by Seth Rose
While I just discussed Health/Medicine, and biology and chemistry for instance fall under STEM, this section is more for to look at Engineers, math students, and related fields.
A day in the life: Engineering students have a tough workload. While the field varies, for the most part nearly all engineers (Chemical, Civil, Mechanical, etc.) have large, difficult workloads. Engineers spend many days and nights in the library getting shit done, yet somehow some of the biggest partiers I know were engineers.
What STEM Majors Think: Most engineers aren’t usually passionate about their studies. Rather they realize the practicality of it and pursue it because of how much money they’ll make. They’re essentially the opposite of liberal arts majors who are passionate about their studies, but not overly interested in the whole making a living thing. They’ll also tell you how much they studied this week while they’re blackout drunk at the bar.
Reality: STEM majors are the most likely to be employed right out of college, however, they won’t be making as much money as they think. Many engineers will make around 50-60k out of college, maxing out at around 200k. Though honestly, I grew up in a pretty affluent neighborhood and never met a ‘rich’ engineer. If you’re willing to work as engineer for a few decades and desire a stable, good paying job STEM is your best bet though don’t expect to get rich (unless you start your own business).
Keys for Success:
1.) Show up: Okay that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but as long as you take classes seriously and make an effort to get a decent resume, getting a job after school is very likely simply because the demand for engineers is so high.
Future: Again, STEM majors have a pretty bright future as long as they make an effort to keep themselves somewhat competitive as well as seeking jobs after school.
***
There is a lot more that could be said about particular majors, but I don’t think you and I want to read all the nitty gritty details. (For a detailed look at majors and degrees, check out Worthless by Aaron Clarey).
What I suggest is that you choose a general field (e.g. Business or STEM) to start. Then, using employment data, observing future trends, and evaluating your school’s programs, choose the most suitable major.
Chapter 29: Graduate School
I have a much better opinion of graduate school than I do of undergraduate. There are several reasons for this:
1.) Less Time: Instead of spending 4 years to get a Bachelor’s, it only takes 2 to earn a Master’s.
2.) Relevant Classes: No taking silly ‘General Education’ credits to fill the coffers of the humanities departments. Instead, all your classes are (somewhat) related to your field.
3.) Professional: Everyone at my grad school is hustling to get a job. In undergrad, too many people are focused on the present partying away.
And there are many more opportunities than just a Master’s degree. In my opinion, Masters of Arts degrees are the worst graduate degree. They cost a lot and will only lead to a more marginal increase in salary. Law school degrees and MBA’s will lead to much higher salaries. A close friend of mine just completed an online MBA degree, to which I originally scoffed at, until I learned she was offered a six-figure salary upon completion!
The biggest factor you’ll have to consider before going to grad school is the cost. If you’ve always wanted to be a lawyer, and you can manage the costs, then you’re inevitably going to go. However, if you are just trying to get by and are hoping and praying a Master’s will get you a good job, then take a step back and weigh your options.
One reason that I am not a fan of grad degrees, and degrees in general is that grad school is only there to prepare you to be a good worker bee. MJ Demarco writes in The Millionaire Fastlane that slowlane millionaires get MBAs, but the fastlane millionaires are the ones hiring them!
If your long-term goal is like mine, which is to be a location-independent entrepreneur, then grad school is not going to get you there. It is only more of a road block.
My decision to go back was one of ‘safety’ and ‘security’. I was unsure how long my online businesses would need to take off, so decided to get a Master’s in case things don’t work out. I am now in the position where in 2-3 years I can live off my online income. Grad school did not help with that.
Before accepting an offer to go to grad school, run the same formula as we did with an undergrad degree. Will the increase in salary from the grad school allow you to pay off the loans in just a few years? Hell no.
Law school and Med school will require at least $100,000 in loans, oftentimes upwards of $300,000 or more! This will take decades to pay back, thus leaving a huge financial cloud over your head.
If you’ve always wanted to be a doctor, I get it. Don’t throw your dreams away. Just prepare adequately for the financial future that awaits.
Online Degrees
With the growth of online technologies, the opportunity to pursue a degree online has naturally come available. In fact, it only seems natural that instead of sending kids off to college to go sit in a classroom, they could just watch a professor lecture in front of their computer. Of course this is an obvious solution, but it would cut into universities incomes by not charging huge sums for dorms, tuition and upkeep.
So instead of being a practical advancement in education, online degrees are quite looked down upon and are relegated to for-profit shysters looking to make money from unsuspected students. For the most part, these degrees should be avoided. Either go all in with a Bachelor’s degree from a well-known, and of course accredited university, or consider other options.
Like I mentioned earlier, a friend of mine was offered a six-figure job with an online MBA from some no-name university. How did this happen? Well, she got the job through networking (She’s a cute blonde, so that helps). Merit undoubtedly played a role, but I can’t guarantee the same for everyone else.
Associate Degrees
I don’t have a ton of knowledge or information of Associates degrees. For the most part though, they are going to be viewed similarly to online degrees.
The exception is for when an Associate’s degree is for something technical and is basically job training. Otherwise, avoid these degrees and heed the aforementioned advice of pursuing a four-year degree.
Chapter 30: Study and Productivity Tips
Here are some suggestions that will no doubt boost your GPA and enhance your productivity:
Why You Should Not Skip Class
Going to class is a drag. You have to wake up early, walk across campus, sit for an hour or two listening to a professor lecture and then you get homework. It’s not the worst thing in the world, but it’s not much fun.
Most students would rather not go to class at all, and many do just that. A lot of students skip big lecture classes, because if attendance is not taken you’re probably not missing much.
I remember one history class I had. We had to go in to take a mid-term. The test only took a little bit of time, and we would have a lecture afterwards. The professor kept telling students not to leave, but they did anyway. I was one of them. As a punishment, he gave a ‘pop quiz’ after that and all the students who left early were marked down. Not only do I regret losing out on those points, but leaving class was incredibly rude.
Skipping class in general is rude and disrespectful, not just to a professor, but to yourself and your parents (assuming they’re paying). You’re in school to learn--not to party. When you find yourself hitting the snooze button or rolling out of bed late, due to partying the night before you have a problem.
The issue that arises is that skipping class becomes a habit. You do it once, the world doesn’t end, and you got to sleep in without getting in trouble! So, you do it again. And again. Then you start skipping other classes continually pushing your luck.
For most classes professors won’t take attendance, but this is a trap. It gives you comfort knowing that you don’t really need to attend class when in fact it is vital. Going to class help
s you learn valuable information and retain it better because the professor will break it down and answer any questions. There are also reminders, tasks, projects etc. that are discussed or assigned in class.
Excuses will come up regularly: Running errands, social activities, hangovers, meetings etc. but you have to adjust your schedule to allow for class. It is a job, and should be treated as such.
Hell, I had mono(nucleosis) my first semester. I still never missed a class even though I was always exhausted and my throat was throbbing in pain.
You can do it. If some small child can work in a mine in Zimbabwe every day, you can go sit in an air-conditioned classroom for an hour.
Chapter 31: Finding a “Home Away From Home”
My formula for success is:
(Smart) Work + Time = Success
It’s pretty straightforward, yet most college students can’t seem to get a handle on either. The problem is that most college kids have piss poor habits, lack discipline and can’t seem to get shit done.
People wait until the night before to write a 10 page paper or to begin studying for a midterm. And boy, once finals week comes around everyone is hunkered down in the library for days to make up for lost time (Sad how 3-4 days of studying are supposed to make up for 3-4 months of class time).
The easiest solution to this is to simply find a home away from home. A spot where you feel comfortable going every day to get work done, as well as to unwind. A coffee shop or library is a perfect choice and all campuses have at least one of each so take your pick.
The main purpose of this dojo is to get work done, however, this is college and we want to exploit the social aspects every chance we get. With that said, your choice should have a lot of social capital. A perfect example of this is Starbucks.
Starbucks are ubiquitous in American culture, and there’s a good bet you can find one near you. If not, find another big name coffee shop or just something that resembles it.
The reason I’m a fan of Starbucks is not because of their coffee, which is alright, but rather because cute girls go to Starbucks and overall it’s a pleasant and relaxing environment. It’s nice to go to a place where you can sit for a few hours and get a ton of work done and taking a sip of coffee and glancing at the cute blonde sitting across from you.
I’m not advocating going to these places simply so you can check girls out, rather you’re going here so you can talk to them. Use the day game model I laid out earlier to accomplish this.
Once you have your spot, you should plan to go there at least 3+ times a week for several hours.
This accomplishes two things:
1.) Get Shit done: Dragging your ass out of the house will force you to get work done. You can’t jerk off to internet porn in the middle of Starbucks (Don’t try it!) and you’ll feel guilty about web surfing if you made the effort to leave your house and are just wasting time. The longer you stay here the more you get done.
2.) “Network”: Going to the same place on a regular basis, you’re bound to see other regulars. This gives you the ability to simply say, “Hey, I see you here all the time. What’s your name?” This is so easy because it’s genuine.
Part 4: Lifestyle
Grades and Girls is not just a catchy title. They’re going to be two of the biggest, if not the biggest factors, in your life. When you’re not attending class and studying during the day, you’ll be out at night chasing tail.
These two pursuits are going to take up a lot of time. It’s important that you create the proper routines, habits and schedules that not only allow you to get good grades and hot girls, but to also have a rich and fulfilling college experience.
Chapter 32: Your Schedule
“College actually teaches you to be lazy so you must learn to do the opposite.” - Wall Street Playboys
My good friend, roommate, and fraternity brother who is a Chemical engineer showed me this during college:
I would joke with him and tell him it doesn’t count for liberal arts majors…which is true. I was easily able to balance all three of these things over the years.
Most students can’t find a way though, especially ones with time consuming majors. So how can it be done? It comes down to things I’ve mentioned already: Discipline and building habits.
If you’ve got a home away from home and aren’t wasting time with videogames and smoking weed it is quite feasible.
Sample Schedule
For reference, let’s look at a Sample schedule for an imaginary student named Kyle. Kyle is a Junior studying mechanical engineering. His major takes up quite a bit of time, but he doesn’t have a job so it balances out nicely. He’s Vice-President of his schools Engineering Honors Society which takes up a few hours a week. He has to work on applications for internships this summer. He lifts regularly, and in his down time likes to read philosophy books. Oh yeah, and he’s a horny little fucker.
Let’s break it down a bit. Here are things that Kyle, or any college man, should be doing every day:
Sleep: 8 hours. When you’re young you need more sleep, PERIOD, especially if you’re a lifter. Eight hours should have you covered and includes time it takes to fall asleep.
Grooming: 30 minutes. This includes various things like brushing your teeth, flossing, showering, shaving, getting dressed etc. A half-hour total per day should take care of it.
Classes: 5 hours. Few people have classes 5 hours a day every day, but let’s just assume Kyle does. This also includes time walking to class.
Study: 3 hours. This is time spent at your home away from home. Kyle will need to study, but for the remaining time he can read a book, surf the web, work on a project, work on anything that needs to get done for his Honors Society, work on his applications, and if there’s a cute girl next to him he’ll grab her number. This is also time to attend private teaching sessions, office hours with professors, meeting with TA’s etc.
Work: 3-4 hours. For those of you who have a part-time job or internship (recommended).
Exercise: 1 hour. You don’t need to, and shouldn’t be lifting seven days a week, but you should do some sort of physical activity every day.
Preparing/Eating Meals: 1 hour. For the love of God, please don’t be one of those people that eats Ramen and hot pockets. Learn to cook! It also will make your life a whole lot easier to cook in bulk.
Read: 30 minutes. Take some time to read before bed as a way to wind down. For book ideas, check out my books blog.
Schedule/Admin: 15 minutes. In the evening take some time to gauge your productivity, accomplishments, activities etc. from your day. You should also make your schedule for the following day.
That’s a full day right there. Work, studying and class adds up to 11-12 hours! This is not your typical day, but you realistically could do that 5 days a week.
More than likely you will only be in class, working or studying for half that time. This is going to give you a lot more free time. It doesn’t mean that you should spend it playing videogames, rather you should use that time to make sure you’re getting everything else done on this list. After that, you can start adding in fun, social activities.
I like my schedules very rigid, because I know I’m always getting shit done. You may feel constricted by this, but it’s probably because you’re not used to staying so busy. Trust me: Keeping busy will benefit you in the long run. And assuming you’re dropping wasteful habits (which actually I suppose you could still do if you wanted to do during your downtime) you’re going to have more free time that you thought.
You may also want to consider working online, either as a freelancer or to create your own website or business. Online business is the future, and I recommend you start young. And who knows, if you work on this biz every day for four year while in school, you may have a source of income after graduation.
I’ve broken down essentially what you’ve been doing every day, but I want to give you a few sample schedules:
Monday
Monday will follow the
model to a near T. You have an Honors Society meeting at night however.
12 AM- 8 AM: Sleep
8-9: Get Ready for Class; Eat Breakfast.
9-12 PM: Class
12-12:30: Lunch (Eat a dining hall or pack your lunch)
12:30-3: Class
4-5: Exercise
5-530: Dinner
530-8: Study/Work
8-9: Meeting
9-10: Study/Work
10-1130: Downtime
11:30: Get ready for bed
Pretty rigid huh, but those are Mondays. Let’s check out what Friday might look like:
Friday
For the most part it will follow the schedule, but it’s the weekend!
12 AM- 8 AM: Sleep
8-9: Get Ready for Class; Eat Breakfast.
9-12 PM: Class