Need Help On Pursuing College Education Path...

[ghettostudmuffin]

Hey hey everyone. Ok, here's the deal. I'm 24. I'm still living with my mom. I have a borderline genius IQ, not to brag, but I am very book smart. I basically fucked off my highschool years after getting straight A's and getting bored with it. Now, years later I realize it's time to get educated and get PAYED. Many things have been going on in my life in the last year that have pointed more and more to this direction. It's been failure after failure and drama after drama. Mom cries herself to sleep at night sometimes and wonder's what the fuck happened with her kids. What did she do wrong. My brother's 33, out of work and living in the ghetto. None of my family on any side has ever gone to college. Noone has ever made more than 50,000 a year. Actually that's my mom and she makes the most only because she's been in her field for 40 years practically. I have uncles that don't make shit. My cousins don't make shit. My dad moved off to the other side of Washington years ago(haven't seen him in almost 8 years or talked to him in 3). All I can depend on is myself to get where I need to go.

I'm serious about this. It's time to take a serious life changing path and get the fuck out of this shit hole path to failure and years of misery I've been on.

I got fired as a personal trainer a month ago so I'm looking for a job right now. Part time or fulltime. I'd prefer part-time because of going to school, but may go full-time to save money for tuition fees. I'm going to several of my local community colleges to see what kind of classes I can take. See what I need to take to get up to speed. See what kind of loans or whatever I can get.

This is where I need your people's advice. I really don't care what kind of job I do as long as it doesn't totally suck balls and I can earn 75,000 or more per year after taxes. Basically live pretty good. Actually compared to what I've grown up with that would be living VERY damn good for me.

My mom might be willing to let me live with her rent free for 2 more years so long as I go to school and do enough work to pay for my own groceries and gas etc. That's VERY cool of her and lessens my burden dramatically. She's willing to do this basically because I'm the only one in the family capable of it.

So, I'm looking at 2 year degrees that would get me into making 50,000 a year or more starting and within 5-10 years making 75-100,00 a year after tax. Is this possible. What kind of jobs pay this and what kind of degrees would I need to get a job that pays like that? I like technology and computers. I like medical stuff. I heard pharmacy techs make alot of money. I like anything that's progressive.

Well, if if you read through this long ass post, thanks. And advice? K to anyone who responds.

 

[KillahBee]

Hey hey everyone. Ok, here's the deal. I'm 24. I'm still living with my mom. I have a borderline genius IQ, not to brag, but I am very book smart. I basically fucked off my highschool years after getting straight A's and getting bored with it. Now, years later I realize it's time to get educated and get PAYED. Many things have been going on in my life in the last year that have pointed more and more to this direction. It's been failure after failure and drama after drama. Mom cries herself to sleep at night sometimes and wonder's what the fuck happened with her kids. What did she do wrong. My brother's 33, out of work and living in the ghetto. None of my family on any side has ever gone to college. Noone has ever made more than 50,000 a year. Actually that's my mom and she makes the most only because she's been in her field for 40 years practically. I have uncles that don't make shit. My cousins don't make shit. My dad moved off to the other side of Washington years ago(haven't seen him in almost 8 years or talked to him in 3). All I can depend on is myself to get where I need to go.

I'm serious about this. It's time to take a serious life changing path and get the fuck out of this shit hole path to failure and years of misery I've been on.

I got fired as a personal trainer a month ago so I'm looking for a job right now. Part time or fulltime. I'd prefer part-time because of going to school, but may go full-time to save money for tuition fees. I'm going to several of my local community colleges to see what kind of classes I can take. See what I need to take to get up to speed. See what kind of loans or whatever I can get.

This is where I need your people's advice. I really don't care what kind of job I do as long as it doesn't totally suck balls and I can earn 75,000 or more per year after taxes. Basically live pretty good. Actually compared to what I've grown up with that would be living VERY damn good for me.

My mom might be willing to let me live with her rent free for 2 more years so long as I go to school and do enough work to pay for my own groceries and gas etc. That's VERY cool of her and lessens my burden dramatically. She's willing to do this basically because I'm the only one in the family capable of it.

So, I'm looking at 2 year degrees that would get me into making 50,000 a year or more starting and within 5-10 years making 75-100,00 a year after tax. Is this possible. What kind of jobs pay this and what kind of degrees would I need to get a job that pays like that? I like technology and computers. I like medical stuff. I heard pharmacy techs make alot of money. I like anything that's progressive.

Well, if if you read through this long ass post, thanks. And advice? K to anyone who responds.

a) lmao @ genius IQ ----> "Payed" vs. "Paid"

b) it seems to me like you want to the world and all too quickly. 2 year degree and $75k after taxes in 5 years. interesting.

c) I don't know much about the fields you discussed, so I won't even try to guess at the avg. income for those positions. I have a buddy that works sales for a pharma. company and he does very well, so I am sure that route is a decent one. Not sure if you need a BA/BS for that though.

d) Why not go down to the local college (I assume a community college, if you are going for a 2-year degree) and talk to someone there in the career counseling dept and see what they think. they should be able to tell you what is out there in terms of the job market and what type of degrees/course they offer to help you achieve your goal.

e) good luck bro. sounds like you are motivated and that's a big key.

 

[Growth&Courage]

I can relate this to myself in many ways...seeing that I had to go through this very phase of my life too and perhaps still pondering about it as I type.

The advice that I am going to give you is this: that no matter what college degree you choose now, in many years ahead of you don't be surprised if you end up working in a field totally irrelevant to your degree.

You can certainly be logical about it and choose a degree that you have interests in but don't invest your entire hope in it. My view is that you keep your possibilities wide open, accept and expect unforseen circumstances and grow along with it.

The money factor will come as you keep your possibilities wide open and land on the chance of being the right person in the right place at the right time.

I sensed determination embedded in your post - let this characteristic represent the core of you into your journey ahead, be it tough or rocky.
Let your mother constantly remind you of why you're doing this and I'm damn sure then that...

her cries at night will not be stemmed from sufferings or guilty feelings but will echo the proudness she has of you.



K for your determination.
G&C

 

[KillahBee]

I can relate this to myself in many ways...seeing that I had to go through this very phase of my life too and perhaps still pondering about it as I type.

The advice that I am going to give you is this: that no matter what college degree you choose now, in many years ahead of you don't be surprised if you end up working in a field totally irrelevant to your degree.

You can certainly be logical about it and choose a degree that you have interests in but don't invest your entire hope in it. My view is that you keep your possibilities wide open, accept and expect unforseen circumstances and grow along with it.

The money factor will come as you keep your possibilities wide open and land on the chance of being the right person in the right place at the right time.

I sensed determination embedded in your post - let this characteristic represent the core of you into your journey ahead, be it tough or rocky.
Let your mother constantly remind you of why you're doing this and I'm damn sure then that...

her cries at night will not be stemmed from sufferings or guilty feelings but will echo the proudness she has of you.



K for your determination.
G&C

good advice bro. I graduated undergrad in 01 and can count on one hand the amount of my friends that are working in a job/industry that they had planned on in college. There are very few people who know what they want to do and even fewer who make a living out of it. I agree with what G&C said. However, there is something to be said about truly knowing what you want and having the balls to go for it, even if that means taking a little less $ at first or taking some positions that are not glamorous. I went through this, and it is turning out fantastic. That being said, it seems like $ is your main motivator. But be careful maing, money may not compensate you being miserable 8 hours a day, 5 days out of the week (if you are lucky enough to find a 9-5 job).

 

[UA_Iron]

yeah right, good luck making 75k/year out of college. pharmacy techs make good money, but not that much, you'd have to be a pharmicist - which even at my school is at least a 6 year path of schooling.

 

[Growth&Courage]

good advice bro. I graduated undergrad in 01 and can count on one hand the amount of my friends that are working in a job/industry that they had planned on in college. There are very few people who know what they want to do and even fewer who make a living out of it. I agree with what G&C said. However, there is something to be said about truly knowing what you want and having the balls to go for it, even if that means taking a little less $ at first or taking some positions that are not glamorous. I went through this, and it is turning out fantastic. That being said, it seems like $ is your main motivator. But be careful maing, money may not compensate you being miserable 8 hours a day, 5 days out of the week (if you are lucky enough to find a 9-5 job).

Yes, but let's not encourage or discourage him to pursue a singularly narrowed field in the hopes of making such amount of money within a certain amount of time-frame. Let's just give him a wider perspective thinking material along with the readiness to accept whatever the outcome may lead to. This advice approach would enable him to benefit the most out of this chatboard.

Within an array of possibilities that our society now lends itself to, it is becoming more and more difficult to truly know what career field you want to pursue, so you're right too that "There are very few people who know what they want to do and even fewer who make a living out of it."

 

[mrplunkey]

You'd be better served finding a promising industry you really like and then seeing how the numbers shake out. Backing into the career selection process using the $$$ first is the recipe for waking-up 5 years later in the profession and saying "WTF??? I Hate this!".

 

[Zebo]

The popular 2 year degrees where I am are healthcare related.

Echocardiogram Tech
Respiratory Therapist
EMT

Others:
Fire Science
CyberSecurity

I hope that helps....

 

[awittyusername]

The popular 2 year degrees where I am are healthcare related.

Echocardiogram Tech
Respiratory Therapist
EMT

Others:
Fire Science
CyberSecurity

I hope that helps....

good advice

To make the money you are talking you need atleast a 4yr degree. Most of my friend who went to community college make shit and don't even work in a related field

However, male nurses are in big demand. A girl I know got her LPN in one yr and made $50,000 her first yr. An, RN takes about 2 1/2yrs. My friend is an RN and makes about 100k and married a DR.

 

[Zebo]

good advice

To make the money you are talking you need atleast a 4yr degree. Most of my friend who went to community college make shit and don't even work in a related field

However, male nurses are in big demand. A girl I know got her LPN in one yr and made $50,000 her first yr. An, RN takes about 2 1/2yrs. My friend is an RN and makes about 100k and married a DR.

Also good advice.

Our nursing school enrollment is up. BTW, Nursing re-entry is now a growing program. Nurses that got burned out 10 -15 years ago are trying to get back in. They need courses to get them up to speed with technology.

Our Cyber-security program is already all over this cell phone hacking.

Lots of options man, just do something you'll enjoy too.

 

[samoth]

I had a friend look into going to school to be a pharm tech. I'll share what I found.

Pharm techs make crap for money. They can't move up anywhere. Low salary cap. You're looking around $30K in Wisconsin. The education required is a year or two at a community college. Courses require minimal effort and knowledge.

I, as well as my friend, thought that pharm techs were to pharmacists as RN's were to doctors. Nope. RN's can make $60K+ in WI, over twice as much as CPhT's. If you want $10/hour, you can get that working as a fast food manager. CPhT's earn a national mean average of $10.50 to $11.50 an hour.


Now,

If you're really borderline genius, go to a 4 year university. I'd suggest going into engineering, physics, or chemistry. Being that you're borderline genius, you should have no problem assimilating information at a much higher rate than your younger coevals... plan on graduating in 3 or 3.5 years. Four for engg.

Depending on where in the country you live, take either the new SAT or the ACT. A couple SAT II's would help as well. While universities don't require any standardized testing at your age, a month or two of studying should see you bringing home 2200+ (1450+ old) and 32/33+ scores. This will help show the universities your level of intelligence. I mean, why should they take you over him? Especially when that kid has a recent HS transcript and all these tests giving the adcomms an idea of his potential. Show the adcomms that you are competitive. That they want you. That you can offer their university such-and-such and so-and-so.

 

[gjohnson5]

Hey hey everyone. Ok, here's the deal. I'm 24. I'm still living with my mom. I have a borderline genius IQ, not to brag, but I am very book smart. I basically fucked off my highschool years after getting straight A's and getting bored with it. Now, years later I realize it's time to get educated and get PAYED. Many things have been going on in my life in the last year that have pointed more and more to this direction. It's been failure after failure and drama after drama. Mom cries herself to sleep at night sometimes and wonder's what the fuck happened with her kids. What did she do wrong. My brother's 33, out of work and living in the ghetto. None of my family on any side has ever gone to college. Noone has ever made more than 50,000 a year. Actually that's my mom and she makes the most only because she's been in her field for 40 years practically. I have uncles that don't make shit. My cousins don't make shit. My dad moved off to the other side of Washington years ago(haven't seen him in almost 8 years or talked to him in 3). All I can depend on is myself to get where I need to go.

I'm serious about this. It's time to take a serious life changing path and get the fuck out of this shit hole path to failure and years of misery I've been on.

I got fired as a personal trainer a month ago so I'm looking for a job right now. Part time or fulltime. I'd prefer part-time because of going to school, but may go full-time to save money for tuition fees. I'm going to several of my local community colleges to see what kind of classes I can take. See what I need to take to get up to speed. See what kind of loans or whatever I can get.

This is where I need your people's advice. I really don't care what kind of job I do as long as it doesn't totally suck balls and I can earn 75,000 or more per year after taxes. Basically live pretty good. Actually compared to what I've grown up with that would be living VERY damn good for me.

My mom might be willing to let me live with her rent free for 2 more years so long as I go to school and do enough work to pay for my own groceries and gas etc. That's VERY cool of her and lessens my burden dramatically. She's willing to do this basically because I'm the only one in the family capable of it.

So, I'm looking at 2 year degrees that would get me into making 50,000 a year or more starting and within 5-10 years making 75-100,00 a year after tax. Is this possible. What kind of jobs pay this and what kind of degrees would I need to get a job that pays like that? I like technology and computers. I like medical stuff. I heard pharmacy techs make alot of money. I like anything that's progressive.

Well, if if you read through this long ass post, thanks. And advice? K to anyone who responds.

Ghetto , unless you go to a selective college , you should have nothing to worry about. Colleges have placement exams. If you truly are book smart you should breeze by. The problem is that getting boored part. People don't last in college because they see chics , wanna drink and do drugs, maybe gym time... There's all sorts of distractions and If it happens to you at grade school , you will have it 10x worse in college. I truly believe everyone is not fit for higher education.

1. You need to choose a field that interest you. Just doing anything will not last 4 years undergrade , grad , and 30-40 years into a career. Life just don't work like that. Ok you said computers and medical. My bad.
2. You don't have to follow the path of the rest of your family , so do associate thier failures with yourself
3. An associates degree is almost worthless... You should go to a state school with all the accreditations and get a meaningful bachelor's degree.
4. A bechelors degree helps in computers but speaking from experience (I'm an Oracle DBA) The degree won't have much weight on you getting a job. Most computer fields have certification programs that would cost less , take less time and would aleast be a step in the career direction. IT is not somethign taught in college because the field moves too quickly.
5. Doctore make more money then computer people and they don't have to spend their whole weekend upgrading hardware and installing database patches like I'm going to have to do this weekend :-(
6. The medical field costs alot of money to get through...

Lots of issues you have raised

 

[ghettostudmuffin]

I could see myself being a male nurse. An RN. I like people for the most part and like helping people.

I'm going to the nearest community college in a minute.

I am near genius. Doesn't mean my actual education level is where you'd think it would be because I dropped out of highschool at the beginning of the 11th grade and didn't pay any attention in 10th. I've taken multiple IQ tests and my score ranges 132-138. Mensa requires 135 or 140 to join. Just saying I'm pretty smart, not UBER smart.

Money is a serious motivational factor for me. I partied all I need in highschool and the few years after when I dropped out. Don't do drugs anymore. Haven't had any luck with girls in AWHILE. Not worried about girls affecting my studies. I'm the kind of person that as soon as I get started on something I'm like a machine. I don't stop. That's the way my work ethic has always been. My last steady job I had I worked for 2 years and missed 1 day because I was pretty sick. Never late.

I've put this off for along time now. Partly because I didn't want my life revolving around school and work 24/7. But I don't do shit, but work and fart around on the computer when I have a job anyway.

I'm dead set on this. It is gonna happen.

I want to live a comfortabel life. I want to be able to buy that nice 50" HDTV. I want to be able to buy that top of the line gaming computer. I want t odrive a nice car with a kick ass sound system in it.

But even more importantly, I want to be able to live in my own decent apartment and have something to offer a woman than just my good nature becasue quite frankly, that just not enough.

 

[samoth]

Once thing IQ does predict with accuracy is the ability to process information.

Someone with a borderline genius IQ such as yourself will have no problem completing a difficult degree in only 3 years, that's only 20-22 credits a semester. Just don't make the mistake of wasting time by taking any basic introductory courses. They'll try to tell you that you should, but that's only 'cause the longer you're there, the more money they get from you.

Also, you should apply to the universities honor's program. You don't want to be stuck in the normal courses, as professors will often slow down to let the lowest common denominator catch up to the material. This could also slow your time to graduation.

I would suggest a chemistry or chemical engineering major, and maybe double major in physics and/or mathematics. Hydrogen will become more and more important in the next few decades, and if you want to earn good money fairly quickly, this is a very good choice.

I'd start studying for some SAT's or ACT's really soon. You want the university to have some idea of your intelligence, since a high school transcript from, like, 8-9 years ago won't tell them anything. You might even want to take the GRE's sometime during your sophmore year of college. This will help your employability once you graduate.

 

[Spartacus]

better to be a real genious than a borderline genious
If you're a real genious you can excuse away everything

 

[Gambino]

Be a Packaging major. Good program at Michigan State. They make good money and the placement is 98%. Packaging guys design packages and shit, obivously

 

[chewyxrage]

Didn't read other posts.


Saw you mentioned computers as an interest - AVOID AVOID AVOID -

I've been calling computer science alumni for my job. They all ask if I'm a CS major, then they say GET THE HELL OUT because there is no fucking jobs, even for the experienced.

 

[Gambino]

become a apprentice electrican. you need a degree to become a master electrican. the money is good, the work is not laborious, and it is relatively safe...

 

[ghettostudmuffin]

samoth, I am gonna start studying for the SAT pretty quick. Figure I'll buy a book on it.

My math and science need ALOT of catching up. I stopped paying attention in class right around the time Algebra came around.

I read alot so I'm pretty sure my English is good. My vocabulary is good.

 

[Spartacus]

"studying" for college entrance exams
heh

 

[samoth]

samoth, I am gonna start studying for the SAT pretty quick. Figure I'll buy a book on it.

My math and science need ALOT of catching up. I stopped paying attention in class right around the time Algebra came around.

I read alot so I'm pretty sure my English is good. My vocabulary is good.

Yeah, if you don't know HS algebra, you got a lot of catching up to do.

 

[Agathe]

So did you ever graduate from HS or did you drop out?

By the way, a friend of mine came down here from Bulgaria, joined the army and moved on to a community college for free. He got straight A's and became the president of the school, this guy was far from a nerd but possibly one of the hardest working guys I've ever met out there. Now he goes to stanford on a full ride.

I got this from one of the websites that gave him a scholarship

Summary:
(his name here), 22, is a native of Bulgaria who came to the US in 2001 and has achieved a perfect 4.0 grade point average at (name) Community College in (City), (State). He has also been elected president of the student body, worked in the college's reading lab, tutored students in mathematics, and volunteered as a scribe and reader for students with disabilities. He hopes to attend an Ivy League institution and become an international lawyer.

 

[gjohnson5]

Didn't read other posts.


Saw you mentioned computers as an interest - AVOID AVOID AVOID -

I've been calling computer science alumni for my job. They all ask if I'm a CS major, then they say GET THE HELL OUT because there is no fucking jobs, even for the experienced.

Funny , I'm getting emails everyother day to move to Chicago

 

[jb160]

Good Luck bro I am going back or going to for the first time and I am 27 goin for 4year bach in aviation administration

 

[saint808]

you can do whatever you want to do... hell take some introductory classes and snoop around a bit... the old saying is true, "do what you love and the money will come>"