So, I really have no idea what I am doing

[Corey Bit Spank]

I'm just kind of going to school now.....for nothing in particular. I suppose it's mainly chemistry, but it's not really my matriculated status as of yet.

And I have to transfer next fall. I have no idea where I want to go. See, it would be easy if the University at Buffalo was a terrible school, but it does offer a very neat Medicinal Chemistry program that I have been fancying.

And then I say, well, goodness, I've worked for my fairly high GPA, why not try a more prestigious school. But I don't know. Does it even matter? I mean, am I really going to be that much better off spending the extra money on a school like Cornell or Colombia?

I really don't know. I've made about 5 of these threads now.

[Lowejackson]

I have no knowledge of American education but my view is that a degree and the place of study can help create a direction for a career but eventually employers are much more interested in your experience. My boss has a Masters in history and her boss is a PhD in biochemistry and we all work in Local Government

[cwcad]

First off congratulations on your high grade point average. It is to be commended.

There are a lot of considerations to your dilema. What location do you want to end up in? What do you want to get into? Who do you want to work for? How much money are you willing to spend?

If you want to stay in the Buffalo area, that school might be to your liking because it has recognition for the area. Are the costs beneficial to you?

Starting out with a degree with an Ivy league school will get you thru the door but will only last so long. As they say, "proof is in the pudding."

Another thing to consider is, will you get the same grades at the local school as the Ivy League school?

I cannot answer your question. But I think I have given you points to ponder.

GOOD LUCK!!

[Accumulator]

Corey Bit Spank- I forget just where you are at present (finishing high school, starting college). Anyhow, few random thoughts follow:

It's good that you're thinking about this stuff, try to just *think* about it and not *worry* about it.

The stuff you initially study might not have anything to do with what you end up spending your life on. I got my BS in accounting, hated my computer courses, and then I ended up teaching computer programming and loved it. A lot of it was me, I changed a lot more than I ever would've expected.

A general liberal arts type education, at least for the first few years, might really expand your mind and world view. The better the school the better this type of general exposure might be. While there are terrible/great teachers everywhere, I can assure you that the best minds in higher education really do gravitate towards the "better" schools and vice versa with regard to the crappy teachers.

Too many people approach higher education as career training instead of mental training. Don't go to school to get a job, go to get an education.

These days a graduate degree is sorta "the new college degree" and a BS is sorta "the new high school diploma". People are getting more education which is good because you get more exposure to ideas and thinking but also bad because most people want to get on with having a career. Maybe consider not focusing so much on career-related education until later, maybe not even until graduate school.

Take advantage of your abilities, you're fortunate

[Corey Bit Spank]

Well, you see, the problem is that I really love chemistry. I mean, when I'm sitting there going "Now why in the world did that happen" I really hate it. And then I have...a moment....and it all works out well. I really do like it.

I don't know, I still may want to combine chemisty/biology with something else. I've really considered neuroscience. I have information from a few schools. What I should really do is set up appointments to visit and meet with people from the schools.

[Accumulator]

Originally Posted by Corey Bit Spank

Well, you see, the problem is that I really love chemistry. ... I have...a moment....and it all works out well. I really do like it.

That's the way you *want* to feel about a course of study

I don't know, I still may want to combine chemisty/biology with something else. I've really considered neuroscience. I have information from a few schools. What I should really do is set up appointments to visit and meet with people from the schools.

Yeah, that's a good idea. Talk with them about what might make a good combination with the chemistry. That's something great about an interest in chemistry, there are so many fields that can tie in with it.

[cwcad]

Originally Posted by Corey Bit Spank

Well, you see, the problem is that I really love chemistry. I mean, when I'm sitting there going "Now why in the world did that happen" I really hate it. And then I have...a moment....and it all works out well. I really do like it.

I don't know, I still may want to combine chemisty/biology with something else. I've really considered neuroscience. I have information from a few schools. What I should really do is set up appointments to visit and meet with people from the schools.

Well Corey, all I have to say is that you got the nod from my wife. She agree's with you. FWIW, my wife is the best student of going to school that i know. She has several degree's and is soon to finish her Phd.r plus she is counseling our daughter thru three years school (all but one semester on the dean's list) she seems to think that you have a good handle on the things that you need to do. now go do it.

keep us informed!!!

[Corey Bit Spank]

Does she have any advice on selecting a school?

[Jim C]

bah, Lumberjacks suck! Go Warriors! (sorry had to do that) UB is an excellent school. Why do you have to transfer next fall?

[cwcad]

She says that you need to find a school that has a likeness in kind. You have to find a school that you are comfortable with. It must be the kind of school where the people make you feel at ease. That is the students as well as faulty.

She says that you have to like the place. You have to want to be there. This is aside of the curriculum. You must be part of the whole process. What does the school have to offer outside of the curriculum? These are the best four years of your life. You need to be ready to take it on completely with out reservations.

Curriculum is important but your whole being must be considered. You must know yourself and be comfortable with it.

These are generalities but important one's IMHO!

[Corey Bit Spank]

Originally Posted by Jim C

bah, Lumberjacks suck! Go Warriors! (sorry had to do that) UB is an excellent school. Why do you have to transfer next fall?

Well I don't have to, but I would have taken every chemistry class NCCC offers, including the instrumental lab classes.

And I don't know, I hear that the Jacks are doing fairly well this year. Nothing beats when I was in my junior year though.