h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Oh dear - Xan - have you tried applying to universities in England?

England is nice, but perhaps not exotic enough for you?

Have you thought about another plan yet?

Yeah, it`s official. I got a letter from CAO. They didn`t give any reasons for it. I really hope it`s not due to me not doing an English test, that would just be stupid.

As far as I know in England students have to pay for uni themselves, I don`t have the money for that. But what annoys me is that what I applied for was astrophysics. And a few engineering courses. I have had astronomy in school already, and I know the first year curriculum of physics at uni is the same as I had in my last year in high school. So I should at least be able to get through the first year. They could have given me the chance for that at least. After all this is rocket science, not brain surgery.

Another stupid thing is having to tell my parents they were right again. That`s annoying.

Now that *IS* annoying.

It might be worth writing to the Uni and saying that considering you made a late application, would it be worth re-applying early for next year.

That will basically tell you if they rejected you because they did not have enough spaces this year, or if they rejected you because they do not think you are right for their course. Either is possible.

B

Or they are discriminating against Danes. Can I sue them?

I guess maybe I should just save up some money while working and then head off to Arecibo and learn it there.

Oh Arecibo...

You know those movies where you've got little street urchins going "hey mister, will ya let me clean your nice car?"

That'll be Xan, living on the doorstep of the at Arecibo, hoping to get a glimpse at the kit every now and then

I'd always thought of Arecibo as stuck out in the jungle in the middle of nowhere.. but just been looking and they've got a proper visitor centre and everything.... I wanna go!!!

Maybe you could start off as a teaboy and work your way up?

When I left high-school I sent out e-mails to all the observatories I could find, asking if they had some odd jobs I could do in return for food and lodging. Nobody wanted me.

I also missed out on something called a Star-B-Q friday. I only found out the day before it happened and had previous engagements. Could have been a good place to meet astronomers/teachers and plead with them to let me study. Apparently it is astronomy week, so hopefully there will be some other arrangements. I just wish TV would stop rubbing it in by showing ads for universities.

As an EU national (Denmark is in the EU isn't it?) I think it'd cost you around £5000 a year to study at an English university, although don't quote me on that. Its certainly over £1100 a year, which is what British citizens have to pay.

Keep on trying for university. I'm sure you'd enjoy it. I'd guess Dublin would be quite a prestigious one, so they might well demand good grades. I don't know.

Your parents told you that you wouldn't get into uni?

A lots of parents say you'll fail at anything, unless it's the 'proper' path of getting a nice steady job and saving for a house (and never having any real fun ).

You don't know until you try. And, you've spent a few months 'experiencing' Ireland too

'Steady job', ugrh. Get yourself a board and a VW Campervan and become a surfer dude. You know you want to.

Well, my parents have never been particularly supportive. Though in this case they never said outright I`d never make it. They just hinted at it, and talked about how I should be sure to have lots of back up plans.

Well, I`m still open to suggestions. It seems the shortage of engineers in my country is over. That was kind of my back up plan. And they were talking about how a lot of young people are unable to get a job when they finish their education. Makes education seem quite useless.

I didn't get a degree, and in my 20s and 30s everyone was judged on track-record, not on academic history.

Now for some reason an applicant's academic history, particularly the presence or absence of a SECOND degree, (MBA, etc), is the differentiator, and suddenly here I am, 20 years on and *two* degrees behind.

Unless you are very clear on what you want to do to earn a living, and itching to do it immediately, I would recommend getting a degree.

Ben

Hey Xan, if Cosmology's really the path for you then the Open University do courses in astrophysics up to degree level (beyond even, though you'd probably have to attend for those) - I'm not sure if they do courses in the EU but so long as you can recieve the broadcasts...

The OU is an organisation that offers 'study at home' degrees in the UK covering all subjects, and they're a major player behind the......Beagle2 mission to Mars

http://www.open.ac.uk/

Some more traditional institutions may not like it but employers here know what it takes

Well, I need some advice again. I`m still just stuck in a mindless job with bad pay. And it again seems all the universities are rejecting me. Just not good enough for them.

So, I need something non-academic and preferably meaningful to do. Does anyone have any ideas? Would going into the police or the military be a good idea perhaps?

xanatic, ask not what you will do with your life; ask rather what your life will do with you.

when i was 23 i took a very risky path. i set off hitchhiking, hosteling, squatting, vendanging, kibbutzing... at 30 i got back on the train and everything is fine now. all i learned at hardknocks U has stood me in remarkable stead.

the risk is that you may never get back into "normal" life again after that, and sleeping under bridges is much less inviting at 30 (or 40 or 50) than at 20. but if you make it, the mindlessness and tediousness of the humdrum republic will be bearable because of the riches you will have within.

Actually riotact has a point - I know you have done a lot of travelling but if you have had a rich and enjoyable time doing it, then it won't be a 'waste' of time.

Have I suggested "What colour is your parachute" to you before? It should be available through your library, and you can sometimes pick up second hand copies in charity shops. It is full of very useful exercises to help you identify not just what skills you have, but what fires you up. I set aside a couple of hours each Tuesday night for about 6 weeks to work my way through it. Some of the things you end up finding out about yourself can be quite shocking.

Finally there was a series on the radio recently of people who said 'I love my job' - the people who loved their jobs the most were doing jobs you would not think there was a need for - like professional harmonica player. They worked out what they wanted to do, and carved themselves a niche.

But the book is good, because you can go through it at your own pace.

Keep us posted.

So, any more suggestions? I just panicked yesterday realizing I will be 25 soon.

Um. Those are my suggestions. Only you can make the choices.

B