January 2004

Pope, Breakdancers

“Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it”

Source: CNN

Resume, Resume
With today I resume regular employment. More in a little while.

If you’re out there, and looking for work, I recommend you read this article, by Joel Spolsky: Getting Your Resume Read. It’s really excellent advice.

A buddy of mine was doing some hiring recently, and he was astonished by the number of people who violate basic etiquette, pay zero attention to details, and seem to ignore the rules set down in the initial job posting. Perhaps that’s just desperation. But—if you’re jobless, it’s on you to do everything as right as possible, yes?

Epoch
Macintosh was born 20 years ago

Classes
So I’m taking some classes at City that will apply for TAG and IGETC for later transferrence to UCSD: Statistics, Java Programming, and I’m the waitlist for Spanish. I enrolled and paid online. It’s a modern age I suppose.

Like I said (or maybe I didn’t), the counselor at City was very helpful.

Okay. Onward.

UCLA Extension Transcript
Wow that was fast. My transcripts came from UCLA Extension—really fast. I have 15 units—B in Entry Level Positions in Film Production, and 3 A’s: Digital Backlot: an Introduction to Digital Image Creation for Film & TV; Mac Illustration; and Post-Production for Film and Television.

I don’t think any of it necessarily applies, but it’s nice to see on paper.

In honor of the Death of Captain Kangaroo
Captain Kangaroo’s “Joseph” Song 45rpm Record—includes a realaudio recording.

Had my meeting with a counselor
Summary: things good: likely candidates for Spring classes: Spanish, Statistics, Java Programming. So we’ll see. Oh, and more than half of my SDCCD credits transfer. My Virginia units will need to be assessed by SDCCD. I’ve been advised by Sassy to fight for those units hard.

Got lots of worksheets and requirements lists on my potential UCSD majors and on IGETC and TAG and am diving in. You know, Bioinformatics is looking much more interesting to me. It’s hard science, it’s programming. It could be really cool. The Cognitive Science/HCI degree also is entrancing and looks doable.

So, as Sassy has succinctly put it, I have a few goals to hit my 5 year goal of a Master’s degree. That’s a Master’s by 2009.

1. Successful Application to UCSD
2. Bachelor’s Degree at UCSD
3. Successful Application for Master’s Degree
4. Master’s Degree

To get step 1, I need to jump through hoops and get my units in a row for TAG and IGETC, and that includes getting my units to City from CHRV College of Health Sciences/Jefferson College of Health Sciences, getting those assessed… and, enroll for some classes for the Spring.

This is fun.

Holding Pattern
I’m sitting in the East Village Coffee House, which is across the street from San Diego City College. On further inspection, I have 26 units of credit from 1987-1989 from the San Diego Community College District. Where these random credits which range from A to F put me, I have no idea. The F obviously don’t count, but the A in Broadcast Studio Operations and the B’s in Cinema as Art/Communication I, Introduction to Philosophy, Beginning Architectural Drafting, General Psychology, Introduction to Radio and Television may. So too may my C’s in Design, Cinema as Art/Comm II, and Principles of Marketing. Yuck.

I was a much different person in 1987-1989. Much less patience for things which I did not enjoy. Less tolerance for teachers who I might not agree with. And mostly, I was lazy and unwilling to work very hard for anything.

It’s funny, in High School and when I was first taking classes in Community College I used to hide my grades from my parents, forge signatures—nasty stuff. That kind of deception makes me cringe now. I have shame for that time, but I learned a lot from that. And I’m a much more open and honest person, particularly since my divorce.

Things are much different now.

Anyway…

So I’m waiting for the transfer office to open up at 10am (usually they open at 8am)—and we can take a looksee.

This is sort of fun.

Next week I begin a new gig in earnest. I’ve gotten… er… three notes asking me what it is. And I’ve complied. And some other friends and family know what’s up. So next week – even more newness!

Stay tuned… and… onward!

College; Racquetball Grade
So it is looking like I need about 30 units of Community College work (more or less) to get into UCSD. I talked with a super-nice Transfer Counselor and essentially it looks like 30 units or so will get me in there. My current academic state is sort of ambiguous. I have 90 or so units which contributed to my Associate of Science – but as these were from Virginia, they don’t necessarily transfer, or not, to the UC system. I also have some units from UCLA Extension, from whom I’ve now requested a transcript. Though there’s no guarantee that any of those will transfer. I also have a few additional, much older units from San Diego here, which may transfer (though those were from when I was a paltry 17 and 18 years old, and some are not so hot). Still, they may count for something. So now I’m collating all these things and will talk to a counselor at City or Mesa College about what I can make with all these ingredients. Best case scenario would be TAG or IGETC into UCSD in Spring 2005, but I’d have to have all 30 units in time – unlikely. Likely scenario is to matriculate in Fall of 2005 as a Junior. Likely majors for me include, in no particular order:

• Cognitive Science/Computation B.S.
• Cognitive Science/Human Computer Interaction B.S.
• Biology with a Specialization in Bioinformatics B.S.
• Computing and the Arts B.A.

The goal continues to be Masters degree in 5 years. It looks like I can be enrolled in 2005, plus 2 years is 2007 for my Bachelor’s, which gives me 2 more years for a Master’s if I’m to get it by 2009.

So, we’ll see.

Oh, and I got an “A” in Racquetball, 0.5 Credits, from last semester at City College. So I’m already a student there, really.

vs.
Point, Counterpoint.