[nabs-l] making a decision about college

justin williams justin.williams2 at gmail.com
Mon May 5 00:32:55 UTC 2014


It is great as a base; good to find a job, but real success comes from the
person.  If you have a great idea, or a good plan, it is not strictly
necessary.

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Joe
Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2014 7:57 PM
To: 'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] making a decision about college

Is college worth it at all? I wrote a blog post on the subject. I also wrote
one about the worth of graduate school. Read them here:

http://joeorozco.com/blog_is_college_worth_it

--
Twitter: @ScribblingJoe

Visit my blog:
http://joeorozco.com/blog

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of sami osborne
Sent: Sunday, May 04, 2014 7:19 PM
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] making a decision about college

Thanks guys for all your comments.
I especially like Vehas suggestion of going to another a country to study a
language for my gap year.
I myself, like to travel to other countries (we go to France every summer to
visit my mom's family, as she is originally from France).
I also would like to be a langubde interpreter or a teacher, and therefore
to answer your question Arielle, Still am planning to major in languages.
Btw, Vehas, how did you know that I want to work in the languages field?
Sami.



 ----- Original Message -----
From: Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com
To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Date sent: Sun, 04 May 2014 15:07:42 -0700
Subject: Re: [nabs-l] making a decision about college

Hi Sami,

I agree with what everyone else has said.  Most college freshmen are 18, and
a few are still 17.  So your age alone should not be a factor.
I think it makes sense to take a gap year only if you have a clear plan for
something to do during that year.  Training at a good blindness center, like
an NFB center, is a great idea.  However, I don't think it's necessary for
everybody to do it before college.  
What
are you planning to major in?

Best,
Arielle

On 5/4/14, Cindy Bennett <clb5590 at gmail.com> wrote:
 Hi Sami,

 I completely agree with the afore mentioned comments.  If you believe  at
all that you could benefit from training, then go to a center for  that gap
year.  I am saying this from the perspective of someone who  was
overconfident before college and who did not get the full college experience
because once I actually went to college, I was intimidated  by the real
world and actually lacked confidence and relied on my  friends too much.  So
go to a center in that gap year!

 I have a friend who volunteered for a year.  That is a wonderful thing  to
do if you have the time and a place to stay.  Volunteering can  really
enrich your experience.  I think that too many college kids know  little
about the real world when they graduate.  So whether you take  time off
school to volunteer or go straight to college, just try to  have well
rounded experiences during your summers and get a part-time  job during
school or get very involved in a volunteer organization in  the community.

 However, to me, training should come first if you think that is  necessary.
It is best to do it as soon as possible so you maximize  your years on earth
with great blindness skills and the confidence to  try new things and get
great experiences.  Plus, you will likely not  have another time in your
life that is as convenient to get traning.
 Once you start having to pay bills, you have to work, and often when  you
start working, you have to quit your job to go to training as you  can't get
that much time off.  You can also volunteer in your free time  while you're
at a center.

 Cindy

 On 5/4/14, Suzanne Germano <sgermano at asu.edu> wrote:
 I think the only reason to take a year off is if you think you need to go
to a center to gain blindness skills or if you were doing something like
volunteering for a year and it would benefit your degree or if you really
do not know what you want to major in and do not want to end up taking 6
years for a BS because you change majors and have to take extra classes.

 But that won't necessarily happen.  My daughter started in civil
engineering  and ended up with a BS in biology and has extra courses like
differential  equations and surveying that she did not need for bio.  She
still  graduated  in 4 years Summa Cum Laude but had one semester with 21
units and had  some  summer courses..

 Your parents are wrong.  Most college freshman are 18 and straight out of
high school.  Most people do not take a year off.  If you take a year off
you  need to expakin that year to future employers.

 I returned to school at 48.  My Calc 3 class last semester was almost all
kids straight out of high school and 18 years old.

 Suzanne


 On Sun, May 4, 2014 at 10:55 AM, Antonio Guimaraes
 <freethaught at gmail.com>wrote:

 You may not have the sufficient training ad skills to take a year off  and
get job experience.

 You'll speed things up a lot if you go straight to college, or take time
to get needed blindness skills as needed.

 Do I read it right that your mom thinks you should not be 18-years old  ad
interact with older students? Welcome to the world, and to becoming a
adult.

 Whether you are ready, feel ready, or your parents feel you're ready to
face the world, you must at some point puss off of their protective  wings.
 They are not against you, but they probably fear loosing the parental
control they naturally have now.

 Good luck.

 Antonio

 On May 4, 2014, at 10:07 AM, sami osborne <ligne14 at verizon.net>
wrote:

 Hi all.

 I am currently a junior in high school, and will therefore be  graduating
next ywhar.
 My intention is to go to college after I graduate, as the jobs I want  to
do require at least a college degree.
 However, my parents and I have been talking about whether to go to  college
right after high school or taking a gap year (a year between the  end of
high school and the end of college).
 Only thing is, this is a really tough decision on my part, since first  of
all I know that it is my decision, and not my parent's, in the long  run.
  Secondly, this is also a hard decision to make because I know that  there
are benefits to both.
 I know that in college you can study for the kind of job that you want  to
do, and in taking a gap year, you can for instance get more training  in
daily living skills.

 So I'm therefore asking, what would you guys advise me to do, go  straight
to college or take a gap year and then go?
 I would really apreciate it if you could help me with this decision.

 Also, another thing, my mom told me that if I go strasght to college,  I
would be 18, I would be on the young side of the other students, do you
think she's right?
 Also, if you advise me to do the gap year, what sort of activities can  I
do during this year?
 Thanks.

 Sami.

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 --
 Cindy Bennett
 Secretary: National Association of Blind Students

 B.A.  Psychology, UNC Wilmington
 clb5590 at gmail.com

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