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Off-Topic Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Kazan on November 07, 2008, 06:01:10 pm

Title: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Kazan on November 07, 2008, 06:01:10 pm
so this is my last semester in uni (unless my lazy ass fails a class like a moron :P) and it SUCKS because finding a job is a holy motherloving #$@%@#$%
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Ford Prefect on November 07, 2008, 06:03:48 pm
That's why I'm going to weather the storm for another five or six years getting my PhD. Real life never did anyone any good.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Polpolion on November 07, 2008, 07:50:53 pm
What are you guys going into?
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Spicious on November 07, 2008, 07:57:15 pm
Yeah, just go back (or elsewhere) for a PhD. I think government funding expects people to finish PhDs in 2-3 years here though.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: DragonClaw on November 07, 2008, 07:58:47 pm
You didn't do any internships or co-ops, etc? I did two of them and both companies are already practically begging me to come work for them after I graduate next semester. I guess it's too late for you to do that now if you haven't already, but it's a great idea to get some networking in the field you're in, provided you can perform in your job.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Black Wolf on November 07, 2008, 08:05:59 pm
I'm going back to uni to avoid the next twelve months in my particular field. Ugh.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Bob-san on November 07, 2008, 08:08:38 pm
Join the military? :lol:
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Ford Prefect on November 07, 2008, 08:51:36 pm
What are you guys going into?
Musicology/music theory. Grad school is really my only option.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: CP5670 on November 07, 2008, 09:36:32 pm
I have been in grad school anyway, so it's just as well that employment is harder to find right now. Interestingly, I have continued to get emails about various financial companies recruiting here, despite the situation in that market.

Yeah, just go back (or elsewhere) for a PhD. I think government funding expects people to finish PhDs in 2-3 years here though.

That would be hard to do anywhere these days. Many external fellowships last for 2 or 3 years but they aren't intended to cover everything. Standard times are more like 4-7 years, depending on the field.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Kazan on November 07, 2008, 11:25:18 pm
What are you guys going into?

Computer Science

You didn't do any internships or co-ops, etc?

Nope - but i have 18 months full time software development experience and 3+ years part time

Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Spicious on November 07, 2008, 11:46:50 pm
What are you guys going into?
Computer engineering/maths. Just about 3 years of 5 done.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Ace on November 08, 2008, 12:31:37 am
Our department got screwed funding wise this year, and one of the major projects going on this summer might even get axed. So, I've been sending apps for PhD programs which actually do have funding. Some abroad. (UK, I'd have funding for 3 years and have my Doctorate by the time I'm 25)

The frustrating part of this is how last year we had people who had complete funding who were on their third year for a MA and argued how they were writing a "theoryless thesis..."  :rolleyes:

Anyway, the real debate right now is which program (WSU due to the IPEM/IGERT funding, or University of... blech... Missouri, great faculty but its... Missouri... or UC Davis) will have the most stable funding over the next five years if I do stay in the US.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Charismatic on November 08, 2008, 12:50:50 am
Congrats on graduating.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Mongoose on November 08, 2008, 02:08:36 am
Just don't do what I did: finally decide you hate your major (physics) in your fourth and final year and wind up not even finishing on time.  I've been putzing around doing squat for the past few months.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: CP5670 on November 08, 2008, 09:54:54 am
Our department got screwed funding wise this year, and one of the major projects going on this summer might even get axed. So, I've been sending apps for PhD programs which actually do have funding. Some abroad. (UK, I'd have funding for 3 years and have my Doctorate by the time I'm 25)

The frustrating part of this is how last year we had people who had complete funding who were on their third year for a MA and argued how they were writing a "theoryless thesis..."  :rolleyes:

Anyway, the real debate right now is which program (WSU due to the IPEM/IGERT funding, or University of... blech... Missouri, great faculty but its... Missouri... or UC Davis) will have the most stable funding over the next five years if I do stay in the US.

What are you going into? Most PhD programs in the US have full funding in the form of TA and RA positions, especially in science and engineering fields. Masters and professional programs are generally not funded though.

I had a fellowship in my first year and didn't have to do anything, but am a TA now (which is easy this semester, just grading 10 homeworks every two weeks). I missed out on the federal awards like NSF and NDSEG the last two times though. I have one last shot at them, so I might as well try again.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Solatar on November 08, 2008, 06:26:07 pm
What are you guys going into?
Musicology/music theory. Grad school is really my only option.

I'm a music education/violin major. Grad school is going to be a must.

Didn't know there were any other music geeks on HLP. :p
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Ford Prefect on November 08, 2008, 08:13:37 pm
Yeah, neither did I. We hide amongst the population, keeping low profiles until the Day of Judgment.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Polpolion on November 08, 2008, 10:03:24 pm
What are you guys going into?
Musicology/music theory. Grad school is really my only option.

I'm a music education/violin major. Grad school is going to be a must.

Didn't know there were any other music geeks on HLP. :p

Can you be a music geek without wanting to go into Music Ed/ theory? I Bari Sax in marching band, so I feel I qualify. :nervous:

IIRC Redsniper used to be in a marching band, too. I think there was a snare drummer from somewhere in Texas, too.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: redsniper on November 08, 2008, 11:22:19 pm
That's right, Alto Saxophone. Though I wasn't as gung-ho about it as some, I did try to do a good job at it and I was in it all 4 years of high school, so I guess that makes me somewhat a music geek. Haven't really touched it much since then, just haven't had the time with all the other things I have to and want to do.

That snare drummer was probably Sasquatch, who went to high school with me. He's since moved to Vancouver though.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: blackhole on November 08, 2008, 11:58:49 pm
Quote
Didn't know there were any other music geeks on HLP.

-cry-
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Ford Prefect on November 09, 2008, 02:13:25 am
I dunno, do you guys have your Platinum Preferred Membership cards? The bouncers check outside all the secret clubs.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: TrashMan on November 09, 2008, 07:00:02 pm
Kaz, you did stellar programing work for this community.

With that on your resume any gaming company would have to be idiots to pass you up.
Hope you find a good job. You deserve it. :yes:
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Ace on November 09, 2008, 07:13:42 pm
Our department got screwed funding wise this year, and one of the major projects going on this summer might even get axed. So, I've been sending apps for PhD programs which actually do have funding. Some abroad. (UK, I'd have funding for 3 years and have my Doctorate by the time I'm 25)

The frustrating part of this is how last year we had people who had complete funding who were on their third year for a MA and argued how they were writing a "theoryless thesis..."  :rolleyes:

Anyway, the real debate right now is which program (WSU due to the IPEM/IGERT funding, or University of... blech... Missouri, great faculty but its... Missouri... or UC Davis) will have the most stable funding over the next five years if I do stay in the US.

What are you going into? Most PhD programs in the US have full funding in the form of TA and RA positions, especially in science and engineering fields. Masters and professional programs are generally not funded though.

I had a fellowship in my first year and didn't have to do anything, but am a TA now (which is easy this semester, just grading 10 homeworks every two weeks). I missed out on the federal awards like NSF and NDSEG the last two times though. I have one last shot at them, so I might as well try again.

Archaeology, currently I'm in an MA program and the whole whole 'they're poorly funded' thing has reared its ugly head. But I'll be done with the writing in a few months at this rate. Fortunately it's a field where there's academic, government, and private options.

I wish my TA ships were like yours, 80 statistics students and none of them have taken basic math past algebra. (not that much is needed, but they haven't touched anything to do with numbers since highschool)

Last year it was intro to biological anthropology, which involved lab lecturing for two hours every day, in addition to 80 assignments each week.

Our department is in the very bad 'medium size' range. Not truly small like some satellite state campuses, but not large enough to justify having multiple TAs for classes that have multiple sections and really need it. (UW undergrad courses with class sizes in the 100+ range generally has 2-3 TAs with similar workloads)
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Kosh on November 09, 2008, 09:38:34 pm
Quote
Archaeology, currently I'm in an MA program and the whole whole 'they're poorly funded' thing has reared its ugly head. But I'll be done with the writing in a few months at this rate. Fortunately it's a field where there's academic, government, and private options.


Why Archeology?
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: CP5670 on November 10, 2008, 12:21:08 am
Archaeology, currently I'm in an MA program and the whole whole 'they're poorly funded' thing has reared its ugly head. But I'll be done with the writing in a few months at this rate. Fortunately it's a field where there's academic, government, and private options.

I wish my TA ships were like yours, 80 statistics students and none of them have taken basic math past algebra. (not that much is needed, but they haven't touched anything to do with numbers since highschool)

Last year it was intro to biological anthropology, which involved lab lecturing for two hours every day, in addition to 80 assignments each week.

Our department is in the very bad 'medium size' range. Not truly small like some satellite state campuses, but not large enough to justify having multiple TAs for classes that have multiple sections and really need it. (UW undergrad courses with class sizes in the 100+ range generally has 2-3 TAs with similar workloads)

Ouch, that sounds like a lot of work. I have heard that PhDs in that field are known for taking a long time too.

The undergrad population here is small and 15-20 students per TA is common, but I got lucky with this class since I don't have to run a review/lab section. It's a math major prep course that is meant to introduce students to proofs. They have done the standard intro level math (multivariable calculus and linear algebra) and have generally been pretty good at the stuff. The homeworks do take 30 minutes each to grade, but that and holding office hours once a week is all I need to do.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: karajorma on November 10, 2008, 04:18:24 am
Quote
Archaeology, currently I'm in an MA program and the whole whole 'they're poorly funded' thing has reared its ugly head. But I'll be done with the writing in a few months at this rate. Fortunately it's a field where there's academic, government, and private options.

Why Archeology?

Same reason anyone gets into Archaeology. Too many Indiana Jones movies. :p


Seriously though. Why not?
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: übermetroid on November 12, 2008, 09:42:58 am
Archaeology would be a cool degree.

I got my degree (Emergency and Disaster management)) thinking that I would save the world.  Not yet.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: admiral_wolf on November 12, 2008, 11:55:17 am
I've been a graduate now for 6 months now, and I still cannot get a job.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: IceFire on November 12, 2008, 10:21:05 pm
I feel bad for everyone graduating right now.  I'm just trying to hang on until this all goes past.  Its getting pretty bad and I don't think we've seen the worst of it yet.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Bob-san on November 13, 2008, 06:41:19 am
Well, there's always the Army.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Colonol Dekker on November 13, 2008, 06:49:14 am
:yes: :yes: Crack on, sign up, and be all you can be...............

That saying is really stupid, "Be all you can be" surely it's just stating a case in point.

I.e. Blue sky is blue!
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Mefustae on November 13, 2008, 09:12:44 am
Tomorrow is my very last day of uni, after which i'll be a proper Geologist.

See, I envy you archaeology chaps, you've got the whole Indiana Jones angle to work your degree into casual conversation. As a geologist, there's a surprising dearth of ways to make pointed conversation towards my degree, even though mine is so much cooler than anything else out there.


After all, geology rocks!

Or, if that's too corny, geology is just a gneiss subject to study.

Geology: It's the schist!

I've got a hundred of 'em!
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Colonol Dekker on November 13, 2008, 09:13:35 am

After all, geology rocks!




You beat me to it :ick:
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Kazan on November 13, 2008, 09:16:53 am
Tomorrow is my very last day of uni, after which i'll be a proper Geologist.

See, I envy you archaeology chaps, you've got the whole Indiana Jones angle to work your degree into casual conversation. As a geologist, there's a surprising dearth of ways to make pointed conversation towards my degree, even though mine is so much cooler than anything else out there.


After all, geology rocks!

Or, if that's too corny, geology is just a gneiss subject to study.

Geology: It's the schist!

I've got a hundred of 'em!

lately (now in my senior year) i find myself wishing i got a double major  - CS and Geology

too late now
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: azile0 on November 13, 2008, 12:22:23 pm
I have plenty of time to wait this out. I graduate High School in 3 years ( Sophmore here ) and then, I plan on a PhD in Physics at WSU, so I have 7 years, really, to wait for the market to put on bandaids. No, wait! Give tax cuts to the wealthy, and they can use that 'trickle-down' method that has worked SO well, so far!  :hopping:
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: KappaWing on November 13, 2008, 01:28:56 pm
Blue sky is blue!

Old meme is old.  :pimp:
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Nuclear1 on November 13, 2008, 02:57:29 pm
Worthless post

Is worthless
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Kazan on November 13, 2008, 03:11:04 pm
i have a potential job lead.. only problem is i would have to pay for my own relocation.. but the job would justify it if i was offered.. it's a gamedev position.. contract 1 yr.. with a good payrate and a very good chance of contract-to-hire


tries to get it
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Kosh on November 14, 2008, 12:44:49 am
Where is located? At this point, no matter how far away it was, I'd suggest going for since there isn't much else out there........
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Kazan on November 14, 2008, 01:02:04 am
seattle
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Kosh on November 14, 2008, 03:23:19 am
And now where are you?
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Kazan on November 14, 2008, 09:08:36 am
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&saddr=ames,+ia&daddr=41.409776,-108.94043+to:renton,+wa&hl=en&geocode=&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=5&via=1&sll=40.84706,-108.808594&sspn=17.07026,28.300781&ie=UTF8&ll=43.675818,-110.258789&spn=16.331411,28.300781&t=p&z=5
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Kosh on November 14, 2008, 06:58:49 pm
Long way. I'm sure you will like Seattle, it is a nice city, although the traffic there is horrible.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: blackhole on November 15, 2008, 01:07:51 am
It rains here a lot.

No, I mean, A LOT. Seriously.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Nuclear1 on November 15, 2008, 01:11:49 am
It rains in Seattle?  :eek:
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: spartan_0214 on November 15, 2008, 09:47:19 am
It rains in Seattle?  :eek:
:wakka:

I'm glad I'm going into engineering. Hard as hell, but definitely worth it when you're looking for a job.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Spicious on November 15, 2008, 04:19:30 pm
What sort of engineering?
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: spartan_0214 on November 16, 2008, 11:13:54 pm
Electrical
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: CP5670 on November 16, 2008, 11:49:17 pm
Good, that is the most interesting kind. :D The math problems I'm working on all come from signal processing applications.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Ace on November 17, 2008, 01:10:27 am
Quote
Archaeology, currently I'm in an MA program and the whole whole 'they're poorly funded' thing has reared its ugly head. But I'll be done with the writing in a few months at this rate. Fortunately it's a field where there's academic, government, and private options.


Why Archeology?

Teh womens :p
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Nuclear1 on November 17, 2008, 01:34:45 am
I can imagine the pick up lines.

Now you're just like Ross from Friends. :p
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: spartan_0214 on November 17, 2008, 12:32:27 pm
Good, that is the most interesting kind. :D The math problems I'm working on all come from signal processing applications.

Nice, fun stuffs.
Title: Re: Arg - Graduating right now sucks
Post by: Colonol Dekker on November 17, 2008, 12:43:03 pm
I can hear the women trying to break the doors down as i type :rolleyes: :lol: