A fulltime college semester of 15 hours, that means approx. 15 classroom hours per week (usually less, for an “hour and a half class” actually means 1 hr, 15 minutes), and most classes have optional attendance, and most of the time even in a so-so class, you can multi-task if you choose as long as you’re discrete and polite about it.
And so, there's a world of difference between high school, where you're stuck in a classroom for 30 hours a week, to college where it's largely self-directed.
I would encourage you to think big, whether you get a job without a degree, eventually start your own business, go into politics, and/or something else that’s both an adventure and a contribution to others. For example, have you ever thought about medical school? Yes, you Brittany, getting an M.D., becoming a doctor, the real thing. You get the GED, start college courses, at community college if necessary. Now, you will need to get almost all A’s, and the way you do that is by running one semester ahead, then you transfer to a regular four-year college, continue with almost all A’s, get good numbers on the MCAT, and there you have it. Back in ’92, they didn't care at all about high school grades, it was all college numbers. Things do change, so please do ask around.
I will tell you one thing which I wish wasn’t the case. Okay, professors are often over-peopled, or resent a heavy teaching load when they’re primarily judged on publications (yeah, but why take it out on me!), so when you ask a question after class, it’s often a 50-50 proposition of whether they engage with your question or just go through the motions. So, you get good at judging that and good at graciously backing off. These are also learnable skills. You can also hire tutors as a supplemental resource (good tutors well worth it) and some schools have free tutoring in math, chemistry, English, etc. And this is one more reason why it’s so important to run a semester ahead (be happy to explain that if people are interested).
Or, get a PhD in biochem or equivalent, do medical research, and occasionally ask a physician if you can round with him or her to keep contact with patients. You can perhaps do even more good in research, and plus, any intellectual approaches you have that are weird, off-beat, creative, unique, different, unusual, play to strength.
Good luck with all your life experiments. Learn a whole lot and be ready when the gifts drop into your lap---as they will do at entirely unpredictable times! And please drop us a line from time to time.
08 Feb 2010, 5:07 pm
