School decisions

[Minten]

OK so I need some advice here guys.... I'm taking two AP classes, chemistry and advanced algebra, and I have normal language arts and history classes. If it matters I'm also in electronics 2. I've been really thinking hard about what I should do in life. Right now I have average grades (lowest being a C- in chem but most are B's) and feel like I need tougher classes. I'm enrolled in Pre calc and advanced chem but I don't know what that will get me later in life. I need to start figuring out my life before it hits me. I really like science and math based classes and am going to attend an engineering seminar at Berkeley this summer.

Anyways, along with the question... I have the opportunity to go to community college in my Jr and Sr year but I would have to have have a specific career path, or I could stay in highschool and take general classes.

I'm just kind of stuck and thought you guys could help me in the right direction.



Thanks in advance.

 

[WyoUltra]

There's 2 ways to look at this, one, that education is a good thing (and it is). Based off of that it's never a bad thing to learn, and if you can get it with free tuition it just became that much better. Because not only are you attending classes for free, the degree(?) or classes you take are good for your future. They (hopefully) apply to your major, which helps you graduate from college with the least amount of debt as possible. By attending this school ahead of time you get the opportunity to get a head start and see if Engineering is really what you want to do. I myself am graduating this spring with an AAS in Drafting & Design, as well as the schools Mechanical and Architectural design certificates. I also fairly enjoy my major too, which is indeed a plus, however I am graduating with a fair amount of debt, which sucks.

Are you allowed to change majors after those two years? If so, claim what major you best see fit, and see if it's really what you would like to do, if not, at least you can walk away saying you learned something, whether it be engineering, or that engineering isn't for you. I also believe that there is no better time then right out of high school to "test the waters" so to speak. I mean right now as you sit, your education is fresh in your mind, you're also free (not tied down to anything, minimal obligation, except to your family and yourself.) If you take engineering and decide it's not what you want, that's much better to decide in two years then deciding that 10 years when you're stuck paying off student loans.

If it were me, I'd take the opportunity, just to see what's out there. Most people don't know what they wanna be when they're 40, let alone when they're 16, and some people never do. If you want my advice, find a job (major) that you can go too everyday without dreading it. It will make your personal life that much easier, and that much more enjoyable when you're less stressed, and less upset over work.

This of course is all my opinion, by no means am I saying that it is the right thing to do, it is however how I would tackle your situation.

 

[Cerialsledder]

Honestly I would ask if you could use it for Gen Ed courses at the college you are able to attend. If it has to be for technical classes then pick a path that you think you might like and throw it out the window. The average college student changes there major 4 times in their college career, so I would ask to see if you could use it for gen eds and get those out of the way.....

 

[polaris dude]

Honestly, when I went to school I took normal classes and wound up with a 3.6gpa which isn't bad(i was about average in my class in terms of GPA). I went to college and I wish I would have done better because there were scholarships that would have been nice to get and I wish I would have taken harder chemistry classes because that is what my major is now(pharmacy).

If I was you I would start getting better grades and take all the free college classes you can(electives).

It is hard to decide what you want to do but you need to look at a couple of things.
1) how do you want to live(lifestyle)
2) Job outlook in certain majors(engineering is awesome if you have a knack for math)
3) how much you want to study/what kinds of things you want to study

These are the things I considered before I decided to start taking pre-pharmacy classes. I mean, being a pharmacist sounds boring(to a point), but what I have considered is the doors that will open for me later in life. I mean I can do anything I want(start my own business) and if it goes bad, I have a fall back that will still be great. Not only that, but I will start making a pretty good wage at age 24 when I enter the workforce and I can start investing in my future at an early age.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

Whats the point of school if you don't know what you want? Unless you like to have loads of data bits stuffed in your head you will never use and any idiot can figure out with google.
My suggestion is you figure out a dream, goal, or objective that inspires you and you will have fun with. In hs I got so so grades unless it was fun and a challenge and the I aced it. last few years I got into weight lifting and blew through advanced human anatomy without even trying because I was interested in learning to advance weight lifting. Before that I would have been average C in that class.
But first you have to know what you want, weather its money, an education, to be a teacher, engineer and invent, etc... but you have to build a dream to excel no matter what it is, otherwise you are just filling your head with data bit that most likely will be useless.
might I suggest you read a few books that will help with that,
"The magic of thinking Big"
"Think and Grow Rich" (notice its think and grow rich not work hard and grow rich) The Dream is the beginning of the thinking process that will lead you in the right direction and who knows you may wind up somewhere far from there but you will have fun doing it.

 

[Phizzer]

If you are serious about going to college, then I would get as many credits knocked out of the way while you can in HS. Like someone said, you can always change your major once your enrolled and for the most part, the General Education requirements for most majors are almost the same.

I agree with WYO to a certain degree. In order for you to really succeed at something, you have to be passionate about what it is you are doing. There is no point going through life, building up yourself to get into a position that you hate. I also think that the more education you have, the more adaptable to situations you can be, in all settings. There is never a time to stop learning. So what do you do for fun? Try to brainstorm up some jobs that you think you would enjoy doing, but also reap the benefits of the lifestyle you want to live.

 

[av8er]

U seem to like computers- and electronics- hobby

If you enjoy it, do that, the world will always need computers. I spent 3 years as a computer tech for a company that had airplanes, the owner was a pilot and would hire other pilots and train them in computers, then when our customers systems had issues, we would grab our tool boxes, support manuals, and parts and fly to their location and fix their stuff, we specialized in point of sale systems. If you enjoy what your doing it doesn't seem like work as much

 

[go high fast]

Next to getting married, how you perform acedemically and what school you go to is the most important decision of your life. With B's and C's it sounds like maybe you shouldnt be in AP classes or Advanced anything. I recommend no AP classes and first get on track with all A's in the regular classes then reconsider AP and Advance classes. Round out your acedemic record with strong achievement in out-of-classroom activities and get to the very best school possible no matter what it takes and what sacrifices are required. Financial Aid is generous at the finest schools. Real critical to not let this time pass you by with getting your ducks in a row for your future.

i would stay at HS and blow off the Community College idea. You may also find that some college courses taken while in HS are not automatically guaranteed to be transferable to your HS or to the College/University of your choice.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

If you are serious about going to college, then I would get as many credits knocked out of the way while you can in HS. Like someone said, you can always change your major once your enrolled and for the most part, the General Education requirements for most majors are almost the same.

I agree with WYO to a certain degree. In order for you to really succeed at something, you have to be passionate about what it is you are doing. There is no point going through life, building up yourself to get into a position that you hate. I also think that the more education you have, the more adaptable to situations you can be, in all settings. There is never a time to stop learning. So what do you do for fun? Try to brainstorm up some jobs that you think you would enjoy doing, but also reap the benefits of the lifestyle you want to live.

Agreed, but don't confuse schools and institutions with an education. I have got more of an education in the last year on success than I ever did in any school. Here is one of the most important basic lessons, (this comes from a billionaire who came from nothing)
"First, find someone that has what you want and has been where you are. If they have those 2 things they are the ones that should be educating you because they have the results to prove it."
Do teachers and professors have what you want??? mine never did! and they all make less than me now.

If your not growing your dieing, there is no middle ground and to me school just as well have been dieing since 4th grade. If they would have let me go at my pace I would have finished at 12yrs old and been on to the next step.

 

[polaris dude]

Agreed, but don't confuse schools and institutions with an education. I have got more of an education in the last year on success than I ever did in any school. Here is one of the most important basic lessons, (this comes from a billionaire who came from nothing)
"First, find someone that has what you want and has been where you are. If they have those 2 things they are the ones that should be educating you because they have the results to prove it."
Do teachers and professors have what you want??? mine never did! and they all make less than me now.

If your not growing your dieing, there is no middle ground and to me school just as well have been dieing since 4th grade. If they would have let me go at my pace I would have finished at 12yrs old and been on to the next step.

Wyo whatchu doing now if I might ask?