Recent Graduates

[txrandom]

I'm doing an internship this spring and then hopefully in the summer. I won't be taking any classes while I work. Is work life really better than school? I'm really looking forward to 8 months of not having to study at all, coming home and relaxing, and going out every weekend.

So is the work life actually like this? Or will I want to get back to classes relatively soon?

 

[Jumpem]

The real world is far better than school. Plenty of money, much more free time, and much less stress.

 

[sjwaste]

There are pros and cons, and it's all relative to your college experience. Still, I'd say I loved college about as much as anyone can, and I'd say that eventually real life is a lot better. Basically, you graduate and miss college for a while, but you also get a job and start making real money. So do your friends. People, hopefully you too, move out, and you basically start to build your life. I'm 26 now and I have to say that as great as college was, right now is a ton better. If I had to pinpoint, the break-even point was about a year and a half or so out, a little while after I moved from the Philly area to VA.

It goes fast. All of a sudden, I'm about to graduate law school (I go at night, so it's nothing like undergrad), just bought a house, getting married, etc. But I'd say there's a lot more to experience once you're out of school.

And don't kid yourself, you'll be an intern. Interns don't work all that hard, and there's a lot of drinking with your colleagues involved, depending on the company you work at and the people. Actually, an internship mirrors the lifestyle of your first couple years out of college, especially if that internship is out of town and you'll have an apt. Life gets harder when you switch into career mode, so don't cock up your internship, but have some fun too.

You'll definitely be ready to go back to college, though If you're anything like me, graduation was like quitting your favorite habit cold turkey and it took a while to switch gears, so to speak.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
The real world is far better than school. Plenty of money, much more free time, and much less stress.

seriously. i kinda hate being back in school after being out of high school for several years. i liked the last job i had but the company was full of nutjobs.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Originally posted by: Jumpem
The real world is far better than school. Plenty of money, much more free time, and much less stress.

God... I can't wait for this time to come. Lots of hell to go through before that happens. I'm about halfway there...

 

[Orsorum]

I think the stress level for me is comparable to school, but it's a bit easier to handle, mostly because the consequences are real. Strange to think of it that way, but if the consequences are real, you can quantify them, address them, and move on (eventually). When you're in school it's easy to think everything is the end of the world.

I prefer the real world mostly because I'm an experiential learner, unless I see a concept in a real world situation it's very difficult for me to comprehend and really grasp something.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Originally posted by: Orsorum
I think the stress level for me is comparable to school, but it's a bit easier to handle, mostly because the consequences are real. Strange to think of it that way, but if the consequences are real, you can quantify them, address them, and move on (eventually). When you're in school it's easy to think everything is the end of the world.

I prefer the real world mostly because I'm an experiential learner, unless I see a concept in a real world situation it's very difficult for me to comprehend and really grasp something.

What was your major and what type of job are you working right now with school type stress involved?

 

[Gibson486]

Aside from the money factor....school life is way better than work life.

 

[RKS]

For me school stress was much higher. I worked full-time and went to school. I also experienced most major life events while in school (marriage/honeymoon, death of a loved one, purchased home, had kid, got a pet, bought cars). Now just going to work from 9ish to 4ish is cake and relatively stress free.

 

[LS21]

more money, more travel, no obligation outside of work hours, no "home work"

less girls

 

[imported_Imp]

Work = money, freedom to do what you want, when you want. Don't want to work? Don't. You won't lose money, you just won't make any.

School = structure. They do everything but wipe your ass when you get down to it. Everything revolves around grades and kissing ass to get good grades. Even internships/summer jobs are tailored to students (read: basic, forgiving and beaucoup downtime).

When you leave school, you kinda go through 'withdrawal'. It's all up to you, even if mommy is housing you. I was completely lost for a few months, still kinda am. School was definately more stressful because that was your life and what looked like any prospect of a better future life. It all goes to the shitter once you leave. No one asks for my grades anymore just where you went and what you took.

 

[sunzt]

BANG AS MANY COLLEGE CO-EDS as POSSIBLE!!! DOOO IT while it's cheap! DON'T be too picky either man. Other than that, real life is much better if you value your health. Just takes some time to make good friends if you're relocating.

 

[Imdmn04]

For entry level jobs, the stress level is definitely less than school, plus there are no exams or homework. There no fucking pop quizzes or exams, you always have time to do research before coming up with a solution.

Once you get to mid-management, knowing that you are responsible for any mistakes that your subordinates makes, it is a whole different game.

 

[spidey07]

Work life is never better than school. Give it a few years and then your little dreams will be shattered into shards of yourself. You will beg to go back to those simple times where all you had to "stress" about was a test and a grade.

Real life means how you perform puts food into your mouth and a roof over your head.

 

[IronWing]

Real life ==> pay back all the student loan money you spent on beer.

 

[Farang]

As a liberal arts major, school is a hell of a lot better. But it all depends on your job. I say this as someone who is finishing up school right now after having worked full time for a while at a typical boring office job. I got to travel to 22 countries for 13 months and generally just screw around for a few years, with no consequences. The work I did was whatever I chose and thought might be interesting, regardless of pay, like when I worked at a cheese and ice cream factory for a few months. The prospect of starting a career scares me and I do not look forward to working full-time again, luckily for me I've found a career that I think will fit me perfectly that I get to get started in as soon as I'm done teaching English abroad for a couple years (I need $$$ and it is the best way to save it in a relatively short amount of time).