OT: Did You Go To College?
by John Sickels on May 10, 2008 4:15 PM EDT
Email
PrintOff-topic question, but I'm trying to learn as much as I can about my readers and their backgrounds.
Did you go to college? And if so, where? And did you like your college experience?
I went to Northwest Missouri State University and got a BA in history. I then went to the University of Kansas and got an MA in history. I loved undergrad school, but frankly after the first year or so I hated grad school. The only thing I really got out of grad school was moving to Lawrence and meeting Bill James and stumbling into this career.
233 comments
|
6 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
UNT/Brown
Currently on my 5th year of being A.B.D. (I’m not sure I’ll ever take the time to finish the dissertation)
I enjoyed undergrad quite a bit but graduate school was not fun at all. The experience turned me off to academia forever.
same here
Same here….I got my MA in 93, passed the PhD stuff in 96 but never did the dissertation. The whole grad school process turned me off academia big-time.
by John Sickels on May 10, 2008 5:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Menlo College
Atherton, CA
Degree in Communications
The town of Atherton outlawed alcohol in open areas after my freshman year, so it landed me on school probation a couple times. The curriculum was too easy so I got bored after my freshman year.
A year after I graduated, they added a Sports Management program. I would have done that instead.
University of Evansville
and then Indiana University for a Masters degree in Math.
SCTC
I was lucky enough to escape from the world of higher eduaction after 2 years in a tech school.
I recieved an A.A.S. in Engineering Technology but have not been lucky enough to run into Bill James, or John Sickels, in the process so I have to continue with my great career.
Currently attending West Point
Majoring in Military History.
nice
i’m in army rotc at stanford. what year are you? do you know what you want to branch into?
LiNcEcuM and cAiN R STUDS
by z4 landshark on May 11, 2008 2:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Finishing up junior year
Hoping to branch MI, Infantry, Aviation, or Engineers
Utica College
BA in Biology
Minor in Geoscience
Now since the college didn’t get all the classes for the medical field I have attend local community colleges to finish up and get medical licenses though I’m trying to get into the USDA.
At first glance...I thought this was a corollary to the 'Grow Up' thread
Went to San Francisco State in…Cinema of all things. Before that, I went to community college (College of San Mateo in the Bay Area), and also spent a semester studying in Paris while in CC.
I did Journalism through high school and community college, focusing on sports journalism. Gave it up for a while after catching two stories about death, death and more death (and local stuff, talking to people who watched their friends/daughter/cousins burn/choke to death, not some foreign war). Got back into after college with a lack of ‘formal’ training.
SFDugout.com is BACK! See the Top 50 Giants Prospects!
IIT/UCSD
I’m a week from graduating from the Illinois Institute of Technology with a BS in Aerospace Engineering. Next year I’ll begin working towards my MS in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at UC San Diego.
"Amare respects [Shaq] so much and needs him physically." -Steve Kerr
UCSD
So I won’t be alone next year…currently a junior at UCSD in Probability and Statistics.
by kingofthehobos on May 14, 2008 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Go Horns
University of Texas at Austin…BA in English…MS in Radio-Television-Film with concentration in writing for TV and Film. Now a Creative Director at an Austin advertising agency and proud father of a very good baseball player and manager of a powerful Fantasy Baseball Team.
I came upon this site about 3 years ago as our fantasy league was going to have a 2-round minors draft. This site turned me onto Howie Kendrick, Billy Butler and Clayton Kershaw. I tried to get Gallardo when I read here that John was really high on him. Unfortunately, with a consistently good team I also consistently have a low draft spot.
Love the site!
The Evaluation
Undergrad was a lot of fun. Anti-war demonstrations, free speech, civil rights, sex, drugs and rock ‘n roll. SDS, Children’s Breakfast Fund, “Hair”, progressive country music, tie-dyed t-shirts, bell bottoms and hippie beads. Austin was a “happening” place back then.
Grad school was also fun, but I was deeply immersed in TV writing and production.
And, of course, there was the Texas Longhorn baseball team. Gus-ball was in high gear back then and I got to see some great players pass through the Austin regional—Roger Clemens and Spike Owen; John Elway with his cannon arm in right field; Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro almost knocking us out of our own regional; a skinny kid named Jason Giambi who we couldn’t get out….
Good times.
Duke
Working on a Ph.D. at Duke University. Just finished exams, am now ABD.
Duke Undergrad
Went to Duke and graduated with math and econ double major. Went to U of Arizona for my MBA.
Brandeis
B.A. in Economics and English & American Literature
The Dodgers won't win a playoff series until the Cool-a-Coo returns.
It was a long time ago but
along the way I managed to get undergrad degrees in Econ, BusAD and Polisci. Got an MBA and masters in Econ and was two classes short of a Phd in Econ when the government decided they needed me to save the country from the commie hordes.
Graduated in 1999...
with a BA in Criminal Justice from New Mexico State University. Enjoyed college for the most part, but I wished there were more hands on classes and less lectures and term papers.
"My mom always taught me it's better to laugh at yourself than to laugh at others. She was so wrong. ;)" -Pedrophile
University of Wisconsin-Madison
BA in Communications (Radio/Television/Film)
University of Houston
Logistics Technologies. Don’t use it. The fraternity was the only fun part. Sigma Nu
My first mistake was assuming you knew what I was talking about.
Pomona College
Major in English, minor in religious studies. Started postgraduate work in Medieval History at University of Toronto, loathed it, and quit. Married a Canadian girl, though.
Where Anne hath a will, Anne Hathaway.
Cool school
Cool school. How do you like it? Do you have a lot of interaction with the other four colleges there? Do the guys like to spend most of their time at Scripps? :)
I like it a lot
hahaha the Scripps pool is a big draw. There is a lot of interaction between Scripps, Claremont, and Pomona. Pitzer and Harvey mudd stay to themselves more.
How can any self-respecting CMC student
call themself “Birdfan”?
Inferiority complex, my friend. Inferiority complex.
Go Sagehens.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
Adelphi University
in Garden City, NY, B.B.A. in Accounting in 2003
currently considering going back to graduate school because there has to be something better than doing mindless work for 12 hours a day
I stumbled upon the site a few years ago
Partially..
1.5 semesters of general education at West Valley Community College, CA. Then haven’t gone back but plan to get at least an associates degree next semester or two this fall when I go back, this time at University of Wisconsin-Marathon County.
The Basil Fawlty Moderating Strategy:
"We could run a nice blog here if we didn't have all these members getting in the way."
University of Washington
BA – Economics
Best time of my life. Learned a lot. Met friends that will last a lifetime. Seattle is a great city. Wish I could do it over again….
University of Hartford - BS Computer Engineering
UConn – MS Electrical Engineering
Fairfield University – MBA
Undergrad was cool…MS in EE was a drag, MBA was fun.
You're pretty much covering the state, aren'tcha?
(moos in an attempt to fit in with the locals from UConn)
"...and the only things I've found better than listening to Vin Scully are listening to Keith Jackson and uncut cocaine." (bleedjaxblue)
Aggie
First I attended a community college for dual credit in high school (Northeast Texas Community College). Since I was planning to get more schooling then the four years of undergraduate I decided to stay there after I graduated from high school to save some cash. My experience at NTCC – EASY… Loved the professors because they actually seemed to care for the students, but altogether the curriculum aside from my organic chemistry class seemed even easier than high school.
Then I transferred to Texas A&M. Last May I graduated with a BS in Biomedical Science. Really loved the place. Made great friends, had lots of fun, and really got a pretty well rounded education, but I did get fatigued from schooling towards the end of my stay.
Since I intended to go to medical school I decided to take a year off to prevent me from getting completely sick of school. Ironically the best job I could get during my intermission was at my old community college where I’ve been working as a lab professor in biology and chemistry. So yeah even when I want to get away from school I can’t.
I start medical school at UTMB Galveston in August. 4 years of schooling and 3/6 years of residency left. Yippee…
Texas A&M here too.
Did my undergrad at A&M (Journalism), loved every minute of it. Got my MBA from SMU a couple years ago – SMU is quite a different place from College Station, I didn’t like the campus or the random students nearly as much, but I did really enjoy my program, classmates and professors.
by Curveball 2000 on May 12, 2008 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Me too (Ph.D.)
B.S. and M.S. from North Dakota State Univ., Ph.D. from Texas A&M, so they taught me the secret Aggie handshake. I first started to follow college baseball at A&M.
UM
Currently attending the University of Maryland in English.
U of Indianapolis
Class of 1999. Bachelor’s in Electronic Media (other schools call it Mass Communications).
It was good. The small school environment was good for me and I liked the area enough that me and my wife still live in the neighborhood and she’s gone back to finish up a degree that she never finished.
Go Hounds
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain
Northern Illinois
Business Administration, been too busy/lazy for grad school, better do it soon before it’s too late.
Response
Graduating tomorrow from University of Illinois-Chicago with my B.A in History, minored in Latin. Former student at Northern Illinois and George Washington, so I guess you could say I’ve been around.
Planning on getting my MLS in a couple of years, which I’m amped about. Given that academia sucks and that I’m just not wired for law, it was an easy decision, but basically the field has everything I’ve been looking for in a career path.
University of St.Thomas, St.Paul MN
For both undergrad and grad. Undergrad was for history, mostly classical. Grad was in Education.
"I couldn't do that. Could you do that? Why can they do it? Who are those guys?"
Re:
Graduated with a BSBA in Accounting from the University of Arkansas. I’m quite sure it was the most fun I’ll ever have in my life. Was President of Sigma Nu fraternity and very involved on campus.
Now attending UT-Dallas and going for an MBA. It’s probably more worthwhile than my undergrad but a WHOLE lot less fun…
yes
B.A. from Gordon College (Mass.) in History and Communications, currently working on graduate work (Master’s for now) in History at Georgia State University. Many years of schooling still to go on the doctoral track, if I choose to stay on it.
Indiana University
Went to IU back in the late 90’s and graduated with a degree in Elementary Education. Now currently enrolled at North Carolina Central University to receive my masters in School Administration
Go Hoosiers!
‘95 BFA in Graphic Design … LOVED BLOOMINGTON, but both B’town and were ready for abreak by the time my degree was done.
Mmmm …. Lennie’s BBQ Chix pizza sounds good now (or whatever Lennie’s is called now) ...
Paul Householder, Gary Redus, Tommy Lawless, Duane Walker ... prospects rawk!
Academia doesn't suck.
Some of the people in it suck, but fewer of them than in most other areas of endeavor. If you like doing research and writing, asking questions and answering them-and, of course, don’t particularly care about money-then it’s for you. But you have to enjoy doing those things day in and day out, under a fair amount of pressure, and it’s easy to see how someone might not.
Anyhow . . . B.A. in Music Theory and M.A. in Music History from the University of New Hampshire, currently A.B.D. in Musicology at the University of Maryland.
Leaving in a huff isn’ a decision to be made lightly. I made what I now think was the mistake of dropping history as a major because I disliked the research methods class. Now, I realize that it was one class, one instructor, not the whole community of the subject and its practitioners.
academia
I have two beefs with academia.
1) In history grad school we were encouraged to research things like the social consciousness of 18th century Belgian weavers, and were discouraged from studying the things I was actually interested in. I felt like we were being forced to learn more and more about less and less, to “punch a ticket” on the list of academic qualifications.
2) When I got married, I had two different professors tell me not to lose perspective, that my career would suffer if I paid too much attention to my new wife, I kid you not. This was, needless to say, a major turnoff, and a perspective shared by many of the professors I was exposed to.
Maybe it was just the particular department I was in.
by John Sickels on May 10, 2008 10:59 PM EDT up reply actions
at least regarding the first, I think it might have been the department more than anything…
With history, a fair amount of people choose their grad school based on the reputation of the school, rather than focusing more directly on who is at the department and what is the departmental emphasis (money, of course, has a fair amount to do with things too :)
take myself, for example. Here at LSU, we’re primarily a “Southern history” school (at least on the American history side of things), so most of the people I’m with focus on 19th century history or focus on other eras of American history but emphasizing the south. Me, on the other hand, I came in wanting to deal with American foreign policy in the 20th century (still interests me), but have shifted to dealing with post-WWII domestic policy (mostly Congress and internal security legislation). So, needless to say, there hasn’t been a great amount of classes dealing with the 20th century…mostly because we only have 2 profs who deal with it: my advisor and one other who focuses on Cultural history, which (to quote Austin Powers) “isn’t my bag, baby!”
Yep
BS from Babson College in MA in Business Management with a Concentration in Economics and Marketing, class of ‘05
Leaving for the Peace Corps in January, applying for my MBA while I’m gone. hope to join a program starting in the fall of 2011 (early schools on my list: Duke, LBS, IESE, Stanford, and a few other European schools)
My undergrad experience was very bittersweet. I thought the school did a wonderful job of preparing us to be productive members of the businesses we would join. I’ve had the chance to work with people from a lot of business programs, and the training was just not the same
But at the same time, the type of student to come out of Babson was extremely one-sided, with no sense of balance in their lives, and very self-centric, despite performing very will in group environments. It was sad to watch friends sink into depressions and alcoholism during school and after school because of the message and the expectations that the school set
So from a professional point of view, I’m very happy that I went there, and from a personal point of view I’m glad I was surrounded with friends and family who pulled me out of that environment before it was too late. It is possible to have the best of both worlds, but it’s difficult to pull off
-1 and only member of the Jed Lowrie fan club!
Way back in the 19th century,
I graduated with a B.A. in Economics/Political Science and a M.A. in Economics from the University of Delaware. (Go Blue Hens!!!) At the time, Delaware did not have a Ph.D. program in Econ so I applied and was accepted at three upper-echelon Ph.D. Econ programs, but in a conversation with one of the schools realized I was sick of school. I’ve never looked back.
University of Hartford
Just finished my junior year for my B.A. in Communications (dual-emphasis of Journalism and Public Relations) and currently working at the school’s Sports Information Department.
"...It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come."
College experience
I have never left Western New York – no need for any one to comment on that.
Undergraduate was at D3 SUNY Fredonia with the intent to play basketball and baseball. Only played each one for 2 years and found many other things that were more important.
MBA from the University at Buffalo and I hated year 1. Started right after undergrad and tried to work full time, play full time and fit in a full time course load. Didn’t work well. Met a great professor in year 2 that helped me fix priorities and finish off my degree.
Those 6 years were probably when I lost interest in sports. I went from a guy who played statis pro baseball and had every complete Topps set for 12 years running to a person that only knew who played for the Cubs and Brewers.
Fantasy baseball and my friends pulling me into it about 6 years ago is what has rekindled my interest and I probably know as much now as I did then and statis pro has been replaced by CBS sportsline.
Ithaca College; SMU
BM, trumpet at Ithaca, then MM conducting at SMU. No time for baseball then, music, music, music. Well, ok, music, beer, music, beer, music, baseball tonight while drinking beer…
...and curse Sir Walter Raleigh, he was such a stupid git.
B.A. Colgate University
J.D. St. John’s University (graduating 6/1)
And with all of that I still cannot find a job…this economy sucks
Illinois Tech
Battlin’ Hawks
OK, Scarlet Hawks, but Battlin’ sound alot better.
BS in Civil Engineering
Hate my job.
Baseball Instructor - www.frozenropes.com
Virginia Tech
B.Arch degree. In case anyone was wondering, I matriculated in 1999 so there were about six or seven years difference between me and VTtigers.
Architecture is a five-year professional degree. Exactly the first half of it was revelatory; the last two and a half years were….well, I was really, really glad to get out by the end of it.
by DevilsAdvocate on May 10, 2008 10:44 PM EDT reply actions
VT
I went to Tech from 1993 through 2001 with a 3 year hiatus in between. Aerospace Engineering degree.
by Lunkwill Fook on May 12, 2008 10:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Hornets
California State Sacramento Bachelor’s in BioChem, minor in Business Admin. Thought the major was gonna be cool (watched a lot of MacGyver growing up) but labwork turned out boring. Was just using it for the pre-reqs anyway, so just cemented the fact that I didn’t want to be a labrat. Commuter school with no good sports programs whatsoever (although there’s like 30,000 students) so it wasn’t that great of a college experience; lived in off campus apartments.
Parker Chiropractic College in Dallas after that, Doctor of Chiropractic as you might guess. Actually had really good national intramural sports programs, absolutely loved it (and Texas is the best country on earth!!!). Did most of my internship at clinic in Dallas but spent my last summer at clinic in Mexico City. Quite an experience, unforgettable. Love what I do now.
The Giants need to sign Harry Doyle.
Your mom goes to college.
BA in communications at Quinnipiac University, circa 2003. I might go back for a master’s in library science, but that’d be at Southern Connecticut State University. I’d have to take the GRE first, though, and I’ve heard horror stories…
"...and the only things I've found better than listening to Vin Scully are listening to Keith Jackson and uncut cocaine." (bleedjaxblue)
Boston University
I recently got my BA in religion from Boston University. I didn’t particularly love my academic experience, though I did love the material and the research. I really wished I had gone to a much smaller school. It did however bring me to Boston during some pretty exciting years.
yes
i went to harvard. i liked it. grad school at stanford. liked stanford, but didn’t like grad school. never finished my PhD.
Brother went to Yale
At least we can agree Princeton doesn’t matter, yes?
"...and the only things I've found better than listening to Vin Scully are listening to Keith Jackson and uncut cocaine." (bleedjaxblue)
Fear the Turtle
I got a BA from the University of Maryland in Radio, Television, and Film just before they eliminated that major. After graduating, I started up the University’s cable TV channel, and my claim to fame is that I helped give Bonnie Bernstein her start in sports TV – she was a redshirt freshman out with an injury on the gymnastics team when we were taping a meet, so she did our color for the broadcast. Sweet girl.
University
BEd from University of Alberta (Edmonton)
I didn’t mind it, but did much more partying than learning.
20+ years teaching high school Math/Science
Presently semi-retired and working in distance education and playing poker.
Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that. George Carlin
Mizzou
boo kansas… also tells everyone why i love kinsler, crow and scherzer
"If you were a hot dog, would you eat yourself?"
GO MIZZOU
Graduated w/ a BS in Mathematics ED in 95, moved to South Carolina in 2001 and got my Masters in ED in 2004 from Coastal Carolina.
Loved both experiences, should have probably gone somewhere small during first 2 years to save money and then transfer but at the time I loved the idea of attending a big school. I thought Grad School at CCU was fairly easy and enjoyed the classes of about 10 students each.
Soph
at Wake Forest (I know, hard to guess, right?)
Declaring a double in Political Science and Communication next semester.
go decas!
Graduated in December, walking a week from tomorrow. Got a degree in Econ w/ a minor in philosophy. Trying to find a job in DC. Anyone wanna help?
freshman
Stanford University, majoring in history/economics
LiNcEcuM and cAiN R STUDS
Another
Another great California college. As a graduate of Cal I am supposed to hate Stanford, but I actually consider it to be one of the best colleges anywhere. Plus, any school which calls one of its prominent building “Phal Sym” can’t be all bad. :)
I'll throw in
BA from Oberlin College, M.S. from Cornell U. Took 5 years away in between to figure out what I wanted to do.
I like Oberlin
What was it like going to Oberlin? Sounds like when you got out you had little idea which direction you should go.
Cal
In undergrad the big protests on campus were against apartheid. In professional school folks were protesting against animal research and turning Peoples’ Park into volleyball courts. Things got weirder after I left… e.g. Naked Guy. Now they’ve got hippies living in trees. Nevertheless, I absolutely loved the college experience.
Plusses and minuses
There were plusses and minuses to my son’s experiences at Cal. He came from a small, modestly backward high school and had to really man up at Cal in order not to flunk out. Wound up with a B+ average in mechanical engineering, but has yet to work a day in mechanical engineering. He learned how to think, though, and is flourishing as a business and computer consultant.
I beat him by 34 years at Cal, graduating in business. His science degree from 2004 from Cal has a lot more value than my older degree. His degree opens doors, and he has done a nice job of breaking them down once they are open.
Yes...
but for the in-state tuition I paid, and even more so for you, the Cal degree was amongst the greatest bargains in public universities in the country. With the tuition increasing so much nowadays, I’m not so sure it is as “valuable” dollar for dollar.
by baseballjunkie on May 12, 2008 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions
that's the only school in R.I. I didn't attend.
I hated college. I started at Bryant College in 89 and then moved on to Salve Regina, Rhode Island College, Providence College and Community College of R.I. ......
Luckily, I managed to work my way up the ladder in the second largest plastics extrusion company in the country and have been the general mgr. for the texas location going on 8 yrs. now.
However, this is obviously not the normal career path I would recommend as I was/am extremely lucky that someone noticed me and was willing to give me the opportunity as I never did graduate.
I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?
by the pinstripes on May 12, 2008 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Stanford Undergrad and Law School (currently)
did neuroscience and pre-med, with a lot of cognitive psychology mixed into everything else undergrad.
then decided i like money, and didn’t particularly care about saving people. besides the money being a factor, i actually found a lot of the bench science itself boring. so, law seemed like a good thing to turn to.
the law really loves neuroscientists right now. we can show them horseshit fMRIs, and they can either acknowledge that fMRI isn’t showing them anything interesting, as they know, or try to come up with an elaborate story about what we can speculate in leading to that type of brain-activation
anyway, that’s my story. i always consider going back either to the med school’s neurobiology department or the psych department and gets at least a masters or something. But the payoff just doesn’t seem like it’s worth enough.
BS Stats; MS OR NCSU
Now that I’ve got the letters out of the way, based on my BS I do have to point out that your question makes random sampling unprobable. But I’m sure you realize that.
Also my grad school experience was quite different from yours. I loved it & plan to go back & get my doctorate after my kids colleges are paid off & my retirement account is fully funded.
Thank You Bill James
On this blog I should probably point out the reason my BS is in Statistics is largely due to the late ‘70s version of the Bill James BA. Pete Palmer, Tom Boswell, and a few others did help fuel my interest in this science.
Cornell
Currently at Cornell University.
Majoring in Industrial and Labor relations. so far so good. finals week now….
prob. going to end up at law school in the new few years. I may try and get into the world of collective bargaining in sports … not quite sure if i will be able to break in.
ILR
That’s a good program. I used to raid your library for stats books for my thesis. Ugly little place, but great contents.
Used to also kayak with a dude from your program. I’m pretty sure he’s filthy rich by now.
Brandeis
Will graduate one week from today with a B.A. in English and American Literature.
Then, one month later, I’m heading off to Syracuse to get an M.S. in Broadcast Journalism. Look for me on ESPN in 12 years…if they still have souls.
Years ago
Years ago I attended a six-week summer institute at Northwestern that spoiled me for regular college. My roommate there had as his goal attending Brandeis. We didn’t stay in touch, but I’ll bet he did quite well there and even better thereafter.
Go Brandeis!
I’m entering senior year at Brandeis, majoring in Psychology and HSSP (Health: Science, Society and Policy)
No clue what I’m going to do once I graduate, but I guess I still have a year to figure that out :)
Hey fish, leave those kids alone!
by The Congo Hammer on May 11, 2008 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
'91 Air Force Academy, 2007 Alabama Law School grad
I graduated from USAFA in ‘91. Flew B-1 Bombers for 10 years. Got out in ‘03 to go to law school at Alabama. I’m now practicing in Tuscaloosa (Solo practice. Yes, it can be done).
I’m a huge Crimson Tide and NY Yankee fan (I guess I know and appreciate tradition!)
my education
I got a B.A. in English (with honors) from Ole Miss in 2006, and I just graduated yesterday with a M.F.A. in Writing & Poetics (poetry concentration) from the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at Naropa University.
Did you
make out with Anne Waldman while you were there? Or see the ghost of Harry Smith?
Seton Hall, NYU
Seton Hall – undergrad
NYU – masters
Sweet like macaroni, Sour like chicken. Blogs are Evil.
by Buzz Bissinger on May 11, 2008 10:54 AM EDT reply actions
Montana
I graduated from University of Montana with a B.A .in English/ Education in 93.
I am just now finishing my M.Ed. from Western Washington University and will have my principal/admin certificate in a few weeks.
by Robinson Checo on May 11, 2008 10:55 AM EDT reply actions
Sic em
B.S. Pyschology, Baylor University. Planned on going to grad school but my ‘take a year off’ has turned into 9. While a 2.85gpa is nothing to brag about, I accomplished it with a beer to studying ratio of about 200/1 (on a per week basis).
Macalester College
in St. Paul, MN where I got B.A.s in Geology and Environmental Studies.
I’m now at Penn State University for an M.A. in Geoscience where I have had a similarly negative experience with grad school as John. I am soon to escape, though, and plan to never look back.
Ichiro, on facing Daisuke Matsuzaka for the first time: "I hope he arouses the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul."
Ooh!
Ooh, Macalester. The coolest of the cool. The best college nobody knows about.
Haha... yea
I had an absolute blast there. Incredible experience. And the Twin Cities has the best parts of a large urban center (amazing food, local music, theater, etc.) while still feeling cozy and neighborhood-y.
Ichiro, on facing Daisuke Matsuzaka for the first time: "I hope he arouses the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul."
UW-Madison
University of Wisconsin 93’ History and Sociology
Cal and Stanford
So wrong, right? Cal undergrad English, then Stanford GSB.
No, so right!
Wow! What a fabulous combination. And you must have done fabulously well at Cal to get into the Stanford Graduate School of Business. I would think that must be a great degree for you.
Cal State Bakersfield Class o' 97
Double major in History and Theatre.
Got an MFA in Acting from UC Davis a few years later. I had so much fun as an undergrad I decided to try graduate school. Six months into graduate school I realized I never wanted to take another class again!
The monster at the end of this blog.
UC Davis
I attended Davis for a year before transferring to Cal (since I decided I wanted to study business and didn’t think agri-business was the direction for me). I just LOVED the place.
Now my daughter is considering getting an MFA in acting. It sounds as if you met with mixed results in seeking your MFA at Davis. Could you elaborate? My daughter is hoping for the ACT, but I would enjoy learning more about Davis’ program.
It's been a while since I've heard anything about the program
I didn’t get along with the head of the MFA program and the program was small enough that our disagreement directly led me to not getting cast in two plays.. Also, during my time the best instructors weren’t full time staff.
That said, the guest director program was a huge plus (most of the time) and the fact that so few of the staff were permanent meant the school could bring in teachers who specialized in different fields. We got to dabble in combat, improv and a bunch of other fun stuff. Plus, most of us ended up teaching a basic drama class to the undergrads, giving us yet another opportunity to do something new while putting a little cash in our pockets!
Still, it’s been over a decade since I attended the school so I do not know much about the program anymore. I can say that the current department chair, Peter Lichtenfels, was a great teacher and I wish I could have been in one of the shows he directed. Sarah Pia Anderson is also top notch. Barbara Sellers-Young and Darrell Winn were also there during my time in Purgatory and are good people. Peggy Shannon is the Artistic Director for the Sacramento Theatre Company. I’m not sure how involved she is in the Acting side of things but her presence could create an opportunity for your daughter to get stage time with a professional company and that is HUGE. Any time a school can have ties with the professional world it’s a good thing.
ACT is a good program but is awfully expensive. Tuition is one thing but to live in SF… YIKES! If memory serves, a decade ago you could expect to spend something like $80K over two years on tuition and living expenses. UC Davis cost a lot less then that.
So would I do it all again? No. But that’s because I wouldn’t want to deal with the asshole I got stuck with. He’s gone and has been replaced by someone I can only give positive comments on.
The monster at the end of this blog.
MFA in Directing
I’m looking to go back to school for an MFA in Directing. Any thoughts?
The Dodgers won't win a playoff series until the Cool-a-Coo returns.
Yes
BA, Political Science, & JD, University of Michigan
excuse me...
where is the blog for high school dropouts???? I have a friend who goes to college….
by kershaw_equals_stud on May 11, 2008 3:41 PM EDT reply actions
University of Puget Sound
in Tacoma, WA. Got a BA in English, and now I’m going for a MA in Writing at DePaul University. Should be done early next year.
http://bocropleasestopswingingatbadpitches.blogspot.com/
by thejd44 on May 11, 2008 3:50 PM EDT reply actions
Colorado State
Felt we needed more representation of the Mountain Time Zone.
B.S. in Biochemistry, 2nd Major in Microbiology, and a Chemistry minor.
Worked for three years before attending Texas A & M to get Ph. D in Biophysics. After a year, decided I could make more money in industry with a B.S. then I could in academia with the Ph.D so I left.
Now I work in Quality for the only manufacturing industry left in this country: Pharmaceutical drugs.
Ram Nation
Economics and Finance from Colorado State as well.
mountain time....
went to Colorado School of Mines, BS in engineering physics.
Junior
at Eastern Connecticut – Communications (TV/ Radio). I’ve jumped though between a local CC (Manchester), Framingham State and BC.
Elon U.
Sophomore at Elon University – majoring in Leisure/Sport Management and Computer Information Systems, minoring in Business Administration and Economics. Love it, though it does have its ups and downs.
http://rswanzey.blogspot.com
My nephew is an Econometrics major at Elon
He’s finishing up his freshman year.
Undergrad Canisius College
In Buffalo NY, Masters at SUNY Brockport. I teach high school history and also serve as the varsity football coach.
University of Minnesota
MA, MS
"You're thinking too much. Just have fun." -- Bennie "The Jet" Rodriguez in Sandlot
Universidad de La Salle
IAttended the Universidad de La Salle in Leon Guanajuato mexico. Being the first blind student to study International Trade there, it wasn’t always easy, but all in all, good times…
Let's Go Mountaineers !
John Carroll, BS
West Virginia University M.D.
I'm at WVU right now
Went to school for a couple years then dropped out but am back now. I’m getting a BS in Sport Management with some minors in Communications, Public Relations and Business Administration. Probably will go to grad school; would love to try out law school somewhere but the time commitment (4 additional years) might just be to great for me at this stage of my life.
What's up lil jules?
LSU is representin’
We used to laugh at Grandpa when he'd head off and go fishing. But we
wouldn't be laughing that evening when he'd come back with some whore he
picked up in town.
Go Cardinal!
Stanford undergrad, B.S. in Mathematics, Harvard Masters in Education. Loved both, even with 15 years in between them.
I went to Minnesota and currently attend Wisconsin-Milwaukee
I may or may not be double majoring in biology and computer science.
He's extremely quick and good.
Go Bears!!!
John,
I see you went to Gary Gaetti’s school of choice. I attended Southwest Missouri State, now Missouri State and one might argue that I enjoyed it a bit too much. Actually, I had a strong distain for 100 and 200 level content, and really only began to enjoy school with 300 and 400 level courses.
Toad
I L L
I N I!!
I’m surprised I am the first University of Illinois grad. Graduated in 1998 with a BS in Accountancy at, what was at the time, the #1 Accounting school in the nation.
Obviously I was disappointed when Jimmy Journell could not stick in the bigs. But hey, Lars Davis offers some hope for a successful big league career.
college
Got my undergrad at Santa Clara University and, as I always say, it was the same four years as Steve Nash (as well as Randy Winn).
MA in economics from George Washington University.
Also got a certificate in German from the University of Vienna, Austria.
It all seems like a while ago…
Go Strangers.
The U
BSEE from University of Miami.
I don’t think I saw a baseball game the whole time I was there, even tho my GF was a Sugarcane one year.
Obviously I am strongly biased toward any players from there.
did a little time
at UC Santa Barbara, but primarily studied baseball and beer. . .played there for a year or so and then went to Chaffey Community for some AA work
BA in marketing and BA in management from the school of business at Cal State San Bernardino
UW-Madison
Good to see some fellow badgers here
Junior economics major, applying to law schools this coming fall.
ps. not having a school baseball team sucks
UW-Madison
+1. Not having a baseball team does suck. I finished a couple of years ago. Going to UW was the best decision I ever made.
Carnegie Mellon for undergrad
a B.S. in Social and Cultural History.
University of St. Thomas for law school.
"I got my pregnant wife (the Yankee fan) with me. Hoping my kid learns to kick her everytime the Mets score." -Schifftis-
Response
You can get a Bachelor’s of Science in history at lots of universities, although it’s certainly less common than a B.A. Given his particular institution of higher learning, though, I don’t find it particularly surprising.
University of Chicago
Stats/Bio(neuroscience)
Bard College
for undergrad, starting at Berkeley law in the fall.
CSULB Dirtbags
Went to Cal State Long Beach and received a BA in Radio/TV/Film… took me 5 years to get the degree because of one year -ONE PARTY YEAR in a frat was basically a throw-a-way year. But , hey, I had fun. I went before the computer-internet age (from 1988-1993) when we actually had to go to the library and check out books rather than googling a topic. Kids seem to have it easier these days…
I remember reading my Bill James hand book in 1990, while waiting in line at the CSULB Student Union to see Spike Lee speak.
North endzone, let me hear the big orange
I received my BS in journalism from the University of Florida in 1994. Upon graduation, I worked for a number of newspapers as a copy editor before getting into education in 2002. I currently teach reading at a high school in South Florida and will be taking over the school’s newspaper next year. Couldn’t be more excited about living in South Florida, though am a bit bummed about all of the teams leaving this area and heading to Arizona for spring training. Took over a team in the Corked Bat Fantasy League in 2000. Won first combined title in 2007 (signed King Felix while he was in the Northwest League and gave up Brett Myers and Annibal Sanchez to get Hanley). Frequent Florida State League games and am looking forward to seeing Porcello pitch next week.
KU
B.A History from the University of Kansas
"our deepest fears are not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fears is that we are powerful beyong measure."
NMU
Studied Photography at Northern Michigan University
Going back to school at Baker College for Early Elementary Education.
Stonehill
I graduated from Stonehill College in 2000 (a small liberal arts college in southern Massachusetts) with a B.S. in Accounting.
Next Sunday I am graduating from Boston University with an MBA (finance concentration). Red Sox CEO Larry Lucchino is the commencement speaker, which I’m pretty excited about. I’ll tell him to promote Dan Bard to AA asap.
COW
College of Wooster, graduated in ‘99 in Economics. Was going to go to “B” school after a couple of years off, but don’t see any need for it other than to say I did it any more. Undergrad was great, and also spent a semester at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
Princeton
B.A. in History and East Asian Studies in 2006. Wrote a senior thesis on the U.S. attempts to turn baseball global at the turn of the 20th century and comparative case studies of responses and development of the game in East Asia and Latin America.
Currently working on a J.D. at Georgetown law. Law school really sucks.
True. Blue. Third Place in 2008.
That is really cool
do you happen to have a copy of that thesis you’d be willing to share?
by OldProspects on May 12, 2008 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
One of my history profs during undergrad
is, no joke, now a student at Georgetown Law.
Your 2008 Athletics: It's Nothing Personal.
don't say that!
i don’t need discouragement before i’ve begun!
Colorado School of Mines
BSc in Mining Engineering, 1976 and a half. Only took 5.5 years to graduate, a great accomplisement all things considered. Flunked Statics only twice. Belonged to a frat which at CSM in those years was basically a men’s drinking club (17:1 men to woman) but thru the experience learned the value of teamwork and camaraderie. Had a fantastic experience, married a gal from Colorado, moved back to Canada, eventually settling into the explosives business. Have loved looking at boxscores since before time. APBA baseball, now Scoresheet.
wow....
another CSM alum…
Engineering Physics, 1987. Pretty much everything you said about Mines in the 70s was true in the 80’s—except it was down to 5:1 men to women.
currently
Think the ratio is even better (or worse depending) now. Mines in my day was a pretty wild place. Very fun. I think it still is although the drinking and Animal House behaviour has been tamed a bit.
by burning spear on May 12, 2008 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions
UC Santa Cruz
BA in Modern Society and Social Thought
That was a long time ago, but I’m thinking of going back for a graduate degree in economics.
Visited that campus this past summer
it’s absolutely gorgeous. Most stunning campus I’ve ever seen. Mountains, forest, and ocean all rolled into one.
Yes
BA in English at Illinois State (‘00)
MA in Theatre at Illinois State (‘02)
Currently working on my PhD at University of Illinois in Theatre History, and hopefully writing in the fall (once I get past my exam) on the relationship between vaudeville and baseball in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
It is nice to see I’m not the only theater guy that reads this stuff…
UC Berkeley
Got a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, plus a completely frivolous minor in Music.
Loved my college experience. So much so, in fact, that I started a blog following Cal’s sports teams, one that’s about to join SBN (any day now…)
UNC-Chapel Hill
BA in 1986. New York Law School J.D. 1990.
Michigan State
Michigan State University ‘92-Political Science
Sure did!
New College of Florida (I dare anyone here to have heard of it!) for a BA in Economics.
I’m currently at NC State for a masters in Statistics.
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Working on my BS in journalism. I’m in my fourth year right now, and will be going back for a fifth. If all goes as planned, I’ll graduate in May of ‘09.
I love college, which I didn’t expect at all going in.
Me Too
I minored in journalism there and graduated in 2003. Pretty good University for the money, but I’m tired of explaining to people where it is.
by beerambassador on May 13, 2008 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
haha
I just tell people it’s across the state border from the Twin Cities. I bet you had most of the same journalism professors that I do.
I’ve noticed a lot of big time schools on this thread. Do you think having a degree from a small place like UWRF hurts your chances for jobs?
Depends
I think most employers that are worth working for in Wisconsin and Minnesota understand the quality of UW system schools. When you leave the area though it can get hard. My friend moved to NYC after graduation and said it was impossible to compete with all the kids from Ivy Leagues and big state schools out there and ended up moving back to Wisconsin where employers were more receptive. Although good experience speaks to employers everywhere.
I work for a weekly paper, which seems to be the norm for a lot of the state school grads I’ve talked to. Most dailies only hire grads from more “prestigious” schools. You can always work your way up though.
I had a great time in journalism classes and loved my classes with Pat Berg and Mike Norman (since retired I believe). They were always entertaining, even if not always intentionally so.
by beerambassador on May 14, 2008 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh Canada!
Haven’t noticed any Canadian schools here. I got a BSc (Psychology) from tiny Brandon College in Manitoba… most fun and wayward activity I ever had, took seven years to graduate in 1967. Got serious, went to University of Victoria (British Columbia) for MA (1970) and PH. D. (1977) in clinical psych. Great faculty, individual attention and high expectations made for a terrific experience.
LSU
English Lit with a History minor
We used to laugh at Grandpa when he'd head off and go fishing. But we
wouldn't be laughing that evening when he'd come back with some whore he
picked up in town.
Northwestern University-Thomas Jefferson School of Law-San Diego State University
BA: Northwestern University (double major in economics and political science)
Currently working on my JD/MBA:
JD: Thomas Jefferson School of Law (San Diego)
MBA: San Diego State University
Took a couple years off after undergrad to play professional baseball in Italy after playing at NU.
I agree with the other posts about law school–it is tough, but it’s the best educational experience of my life. Undergrad was fun, but living in San Diego is great, even if I do only see the outside through the windows in the library. The MBA seems easy compared to law school, but I’m learning a lot of things that just aren’t taught in law school.
Northwestern University-Thomas Jefferson School of Law-San Diego State University
BA: Northwestern University (double major in economics and political science)
Currently working on my JD/MBA:
JD: Thomas Jefferson School of Law (San Diego)
MBA: San Diego State University
Took a couple years off after undergrad to play professional baseball in Italy after playing at NU.
I agree with the other posts about law school–it is tough, but it’s the best educational experience of my life. Undergrad was fun, but living in San Diego is great, even if I do only see the outside through the windows in the library. The MBA seems easy compared to law school, but I’m learning a lot of things that just aren’t taught in law school.
College of William & Mary
Graduated yesterday, actually. Got me a BBA in marketing. If anyone in the DC area works in advertising or market research and wants to hire me, please, tell me.
Salem State College
B.A in History and Education,
I absolutely loved my professors, sans one who lost my senior research paper. Additionally, the freedom to choose what I was passionate about and find a topic for my research was very enlightening and something I plan on utilizing when I become an educator.
Two colleges
I attended Lehigh University for three years, then transferred to Carnegie-Mellon for my senior year. BS in Chemistry.
Mike Emeigh http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/minor_key/
BG Falcons - college of Orel Hershiser
Bowling Green State University (OH), B.S. Sport Management
Duquesne University (PA), MBA
The Bluff?
So, Mr. Frobel, when did you graduate from the Bluff?
University of California, Irvine
Graduated in 2006 with a BA in Economics.
Pratt
I just finished my 4th year of a 5 year BA Architecture program at the Pratt Institute in NY. It has been the 4 most challenging years of my life.
Make me proud again Hen
by AndYourBirdCanSing on May 14, 2008 12:30 AM EDT reply actions
Iowa State
ISU, 1997. Dual BS degrees in Accounting and Marketing with a minor in English (most pre 19th century British Lit). I’m employed in IT, of course :)
Whitman College
Graduated in 2002 with a B.A. in English. I liked parts of college, but certainly was relieved to be finished and off to the working world. It’s cool to see all the English degrees being put to use reading.
Appalachian State University
BS in Computer Science. I enjoyed the college experience.
Yes, this is the school that beat Michigan in football and is the 3-time defending national champions in the Football Championship Subdivision.
"There is no crying in baseball"
Binghamton University
Just finished my junior year, majoring in accounting and financial engineering.
From John Lannan to Joe Beimel
B.B.A. from Siena College, M.S. from SUNY Albany, and PhD from Saint Louis University (all in Accounting). Now I teach at Duquesne University.
Louisiana State University
Apparently my higher education isn’t helping me any, as my post seems to have disappeared :)
Currently ABD in History, trying to finish up my Dissertation
Central Methodist University
BA in English Literature.
Hours towards a Masters in the same at Missouri U.
Eight years of hard partying really paid off for me…I think….
by 07_08_World Champs on May 14, 2008 6:52 PM EDT reply actions
University of Pennsylvania...
...but I’m not there yet. Class of 2012
demographics...
my impression from reading this thread is that the midwest is over-represented here, relative to actual population. Does anyone else get that impression?
Vassar College
Graduated in 1997. Degree in English with a teaching certificate. Worked as a journalist now do PR. Now contemplating grad school. Grew up and still live in the Boston area.
California State University, Long Beach (Go Dirtbags!)
Completing a B.S. in Biology with a Zoology emphasis, minoring in Chemistry and Physiology.
Off to UCLA in the Fall of this year to pursue an M.S. in Physiological Science.
by assorted small objects on May 15, 2008 1:02 PM EDT reply actions
University of Texas
BA in Economics. Also took a lot of history classes. Best 4.5 years of my life, and I wish I’d been able to find a job in Austin when I graduated, but no such luck. If I were to suddenly become rich, I would probably go back to school just to take courses that interested me intellectually…
Ryerson University, Toronto
Went to University of Buffalo and transferring to Ryerson. Geography major with a minor in communications
Member: Coalition For The Advancement Of Greek Baseball Players
2 degrees...both from UCF
undergrad in Elementary Education
Masters in Educational Technology
loved both programs. Elementary Ed – mostly hot girls in the program so class was never dull :) Graduate degree was great because it was part of a small cadre so I spent 2 years with the same 16 people.
Boston College
Started off on the wrong track doing a business degree, and was very unhappy (terrible BABIP), but then righted the ship when I started playing to my talents (humanities/philosophy) and enjoyed my last two years.
Went on to get a Ph.D. in philosophy at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, had a post-doc position there, then a position at a research institute in Maastricht (the Netherlands), and after all that I’m on my way out of academia (turned down teaching posts in the US to stay in Europe, but cannot find appropriate work). C’est la vie.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
