Guys I know with really touch course loads (26 hours or thereabout) still party on the weekends and sometimes during the week.
Credit hours don't mean much. I've taken courses that are 4-5 credit hours that involve half the work of 2 credit hour classes. People in math, science, engineering and technology almost always are more involved with their studies than people outside of those fields. I don't mean to say the other fields aren't as important or anything of that nature, but that's the way it is.
Our school flunks a lot of people, possibly because of partying and not working I'm not sure, but the point is it is possible to balance both. I guess we have different priorities though. I do my work during the week, but on Friday and Saturday night I go out and have fun.
I don't mean to conclude that "fun" is out of the question if you're to be successful in college. In fact, in small amounts, I think it's necessary to succeed. Like you said, it's a balancing effort. I have fun, but I devote the majority of my time and concentration to my studies. It's partially because I want to do well in my classes, but most of the reason is because I'm an academic. I find my courses fascinating and put way more effort into them than is necessary for a satisfactory grade. As a result, I have a much better understanding of the material than my peers, with the exception of those who view the courses in the same way I do.
Most likely I'll still be successful in life outside of college not only because of my education, my schools reputation, but mostly because of connections I've made. We have an amazing alumni network that I will probably tap into for pre-MBA experience. Beginning this summer I'm going to start working for my roommates parents, and if I continue to work there after graduation I'll start out at about $109,000/yr. That's a really good income, especially considering that due to the nature of the business my living expenses would also be paid for.
It seems like you're defending yourself here. I don't mean to say people who don't study hard in college can't be successful. In fact, it's clearly the case that college itself isn't necessary to be successful. Again, though, that really isn't my primary concern. I'm almost certain that I'll be financially secure if and when I do enter industry.
I don't mean to insult your choices, and sure sometimes I wish I had the work and study ethics that people on these boards have. But I think you're placing to much value into the educational focus and not enough into social. Grades are important, but they aren't going to get you anywhere if you aren't constantly networking.
I don't take it as an insult that those who are less studious can have a high annual salary. That doesn't bother me at all. I agree that it's an important part of life, but it isn't what I care about most. I want what I'm doing to be interesting. I want even more for it to be intellectually challenging. I don't want to have a job that doesn't require the use of my intelligence.
I agree that "networking" is important, but you seem to be making the faulty assumption that I don't have networking because I pour the amount of attention I do into homework. My "network" might look much different than yours, but that's because I've earned the respect of the people who support me through my potential and intelligence, not through my charm and charisma. I don't mean to say that you haven't established relationships with people on similar grounds, but I have no interest in being handed a job because someone I know has connections there. I want to earn the position.
It's not the grades you make, it's the hands you shake. It seems that the general view by many people on these boards is that if you spend your weekends partying that you are going nowhere in life, but it's very possible to make good grades as well as have a good time.
I'm of the opinion that this is little more than a trite and prosaic remark that makes a hefty generalization of a complex situation. It's certainly important that you know people, but I'll guarantee you that having an impressive resume and being able to do well in an interview is more important than having a brother in marketing for getting a job at the companies I'm interested in.
I don't think that's what was said. That's not what I was trying to say, anyway. I don't mean to make any of the following conclusions:
Drinking and partying every weekend ==> Poor grades
Drinking and partying every weekend ==> Lack of success later in life
Doing well in college ==> No fun in college
What I do mean to conclude, though is this:
* You don't need to drink to have fun. You seem to be making the assertion that drinking has the intrinsic effect of enhancing fun, which I don't agree with.
* In general, my studies are far more important to me than having fun. I agree that it would be stupid to not have a fair amount of fun, but I'm not going to cast my homework aside to do something less productive.
1/2 a day on the weekend of free time?
Fuck that, there is NOTHING worth spending that kind of time working on. I need some sort of down time to develop social skills, relax, etc.
You're probably the last person I would consult for academic, social -- actually, any type of advice.
That's an estimation. It may be more, it may be less. That's how much I had last weekend.
You seem to be making the refutable assertion that I don't have time to hang out with friends, "relax, etc." I have plenty of time to do that. You may not think so, but you don't have any say in the matter.
