[rumguzzler]

I can't believe it didn't occur to me to ask this earlier.

I'm a senior undergrad at a large European school (mediocre place), and will be done with almost all my courses save one this winter. I'm going to Nicaragua for two months, before I get back and finish my last course which isn't available till next semester. I don't know if going to Nicaragua will help me decide which path I want to take.

While not decided for certain, I am making preparations to apply to go Marine OCS. My main reasons to go are character and skill-set development.

I can't figure out if it's a good idea to go next summer/fall, or wait till I finish my master's here in DK.

Studying in DK is heavily subsidized, so I can live quite well doing it. The way the rules work make it easy to travel, go and see places while enrolled, and good planning provides loads of time to enjoy other hobbies and learn different things.

So if I wait, I can gain a lot, earn my MSc., and fulfill my goals of learning several foreign languages and develop other skills and just chill(incl. PUA stuff). A big part of our uni education system, especially my program, is paid internships alongside school. I can net 2½K a month after tax, and the internships lead, in many cases, to fulltime jobs and careers. As an Economist, we most often get into banking or other number-crunching jobs in public ministries, but nothing's fixed.

On the other hand, I am not terribly excited about Econ. The main activity, the studying, is not really exciting to me. Economics is not something I'm terribly passionate about. Interested? Yes. Passionate? No.

I know most college students don't dig long hours of study, so perhaps I'm being too hasty. On other hand, I reckon I ought to feel inspired by what I'm trying to do in order for it to merit my time and energy.

My alternative is to finish my undergrad degree, join the Corps earlier than planned, and then figure out what I'd like after a few years there. If I commissioned, I'd lose my dual citizenship and I wouldn't be able to get Danish subsidies for my master's afterwards. I'll qualify for the GI Bill, but I'm not sure it's worth as much as the Danish subsidies. So returning to Denmark to study would be expensive.

I can wait, and chill for a few more years, but study something I don't really like (and haven't really for a while), and travel to unrestricted destinations.

Or I can go sooner, lose my citizenship (Danish), get out of my comfort zone, learn something different and a lot of it, get leadership experience, etc. etc. travel as well, just not the same places. Not to mention learning how to handle weapons, years of persistent, dedicated training, and cultivating self-discipline. Tools I'm sure would be great for life.

Both paths offer improvement, different kinds. The latter offers the best character development. The former offers more freedom and reckless fun.

[Dash Global]

gotta find the right combination of doing what YOU wanna do and also being responsible and hedging for the future.

[manilaguy]

As an econ undergraduate major from the U of California (big reputable public school), let me give you my perspective.

7 Economic Principles for the Confused.

1.) Economics is extremely vague in terms of career. You know that already.

2.) To be a practicing economist in the USA you must have a PhD in the field to be competitive, especially in government. So if you are able to get your foot in with just an undergraduate you are extracting sweet economic surplus already.

3.) The sweet thing about being an economist is that you essentially are an overly compensated fortune teller that is not required to be 100% correct all time; it helps to be shit like 80% confident that you are 90% right but that is just smoke screen meant to confuse folks that barely passed basic probability course in college.

4.) Most undergraduates typically go for whatever entry-level jobs they can encounter in the business field ranging from informatics to business analytics to accounting to sales, whatever. They then specialise in this field after x or so number of work experience by going back for masters to validate their skill sets.

5.) Medici effect. A major benefit of an econ undergraduate is that because it so vague, you are not really locked into a career and can combine unseemingly unconnected careers together, say nursing to be like health care analyst, whatever.. your limit is your imagination bounded by if the market has an actual use of you.

6.) Another major benefit not often considered is that a grasp of economic principles will give you an analytical framework that stays with you for the rest of your life. It only gets better when you start applying theory shit to real world problems. Say you approach x number of girls with your green 1-up tshirt.. is there a correlation to rejection? or wtf is wrong with this chick -- why is her barrier of entry so high? You can even be like roosh and apply econ principles to deduce why american girls act the way they do..

7.) I suggest doing some cost/benefit analysis for your military option, but i am in the opinion that it actually sounds like a plan if they pay you to learn on their dime. The downside is that the expected value of dying is zero or in econ form E[dying]=0, you lose.

[rudebwoy]

Do not join the Armed Forces. The way things are shaping up you may have to fight in a war (ie North Korea situation).

Things must be good in DK! No?

[phoenix abroad]

If you join the military you are giving up a significant amount of your freedom. You give up much of the control of your life to them. The military can certainly develop character and I thoroughly respect people in the armed forces - but giving up that amount of freedom is simply unacceptable to me personally.

You really don't think you can develop your character and skills on your own?

I say you spend the time in Nicaragua and that will give you a much clearer view of what your next step is. After I spent 2 weeks in the Philippines for a service trip I immediately had a much clearer picture of what to do with my life.

Also you definitely need to read this great article on finding passion in your line of work.

Quote:

Most people believe that passions exist a priori of any serious engagement with a pursuit; they’re some mysterious Platonic form waiting for you to discover. This is a dangerous fiction.

My alternative definition claims instead that passion is the feeling generated by mastery. It doesn’t exist outside of serious hard work.

[oldnemesis]

(11-28-2010 10:57 PM)phoenix abroad Wrote:  

If you join the military you are giving up a significant amount of your freedom. You give up much of the control of your life to them. The military can certainly develop character and I thoroughly respect people in the armed forces - but giving up that amount of freedom is simply unacceptable to me personally.

Not to mention some serious shit can happen to you. Like being paralyzed for the rest of your life. I bet those guys would give up everything they've got for the ability to walk again.

[Aliblahba]

(11-29-2010 01:47 AM)oldnemesis Wrote:  

(11-28-2010 10:57 PM)phoenix abroad Wrote:  

If you join the military you are giving up a significant amount of your freedom. You give up much of the control of your life to them. The military can certainly develop character and I thoroughly respect people in the armed forces - but giving up that amount of freedom is simply unacceptable to me personally.

Not to mention some serious shit can happen to you. Like being paralyzed for the rest of your life. I bet those guys would give up everything they've got for the ability to walk again.

The four I spent in the Corps was the best four of my life. I got a free ride to SOCAL and starting gaining flags there. This was after a grueling 1500 class hour advanced electronic school. Later I was stationed in Okinawa and floated to about 10 countries from there. I probably had a dozen flags by the time I was 22. My annual salary is close to $200K. Simply put it was the smartest decision career wise. Yeah there are risks, but don't let anyone that hasn't walked this path convince you otherwise. OCS will give you a massive headstart in leadership. I work almost exclusively with prior service and a former Marine officer will stand head and shoulders above other branches. Infantry officers are the most prestigeous but I recommend staying in a technical field. It'll further your jump back into civilian life.


Semper Fi.

[Bukowsky]

Aliblahba - were you enlisted?

[Aliblahba]

(11-29-2010 02:08 PM)Bukowsky Wrote:  

Aliblahba - were you enlisted?

Yes.

[Dash Global]

how in the hell did u make 200k?!?! lol

were u a 5 star general?

[Aliblahba]

(11-30-2010 08:06 PM)Dash Global Wrote:  

how in the hell did u make 200k?!?! lol

were u a 5 star general?

I was referencing my current salary. Nothing on my resume stands out like my military service. Not college, certifications, gov't work, ect. Military service requires giving up certain freedoms to defend the right of others to have them. It's a sacrifice for sure but pays off in the long run.

[Rocco81]

Aliblaha is correct about the cash. I am currently on contract with the Army and I work with tons of guys that come out with Clearances, experiences and subject matter expertise.

Also in War time soldiers make loot. Of course its dangerous etc. but even enlisted guys come home after a tour in Iraq with hazard duty pay, tax free, no expenses and have 40-50k sitting in the bank. Officers and higher pay grades obviously make more $$.

Rum: take your time and have fun dude. Do not wait too long though, or you will be looking back thinking shoulda coulda woulda ... I didnt take my commission for OCS and there have been quite a few times I looked back to regrett the hell out of that.

Marine Officers are highly trained and squared away. You will be a leader of men and more of a real Alpha than ever before..combine that with your PUA knowledge you will be knee deep in ass no matter where you go.