After a month of careful deliberation, I guess I’m going to UCLA.
It was a tough choice, and I really wanted to just relax (and work) for a year.
But it’d probably be more than a year. And then I’d never want to go…
Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing. Education has a limited value in many fields, and many of the most successful people (both in business and life) have had little formal education, or at least not much college. And many college graduates are stupid.
In the end, the deciding factor was that I’d rather go try it out and not like it (or love it) than never know and always wonder. An ‘Act now or forever hold your peace’ sorta thing.
The classes don’t sound that appealing (compared to some design-specific ones at the art center or something) but I’m sure the professors will be decent and the other kids will be intersting. Anyways, I’ve heard that the workloads are pretty low and I’m only planning to take 3 classes so it should be pretty relaxing.
At the moment I’m trying to find a place to live. I’m not planning to dorm; I need a 1 or 2 bedroom place where I can setup a nice office. Other things I’m looking for: a great kitchen (since I plan to be cooking a lot) and a pool (not that important really but it’d be cool to have). Or if I could rent a house, then a garden/backyard would be totally sweet…
But the area where UCLA is situated (Westwood Village) is pretty expensive. So I’m considering living somewhere further away, somewhere nicer more affordable, and just driving. Glendale is too far but perhaps Sherman Oaks/Studio City or West Hollywood.
I don’t really know what I want to major in or study, but I was planning to create something of my own. This is mostly just recreational and for the fun of it, so I’m not really too worried about getting a degree or how it’s going to help my career. Someo studies in finance or business might be interesting, though I’m afraid it’d be all dreary and boring. Maybe something about entrepreneurship, or just some good ol’ fashioned Digital Media. Who knows…
Comments
This place isn't ALL about me — just mostly.
Joe Primiani
4 years, 9 months ago
Hey Anand! Beautiful blog you have here. Congratulations on UCLA, I plan on moving to that area after graduating. I go to UCF in Orlando, I am taking Computer Science and Digital Media. I absolutely love it, combining the technology with the art aspect. I felt the same way you did about classes, I felt public universities haven’t caught up with the latest tech trends that would be beneficial to my future. Although, I was driven for a degree. I digging deep to find and register for the classes the absolutely benefit me. I am a host with the podcast here on campus, in which I am getting credit hours for. You sound very similar to my interests with entrepreneurship, I am also the VP of tech for the collegiate entrepreneurship club here. I would definitely recommend looking into that for network connections. Wish you the best of luck. Talk to you soon.
Joe
Alec
4 years, 9 months ago
How many Bruins does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
One.
Sven Schoene
4 years, 9 months ago
Hey Anand,
first of all: This is a very, very beautiful blog, maybe the most beautiful on the web! Definitely among the top 10, though. ;)
I think you made the right decision. I don’t know anything about UCLA or American universities in general, but I know that a formal education DOES have it’s value. Well, at least in my field (IT), I don’t know so much about design. Anyway, graduating from college always shows that you have the discipline that xxxxx amount of designers do not have.
I’m also playing with the though of granting myself a year off after school (I’m in the 12th grade right now and still have one year to go), but then I would be 28 when I get my Master. Not only that, but you also gave me another reason as of why not to do it. Imagine I, or in your case you ;) , would be making money in this free year. I don’t know how, freelance webdesign or even a half-way decent job at a company. I wouldn’t want to make such a decision, so thanks for this point of view.
Good luck with finding a nice and not too expensive apartement or even house,
Sven Schoene
Chris
4 years, 9 months ago
Hola! I just kind of stumbled in– hope you don’t mind me throwing my two cents in! I completely agree that college is not any kind of determining factor in your professional success. The best reason to go to college is that it’s about the only place where you can focus entirely on *learning*, without worrying about immediate application or real-world compromises. And it’s a place where you’re entirely in charge of what you want to learn. That is an enormous help in whatever you do afterward.
Good luck, and make UCLA all it can be!
Anand
4 years, 9 months ago
Thanks for the comments everyone :)
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