School Selection

Apr 20, 2006 14:36

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Comments 17

gucky April 20 2006, 20:05:19 UTC
Don't look too hard at the ranking of schools in general, but rather the rank of the department you're applying for ( ... )

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miniluv April 20 2006, 20:16:29 UTC
This is definitely good advice, imho. I'd also suggest that you go into Northern with solid expectations and see how it goes. Worst case, if in second semester next year you're really thinking you'd be better off transferring you can try to move to UIC. You'd still end up with the UIC sheepskin, and you'dve saved some money on year 1.

Just going to classes and putting out work at the volume you're going to need to will be a big adjustment, doing it someplace like Northern that's a quality education with less pressure than UIC is probably to your advantage.

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poyre April 20 2006, 20:25:01 UTC
This is excellent feedback as well.

If it doesn't work out for my junior year, I can transfer into UIC for my senior year. I will probably still need to extend my time an extra semester if I do that, but by then, if that decision gets made, I will have reasons backing it up.

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poyre April 20 2006, 20:21:07 UTC
Northern's Computer Science dept is ranked nationally, not as an outstanding program, but it is ranked, not just invisible like a few others. I agree Northwestern is not the place for me right now, and possibly ever given my intentions. I had wanted to attend Kellogg if I could get in, which in itself is a little doubtful, but it's more prestige than real and since my intentions are not going to demand prestige, the real knowledge is what I really want and value and Northern's MBA program is very good ( ... )

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miniluv April 20 2006, 20:13:49 UTC
Northern is hardly anything but a good school, so while its frustrating to have ones choices narrowed for them at least you got narrowed to a good choice.

Glad to see you jumping into taking advantage of this opportunity. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that things work out well for you, you guys certainly deserve it.

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anonymous April 21 2006, 13:03:06 UTC
Worry less about where you are going to finish and concentrate on starting. Once you get the ball rolling the stress will get less and you'll have a much easier time planning what your next steps will be.

Change "gotta get started on that process shortly" to "started the process".

And one thing you can be sure of, once you start classes you will go home and repeat these things to Susan:

1. My God! there are some really stupid people in the world!
2. I can't believe College Level Courses haven't yet taught me something I didn't know.
3. People that snap their gum in class need to get smacked upside the head with a Chicago phone-book....repeatedly.

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poyre April 21 2006, 14:53:56 UTC
I don't have stress on this really, I am incredibly happy that this is all coming together. Also, I am quite concerned about where I go to school, I don't want to just pick random school X and then figure it all out later. A couple days planning and investigation up front will make me much happier.

For the things I will tell Susan:

1. She and I already know this from long experience :)

2. Maybe the first day that will be true, but I do not doubt for a second that I will be learning things. If I didn't believe that I wouldn't go through with it just for the piece of paper.

3. And things like that don't usually bother me, unless done to great excess and then it doesn't matter what it is, snapping gum, drumming the desk, muttering quietly, sighing constantly, or whatever other silly behavior someone decides to do the entire class period.

By the way, who is this? did you mean to post anonymously? :)

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anonymous April 21 2006, 22:04:34 UTC
You missed the point on that. Starting at Harper doesn't mean you can't finish at Harvard. Getting started is the most important part, regardless of where you enroll.

Susan things:
1. It will be hammered home...often
2. This was an indirect compliment. You are more intelligent than the normal college student. Add your work experience in and you are going to be ahead of the game for a good portion. (just take the compliment, I don't give them often).
3. This was the clue. How many people would go right for the telephone book?

Your last two questions:
someone you haven't talked to in awhile, and yes I did. Now we can play the "figure out who it is" game.

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poyre April 23 2006, 22:12:15 UTC
First guess Ron Lindstrom

For a second guess, I will need another clue.

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mamagryphon April 21 2006, 15:54:28 UTC
I wish you luck on your application process. I know that it has the potential to be grueling indeed. Oh, and if there is any way you can swing it, Northwestern is worth the tuition. I have two friends who graduated from there and were snatched up by Abott Labs and Dupont IMMEDIATELY without so much as a years worth of job experiance.

this is the mama,
over and out

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