Question #1

[mattlistener]

What was the subject of my college degree?

1) Computer Science
2) Math
3) Philosophy
4) Psychology
5) I actually don't have a college degree.


#guessed.answer(pointvalue)
5. Comp Sci (0)
1. Math (0)
17.Phil (10)
6. Psych (0)
1. No degree (0)

I actually went to college to study physics. I'd always been interested in astronomy when I was a kid, knew as much about the planets as today's kids know about dinosaurs, even named my dog Callisto. Carl Sagan's "Cosmos" came out when I was 9 and I watched it avidly, just drinking up all the science and history-of-science understanding that he offered. I wrote a passionate application essay about it ("Describe a work of art that influenced you") and got in to the University of Chicago early decision.

I was 2nd in my class in Honors Physics my first year and motoring along into a Physics major when I realized two things. One, that it would be about 6 more years of study before I'd really start to touch the current edge of our understanding of the universe (General Relativity and Quantum Mechanics). And two, that I just wasn't enjoying the getting there (calculus, lab experiments). It was very clear to me that for a life-investment that large to make sense one would have to enjoy the process as well as the fruits.

So, since I so much enjoyed my 1st year common core philosophy course, I calmly switched gears into a Philosophy major. I never had an answer to "what will you do with that?", since I had no interest in working in academia or writing as a career, but I came away with a great foundation in thinking and writing that will serve me well in everything I do. One of the best decisions of my life!

{{Event idea: Showings of good Cosmos-inspired programs, eg "The Ring of Truth", "The Day the Universe Changed".}}

Comments

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

If you're waiting to see if we are reading these before going on, rest assured we're reading these. :)

A.
(also an astronomy buff as a kid...)

[mattlistener.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Wasn't waiting, I'm aiming to do one every few days, or maybe a week.

[laurens10.livejournal.com]

Hee -- I guessed correctly, but only because it made both the least sense and the most sense from my data points.

All the philosophy majors I know work in computers....

laurens