and computer scientists. I admit that that's probably why I didn't choose to go into those programs, though I did do well in Grade 12 calculus and data management; I didn't take Grade 12 geometry because of the horror stories surrounding it.

I didn't take Geometry either, since they were discontinuing it anyway.

[AmericanEagle]

^ I have no idea why they had to change the math curriculum in the first place. I think it's because they said that students found MCB4U to be too hard, and so it had to be split up into two courses. I didn't think that it was too hard when I took it.

[papayahed]

I have all the high school science credits done. It doesn't matter though, I did not enjoy them, and cannot enjoy them - I'm good at them, especially computer science, as it functions kind of like language, and therefore works with the same sort of logic, but even so, it's all so tediously boring - sitting in a room writing lines of code for hours on end isn't my idea of a career - that's why I ended up opting out of it, since I knew I wouldn't be happy doing that for the rest of my life.

That's probably why there are so few women in engineering and computer science, not because women aren't smart enough, or inclined for those subjects (women, in general, seem to be smarter than their male counterparts), but because, quite simply, the people who study these subjects are the most troll-like people, or, at least at U of T, at any rate, all, assuming they can grow them, with beards and socially awkward plaintiffness, and an unrefined sense of self-superior geek-angst - the kind of people who seem to think socializing isn't worth the time, and everybody else is a moron who knows nothing.

When you think about it, someone like me studies languages, studies means of communication for the sake of being able to communicate with more people, in different languages, about different subjects. Somebody who studies computer science studies how to put commands into a machine, in order for the machine to in some way interact with other machines, and a human, as a means of doing something removed - the actual anti-social nature of the subject is excuse enough not to study it - I think the only thing that made me consider it in the first place was the fact that a) I am good at it, and b) I could've made big money and retired early. But even so, I'm of the mind that I can make it in other fields, and the 40 odd years of torture don't seem worth it.


The actual difference between the genders, that is, biological differences, has nothing to do with it. I think it's just that the fringe-sort of geek culture is more prominent amongst men than women - the whole video game sub-culture, and popular science youth-culture is most certainly geared toward men more. When I think about it, generally, if I were thinking from the perspective of what I think a normal person thinks like, I generally would think of a guy obsessed with video games and computers as a tech geek, a nerd, whereas if I were thinking about a girl, it would be completely different - I'd probably think of her as someone who lacks friends and social skills, and is ultimately a complete reject - the subcultures that seem to feed these areas of study seem dominated, at least where I grew up, by uninteresting men who feel more comfortable in front of a screen than in front of people.


As for what I said, I think many of you will think it somewhat rude, and perhaps offensive, but I think, from my cultural background, that is, growing up in Toronto, it seems to make a little bit of sense. There are actually tons of scholarships and work opportunities directly targeted at females as a means of trying to even out the playing field, but, when I think about it, only three girls were in my first year computer science class of about 100, and one of them, a friend of mine, ended up opting out of computer science because she couldn't stand the environment, whereas another didn't do well, and the third, a very, very bright woman in her thirties who had just emigrated from Taiwan (if my memory serves me correctly) seemed to know she didn't fit in there very well (though, she certainly got the right answers).

erm, ok. Back from the shuttle landing.

1) You have insulted any woman not in a science field. You are suggesting that women are too shallow to study something they truly like because of the people in that field. As if interests are that easily interchangeable all the while neglecting the fact that for quite a number of years society has suppressed the notion that women didn’t belong in sciences.

2) A lot of what you claim can be said of artists as well - dirty, trollish, socially inept. Who ever heard of a well adjusted, good artist? I’m really surprised that you would tap into such an obvious and played out stereotype, I mean really scientists as nerds. You've let me down.



I also grew up in Toronto, and I do see your point about the stereotypes of the engineers and computer scientists. I admit that that's probably why I didn't choose to go into those programs, though I did do well in Grade 12 calculus and data management; I didn't take Grade 12 geometry because of the horror stories surrounding it.


So, Anti-science stereotypes are ok?

[AmericanEagle]

So, Anti-science stereotypes are ok?

I never said that I was anti-science. I mentioned in my other post that I did take Grade 12 math and science courses, and that I did enjoy them. I loved learning about probability, permutations and combinations, matrices, derivatives, logarithms, and limits.

I was merely agreeing with JBI that stereotypes exist. But stereotypes exist in every area of study. I'm sure that there are stereotypes of arts students as lazy and hard partyers.

As for why I didn't go into computer science or engineering, it's because I didn't take the geometry and physics courses required for admission. If I really wanted to go into the sciences, I totally would have went for it in spite of the stereotypes. But although I do enjoy equations and formulas, it is not something I would want to do for a living.

[Hurricane]

When you think about it, someone like me studies languages, studies means of communication for the sake of being able to communicate with more people, in different languages, about different subjects. Somebody who studies computer science studies how to put commands into a machine, in order for the machine to in some way interact with other machines, and a human, as a means of doing something removed - the actual anti-social nature of the subject is excuse enough not to study it

Conversely, you could say that the computer science student studies how to create something that connects and enables millions of people around the world. Without computer scientists plugging in code all day, I couldn't have this conversation with you guys, check my Russian homework with a translation program, or send pictures from last weekend's football game to my sister across the country instantly. The internet and computer science has probably done more for communications between people of different languages and cultures than any other invention of the last hundred years.

[JBI]

erm, ok. Back from the shuttle landing.

1) You have insulted any woman not in a science field. You are suggesting that women are too shallow to study something they truly like because of the people in that field. As if interests are that easily interchangeable all the while neglecting the fact that for quite a number of years society has suppressed the notion that women didn’t belong in sciences.

2) A lot of what you claim can be said of artists as well - dirty, trollish, socially inept. Who ever heard of a well adjusted, good artist? I’m really surprised that you would tap into such an obvious and played out stereotype, I mean really scientists as nerds. You've let me down.


So, Anti-science stereotypes are ok?

Where did I say women were to shallow to like science? I didn't mention anything about most science, I was merely commenting on applied sciences, like Computers and Engineering, as mentioned above - as, since anyone can tell you, the split in other fields of science are relatively even, if not predominantly female.

I challenge you to take academic courses in computer science (not college level courses, which are more artistic, but the university level ones, where one actually studies things like data structures and algorithms, and implements them into code to make calculations run a minute fraction of a second faster) and tell me what exactly is so thrilling about getting the computational complexity of a function an unnoticeable bit slower.

It's not even that though, the whole environment of such fields is dissuasive of social interaction.

I merely highlighted that the causes of the lack of women in this field then, can mostly be contributed with the growth of a sort of "geek" culture, which has, as of now, been almost exclusively male. It has nothing to do with women being more or less than men, so don't put words in my mouth. The point is, in the fields of Engineering and Computer Science, in Canada, and elsewhere, the vast, vast majority of students are male - there are even bursaries and sponsorships in place in order to encourage women to study these subjects, so I clearly am not making this up - the stereotype of these students as male then, most certainly is true, given that the enrollment demographics attest to this.


If anything, my comments were misandric - I don't think I said anything that was misogynist. Please, enough talking about letting people down, by not reading, or perhaps choosing not to read properly, rather than fester a constructive dialogue, you've let me down.


Conversely, you could say that the computer science student studies how to create something that connects and enables millions of people around the world. Without computer scientists plugging in code all day, I couldn't have this conversation with you guys, check my Russian homework with a translation program, or send pictures from last weekend's football game to my sister across the country instantly. The internet and computer science has probably done more for communications between people of different languages and cultures than any other invention of the last hundred years.

And what is the point of such a statement? Alright, and the workmen who build a bridge allow people to travel over it every day, but what is the point of such a statement? We all know the affect the technological advancements of the computer era have had - we clearly are all using the internet - but, when it comes down to it, that doesn't justify studying it, or writing code as something a) enjoyable, b) interesting, or c) really personal, in the sense that the goal of the writing of code is to be right, not be personal, not to interact, but to be invisible, and work without any human adjustment to the interior (though, they did teach me in a lecture to make my code unreadable to an extent, as to force employers to rehire me if they needed things changed).

[Hurricane]

Because to a lot of people it is enjoyable and interesting. Some of my Computer Science friends love writing code. I may think they're crazy, but it's (to me) a useful thing to study and (to them) a fun and fulfilling thing to study. And if we're going with the workman/bridge analogy, I would hope that he made it correctly and not with personal touches. Besides, I would say that creating or even having a small part in the creation of something--whether a painting or a computer program or the plans for a supersonic jet--leads to a great deal of personal satisfaction. You don't have to leave a "signature" for it to be yours.
Maybe I just enjoy the mundane, but when I took a class last year involving some minor computer programming, it was very satisfying to get my code to work because it was so particular.
I'm kind of curious about your "interaction" thing. Are you saying that since their work necessitates interacting with the computer and not necessarily people it is less appealing?

[Maximilianus]

I don't know how it is in whicever part of the world you live, but at least here a Master of Science will probably have much larger income than a Master of Arts, because there just isn't enough work for all the Master's of Arts that have got anything to do with what they've studied and so most of them get a job from another field completely.

Here the Faculty of Arts is full of lifestyle students who don't really have any idea what they're going to do once they graduate, but in the meantime they enjoy student life, have some part-time (or sometimes even full-time) job and every now and then take some exam at the university or write a few papers and then finally graduate in twice the time that it would take if they studied full time. I suppose this is partly because they know that once they graduate, they don't really have much of a chance to find a job that has got anything to do with what they've spent all these years studying.

In my part of the world there's a very similar situation. I could even dare say an identical situation.

[JBI]

In my part of the world there's a very similar situation. I could even dare say an identical situation.

It makes no difference though, in terms of income, a Bachelors of Science, in general sciences, like life science isn't really going to make all that much more over a Bachelors of Arts. The main appeal, I think, is graduate school, notably medical school, where I wager the bulk of people here at least dream of ending up.

But on the flip side, essentially anyone from the arts could make the same income as a doctor if they really wanted to, by maximizing in the graduate school options available to them, such as Law School, which a strong backing in English wouldn't hurt for. It's also something like 35% of the CEOs in Canada are graduates with degrees in arts, so there is also that door open as well.

The whole idea that what you study determines how well you do in life is a sham, really. There are plenty of Science degree holders working meh jobs. It is all really how you apply yourself, and how well you do that determines anything - it just happens in the arts that there are a lot of meh people, whereas in sciences, at least here, they seem to filter out a lot faster (the difference being, I suspect, that it is easier, financially, to support more arts students than science students).

[Hurricane]

I would argue that science degrees have a lot more options than the "big three" for the humanities (education, law, business). It's possible to do something like be an English major who goes on to med school, but with the amount of coursework you would have to do outside of your major to fulfill the requirements, it'd almost be more worth it to double major with Biology or something.
The science major probably would make more right out of the gate than the humanities major since they're generally in higher demand, but more of the "super-rich" are humanities major types thanks to business. The "odds" of doing well are higher in the sciences, but if you really applied yourself to business (or certain types of law, I guess) as a humanities type, you can go pretty far.
That being said, it's pointless to major in something you dislike just because of a job. I know a fair amount of kids who are aero engineering majors because they want to be astronauts and therefore need an engineering degree. But they're often miserable studying aero, which would mean they would probably hate being astronauts, since they have to do lots of advanced study (usually need an MS in engineering to even be considered) and calculations in the field as part of the job.


It is all really how you apply yourself, and how well you do that determines anything

Truth. If I were hiring for a job where a strong math background wasn't necessarily important, I would take the 3.9 Political Science Major over the 2.0 Physics Major any day, even though the Poli Sci guy probably had an easier time in college.

[JBI]

I would argue that science degrees have a lot more options than the "big three" for the humanities (education, law, business). It's possible to do something like be an English major who goes on to med school, but with the amount of coursework you would have to do outside of your major to fulfill the requirements, it'd almost be more worth it to double major with Biology or something.
The science major probably would make more right out of the gate than the humanities major since they're generally in higher demand, but more of the "super-rich" are humanities major types thanks to business. The "odds" of doing well are higher in the sciences, but if you really applied yourself to business (or certain types of law, I guess) as a humanities type, you can go pretty far.
That being said, it's pointless to major in something you dislike just because of a job. I know a fair amount of kids who are aero engineering majors because they want to be astronauts and therefore need an engineering degree. But they're often miserable studying aero, which would mean they would probably hate being astronauts, since they have to do lots of advanced study (usually need an MS in engineering to even be considered) and calculations in the field as part of the job.



Truth. If I were hiring for a job where a strong math background wasn't necessarily important, I would take the 3.9 Political Science Major over the 2.0 Physics Major any day, even though the Poli Sci guy probably had an easier time in college.

It depends - for instance, I know people in Sciences and Commerce who dread having to work in humanities, because of language restrictions - some people don't do well, because, quite simply their ability at writing, whether based on upbringing, or other factors, such as being new to the host language, or an inability to read slowly, is lacking. This doesn't mean they aren't smart - I would wager, to do very well in any subject one needs to work very, very hard. Some people's backgrounds just aren't as accustomed to the trends of humanist study, and are more suited for scientific study - it is all relative.

A friend of mine, coming from China, thought taking Chinese history she would get a perfect, because she already knew everything. But what ended up happening, as is generally the case, was that come test time, the language restriction at formulating and quickly writing a persuasive essay hindered her, and she still ended up with an average mark - likewise, my brother, who is a science-oriented person, and hasn't read a book in his life, come med-school application time, ended up giving me a call to write his application for him, since, quite simply, he is unable to answer those essay questions persuasively. The actual difficulty of any course is relatively subjective, I think it is just some of the time, where sciences are concerned, that a lot of people, who study extremely hard end up there, because they believe medical school is a sure path to happiness in life - the averages though, are still C+ - B-, so it all depends.

I don't personally feel that my college degree is any easier than someone else's - I know how much effort I put into the study of languages to know that it isn't an easy task.

But, then again, if I was just taking English, I may think that, as a major, it would probably be the easiest thing in the world for me - of everything I seem to have the least difficulty reading and writing about English works, especially poetry. But can other people do that? Give most people a poem beyond "I wandered lonely as a cloud" and they more often than not will be completely lost - good luck writing about one then, and saying something that nobody else could come up with, in a better way than anyone else's writing.

Lets be honest - saying The Road Not Taken is a great praise of individuality, and on pursuing one's own dreams may work in high school, but I think professors of English know better - the methods of thinking for people who don't read certain genres simply don't develop, and, quite simply, many people are not capable of reading many texts as a result - whereas, in contrast, many people are not particularly good at scientific understanding, and would struggle in a biology classroom (I'm probably one of them) - quite simply, it is not something I enjoy, and not something I have the least bit of interest in - generally speaking though, it depends on how one really develops as a learner.

[Hurricane]

I guess what I'm getting at with "easier" is that most humanities majors have to take fewer credits (and generally get more leeway with electives and the courses they do take) and that grading could be construed as more lenient.
If you get a calculus problem wrong, it's wrong. If you hand in an essay, even if it's poorly written and even factually wrong, it's pretty rare that the teacher will hand it back with a zero scribbled on it.
I spend a lot of time doing research, reading, and writing for my history classes, and I put hard work into it. It's hard to get an A in almost any class, but I'd argue that it's easier to get say, a C in English than Electrical Engineering, just because of the more subjective nature of grading for humanities courses.
I'll agree with you though that reading/writing skills are not necessarily "easy": my roommate (chem major, very smart) by her own admission writes like a fifth grader and hasn't read a book since "Holes" in seventh grade. She nearly cried when I mentioned that the medical school admissions tests usually have a writing component. However, she still managed an A in English class.

[Annamariah]

It makes no difference though, in terms of income, a Bachelors of Science, in general sciences, like life science isn't really going to make all that much more over a Bachelors of Arts. The main appeal, I think, is graduate school, notably medical school, where I wager the bulk of people here at least dream of ending up.

At least here almost no one who goes to university leaves their studies when they've got their Bacherlor's Degree, almost everyone continues until they are Masters in the subject they started to study. People who want to go to medical school go there straight after upper secondary school (a Finnish equivalent for high-school) if they just can pass the exams (many people take the entrance exam several times, maybe going to work for a couple of years if they won't get in immediately), it's not like they at first study in the University of Technology and then continue in med school.

I don't know what's included in the Faculty of Arts in other countries, but here it's just languages, literature, philosophy and history and such. Mostly things that won't lead to any profession, really, unless you're planning to become a translator or a teacher (languages or history). Gender studies might be interesting, but not very useful when it comes to earning your living.

[AmericanEagle]

The actual difficulty of any course is relatively subjective

I agree. I have been fooled a couple of times by the Anti-Calendar.


If you get a calculus problem wrong, it's wrong. If you hand in an essay, even if it's poorly written and even factually wrong, it's pretty rare that the teacher will hand it back with a zero scribbled on it.
I spend a lot of time doing research, reading, and writing for my history classes, and I put hard work into it. It's hard to get an A in almost any class, but I'd argue that it's easier to get say, a C in English than Electrical Engineering, just because of the more subjective nature of grading for humanities courses.

By that same token, I would say that it is easier to get an A in the sciences than in the arts.


it just happens in the arts that there are a lot of meh people, whereas in sciences, at least here, they seem to filter out a lot faster (the difference being, I suspect, that it is easier, financially, to support more arts students than science students).

I just saw on the news today that 1 in 6 first year university students in Canada will drop out. Professors blame that on inadequate preparation in high school.

[JBI]

It probably, I would wager, has something to do with university culture as well - some people think listening to recordings, or getting somebody's notes is equal to going to class, and working hard a few days before exams, or on essays ending up being finished over night is doing as well as one should - drinking has something to do with it as well, I would wager.

It goes beyond that too though - for instance, if I were to go out drinking with my friends more often, I would end up tossing about 10-20$ every time I go out, which would eventually end up taking a toll - the only way to counterbalance that, for most people, is to get a part time job - in that sense then, it takes double the time up one would spend studying or whatever to socialize - not that socializing isn't important, but it depends how one approaches such things.

For instance, I meet with a friend of mine often, and we study together - I help her with her English (mostly helping her understand idiomatic phrases and common-place metaphors), whereas she helps me with my Chinese - the cost - maybe a few dollars for coffee.


I think the general idea is that university, especially undergrad, if one wants to be serious, is a time when one is supposed to live in almost poverty, and make sacrifices - some are willing to, others are not - some do well, some do not. It's all about what you put into it.

[AmericanEagle]

or on essays ending up being finished over night

Don't tell me you've never pulled all-nighters ;)


the only way to counterbalance that, for most people, is to get a part time job - in that sense then, it takes double the time up one would spend studying

I have a part-time job, but I don't think that it interferes with my studying. If anything, it teaches you to manage your time more wisely.

[JBI]

Don't tell me you've never pulled all-nighters ;)



I have a part-time job, but I don't think that it interferes with my studying. If anything, it teaches you to manage your time more wisely.

It's not that though - I always pull all nighters with essays - but that isn't because I need to, but because I slave to get them just perfect - I haven't in my university career yet started a work the day before it was due, if it was anything major. I will, more often than not, have the whole concept of the essay, with essentially the structure of it lined up in my head at least a week before it is due, if possible - the reason I stay up, is always, as long as I can help it, to edit it to as perfect a state as I can manage, not to write the things - I know people who don't edit - I don't do anything but edit - actually writing the thing takes only a couple of hours - editing takes several days, and is never finished.


I think another problem is people are too afraid to ask questions, or go in to see their professors - I think though, that some people learn quickly that these people should, if they are any good, be approachable - that's one lesson some people just don't pick up on though.

[Niamh]

At least here almost no one who goes to university leaves their studies when they've got their Bacherlor's Degree, almost everyone continues until they are Masters in the subject they started to study. People who want to go to medical school go there straight after upper secondary school (a Finnish equivalent for high-school) if they just can pass the exams (many people take the entrance exam several times, maybe going to work for a couple of years if they won't get in immediately), it's not like they at first study in the University of Technology and then continue in med school.
Its the same here. When we do our leaving cert our results add up as points. every course is a certain amount of points. People who want to do Med/ Nursing will go straight into colleges that provide courses for these professions. Like the main universities and the Royal College of Surgeons. People who want to study computing generally go to the Institutes of Technology, but many of these have broadened there course ranges, and some now offer nursing. I went to an IT in Dundalk and studied Applied Cultural Studies. Most offer courses in computing, engineering, construction, science, Business, finance and accounting.
We also have separate schools for Business and Art colleges. You wouldnt have every single area of study under one roof here.


I don't know what's included in the Faculty of Arts in other countries, but here it's just languages, literature, philosophy and history and such. Mostly things that won't lead to any profession, really, unless you're planning to become a translator or a teacher (languages or history). Gender studies might be interesting, but not very useful when it comes to earning your living.

Thats kind of what the Faculty of Arts here is like too, but you generally start off with i think three subjects (some combinations arent allowed) and by the end of your degree you've majored on one. for example, could study English, celtic studies and archaeology and end up with a BA in Archaeology. There is only one college in Ireland, Sligo Institute of Technology, that offers Archaeology as a BSc. If you want to be a teacher here, you have a couple of options; do a H-Dip when you get your BA or go to a teaching college.

[Hurricane]

Question for people at other colleges: my college has mandatory attendance for all classes, but most don't. Many of my friends at other schools complain when a professor has mando attendance since they "have to show up". I don't really get why you wouldn't go to class when you're paying up to $50,000 to be there.
Is this pretty common at other schools?

[papayahed]

When I first attended there wasn't a mandatory attendance policy (10 + years ago) but there is at my current university. It really surprised me, are kids more irresponsible?? In the syllabus it said that grades will be lowered by one grade if you miss "X" amount of days and you will get a failure if you miss "Y" amount. I don't know how much it's enforced though, due to work I missed two straight weeks of class and missed classes here and there so I know I was between X and Y but still received an A.

[Annamariah]

Its the same here. When we do our leaving cert our results add up as points. every course is a certain amount of points. People who want to do Med/ Nursing will go straight into colleges that provide courses for these professions. Like the main universities and the Royal College of Surgeons. People who want to study computing generally go to the Institutes of Technology, but many of these have broadened there course ranges, and some now offer nursing. I went to an IT in Dundalk and studied Applied Cultural Studies. Most offer courses in computing, engineering, construction, science, Business, finance and accounting.
We also have separate schools for Business and Art colleges. You wouldnt have every single area of study under one roof here.
In Helsinki University you can study almost anything as a minor (we have several faculties in different parts of the city), though some subjects requrire you to take an exam you must pass in order to be allowed to study said subject, and for example medicine isn't something you can just read for a couple of credits, it's pretty much out of bounds for those who aren't med students :p We can also take some courses from other universities in the area (most likely Helsinki University of Technologyor Helsinki School of Economics), if we want to.


If you want to be a teacher here, you have a couple of options; do a H-Dip when you get your BA or go to a teaching college.
Here if you want to become a teacher, you have to take pedagogy as a large minor in addition to whichever happens to be your major that you'd like to teach one day.


Question for people at other colleges: my college has mandatory attendance for all classes, but most don't. Many of my friends at other schools complain when a professor has mando attendance since they "have to show up". I don't really get why you wouldn't go to class when you're paying up to $50,000 to be there.
Is this pretty common at other schools?
We have mandatory attendance to certain courses, but some you can opt to take as a book exam. In translation most classes require attendance, though, and a book exam is not an option.

We don't, however, pay anything to be allowed to be there, unless you count the 80€ we pay for the membership of the student union each year as some sort of an tuition fee :p

[AmericanEagle]

I haven't in my university career yet started a work the day before it was due, if it was anything major.

I bet you're the only person at U of T who has never procrastinated ;)


whereas she helps me with my Chinese.

Your Mandarin is probably better than mine :). Though I have picked up some words and phrases in Mandarin from my workplace.

[JBI]

i bet you're the only person at u of t who has never procrastinated ;)



your mandarin is probably better than mine :). Though i have picked up some words and phrases in mandarin from my workplace.

你是華人嗎？

Anyway, I procrastinate on other things - like vocabulary and stuff - grammar comes easy, but vocab is tricky for me, so I am often writing furiously right before the test, trying to hammer it into my head.

[papayahed]

Whoooo Hoooo! First test down.

[Niamh]

Whoooo Hoooo! First test down.

No fair! :( I havent even started yet!

[Annamariah]

Whoooo Hoooo! First test down.

Whoo hoo, first medicine-biology special field translation down. Just doesn't sound as good yours :D I'll have my first test next Tuesday, Swedish grammar, ugh :p

[Hurricane]

Whoooo Hoooo! First test down.

Nice. I start six week exams next week and am definitely not looking forward to them. :sick:

[rimbaud]

I just started 2 weeks ago, and even though I didn't think that I'll like it, I must say, I love it!!!!!!
it would have been nicer if I went to art school instead

[Niamh]

finally got my tutor details! :banana:

[papayahed]

finally got my tutor details! :banana:

What's that?

[Niamh]

because i'm doing a distance learning course, each area, I'm area 12, get deligated a Tutor to advise them throughout the course and to hold both online tutorials and a day tutorial once every five to six weeks.

[Scheherazade]

How many tests have you got Papaya?

I have just completed 5% of my assignment that is due in January :goof:

[Niamh]

go scher!

[papayahed]

How many tests have you got Papaya?

I have just completed 5% of my assignment that is due in January :goof:

4 tests in one and 4 tests and 4 speeches in the other.:goof:

[Scheherazade]

go scher!:D
4 tests in one and 4 tests and 4 speeches in the other.:goof:That is a lot... Is that till June?

Can you choose the speech topics yourself?

[papayahed]

That is a lot... Is that till June?

Can you choose the speech topics yourself?


Nope, classes end around December 7th (sometime that week).

I'm pretty sure we get to pick the speech topic (at least for the first) but I think the professor gives us certain parameters. The first speech was "My Life is like _________" and you had to fill in the blank and explain. It is definitely not my favorite class, give me a math class any day.

[Scheherazade]

A lot of exams for 3 months!

Maybe you can make the presentations about Maths? :D

[papayahed]

haha, my fingers are crossed

[Annamariah]

I have to finish a translation about recycling fibre-reinforced plastics before Monday... Ugh. And then I've got the Swedish grammar test on Tuesday, and I honestly can't decide which one I'm less enthusiastic about :goof:

[Scheherazade]

Finished reading one of the course text books... Now I need to concentrate on "extra" readings...

And need to come up with a research proposal.

[Niamh]

So i had my first tutorial on Saturday. I was very nervous because, well its been 6.5 years since i last studied. Saturday was the first official day of the course too, but the tutor wanted us to have studied our section of Cleopatra for the class. I'd gone into town on Thursday to get some extra reading, Plutarch's Roman Lives and Cassius Dio's The History of Rome: The Life of Augustus, as these are two famous texts that contain info on Cleo, and reference books for the course. Interesting stuff.
So the class was two hours long and it was such a different type of tutorial to the ones i remember. It was more of a discussion which i found really interesting. The tutor was very enthusiastic (and cute :p*knows she's going to have to pay for that comment in a couple of minutes so hides from kilted.* ) which gave a good athmosphere to the class. I've only ever had one other tutor in my third level education years show such enthusiasm for his chosen occupation and that was my Archaeology Tutor in DKIT. Naturally that was my favourite class. I find enthusiasm from the educator makes studying a subject a lot easier.
The class seemed really nice. One student though did get on my nerves a bit. In my book, you dont cut off a Tutor while they are talking, and if they want to speak you let them. it is their class after all.
Anyway, the class was really fasinating. I'm probably doing to write up drafts of my assignment tomorrow and wednesday, to get the practice in. My next class is a telephone tutorial and then a class on halloween. cant wait. :)

[Scheherazade]

Glad it all went well, Niamh! :)
Naturally that was my favourite class. I find enthusiasm from the educator makes studying a subject a lot easier.Agreed. That and "cuteness"! :p

[Niamh]

Glad it all went well, Niamh! :)Agreed. That and "cuteness"! :p

Yep. :p ahem. hehehe

[kilted exile]

meh I still wins though

[Annamariah]

I've got too much to do and feel like I'm not doing my best either. Argh. And what the hell am I doing here on LitNet when I should be doing Russian listening comprehension? :eek2:

[motherhubbard]

I know, Annamariah. I need to ground myself. I only slept three hours last night because of homework and I'm here. That's crazy!

Eight more weeks and I'm DONE with classes! Then I'm on to student teaching for 15 weeks. Then Graduation. Can you believe that? I can't .

[Annamariah]

I've still got two and a half years ahead of me... that's if I'll stay on the schedule :p

Good luck with your last two months of classes :) Don't spend too much time over here until you've finished, but don't abandon us completely either! Just try to find a healthy balance :nod:

[motherhubbard]

good luck to you, too. Sounds like you're half way there!

[Annamariah]

Almost, yes :) I should get my bachelor's degree this year (I mean next spring) and then master's degree in the spring of 2012.

[motherhubbard]

Then we are at exactly the same place. I try not to think about the next five years, just the next eight months. After my bachelor's I will be able to work while I take master's courses. When I'm all done I think I'll take some kind of amazing vacation.

[papayahed]

erm, both of you step away from litnet and do your homework!!

[Niamh]

i've anywhere between 3-6 years of study today depending on how i decided to work my degree...

[motherhubbard]

erm, both of you step away from litnet and do your homework!!

Yes, mother :crash:

[Scheherazade]

By January I need to write about 15K words in various essays, complete a research and prepare a presentation as well as go through 4 observations.

I have written about 500 words yet! :D

[motherhubbard]

you need to get to work!

[Niamh]

yes!!! start writing missy!

[papayahed]

Yes, mother :crash:



HaHaHa:lol: I feel like I'm at work.

[Niamh]

HaHaHa:lol: I feel like I'm at work.

you do it so well!!! :D

[Modigliani]

I didn't want to join this thread because I'm a rather reluctant academian, but I am finally beginning classes come the week of 12 October. The silly French and their silly strikes pushed back (or forward?) my university's schedule so that the fall semester begins ridiculously late. It's going to be mad difficult to get into the studious groove.

[motherhubbard]

That's great Mod. I hope you enjoy your studies!

[papayahed]

One speech down three to go. Apparently when I get up to give a speech I become a dancing queen. I have sooo much energy me feet are always moving. I've tried scrunching my butt cheeks but that's too distracting any other tips??

[Niamh]

nope! cant help. Public speaking is not my thing...

[Maximilianus]

I've got too much to do and feel like I'm not doing my best either. Argh. And what the hell am I doing here on LitNet when I should be doing Russian listening comprehension? :eek2:
Russian is not half as amusing as Lit Net, so you're getting amusement. That's what you're doing here... :lol:


I've still got two and a half years ahead of me... that's if I'll stay on the schedule :p
You will! :nod:


Almost, yes :) I should get my bachelor's degree this year (I mean next spring) and then master's degree in the spring of 2012.
You will! :nod:


One speech down three to go. Apparently when I get up to give a speech I become a dancing queen. I have sooo much energy me feet are always moving. I've tried scrunching my butt cheeks but that's too distracting any other tips??

Probably if you remain quiet you'll get more nervous, so if moving your feet helps you deal with nerves, then you should probably stop scrunching your butt cheeks :D

[papayahed]

Probably if you remain quiet you'll get more nervous, so if moving your feet helps you deal with nerves, then you should probably stop scrunching your butt cheeks :D

The problem is that my footwork is a distraction to the audience.

[*Classic*Charm*]

I've tried scrunching my butt cheeks but that's too distracting

:lol: :lol: :lol:
Your butt scrunching is distracting the audience? Is that a compliment or a bad thing?

Sorry Papaya, no advice here. I'm a terrible public speaker. I don't like all those people looking at me. *shudders*

On the school front, midterms start tomorrow with Nutrition. That one should be fun. I have a total of 8 midterms plus 5 significant tests, plus smaller quizzes and whatnot. See you all in two months. :sick:

[Basil]

I have written about 500 words yet! :D
500 words is plenty long enough; you just have to make sure you use good words. :nod:

[Scheherazade]

500 words is plenty long enough; you just have to make sure you use good words. :nod:Thank you! Finally someone who thinks like me! :D

I need to get a lot of reading done before I can write anything seriously so I am working on that now... I need to read and "understand" about 1000 pages by December... Excluding suggested reading lists.

Someone tell me I can pull this off! :p

Papaya> Practice is the only cure... Even if that means practising in front of a mirror or recording yourself.

When I was first starting teaching, a mentor recorded us during our teaching sessions and that is still one of most valuable feedback I have ever received.

You can put reminders between your cue cards reminding yourself to stop the foot-work.

[Niamh]

i need to start my cleo essay... which is only 500 words long but i havent written an essay in 6.5 years. :(

[papayahed]

Someone tell me I can pull this off! :p


You can pull this off!!!! As I told MH and CC - step away from litnet and do your homework.


Papaya> Practice is the only cure... Even if that means practising in front of a mirror or recording yourself.

When I was first starting teaching, a mentor recorded us during our teaching sessions and that is still one of most valuable feedback I have ever received.

You can put reminders between your cue cards reminding yourself to stop the foot-wor

I do have some recording from training I took last year...:goof:


i need to start my cleo essay... which is only 500 words long but i havent written an essay in 6.5 years. :(

eh, it's just like riding a bike!! :lol:

[Scheherazade]

You can pull this off!!!! As I told MH and CC - step away from litnet and do your homework. Just Forum or the computer? ;)

[Niamh]

getting on a bike again was way easier than this! :p

[Scheherazade]

I have created a new group for the eternal students amongst ourselves:

http://www.online-literature.com/forums/group.php?groupid=86

If you are a student and would like to be a member, please let me know as it is invite only!

[kasie]

Nooo - please don't go away in a huddle by yourselves! I love reading about your scholarly endeavours - I'm just amazed at how you can all go to work, raise families, etc, etc and still get through your studies. How can I go on being so impressed if you take yourself off to a corner and mutter to yourselves?

[papayahed]

I need to write my speech so why can't i get off litnet and get to it????

[rimbaud]

I need to write my speech so why can't i get off litnet and get to it????

because it's an addiction :D
you're stuck mate :)
Lit-Net anonymous

[papayahed]

still no speech...

[Niamh]

still not finished my essay...

[papayahed]

Mine is due tomorrow.

[Niamh]

Get off litnet and do your speech!!!!!!!!

[Scheherazade]

Papaya> Does it involve Powerpoint etc? How long is it supposed to be?

[papayahed]

nope, no powerpoint and it only has to be 5-7 minutes long. At least I've decided on a topic, I'm writing about a Jimmy Buffett concert.

[Scheherazade]

Alrighty!

We won't be seeing you until you have written 300 words then! :)

[papayahed]

the teacher has spoken!

[Scheherazade]

the teacher has spoken!Too much obviously!

:p

[Niamh]

Almost finished my essay!!!!! i think its okay and on track....!

[Annamariah]

Two translations down, one more to go. This week has been awful, but if I'll manage to do the whole translation tomorrow, I won't have to think about school again for a week.

[Niamh]

I'm finished my Essay!!!! :banana: now i can buy "And Another Thing..." :banana: incentives are great! Now when i finish my Cezanne Essay, i'll treat myself to the New Bernard Cornwell book! :D

[OrphanPip]

Ah, I miss school, I finished my bachelor in May. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my life, and considering going back to uni for a year to be accredited as a high school teacher.

[papayahed]

Ah, I miss school, I finished my bachelor in May. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my life, and considering going back to uni for a year to be accredited as a high school teacher.

What is your bachelor's in?

[OrphanPip]

Microbiology with a minor in immunology.

Edit: I would teach bio and chem probably if I became a teacher.

[motherhubbard]

I hate homework!

[motherhubbard]

I have a research paper due next week. I have an old research paper that I made an A on. I think I sould just go with what I have. The problem is that the old paper is saved as a .wps file and I can't open it. Any idea how to open this file?

[papayahed]

Can you open it as an RTF?

[*Classic*Charm*]

Microbiology with a minor in immunology.

Edit: I would teach bio and chem probably if I became a teacher.

Another science major! And a Canadian one at that!

Have I mentioned before that I HATE MIDTERMS?!! They never end:(
I only got 73% on my genetics midterm and I have a feeling I'll do no better on my nutritional biochem midterm tomorrow.

Glad to hear everyone else is doing well!

[OrphanPip]

Another science major! And a Canadian one at that!

Have I mentioned before that I HATE MIDTERMS?!! They never end:(
I only got 73% on my genetics midterm and I have a feeling I'll do no better on my nutritional biochem midterm tomorrow.

Glad to hear everyone else is doing well!

Eww biochem was my least favourite subject. I had to take an entire course on nucleic acid biochemistry, it was hell.

The nutritional stuff isn't so hard as long as you're good at remembering pathways.

[*Classic*Charm*]

Eww biochem was my least favourite subject. I had to take an entire course on nucleic acid biochemistry, it was hell.

The nutritional stuff isn't so hard as long as you're good at remembering pathways.

I like biochemistry! It's physical chemistry I hate. This course is really a fundamentals course though. Basic nutritional biochem applied to the differences in animal species (ruminants, monogastrics (both foregut and hindgut fermenters) and avian systems). I'm an animal biology major :D

Now off to study more ruminant lipid digestion...

[OrphanPip]

I like biochemistry! It's physical chemistry I hate. This course is really a fundamentals course though. Basic nutritional biochem applied to the differences in animal species (ruminants, monogastrics (both foregut and hindgut fermenters) and avian systems). I'm an animal biology major :D

Oh I wanted to study animal biology, but I ended up with squiggly single celled things. I took a couple courses in animal biology but they only counted as electives.

Is it your freshman year? Basic genetics is usually a hurdle for most bio majors.

Edit: Agreed physical chem does suck, boo math.

[Mathor]

Speakin of Science, I have finished all of my general studies requirements for my major EXCEPT i still have to take one lab science next semester (or over summer)

I can take:

Physics
Meteorology
Bio
Chemistry
Geology
Anatomy

which do you suggest?

[OrphanPip]

It depends on the level.

Anatomy can be a lot of fun, but I've never had a knack for it.

My personal favorite lab was organic chemistry, the theory can be a bit tricky but I found it crazy fun.

[papayahed]

It depends on the level.

Anatomy can be a lot of fun, but I've never had a knack for it.

My personal favorite lab was organic chemistry, the theory can be a bit tricky but I found it crazy fun.


oye! Organic Chemistry II almost did me in.:eek:

[Niamh]

I got my first assignment submitted on friday! Man this college thing is taking up all my litnet time.

[motherhubbard]

I got my first assignment submitted on friday! Man this college thing is taking up all my litnet time.

no kidding! it really cramps my style!!! I say enough:smash:

[Scheherazade]

I got three important dates in front of me during the following three weeks. And they are the kind of things that if I don't do well, I fail but if I do well, they don't affect my grade; I only get a pat on the back :-/

I am impressed that I am keeping up with my readings and also making a little dent on the word count.

[Annamariah]

It's getting harder and harder to keep up with all the schoolwork...

[Niamh]

I'm waiting anxiously for my results.

[motherhubbard]

I'm sorry Niamh. I hate the wait!

[Niamh]

I'm still waiting. I cant start the next assignment till the first comes back. I know loads of people who got theres.. just not me. :(

[OrphanPip]

I'm still waiting. I cant start the next assignment till the first comes back. I know loads of people who got theres.. just not me. :(

Oh I hate when profs do that, they should give everyone the graded assignment at the same time so no one gets an unfair advantage.

[Scheherazade]

I hear they send out the highest marks last! :D

[Niamh]

I wish! :p

[*Classic*Charm*]

Oh I wanted to study animal biology, but I ended up with squiggly single celled things. I took a couple courses in animal biology but they only counted as electives.

Is it your freshman year? Basic genetics is usually a hurdle for most bio majors.

Edit: Agreed physical chem does suck, boo math.

Nope, I'm in my third year. I don't find it difficult, I just don't pay enough attention to the tricks in the questions. Nothing I can't handle if I pay attention. I was planning on minoring in genetics actually, but my major doesn't allow for a minor because the electives are so restricted that it's not possible to get enough other credits for a minor.


Speakin of Science, I have finished all of my general studies requirements for my major EXCEPT i still have to take one lab science next semester (or over summer)

I can take:

Physics
Meteorology
Bio
Chemistry
Geology
Anatomy

which do you suggest?

ANATOMMMYYYY!!!!! FOR SURE!!

[Niamh]

Geology!! I love Geology! Although Meterology would be interesting!

[Mathor]

ANATOMMMYYYY!!!!! FOR SURE!!

that's what i was thinking.



EDIT:

I'm currently sitting with two A's and two B's, all pretty secure to the point there isn't much possibility of them dropping. Only 3 weeks left!

Next semester:

Principles of Management
American Literature
British Literature
Public Speaking
Anatomy

[Niamh]

Can i just say sitting around waiting for results just sucks!

[Niamh]

79% woohoo!!! :banana:

[*Classic*Charm*]

Go Niamh!! Whoo!

[Niamh]

I'm well chuffed! :D I'm gonna have to redo my Cezanne part but i knew that when submitting it! :D

[*Classic*Charm*]

What course is that for, Niamh?

[Niamh]

my AA100 Arts Past and Present level 1 course with the OU. :)

[*Classic*Charm*]

I got SCREWED OVER on a midterm today :(

[Niamh]

oh no! :( ((((hug))))

[kasie]

Congratulations, Niamh!

Commiserations, Classic Charm - is there any way you can appeal or ask for a re-assessment?

[Annamariah]

I stayed up with a long translation till 3 am - waking up early to get to the class where we were supposed to hand it to the teacher after just 2.5 hours of sleep didn't result in one of my greatest mornings...

[Weisinheimer]

I hate group assignments. I don't like the pressure of other people relying on me, and I REALLY don't like having to rely on other people :(

[*Classic*Charm*]

oh no! :( ((((hug))))


Congratulations, Niamh!

Commiserations, Classic Charm - is there any way you can appeal or ask for a re-assessment?

Thanks guys. Unfortunately, there's nothing to be done about it. Basically, the exam was prepared by two different professors. The one professor's sections were very fair. Not easy, but very do-able had you done the lab work and done each lab quiz. The other prof asked us ridiculous questions that were well-beyond the focus of the content of his lab work. It's just frustrating when you do well in the lab and you know your stuff until you're asked a question way out of the league of the course. :(

[Maximilianus]

I stayed up with a long translation till 3 am - waking up early to get to the class where we were supposed to hand it to the teacher after just 2.5 hours of sleep didn't result in one of my greatest mornings...
I have a well-figured solution: renounce your life as it is and make a radical change. Leave your apartment and studies, leave it all behind, and start a new life as a rover... or wanderer, nomad, vagabond, anything that's a synonym for lack of stressful obligations that will never let you catch a quality sleep :lol:, but if you are a vagabond, you can sleep anytime anywhere without remorse. After all, sleeping is the vagabond's expertise :lol:


I hate group assignments. I don't like the pressure of other people relying on me, and I REALLY don't like having to rely on other people :(
I hate them too. There's often someone pretending you to do the hard job for them.

[kasie]

Moving the goalposts like that is just not on, CC - surely it affected the rest of your fellow students on the course? Can't you go all together as a deputation to the unfair professor and point out that Mind Reading is not part of your curriculum until next year? Or mention it to the fair professor and hint he might like to have a word with his collegue on the subject of fairness and even-handed nature of tests? Exams are supposed to test what you know, not what you don't know, after all. That kind of test is a different kind of animal and comes before you start on a course so the teacher knows where to start teaching you, not at the end - not much good him/her knowing that too late, is it?

[Annamariah]

I have a well-figured solution: renounce your life as it is and make a radical change. Leave your apartment and studies, leave it all behind, and start a new life as a rover... or wanderer, nomad, vagabond, anything that's a synonym for lack of stressful obligations that will never let you catch a quality sleep :lol:, but if you are a vagabond, you can sleep anytime anywhere without remorse. After all, sleeping is the vagabond's expertise :lol:

And throw away hard work of two and a half years at the university and 12 years of schooling before that? I don't think so :D I should have made the decision years ago :lol: I must admit a life without obligations and deadlines sounds tempting. I doubt, however, that I'd be able to survive that long without regular income. I like having enough food and a roof upon my head :D

Today I was rather productive, for once - I took care of some choir-related matters, translated an article about biological wastewater treatment and went trough an article about cloning about which I'm supposed to do a terminology assignment (and a translation of course, but the terminology deadline comes first).

Tomorrow I have to do some Russian homework and write a formal letter in Swedish, but all in all I feel like I'm getting on with my homework load much better now than during the past couple of weeks.

[Maximilianus]

And throw away hard work of two and a half years at the university and 12 years of schooling before that? I don't think so :D I should have made the decision years ago :lol: I must admit a life without obligations and deadlines sounds tempting.
Thou shall not fall Within Temptation ;) :)


I doubt, however, that I'd be able to survive that long without regular income. I like having enough food and a roof upon my head :D
You can always rob a bank if you plan it carefully....... :lol:


Today I was rather productive, for once - I took care of some choir-related matters, translated an article about biological wastewater treatment and went trough an article about cloning about which I'm supposed to do a terminology assignment (and a translation of course, but the terminology deadline comes first).
Wastewater.... hmm... sounds stinky! :D


Tomorrow I have to do some Russian homework and write a formal letter in Swedish, but all in all I feel like I'm getting on with my homework load much better now than during the past couple of weeks.
Good luck on these assignments :thumbs_up

[papayahed]

I'm thinking of skipping the last day of class to go to a business dinner.

[Weisinheimer]

I'm thinking of skipping the last day of class to go to a business dinner.

I say go for it.
I usually skip the last day of class.

[Niamh]

go for it!

[Hurricane]

I handed in the final paper for my majors class and subsequently handed in all of my library books (after renewing them every two weeks since early September).

One more paper, two more tests, and then finals.

[Weisinheimer]

One final down. Two to go. So far so good.

[kasie]

I'm thinking of skipping the last day of class to go to a business dinner.

Can you pretend to be your mum and write the tutor a note asking for papaya to be excused class because of a pressing business appointment? :nod:

[Virgil]

Here's a great story from my local newspaper.


For her 100th birthday, she gets gifts, greetings -- and a high school diploma
By Stephanie Slepian
November 30, 2009, 1:53AM

The Class of 1925 at St. Peter's Girls High School graduated without Mary Arnott. Her father pulled her out in Grade 11 to care for her siblings after her mother died in childbirth.
An entire lifetime later -- a lifetime filled with love and laughter and heartbreak -- Mrs. Arnott had one regret: Never getting her high school diploma.
"I kept going to night school and more night school and finally got business training and became a secretary to a lawyer, but it wasn't the same," she said by phone from her home in Toronto, looking back on her younger years.
For her 100th birthday, St. Peter's has filled that void by granting Mrs. Arnott an honorary high school diploma.
"It just means everything," said Mrs. Arnott, a Staten Island native.
Mary Haugen, assistant principal and president of the Alumni Association at St. Peter's, received a call from Mrs. Arnott's granddaughter, Allison, seeking any information on her grandmother's school records.
Her family wanted to surprise the centenarian on her birthday.
Mrs. Haugen was more than happy to send a diploma. She had done the same several months earlier for Amelia Capofari Romano, who would have been a member of the Class of 1933 had she not left school to care for her younger sisters.
Mary Adele Sachs was born in Brooklyn in 1909 and was raised on Staten Island, one of 13 siblings who lived first over Mueller's Hardware Store at 585 Bay St. in Stapleton and later at 198 Beechwood Ave. in New Brighton.
She survived scarlet fever, helped to raise her siblings and worked for 12 years as a secretary in Manhattan. She met her husband, Bruce, while vacationing in Virginia Beach [SNIP]
http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/for_her_100th_birthday_she_get.html

So it's never too late. :D

[Maximilianus]

^ Very enjoyable nice story, Virgil :thumbs_up

[Niamh]

thats great Virg!

[Weisinheimer]

Finished my last finals today :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

[*Classic*Charm*]

Finished my last finals today :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

Congrats Weisy!

Technically the last day of class was today, though only one of my profs lectured. I had to write a physics quiz though. Got 100% :D I've already been studying for finals, so hopefully the next two weeks won't be too hellish.

[Mathor]

Congrats Weisy!

Technically the last day of class was today, though only one of my profs lectured. I had to write a physics quiz though. Got 100% :D I've already been studying for finals, so hopefully the next two weeks won't be too hellish.

Indeed. I've put myself in a pretty good position by the amount of work I've put into this semester. This exam week is going to be relatively easy. Though I'm still going to study my butt off!

[Weisinheimer]

Congrats Weisy!

Technically the last day of class was today, though only one of my profs lectured. I had to write a physics quiz though. Got 100% :D I've already been studying for finals, so hopefully the next two weeks won't be too hellish.

Thanks!
Good luck with your finals.

[OrphanPip]

Ew, well today I went to the website for purchasing photos form my convocation, they're mostly terrible.

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z241/i_feel_tiredsleepy/grad2.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z241/i_feel_tiredsleepy/grad1.jpg

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z241/i_feel_tiredsleepy/grad3.jpg

[JuniperWoolf]

Is that a golden cape on your back?

[OrphanPip]

Ha it's a hood denoting that I'm from the faculty of science, old fashioned academic regalia. The white border denotes that I have a bachelor's degree.

Edit: The color is supposed to be yellow, but I think it looks green.

[papayahed]

Ew, well today I went to the website for purchasing photos form my convocation, they're mostly terrible.


Those aren't bad. I think out of the three I'd pick the second one. The third is cute except it looks like you're fighting with the guy behind you for the diploma.

[Niamh]

I got my second assigment finished! :banana: Time to start reserching for TMA03!


Ew, well today I went to the website for purchasing photos form my convocation, they're mostly terrible.

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z241/i_feel_tiredsleepy/grad1.jpg



I think this one is good Pip.

[*Classic*Charm*]

Just finished my Physiology final. One down, four to go.

[Niamh]

woot!

[Scheherazade]

So, has everyone finished the term (apart from me)? Is everyone off enjoying their break (apart from me)? Is everyone looking forward to the next term (apart from me)?

:p

Yeah, poor, poor, poor me and all that.

I think I am half-way through with it all and got another two weeks to go but I will be entertaining some guests so, all in all, I probably have 10 days' study time.

I think I need to hear that I can pull it off...

And next time I try to squeeze 3 years' worth of studying into 2 years, please someone put a straightjacket (on me), lock me up in a cell and throw the key into the ocean.

:rolleyes:

[papayahed]

I think I need to hear that I can pull it off...



You can do it with one arm tied behind you back and your leg in a cast!!!:thumbs_up



And next time I try to squeeze 3 years' worth of studying into 2 years, please someone put a straightjacket (on me), lock me up in a cell and throw the key into the ocean.

:rolleyes:

erm..... Do I need to find the post...

[Scheherazade]

You can do it with one arm tied behind you back and your leg in a cast!!!:thumbs_up Thank you, Papaya! You are such a good egg! :)

[Niamh]

Well i'm still studying for my TMA03. have to get starting on writing the two parts this weekend so no break for me either!
Got TMA02 back on wednesday... 82% woohoo!
Dont think 03 is going to get quite as good a result!



And next time I try to squeeze 3 years' worth of studying into 2 years, please someone put a straightjacket (on me), lock me up in a cell and throw the key into the ocean.

:rolleyes:

I think i'll get to experience what you are feeling next year. Going to try get two level two courses done together so i can get through the degree faster than five or six years.

[Scheherazade]

Well i'm still studying for my TMA03. have to get starting on writing the two parts this weekend so no break for me either!
Got TMA02 back on wednesday... 82% woohoo!
Dont think 03 is going to get quite as good a result! Well done on the awesome score for TMA02, Niamh! :)

What is the TMA03 about?

[Niamh]

one half is a Q on the Dalai Lama, the other is comparing two poems. I think i'm figuring them out okay. just need to start working out the essay.

[papayahed]

I just signed up for next semester. Whoo Hoo!!

[kasie]

What are you studying, papaya? More of the same or something new?

Welsh hoework is still not even started but first class is not until Jan15 - I think.

[Weisinheimer]

I'm still deciding what I'm going to take next semester. I didn't get into the nursing program yet, so that kinda messed up all my plans.

[papayahed]

What are you studying, papaya? More of the same or something new?



I'm still in the Spanish program but I'm having trouble with the class schedule fitting around my work schedule so I may need to change programs or change schools.

[Scheherazade]

I just signed up for next semester. Whoo Hoo!!Great! Don't want to be suffering on me own! :D

My deadlines are approaching :goof:

Need to hand in one batch at the end of this week as well as doing a presentation and the final batch by next Friday.

I am worried that I got too distrated during last week and now not an ounce of will is left in me.

[Scheherazade]

Whoohooo! Two down... Well, too many to go but still it feels great :D

Hopefully by Monday, I will have sorted it all out.

[Niamh]

I just signed up for next semester. Whoo Hoo!!
woohoohoohoo!


Whoohooo! Two down... Well, too many to go but still it feels great :D

Hopefully by Monday, I will have sorted it all out.

You'll get there Scher! Have complete faith in you!

I got my 3rd assignment sent off. Not one bit happy, but not much i could do being limited to one or two days internet a week in my mams which is totally taken up by college. I think it could have been a lot better if i had more time. Sent in on monday even though not due to tomorrow but monday was my only day with computer access. :( spent 10 hours researching and working on one of the essays. :(

[kasie]

Good Luck - Pob Hwyl - to everyone starting a new term.

Hope the schedule can be sorted, Papaya, it's difficult changing tutors in language courses, even if they are using the same course material, at least, that's what I found on the Welsh course.

Well done, Scher - I echo Niamh's sentiments, have faith in your stickability.

The assignment is probably better than you think, Niamh, it's hard to be objective over something you've sweated blood over, all you can remember is the anguish.

[Veho]

woohoohoohoo!



You'll get there Scher! Have complete faith in you!

I got my 3rd assignment sent off. Not one bit happy, but not much i could do being limited to one or two days internet a week in my mams which is totally taken up by college. I think it could have been a lot better if i had more time. Sent in on monday even though not due to tomorrow but monday was my only day with computer access. :( spent 10 hours researching and working on one of the essays. :(

I'm sure they'll be better than you think. Part two can't be any worse than mine will be. I haven't even started it yet. I've been staring at 'An Appeal to Cats in the Business of Love' for an hour, trying to figure out what it's about. But alas, I'm flummoxed.