I graduate from college tomorrow.

[EastTennesseeDem]

I've come full circle.

I registered for DU because my campus is so goddamn conservative (well...maybe not overwhelmingly so, but enough) that I needed to keep my wits about me outside of College Democrats, the recycling program, etc. etc. etc.

Now I am terrified as all get out.

What do I do with a B.A. in geology? I'm trying to avoid oil companies but how the HELL do I do that? Talk about a karma killer.

I want to get a masters in environmental policy. To go against the grain. To...help people instead of cause oil spills, pump out CO2, etc. I hope someone out there will forgive my low-ish GPA (3.13).

Don't get the wrong impression. I'm not woe-is-me at all. I'm excited as hell! But...damn. Being a grownup just hit me smack in the fucking face.

[snacker]

1. Congratulations!

Wishing you life's best! College graduation is a bittersweet time, but enjoy the moment and celebrate your accomplishment!

[nolabear]

2. Many, many congrats. You'll figure it out.

My advice? Ask lots of questions of everyone even remotely connected to your interests. Somtimes a degree can be used in really creative ways.

Welcome to adulthood. It's a trip.

[flying rabbit]

3. Congrats!

Don't worry, life will take you strange places if you let it. My degrees and my job have no relation, but here I am.

[emilyg]

4. Congrats! Take your time

deciding.

[one_voice]

5. Congrats!!!

Take your time deciding. Enjoying what you do is half the battle!

[Chan790]

6. Move to DC. Lots of government jobs in geology.

I'm not kidding, they're in demand.

People who employ geologists:
NASA (NASA employs a lot of geologists. More than you'd think.)
EPA
Dept. of the Interior
Forestry Service
National Park Service
NOAA
US Navy
US Department of Defense
Geological surveyors
Seismic monitoring stations
Universities
Engineering firms

Now obviously not all of those are places you'd like to work, but the point is that there is no shortage of jobs in your field.

[elleng]

17. Great advice, Chan.

Govt can be a very good place to work, East.
GOOD LUCK!

[GaYellowDawg]

7. ETSU?

I got my bachelor's from there.

Oh, and as for the GPA, a good GRE score will forgive a lot of sins. I had a 3.0 in my major, and a 2.96 overall. I pulled a 1320 on the GRE and MTSU couldn't wait to take me.

[EastTennesseeDem]

9. Vanderbilt actually

I was gonna go to ETSU since I didn't think I had a snowball's chance at Vandy, but wouldn'tcha know it.

I plan to take the GRE next month. I think I'll do well on it. Good God it's expensive. I was registering and got to the payment page, and then said to my mother, who was asking for what graduation gifts I would like to have, "Uh, pay for my GRE?"

[GaYellowDawg]

11. That's great!!

I would think a 3.1 from Vandy would outrank a 3.5 from ETSU. Congratulations on graduating from a great university! Yeah, the GRE is expensive. I spent a little time out of graduate school, and my scores expired. I was in a dead-end job in a hotel, and I changed to maintenance so that I could help bring their scores up and get a bonus. Wouldn't you know it - the bonus was $99 and the GRE was $96. It was a huge outlay for me at the time, but it was well worth it - that time, I scored 670, 670, 660, and having all 3 scores at that level really intrigued the faculty at the PhD program I got into.

Congratulations again. My younger sister graduated from VU so I have an idea of how tough it was.

[Kaleva]

8. Congrats!!

[EastTennesseeDem]

10. Danke everybody!!

I disappeared after shit got pretty intense, but I am returning, probably for the long haul.

Y'all are awesome.

[Art_from_Ark]

12. You might look into revegetating open pits

Here's some information. There's even mention of reforesting an old mine site right there in Eastern Tennessee

http://arri.osmre.gov/FRA/Advisories/FRA_No.5.pdf

[lovemydog]

13. congrats and take it easy for a while

I like life out of college better (though I enjoyed college too). Hope you keep posting here. I enjoy hearing from younger folks. They have a lot to offer.

[Phentex]

14. Hooray! Let's party!....

Congratulations! Good luck on the job search or grad school...whichever comes first, lol.

[benld74]

15. Congrats! Oh and being grown up hits ME in the effin face EVERY morning!!!!

[femmocrat]

16. Congratulations, EastTennDem!

Good luck and best wishes to you!