To continue with college or not?

[uperkurk]

Genetics does play a part in how smart someone is. There is a kid called Jake Barnette who at 11 started teacher undergrads calculus. He taught himself calculus and never learned it at school. Now at 12 he is studying for hi PhD in astrophysics.

That is not technique... that is being born smart, being born with the incredible ability to grasp concepts instantly.

 

[annoyinggirl]

Genetics does play a part in how smart someone is. There is a kid called Jake Barnette who at 11 started teacher undergrads calculus. He taught himself calculus and never learned it at school. Now at 12 he is studying for hi PhD in astrophysics.

That is not technique... that is being born smart, being born with the incredible ability to grasp concepts instantly.

Is he Asian? Talent can't do anything if it is unnoticed. The kid probably had parents that bought him calculus books at the age of six. At least some encouragement had to come from his parents after noticing his talent for mathematics. Otherwise, he would be using that brain to go through the same education system that every typical kid goes through.

I agree that genetics do play a big part. But technique and willpower probably matter more.

 

[annoyinggirl]

I think we'll be kidding ourselves if we didn't submit that some people do 'just' understand certain things better, for whatever reason. However, this does not automatically mean that another person cannot reach that understanding.

I like to use my brother and myself for an example. I can think about a project to build and have a pretty good idea how to build it. It's been like that since our lego days. He needs a blueprint, step by step instructions and in-depth diagrams to fully come to grasp with it. Even putting together stuff from IKEA takes me about 5-10 minutes, he'll spend about an hour to two hours.

On the other hand, growing up both studied the piano at the same time and practiced for the same length of time. I just could not get my fingers to play thes notes right. He could run through a sheet of music the first time with very little errors. I would spend a week to just be able to run through it.

So genetically, I think something is there, but the big take away is that, even though we have certain difficulties, He can still build stuff if given time, and I can still play music if given time. Just because stuff may not come as naturally to you does not mean you cannot eventually do it!

Very interesting

 

[annoyinggirl]

As of now, I am planning to major in Psychology. When I get back to UC, I will double major in that and in Economics, a degree i feel that I would actually get to use. I failed a microeconomics class in Freshmen year, so I can't go back to UC without taking that class during a summer session, which would be very expensive and fast-paced. I still don't know if I should get a B.S or B.A in Psychology. Any thoughts? B.S is a lot more work. How much more would it benefit me?

 

[chill_factor]

it won't benefit you at all. A BS in even straight biology isn't that good, never mind psychology. A BA is less work. Just go for the straight econ degree and minor in psych. It will be useful in marketing.

You know, why do you want to do science?

Never compare with others. Compare with yourself. If you make even a tiny step of improvement every day, you're good.

 

[annoyinggirl]

it won't benefit you at all. A BS in even straight biology isn't that good, never mind psychology. A BA is less work. Just go for the straight econ degree and minor in psych. It will be useful in marketing.

You know, why do you want to do science?

Never compare with others. Compare with yourself. If you make even a tiny step of improvement every day, you're good.

Thanks, Chillfactor.:) Umm... I want to do science because I think it's really cool. I like how it doesn't have anything subjective. It just offers you the facts and logic, and let's you make your conclusions. (AP Lit has made me kind of phobic to take any courses that are subjective, even though I know that is just silly).

Chemistry is okay, but if possible, i don't want to take oChem. i think physics is really darn interesting because it describes all the universe works, but I wouldn't be able to go further than general physics. I often look at stuff and wonder how people are able to keep things from collapsing and stuff.

I used to be a Christian. After I converted to Atheism, I started to appreciate Science soo much, because it betters peoples' lives and because it keeps us from believing in mythical, oppressive nonsense. (Sorry to offend any Christians out there. I just want to explain why I like science).

Plus, i would feel kind of left out when my friends are talking about topics in science and I can't join in :(

 

[chill_factor]

Thanks, Chillfactor.:) Umm... I want to do science because I think it's really cool. I like how it doesn't have anything subjective. It just offers you the facts and logic, and let's you make your conclusions. (AP Lit has made me kind of phobic to take any courses that are subjective, even though I know that is just silly).

Chemistry is okay, but if possible, i don't want to take oChem. i think physics is really darn interesting because it describes all the universe works, but I wouldn't be able to go further than general physics. I often look at stuff and wonder how people are able to keep things from collapsing and stuff.

I used to be a Christian. After I converted to Atheism, I started to appreciate Science soo much, because it betters peoples' lives and because it keeps us from believing in mythical, oppressive nonsense. (Sorry to offend any Christians out there. I just want to explain why I like science).

Plus, i would feel kind of left out when my friends are talking about topics in science and I can't join in :(

Ok. You are interested in science; that's great. However, economics is not really a physical science. Much of the economics you will learn, will involve math and statistics about things that you can't intuitively see, and with rules that seem to have little basis in the real world. Can you handle abstraction?

 

[MarneMath]

AP Lit has made me kind of phobic to take any courses that are subjective, even though I know that is just silly).

In the two fields you labeled, there is plently of subjectiveness. That's why we have arguments over the fundamental nature of economics that just cannot be resolved because everyone starts from a different position. Sure, there are things that are generally true, but the more economics you learn, the more subjective it can get. The same applies to Psychology.

 

[annoyinggirl]

Thanks guys. :)

Also, my university (UC Davis) only offers a B.A in Economics. Assuming that I wouldn't be able to attend/get admitted into grad school, is there any value for a B.A in Economics in the job market?