erstwhile athelete wrote:
Studied English at top Midwest private school on Dad's dime. Had a good time and did well enough to get a PhD in Linguistics from top public school but not well enough to get a university teaching job. Did a couple of years of Peace Corp after failed job attempts. Returned with a foreign bride and no job prospects so went MHA route at a different top school. Did a little consulting with a small firm before landing a decent upper level job in a large hospital. Finishing up career that turned out ok but it would have been much harder with current school costs and absence of family money. No regrets especially considering ignorance of outcomes from different decisions.
Studied anthropology at a top Midwest private school (with a lot of biology/zoology but not a double major), also on Dad's dime. Had an okay time, disappointed with running and decided that anthro (cultural studies-ethonographies or archaeology) weren't for me and switched to ecology and natural resources. So worked and went back to school (on my dime at first, then the state and industry paid my way as an RA) for masters at a top (in my field) research university, more work and then more education at a out of the way mid-major (because the study seemed pretty cool and it was funded).
The righteous here would no doubt think that this was a wasted education and only things that make money for industry or self are worthwhile.
After teaching and research for a few years, been working for 20 years since in sustainability, resource use, and policy. Again, the righteous would think that this is worthless, but whatever.
I still run.