College.

[Navyguy]

Ah, don't worry. I'm doing archaeology, and it's wonderful to get girls, but who knows what I'm gonna do after grad school...tough job market out there.

The next Indiana Jones???

[auld argonian]

Having just gone through the process of getting my son into "The College Of His Choice", I'd say go for it, hope you get the school you want but remember that what you do is much more important than what school you get into. Once you get in there, get into the academic groove, use the college and it's faculty AND the network of alumni that goes with it to their fullest...don't ever be afraid to ask for something because those who are too timid, proud or polite to ask don't get nothin' (and someone tell MY son this, please, because since I'm just his poor dumb father, my advice is blocked out instantly).

Remember that any financial aid that you're going to get is probably only going to last for the first four years of under-grad, so don't screw around and get as much as you can then...no ******** courses that are easy grades: you're there and paying for it, get your money's worth. Beginning your second year, start looking for those grad student positions and fellowships...that's how you're going to pay for the post grad work. You'll undoubtedly come out with student loans to pay back but that's the norm these days and it looks like the interest rates on those is going to start getting lowered.

When applying, if financial aid is important, apply to Privates rather than Publics. Study the trends and you will see that Privates are the ones that have BIG ENDOWMENTS and will give you more financial aid than a Public.

Out of the three schools that accepted my son the one that offered the best financial aid package was the one with the highest tuition...that was a slam dunk.

Good luck, wear your kilt on campus and save the damn whales, already!

Best

AA

[beloitpiper]

The next Indiana Jones???

Interestingly enough, a professor at Beloit College, Roy Chapman Andrews, was the real life inspiration for Indiana Jones. I'm not gonna brag, but our anthro department is pretty good....

[Clockwork John]

Ah, don't worry. I'm doing archaeology, and it's wonderful to get girls, but who knows what I'm gonna do after grad school...tough job market out there.

Just to give you a heads up, Archaeology work is pretty scarce right now, at least in California. My dad has his Bachelor's in anthropology with an emphasis in archaeology(as well as several other degrees), and he's currently unemployed. There seems to be more work right now teaching anthropology and archaeology than there is actually doing anthropology and archaeology.

Good luck!

[dpseadvr]

get your degree and join the Navy and work in the Marine Mamal Program I know a lot of guys that work there and love it. Best of all you can get the Navy to pay off your loans.
Check it out
http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/

[Coemgen]

Well, I'm getting my BA in Liberal Arts. Basically, I take whatever classes I want (within reason) and get a degree that, once I graduate and look for a job, will come in handy as a fire-starter when the cold gets through the cardboard

[adam]

I'm with Coemgen on this one. Good to see you have an idea of what you want to do though. I'm just taking classes. No real life goals.

[emolas]

get your degree and join the Navy and work in the Marine Mamal Program I know a lot of guys that work there and love it. Best of all you can get the Navy to pay off your loans.
Check it out
http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/

Teaching dolphins to attach mines to ships? I thought the treehuggers made tham quit doing that program. (this is not meant to infer any opinion for or against the program or people who hug trees)
It is funny to see that the home page of the "marine mammal program" has a picture of a DOG on it . What kind of marine mammal is that?

Just remember that you don't need to make payments on your student loans as long as you are attending school. So all you need to do is stay in school forever and you will never need to pay off your loans.

[Arizona Scot]

A very interesting career field a friend of mine is currently working on his phd in marine biology. After his masters he has spent time with scopes in California and has been to the great barrier reef for research. After he earns his phd he plans on staying in school as an instructor.

[dpseadvr]

The dog is representing a gaurd. The dolphins and sea lions do a lot of force protection so they are like gaurd dogs.
Tree huggers made them stop using dogs for 18D school