Going Against the Grain

 Throughout my high school career I have dreaded the time of the year where college applications were the number one priority because I was very indecisive of where I wanted to go, what I wanted to be and what I wanted to major in. I  used to see previous seniors stressing about college applications and I knew that was going to be me  and now it is.  I witnessed many different routes that worked and didn’t work for some individuals. I used to want to go to a four-year  University but once I really understood how much debt a person can  get themselves into just from college debt I figured  Community college was the better way because I don’t even know what I want to major in. Since I am very indecisive is going to community college better than going to a four-year university?  Is it easier to get sidetracked if going to a community college rather than a four year university?  I’m not ashamed of wanting to go to community college because I can always transfer if I even have the funds.  However, I still want to apply to Cal states and UC’s because I want to see what type of options I can have for myself. Am I wasting my time doing college applications when I plan on going to community college, eventhough I don’t mind a variety of paths I can choose from?
- Maritza Rodriguez

Fire Science: A Prediction in the Long Term Effects

As I continue my schooling career I will be furthering my education at Santa Ana community college. I have looked into this college because they have a great program for becoming a firefighter. I have had many doubts coming into this field of study due to the fact that its very hard to find a job. Finding a job is like finding a needle in a hay stack. Many people have gotten hired through an academy, through knowing people or just by winning the lottery basically. Being a firefighter has its benefits for example,  health insurance, vacation pay, and competitive pension plan. I am a very competitive person so I think I will do fine in being able to find a job and to get hired. All of the benefits are great, but not being able to find a job right away after I graduate is going to be hassle and when I apply for any Fire departments its pretty much a waiting game. This got me thinking, Is majoring in fire science really worth it?

How good is a Biochemistry Major in terms of job availability? Also impacted is a biochemistry major in top ranked universities like the UCs?

     I am curious about how good is a biochemistry major when it comes to the job market. So far the only thing I'm worried about is getting hired since I don't wanna spend so much money on a good university and getting a degree, but not find work. I decided to choose this major since I'm good in both Biology and Chemistry. Hence, that's why I'm taking AP Chemistry and I plan to self study AP Biology and take the exam for college credit. I also don't mind if it's a bad job, since I have been in miserable workplaces before... like being a high school student. All I mainly care about is finding a job where I can support myself and be independent. So how friendly is the job market when it comes to people with biochemistry degrees?

     One more thing I am concerned about is how impacted is biochemistry? Throughout my high school career I have heard many students say they hated chemistry and often find it difficult to comprehend. Not to mention, my AP Chemistry class has less than ten students. So I assume that a majority of students wouldn't take biochemistry and especially not chemistry.  Yet, I also hear that usually for colleges I hear that the sciences are often impacted. So how impacted is a biochemistry major?
-Bryan Thach

Not applying to a Cal State or UC

Am I making the right decision by choosing to go to a community college and not applying to any other colleges? Should I be doing something different as in regards to going to college just like everyone else is?  Everyone around me at school seems to be talking about applying for whichever college they dream of going to, the amount of stress it has given them to get their applications in, and what they want to major in. Before any of this started happening I had a set plan on going to Cerritos College since it is about a 5-10 minute drive from my house and across the street from my work. I considered this a great idea because it would save me money by not having to drive far to a college such as Long Beach or having to pay to live on campus . I don't want to apply to a Cal State or UC because why would I want to put time and money into a college that costs so much when I'm unsure in what I want to major in. It makes sense to me when I think about it but I'm not sure if it sounds like a good idea to others. Today, 11/14/2017, our ASB teacher had a discussion with just seniors about applying to college and not waiting until the last minute because once the deadline happens, that's it. Then she went on saying how even if we don't want to apply to a UC, and plan on going to a community college we should still apply to a Cal State  if we meet the requirements so you know that you have options. Some seniors were asking questions about applications or majors and I had no clue as to what they were talking about and this gave me anxiety because I can't relate to a majority of the seniors on campus. I could start signing up for FAFSA and talking to my counselor to discuss what I can do in order to get a head start on getting into Cerritos Community College. Not everyone is going to make the same decisions as everyone else so I should be focused on me, myself, and I.

-Juliet Rose Chacon

Attending Community College First VS. Attending a University First

I turned in my applications for Cal State Schools, and I plan on majoring in Pediatrics Nursing.  I have heard from several people that it is better and more cost efficient to complete your pre-requisite classes at a community college first, and then later bridge over into your Cal State School.  So how this works is, I would be taking two years of general education at a community college, and then would be transferring in to take my classes for my major through my acceptance letter to the Cal State. Most people who get accepted into a four year college forget about this opportunity, even though it has several benefits like getting first pick at classes, and paying less for college expenses.  Four year colleges can cost up to three times more than community colleges, which could ultimately save a lot of money for future tuition at the Cal State.  However, I have also heard that if you have already decided on your major, it is better to go straight into the Cal State that you were accepted to.  This ultimately provides many social opportunities, and you have the chance to get to know your school and your professors early on as a Freshman; furthermore, starting out at your school of choice gives you more benefits when it comes to extracurricular and on campus involvement. Both of these pathways have huge benefits, but I was wondering which path seems more beneficial for me? Is anyone else considering community college first?  -Hannah Kearney

Staying or Going

Hello, personally my biggest fear about college is whether I should move away or stay home. There are pros and cons to both for me. I am extremely reliant on my parents, so I feel like moving away would help me grow and become better as a person, but then again I’m extremely reliant on them, I don’t even know how to do laundry. If I stayed home I could save all of my money and use it to things I actually want, but if I move away I’ll have to spend my money on all kinds of things. Also, what if I don’t make friends and I spend all of my days by myself, where here I have friends and I know my way around.  As you can see I’m very confused and unsure oh what to do. Does anybody else feel the same way or get nervous about the same thing? -Jaelyn Jurado

af: Blog Assignment #1: the FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions are those questions that are asked frequently!  DUH.

But what questions do you have about where you will be next year?  Ask a question about the college you are going to, the major you want to pursue, the branch of the military you plan to join -- a REAL question that you have.

The assignment requires ONE post and TWO comments to your peers by 6:00 pm

 on Friday, November 17.

The LINK to the blog rubric is right HERE.