Looking back
Ian Clysdale
Brika Steinberg (ac...@freenet.carleton.ca) writes:
> For those of you who are now in university, how many are happy with the
> choices you made. Any regrets? Or smaller things you would have
> changed?
Well, being no longer in university (thank all the ghods at once) I'm
not sure if I'm eligible to answer this, but I'm going to anyways. Deal
with it. =)
First of all, if you can find one person who doesn't have at the very
least small things they'd change, I'll be *very* impressed. :) And
probably worry about that person and their judgement. But for myself, I
really wish that I'd taken some time before I went away to school. I went
to Waterloo because it was "the place to study computers." I went there,
and, well, I hated it.
On the other hand, I'm glad at some of the things that it led me into.
If I hadn't been there, I would have been desperately looking for another
major, and probably wouldn't have drifted into psych as much as I did.
I'm really glad that I'm taking some time off now, though, to step back
and see what I want to do. I've finished second year of both computer
science and psych, and am going to go back and finish one of those, or
else quite possibly a cognitive science degree. Where, I'm not all that
sure, though - I really should get around to sending out those transfer
applications one of these years.
This *really* is a ramble, isn't it? Oh well... :)
ian
--
ian clysdale * "i'm not saying she'd look good wearing my ring on her
iclysdale@csclub. * finger, just that she'd look good chained up in the back
uwaterloo.ca * of my car and crying." -steve k
Brika Steinberg
Erin's "Ack - University!" (please forgive the paraphrasing :) post made
me wonder about something...
For those of you who are now in university, how many are happy with the
choices you made. Any regrets? Or smaller things you would have
changed?
Brika. :)
--
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\
Brika Steinberg:
..... \,,/_
Box Disliker, ENFP, ..."""" bste...@chat.carleton.ca ''
Happiness Incarnate, . """ http://wabakimi.carleton.ca/~bsteinbe
Dreamer-Minstrel. "
//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\\//\
Alex Grienti
Brika Steinberg wrote:
>
> Erin's "Ack - University!" (please forgive the paraphrasing :) post made
> me wonder about something...
>
> For those of you who are now in university, how many are happy with the
> choices you made. Any regrets? Or smaller things you would have
> changed?
>
> Brika. :)
>
Um, well, I'm in neither, I'm still in High School, but I did a
comparason on field placements from University and College, and the
course I'm going to be taking, Mechanical Engineering, within 4-6 months
past graduation, students will get a job placement...The major
difference between these two places of high education are, University
has more philosophy and principles of the course you want to take, but
College offers more hands on experience...talking to a few people who
took the Mech. Engineering, alot of them have came from University,
because it was hard to find a job...anyways, I'm not sure if this has
any relevance to what you were talking about...but I just had to say
this...
Alex
---
Alexander Julian Grienti aka Heero_Yuy|"Life is too cheap to live..."
St. Pius X High School (on EFNet) | -Heero Yuy
RCSCC 40 Falkland |"Whoever sees me goes to Hell!"
at...@freenet.carleton.ca | -Duo Maxwell
Greg Marshall
Brika Steinberg (ac...@freenet.carleton.ca) writes:
> Erin's "Ack - University!" (please forgive the paraphrasing :) post made
> me wonder about something...
> For those of you who are now in university, how many are happy with the
> choices you made. Any regrets? Or smaller things you would have
> changed?
Mmmm, not really, it's my life, I like it so far... :) Comp Sci
is really for me, and Ottawa U is ok, I guess I should have tried harder
in HS, but frankly I wouldn't want to go to Waterloo...
Greg
--
They're dead, they're all messed up.
-Sherrif, Night of the Living Dead
David Moorhouse
Brika Steinberg (ac...@freenet.carleton.ca) writes:
> Erin's "Ack - University!" (please forgive the paraphrasing :) post made
> me wonder about something...
> For those of you who are now in university, how many are happy with the
> choices you made. Any regrets? Or smaller things you would have
> changed?
I'm not in University yet, still in OAC, but one thing I regret already
is not taking any arts courses (or not staying in them) through high
school. Any of the arts interest me, but I haven't developped a single one
to any point that would get me into a program at University. So I get
stuck applying for nothing but comp.sci courses. Sure, it interests me a
little but no meat, if you know what I mean. I'll probably learn very
minimal amounts in University compared to what I could learn on my own (in
that subject), and from what I've heard I'll be bored probably till about
2nd or 3rd year. I'm kinda draggin on my point, but my advice is, don't
limit your choices. I already regret it and I haven't even started
University yet. (Actually, while I'm in this state of mind... I think I've
realized that I'm letting my marks slip subconciously because I've got no
real drive to get into the courses I'm applying for. Go figure, maybe I'll
take a year off and pick up some arts) Bah.. enough of me.
-Dave!
--
Don't you hate it when people answer their own questions? Yeah.
Stephen Gilman
David Moorhouse (an...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) writes:
> Brika Steinberg (ac...@freenet.carleton.ca) writes:
>> Erin's "Ack - University!" (please forgive the paraphrasing :) post made
>> me wonder about something...
>> For those of you who are now in university, how many are happy with the
>> choices you made. Any regrets? Or smaller things you would have
>> changed?
I got a general B.A. in Communications at the U. of Windsor. I regret not
getting involved in the Comm. Students Association in first year (I joined
in second year). I regret not fucking the music editor of the school
paper when I had the chance (I was such a timid little virgin back then,
and no woman had ever been that forward with me before),and I regret not
working harder so I could get a B- average and get into honours (a general
degree sucks).
I also regret not reading the program requirements more carefully before I
applied to Windsor. They made me take some really dumb courses taught by
some really bad profs. It pissed me off because there were some really
good courses taught by some really good profs that I couldn't take because
of the stupid, overly-restrictive course requirements.
--
Stephen R. Gilman: Independent Film & Video Guy.
Director, Camera Operator, Production Assistant, Etc...
Member of SAW, IFCO and OHFTA.
ao...@freenet.carleton.ca http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/~ao668
Jason Cobill
Greg Marshall (ad...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) writes:
> Mmmm, not really, it's my life, I like it so far... :) Comp Sci
> is really for me, and Ottawa U is ok, I guess I should have tried harder
> in HS, but frankly I wouldn't want to go to Waterloo...
Buloney. :) Why would you not want to go to waterloo? You go
there, major in comp.sci, and you go on to do whatever you blooming well
want to. IN fact, while you're in waterloo, yo *are* doing whatever the
blooming heck you want to, on whatever architecture you want to, and
people will come to you and give you many dollars for whatever you
discover.
They have like 8 members of the comp.sci faculty specializing in A
I, 4 of them are doing parallelism research, they have a full-blown
multi-million-dollar robotics lab, a "photonics isolation lab" behid steel
doors (I wish I knew what they did in there) ... Geek heaven.
And what's more, every second person you pass by is an attractive 20
year old comp.sci girl. :) (and every third one is majoring in Chemical
Engineering)
*Rrrrrowl*
I'd give my left testicle to go to Waterloo.
(And that's not just something I'm saying. I really would.)
-Jay
--
"A little nonsense now and then, Jason Cobill
is relished by the wisest men." aq...@freenet.carleton.ca
- Willy Wonka :) :) :) :) :)
Greg Marshall
Jason Cobill (aq...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) writes:
> Buloney. :) Why would you not want to go to waterloo? You go
I'm not an academic overacheiver and have no desire to be... I
wouldn't fit in. At Ottawa U I'm ahead of the pack as far as general
knowledge in the Comp Sci students...
> there, major in comp.sci, and you go on to do whatever you blooming well
> want to. IN fact, while you're in waterloo, yo *are* doing whatever the
> blooming heck you want to, on whatever architecture you want to, and
> people will come to you and give you many dollars for whatever you
> discover.
I would be interested in them for post grad though... not
undergrad...
> They have like 8 members of the comp.sci faculty specializing in A
> I, 4 of them are doing parallelism research, they have a full-blown
> multi-million-dollar robotics lab, a "photonics isolation lab" behid steel
> doors (I wish I knew what they did in there) ... Geek heaven.
Geek heaven? What do you know about geeks you ARTIST. (Or should
we say cut-and-paste-drag-and-drop-man) :):):)
> And what's more, every second person you pass by is an attractive 20
> year old comp.sci girl. :) (and every third one is majoring in Chemical
> Engineering)
All of them so much smarter than me that they wouldn't be
interrrrrr..... uhh, not that I would care since I have a girlfriend
anyway... ummm.. errr... :)
> *Rrrrrowl*
Is that a LION I hear? :) How many times a day for 4 days? :)
> I'd give my left testicle to go to Waterloo.
> (And that's not just something I'm saying. I really would.)
I thought you already gave your... oh yeah, that was the right one...
Paul Derbyshire
Jason Cobill (aq...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) writes:
> Marks are such a bad indicator of learning ability and
> comprehension. I wish there was a good alternative.
I agree.
> The way I've been able to justify my predicament, is that the
> artist I am now is applying computer technology to make people's lives
> better, as opossed to the techie I was, who was applying computers to make
> computers better.
> I'm qualified to make things clear for people in scientific videos
> and what not. Press conferences. Seminars.
> Being a digital animator gives me the power to show people what
> other people imagine.
>
> Or, alternatively, I can make faries sparkle and butter dance.
>
> :)
Sounds like fun...
I've always liked a good computer animation. Ever see the Mind's Eye (?)
tape series?
(Actually, in your area, those are probably required watching like
Shakespeare for would-be writers!)
> Nono, I've still got the right one. I'd give my right one to go to MIT.
>
> Both if they needed a "Digital Animation Specialist" on the next
> space shuttle flight. :)
>
> (I mean heck, what am I using them for? :) )
<rotfl!>
--
.*. Friendship, companionship, love, and having fun are the reasons for
-() < life. All else; sex, money, fame, etc.; are just to get/express these.
`*' Send any and all mail with attachments to the hotmail address please.
Paul Derbyshire ao...@freenet.carleton.ca pg...@hotmail.com
Jason Cobill
>> Buloney. :) Why would you not want to go to waterloo? You go
>
> I'm not an academic overacheiver and have no desire to be... I
> wouldn't fit in. At Ottawa U I'm ahead of the pack as far as general
> knowledge in the Comp Sci students...
Your grades aren't great, but I suppose being a
university, they have thier heads up thier asses and really don't care
about much other than your marks.
Marks are such a bad indicator of learning ability and
comprehension. I wish there was a good alternative.
They should call everyone up and interview them. Just quickly. Get
all the people on staff to make some quick calls. Quiz people.
To be honest, no-one I know has marks that reflect their
abilities. Maybe Nat, but she's kinda obsessive about her grades. Very
stressed out sometimes. I wonder if it's worth it.
And I find the people who *do* get high grades, often suffer from
a distinct lack of personality, and tend to be the people who organize
themselves into the best lab-writing cheating groups.
*shrug* I don't have a better way that the current marking system,
but maybe someday it'll come to me suddenly, and I'll change every
student's life forever.
>> They have like 8 members of the comp.sci faculty specializing in A
>> I, 4 of them are doing parallelism research, they have a full-blown
>> multi-million-dollar robotics lab, a "photonics isolation lab" behid steel
>> doors (I wish I knew what they did in there) ... Geek heaven.
>
> Geek heaven? What do you know about geeks you ARTIST. (Or should
> we say cut-and-paste-drag-and-drop-man) :):):)
*groan*
I really shouldn't mention my insecurities to you in the future. :)
The way I've been able to justify my predicament, is that the
artist I am now is applying computer technology to make people's lives
better, as opossed to the techie I was, who was applying computers to make
computers better.
I'm qualified to make things clear for people in scientific videos
and what not. Press conferences. Seminars.
Being a digital animator gives me the power to show people what
other people imagine.
Or, alternatively, I can make faries sparkle and butter dance.
:)
>> *Rrrrrowl*
> Is that a LION I hear? :) How many times a day for 4 days? :)
All day, every day, for 4 days. ;)
>> I'd give my left testicle to go to Waterloo.
>> (And that's not just something I'm saying. I really would.)
> I thought you already gave your... oh yeah, that was the right one...
Nono, I've still got the right one. I'd give my right one to go to MIT.
Both if they needed a "Digital Animation Specialist" on the next
space shuttle flight. :)
(I mean heck, what am I using them for? :) )
-Jay
Jennifer M. Powroz
Jason Cobill (aq...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) writes:
>>> Buloney. :) Why would you not want to go to waterloo? You go
Spelling and grammar police: Bologna! :P
>> I'm not an academic overacheiver and have no desire to be... I
overachiever
> Your grades aren't great, but I suppose being a
> university, they have thier heads up thier asses and really don't care
their
>>> multi-million-dollar robotics lab, a "photonics isolation lab" behid steel
behind
> *groan*
> I really shouldn't mention my insecurities to you in the future. :)
Haven't you learned that by now? Sheesh. :P
> Or, alternatively, I can make faries sparkle and butter dance.
Fairies, or faeries.
>>> *Rrrrrowl*
>> Is that a LION I hear? :) How many times a day for 4 days? :)
> All day, every day, for 4 days. ;)
Every twenty minutes for 4 days straight. Sheesh... :)
> Nono, I've still got the right one. I'd give my right one to go to MIT.
> Both if they needed a "Digital Animation Specialist" on the next
> space shuttle flight. :)
> (I mean heck, what am I using them for? :) )
Should I even bother? Bah. :)
Btw, hi! :)
jen, avoiding emails left, right and center :)
--
Jason, again according to Ron: "Why do you say bum? It sounds so cute and
happy and round."
Michelle Dean
David Moorhouse (an...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) writes:
> I'm not in University yet, still in OAC, but one thing I regret already
> is not taking any arts courses (or not staying in them) through high
> school. Any of the arts interest me, but I haven't developped a single one
> to any point that would get me into a program at University.
I'm coming from a different perspective, but I have to agree with your
point, Dave. I overdosed on Social Science and History courses in high
school (and still am overdosing, I guess) but my dad had enough brains to
force me to take at least some science and math courses. I didn't exactly
get the most balanced of educations but I feel fairly comfortable with
everything and I guess that's real important.
I'll also diverge from the thread and offer some advice to high
schoolers - get involved. I know that's really cheesy and overused - but
coming from a completely non-Students' Council type, maybe it means
something else. I spent the first two years of HS waiting for it to come
to me and I was miserable. Now I'm doing stuff - too much stuff, but ah
well - and I'm having a blast. Maybe this applies to university, too, I
don't know - not there yet.
Michelle
--
"If there are as many minds as there are heads, | E. Michelle Dean
then there can be as many loves as there are hearts." | eryn@freenet.
- Tolstoy, _Anna_Karenina_ | carleton.ca
Come see "The Crucible" at Gloucester HS: Feb 5, 6, 7 | -,-'-,-'-,-'-,-{@
Jason Cobill
Note: The following is completely irrelevant to the subject header.
>> Or, alternatively, I can make faries sparkle and butter dance.
>> :)
>
> Sounds like fun...
> I've always liked a good computer animation. Ever see the Mind's Eye (?)
> tape series?
> (Actually, in your area, those are probably required watching like
> Shakespeare for would-be writers!)
Funny you should mention Mind's Eye.
For the longest time I ooohed and ahhhed with the best of them as
glittery spheres and chrome dinosaurs and blobs danced about on the screen.
Unfortunately that's all been ruined for me by my course, and
along with the rest of the Computer Graphics people in the world, I now
wince in pain and point and yell "Ick! 80's!" and go on to deconstruct th
video.
The problem with Mind's Eye is it *looks* like a computer did it.
There are certain cliches in the CG world, and you can find them
all in mind's eye.
Chrome spheres. Checkerboard floors. Marble (Everywhere). Shiny
highlights on everything. Cleanliness. Symmetry. Rigid movements.
All the films featured in Mind's Eye were showstoppers and jaw
droppers a long time ago, and they've contributed deeply to the medium,
helping it become what it is today.
A computer graphic is only really worthy of praise when you can't tell
it's a computer graphic.
(Launch in Apollo 13, Dinos in Jurassic Park, Machine in Contact)
So, yes, we respect the advances they made to be able to make it,
but in general... *shudder* Ick! 80's!
(Two exceptions, the train one rocks for it's character animation,
and the fractal environment, and Tin Toy, which was actually the "proof of
concept" that they made to prove Toy Story was feasible. That little
drummer toy was supposed to be the "woody" character in Toy Story, before
they decided he wasn't loveable enough)
-Jay
(Who'se work at the moment isn't photorealistic, but I'm a newbie
and am not making a 6 digit salary either. yet.)
Stephen Gilman
Jason Cobill (aq...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) writes:
>
> Your grades aren't great, but I suppose being a
> university, they have thier heads up thier asses and really don't care
> about much other than your marks.
>
> Marks are such a bad indicator of learning ability and
> comprehension. I wish there was a good alternative.
>
> They should call everyone up and interview them. Just quickly. Get
> all the people on staff to make some quick calls. Quiz people.
And is that really fair to the people who DO have good learning ability
and comprehension, but are socially awkward and look like fools in inteviews?
Not all schools place such an importance on grades. Waterloo is science,
computers and engineering. Grades are a good measure for entrance there.
They show how much effort and dedication you put into your work. It
doesn't matter if you're *smart* for that kind of career. It matters that
you work hard and *GET THE JOB DONE*. No employer would go "Well, his
programs suck but damn is he smart. I think I'll give him a raise."
For arts programs your high school grades wouldn't be a very good
indicator of your ability, but those programs don't make their entrance
requirements nearly as high.
The public education system is designed to train workers, not educate
thinkers. Today the emphasis is on computers, math and science because
those are the skills that the corporations need to exploit from their
workers. Why do you think Harris and Co. want to cut so much arts from
high school? Because the corporations don't need that many artsies!
Even if you want to be in computers, then Waterloo mihght not be for you. If
you WANT to work for Microsoft or (shudder) Corel, and be an EMPLOYEE your
whole life, then sure, go and work your ass off at Waterloo. If you want
to start your OWN computer company or you don't want to be chained to the
will of some corporation, then another school which doesn't train
(some might say condition) their students with such a narrow focus might be
better suited to your needs.
I'm not trying to knock Waterloo. It serves a purpose. Today's
technological society needs highly-trained, high-tech workers to survive,
and Waterloo is very good at churning them out. But they ARE workers!
The leaders don't come from schools like Waterloo, Cal Tech or M.I.T.
These schools are not the supreme answer. Leadership-streamed indivuals
would say no school can beat Queen's, or McGill, or Harvard. Film Geeks
(who can still become powerful) would sing the praises of U.S.C. or N.Y.U.
Different schools cater to different needs. I would NEVER want to go to
Waterloo. But then again, I couldn't get into Waterloo if I wanted to.
(And in case you were wondering, I went to the U. of Windsor)
Margaret McCarthy
Stephen Gilman (ao...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) writes:
> And is that really fair to the people who DO have good learning ability
> and comprehension, but are socially awkward and look like fools in inteviews?
It helps people like me, whose grades aren't that wonderful but have good
interaction skills.
> Even if you want to be in computers, then Waterloo mihght not be for you. If
> you WANT to work for Microsoft or (shudder) Corel, and be an EMPLOYEE your
> whole life, then sure, go and work your ass off at Waterloo. If you want
> to start your OWN computer company or you don't want to be chained to the
> will of some corporation, then another school which doesn't train
> (some might say condition) their students with such a narrow focus might be
> better suited to your needs
Mmmm.... Well, I'm planning to work four months at Corel, say no to any
and all offers of stock options and then run off fr another four months of
yes, *very* challenging work at Waterloo -- AFTER collecting my salary.
Waterloo does give corporations who they want, but it also gives students
what they want if they go there. I'm not in CS, but I'll probably be
getting a good number of cs co-op terms.
> I'm not trying to knock Waterloo. It serves a purpose. Today's
> technological society needs highly-trained, high-tech workers to survive,
> and Waterloo is very good at churning them out. But they ARE workers!
> The leaders don't come from schools like Waterloo, Cal Tech or M.I.T.
> These schools are not the supreme answer. Leadership-streamed indivuals
> would say no school can beat Queen's, or McGill, or Harvard. Film Geeks
> (who can still become powerful) would sing the praises of U.S.C. or N.Y.U.
Waterloo's students can be innovative and leaders.. you may not want a cs
student. What about systems design engineers?
Again, it's what the student wants, as you said. It's not paradise, but
Waterloo has a good math program for *me*. Maybe not for others.
> Different schools cater to different needs.
Exactly. I'm happy here, but I could be just as happy at Western in
business, say, or Windsor. :)
Before I start turning into a total propagandist.... :)
Margaret
--
How many Scientists have written
The shark is gentle as a kitten!
Yet this I know about the shark:
His bite is worser than his bark. -- Ogden Nash
Ian Clysdale
Margaret McCarthy (bb...@FreeNet.Carleton.CA) writes:
> Again, it's what the student wants, as you said. It's not paradise, but
> Waterloo has a good math program for *me*. Maybe not for others.
> Exactly. I'm happy here, but I could be just as happy at Western in
> business, say, or Windsor. :)
> Before I start turning into a total propagandist.... :)
This propaganda has been brought to you by the numbers 6 and 9, and the
letter W.
ian
--
ian clysdale nightmare of choice /\ "pps - ian, yes i am stalking you. this
icly...@csclub.uwaterloo.ca \/ is sig tag. you are now it." -amanda
(imminentizing the eschaton one act of enlightenment at a time)