Glass Joe the Champ said:
Hey guys, I'm a Junior in high school, and I just got back from a few college visits, and I was just wondering where people are/did/plan to go to college and what they major/majored/plan to major in.
Personally, I want to be an engineer of some sort, and I'm hoping to make it into Stanford or Berkeley, but that's probably not going to happen. I have an SAT score of 2220 which is good, but I'm nowhere near the top of my class. I'll probably end up just going to a state school like A&M since I live in Texas. :/
So what colleges are you guys looking at, attending or attended?
I'm currently attending the University of Utah and will graduate in May with a B.S. in Biology, two Minors in English Literature and Chemistry, and an Emphasis in Organismal Form and Function.
An SAT of 2200 is excellent, but most colleges will look at GPA, SAT, and any essays you're asked to write. They may not put a huge emphasis on numbers because a person fresh out of High School has absolute bat-shit all idea of what they really want to do and how to handle college courses while managing any semblance of a social life.
Most don't. There is a very, very high dropout rate for just about every college but the top tiers. My own has a nearly 71% dropout rate, but it's slightly less for my Major (however, there is a high amount of attrition for any science-related degree).
The biggest question you should be asking yourself if you plan to go to college is this:
Do I plan to attend Graduate school, or do I want to get a job as soon as I have my degree?
If you want to attend Grad school, then you need to plan for it from the beginning. Volunteer hours, leadership hours, research hours, or start buddying up with Professors you like (and who like you) to pursue personal goals and projects. There are a lot more degrees that will find success in Grad school than there are that will find success in the job world with a B.S.
Degrees that work well for making money without attending Grad school tend towards Software Engineer/Programming/Accounting/Engineering/Business/Law. Despite what many may tell you, with a B.S. in Physics/Chemistry/Biology you're options are usually limited to labwork, a few research positions, teaching, and if you're lucky - hired by somebody to keep an eye on something (think Marine Biologist). Those degrees practically require Grad school if you're not pre-Professional (that is: Pre-Nursing, Pre-Medical, etc.) to make any decent money.
In addition; where you go should be where you feel like you'll be able to do well and get a decent education. The Ivy League names still hold some sway, and the big players like MIT will hold sway because of the sheer amount of scientific research that occurs there - but if you're not planning to socialize your way into a job, most employers don't pay a lot of attention to where the degree is from. There are over 2,000 accredited Colleges/Universities in the United States; only a handful will grab someone's attention. The University of Utah's hospital was rated the top for patient care in 2010, we're a Research 1 school, and ranked in the Top 50 in the nation - but it's a public University with a 35k student body. We even have a Nobel Prize Winner on staff, but that stuff doesn't come up on resumes.
After you know whether or not you want to attend Grad school, have a prospective Major (which will probably change; most peoples' do), and find a school, you're pretty much on autopilot for several years. You go to class, finish homework, take tests, gripe about bad Professors, and pound enough literature through your skull (to be later forgotten three weeks after the course ends) to keep the Olympic flame burning for a decade or two.
Enjoy the trip. The pride and honor that comes with a degree is still there, but these days you have to force yourself to achieve it. Don't settle for just the courses and a few hours of volunteer or service work. Really dig in and make yourself proud.
