militant Wal-Mart primitive discusses academic plans, possibilities

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x8954387

Oh my.

armyowalgreens  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 01:41 AM
Original message
 
Any sociology students/grads around? 

I took SOC 101 last year and kind of liked it. Unfortunately, my professor was totally incapable of teaching the material.

I'm starting to get more into sociology again and might consider it as a third major. Or maybe my first minor (if there is a minor for it).

What do you guys think?

franksolich LOVES sociology, and uses it when watching the primitives on Skins's island.

The Rita Hayworth primitive, who upset the cop-hating Doug's ex-wife earlier:

Tangerine LaBamba  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 01:45 AM
Response to Original message
 
1. That was one of my majors - I found the subject a whole lot of fun. The adjunct courses, statistics comes to mind, weren't as much fun, but I learned a lot, and it was a great help in grad school.

What are you plans, and how would an education in sociology help with them?

What are your other majors?

armyowalgreens  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 02:01 AM
Response to Reply #1
 
2. Political Science and Philosophy are my two majors.

My plan is to get into domestic or foreign aid work. Possibly working as an attorney (assuming I end up in law school), pro bono or reduced cost.

I'm trying to focus my education on how social structures form deviant and criminal behavior. Poli Sci helps, but doesn't study the root of problems.

elleng  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jul-28-09 02:29 AM
Response to Reply #2
 
8. Love to see you discussing/thinking all this!

I found poli sci worthless, but that may have been unique to where I was. History's good. Daughters have enjoyed and benefitted from soc + psych, but they're 'educators.'

Econ may be of value; WILL be, at some point, but keep in mind its so much b.s.!

Tangerine LaBamba  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 02:55 AM
Response to Reply #2
 
10. When I read your subject line, my first thought was "You have law school in your future, son." The majority of my law school classmates were poli sci majors. My experience is that it doesn't matter what your undergrad major was; law school is an experience independent of anything else.

As for working pro bono, unless you're independently wealthy, that's something you'll do in addition to your regular job as a lawyer - although there's always a need for Legal Aid lawyers, provided the budgets hold. More and more, they're being cut back.

You see yourself as an attorney working for organizations that provide foreign aid? Or did I not understand that?

Honestly, right now, I would not urge a youngster to go to law school unless he's really dedicated to becoming an attorney. Not if it's just something to fall back on. The job market out there is miserable, and it's not going to get better for a long, long time.

It might be too traditional for you, but have you considered the Peace Corps? If you did that right out of school, you'd have a marvelous experience behind you if you decided to go to graduate or professional school. Plus, you get to see a part of the world you never imagined, maybe.

If you had a triple major of poli sci, philosophy, and sociology, I can't see why that wouldn't be an excellent background for a career in working to provide aid to poor and developing countries. I have an old college friend who's done that all over Africa since the early seventies. He's out of work these days - all the funding is gone. No one can afford to give grants anymore.

Those are harsh realities. I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer.

Listen, unless you have very specific career in mind - mathematician, accountant, like that - your undergraduate major should be what you love, what you enjoy. It'll just serve as a vehicle to get you into grad school, anyway.

I hope some of this helps, but, in any event, just take the courses that have the best teachers, the ones that are the most challenging and the most fun.

Oh, and do whatever you can to learn another language, if you're not already fluent in one.

Good luck, you sweet fellow.........................

Uh oh.

Lately, the militant Wal-Mart primitive charmed the bitter old Vermontese cali primitive, and now he's charming the Rita Hayworth primitive.

armyowalgreens  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 05:32 AM
Response to Reply #10
 
13. The Peace corp. is most definitely in my future...

I've been planning on joining for about a year now. I'm taking a few of my classes to make sure I am best fit for duty after undergrad.

French is my language of choice and I start this semester.

I've always had law school on my mind. Something about law has always appealed to me. But I am not an ideal candidate. I don't come from a rich family and I don't ever plan on being rich. I want to go into law to help people. I've been laughed at more than once because of that.

My plan is really kind of up in the air. I want to practice law. But I also want to work with the poor. I'm not really sure how all of that is going to come together. But I'm not worried.

Tangerine LaBamba  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 12:56 PM
Response to Reply #13
 
17. Don't worry - and don't fall into stereotypical thinking. You're far too smart for that.

The notion of having to come from a wealthy family to go to law school is absurd. All kinds of people go. It's not about your wealth or your background. Keep in mind that Harvard accepted George W. Bush as an MBA candidate AFTER University of Texas Law School turned him down.

At Harvard, he was a legacy - his relatives had gone there before him, so his acceptance was pretty much guaranteed, especially since his wealthy family were big donors.

At U of Texas Law School, he was just another applicant with mediocre grades and - presumably - bad test scores, and he got turned down.

See how it works?

I come from the most basic of working-class families. We never even made it to "middle class," so please don't ever, ever use that kind of non-thinking, stereotypical thinking again. You're too smart for it, and using it to defeat yourself before you even start is just dumb.

Don't do it.

Glad to help, and good luck....................................

The Kali primitive from southernmost Texas, not to be confused with the bitter old Vermontese cali primitive:

Kali  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 12:18 PM
Response to Reply #2

16. "I'm trying to focus my education on how social structures form deviant and criminal behavior" take a look at evolutionary biology or even better sociobiology - are you at ASU? John Alcock - go talk to him.

LostInAnomie  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 02:01 AM
Response to Original message

3. BS in Soc., right here.

I always like to say it's one of the most enlightening, yet least useful majors out there. In my experience, Sociology doesn't really get interesting until you start getting into specific areas (300-400 level). The 100-200 level classes are mostly just there to teach you to think as a sociologist.

armyowalgreens  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 02:08 AM
Response to Reply #3
 
4. I was going to take a 300 level SOC class this semester...but I forgot about my schedule and signed up too late to find any interesting 300 level classes.

handmade34  (980 posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 02:19 AM
Response to Reply #4
 
5. gets interesting 300-400+

I went back to school and got a Soc degree and my daughter got her BS in Soc (and Anthropology) a couple of years ago. Love the study and find it's not the most practical for employment, but then again not much is these days. Unfortunately, my youngest sone still in school has switched to Philosophy...

armyowalgreens  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 02:20 AM
Response to Reply #5
 
6. Hey don't hate on philosophy. That's one of my majors...

Oh philosophy...how I love thee.

LostInAnomie  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 02:27 AM
Response to Reply #4
 
7. My advice would be to stay away from theory classes as much as possible.

Unless you are really interested in theory. those classes usually just teach you about ancient sociological viewpoints and then tell you how they are wrong. It's really tedious. Pick interesting subjects and good teachers will give you the theory along with it. Take a couple good social deviance classes. They'll change your whole outlook on the world.

ghostsofgiants  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jul-28-09 02:38 AM
Response to Original message
 
9. I'm a sociology minor. I love it.

mcctatas  (1000+ posts)        Tue Jul-28-09 03:35 AM
Response to Original message
 
11. BS in sociology...

I loved the work, don't use it professionally, am actually planning on law school I think. However, my soc. classes gave me the ability to approach issues in other disciplines from new or different angles.

stewartcolbert08  (500 posts)        Tue Jul-28-09 04:51 AM
Response to Original message
 
12. Bach Degree here!

I loved this field, I majored in that w/ an emphasis on criminology and I absolutely loved it! GOOD LUCK!

old mark  (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 08:32 AM
Response to Original message
 
14. I had it as a second major, and I had a PhD Sociologist as a MIL - 

A lot of colleges no longer offer much in Sociology - it is very unpopular with the RW. I did enjoy it, though.

fight4my3sons (1000+ posts)      Tue Jul-28-09 08:41 AM
Response to Original message
 
15. I have a BA in Sociology.

I went back to school to get my MSED in Special Ed. I love Sociology. Like other posters have said the upper level courses are when it gets good.

You know, it's not obvious to the recreational reader, the one who finds amusement in the antics of the primitives, but I myself very carefully examine the intercourse between the primitives, to see what's below the surface of the water.

From his exchanges with femme primitives, especially the old ones, I'm beginning to think the militant Wal-Mart primitive is a wimp, a fairy.

Not "fairy" in the gay sense, but in the sense of being fragile, frail, light, flighty, bubbleheaded, will o' the wisp; a straight guy who likes being taken care of by women.

Anybody else get that impression?

[BadCat]

Yes, but my main impression is:

Here comes another college graduate that is going to be a sponge on society.

[franksolich]

Yes, but my main impression is:

Here comes another college graduate that is going to be a sponge on society.

I'm beginning to think the militant Wal-Mart primitive has a great future as a gigolo, if he'd forget this academic stuff and apply himself to it.

[jtyangel]

I mean, they just fit the stereotype everyday don't they? 

(Econ is BS? Yeah, well at least I won't have to live off other taxpayers with something a bit more practical and useful)

http://www.freethedrones.com/blog/2006/07/23/whats-the-highest-paying-college-major/

That’s what CNN Money took a look at recently in this article. CNN compared the different majors to see what the average starting salaries were, and which ones had the biggest gains. Not suprisingly, all starting salaries were not equal, as I wrote about here. The lowest paying degrees? Traditional liberal arts degrees such as Political Science, which averaged $32,665, Sociology at $30,944, and Communications at $31,876.

The degrees that paid more were, predictably, those that taught a specific skill and thus made the students more marketable. Engineering degrees averaged around $52,000-53,000. Accounting degrees paid $45,656. Even more practical degrees in lower paying fields, such as Hotel Management, still beat out the liberal arts degrees.

The moral: you’re probably better off getting your degree in something useful. If you want to study English, do it as your minor. You’ll be financially better off.

So this fella is getting a THIRD limiting degree. what a surprise.

BTW, I can help him with social structures forming deviancy. How about welfare given over generations with no expectation and appreciation raising the same kind of entitled, spoiled brat attitude one might see in the coddled offspring of the super wealthy? It would seem to me people get something with no effort put towards the something they obtained and you generate deviancy like he's talking about. Don't really need a sociology degree to teach you an awful lot about people. Listening and observing and having an understanding of basic human nature/behavior is generally enough. I can't help but wonder who is paying for this latest education. seeing as he may or may  not have a job...please don't tell me he's going to hit 'us' up for a Pell Grant?

[franksolich]

I can help him with social structures forming deviancy.

Hush now, madam, let's have no more of this talk about sociology.

franksolich has great plans for the militant Wal-Mart primitive.

True, franksolich had great plans for Pedro Picasso and for the maudlin waif primitive, and they didn't work out.

However, maybe the third time is a charm.

I'm going to start training the militant Wal-Mart primitive on the fine arts of gigoloship.  I'm convinced he has potential; he just needs to learn some of the tricks of the trade.

[GOBUCKS]

DUmmies are partial to any field that avoids those pesky math subjects. You know, the ones that can get you a job. They are so judgmental, with answers either right or wrong.

And what is this bullshit of DUmmies having two or three "majors". I can recall taking 16-19 hours per semester (of course those were the days when you had freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior years, four in all, unless you were a co-op), beating my brains out to earn a degree in a single useful subject. I think we've got a scam going here, where DUmmy students take electives in a fun subject and it's called a second major. No way they could have a useful amount of education in more than a single subject in a normal college career of 128 - 140 semester hours. No way.

[BadCat]

Pell grant?

I'd guess more than that...

http://www.abor.asu.edu/special_editions/tuition_hearings/2008-tuition-0220_001.pdf

[The Village Idiot]

DUmmies are partial to any field that avoids those pesky math subjects. You know, the ones that can get you a job. They are so judgmental, with answers either right or wrong.

Math is part of the general education courses that you "hafta" take. Of course you'd need more advance courses in it to become an engineer I would bet.

_{FGL who just started on Business Management and wonders if there will still be businesses in a few years of Obama}

[thundley4]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x8954387

From his exchanges with femme primitives, especially the old ones, I'm beginning to think the militant Wal-Mart primitive is a wimp, a fairy.

Not "fairy" in the gay sense, but in the sense of being fragile, frail, light, flighty, bubbleheaded, will o' the wisp; a straight guy who likes being taken care of by women.

Anybody else get that impression?

I think he seems more like a mama's boy. He sometimes seems to look for the older females acceptance/approval.

[BadCat]

I'm probably giving him way too much credit thinking he's actually enrolled at ASU.

More likely at Mesa Community College.

[GOBUCKS]

a straight guy who likes being taken care of by women

.
And what is wrong about that?

[franksolich]

.
And what is wrong about that?

After posting that, I realized I should have said "a straight young guy who likes being taken care of by older women."

But I get tired of editing my comments, so let it pass.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Sure, two unemployable majors already, why not add a third unemployable major and postpone getting that worthless degree another semester or two while you make up the necessary core courses for it?

 

[GOBUCKS]

Those are harsh realities. I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer.

"Debbie Downer". Now there is a sickeningly cutesy term.
You need a stronger stomach than mine to use words like that.

[JohnnyReb]

"I'm trying to focus my education on how social structures form deviant and criminal behavior. Poli Sci helps, but doesn't study the root of problems."

He should study up on "The Great Society", "The War on Poverty" and ....and ....and.... well hell, I'd say that would just about cover criminal behavior and the root of the problem.

[franksolich]

I'm trying to focus my education on how social structures form deviant and criminal behavior.

franksolich has gotten quite an education in this since late January 2001, simply from watching the primitives on Skins's island.

[BadCat]

"I'm trying to focus my education on how social structures form deviant and criminal behavior. Poli Sci helps, but doesn't study the root of problems."

He should study up on "The Great Society", "The War on Poverty" and ....and ....and.... well hell, I'd say that would just about cover criminal behavior and the root of the problem.

He's posting in the right place to study that.