Well I was accepted quite a while ago but I had to wait for all the loans and housing to come through. I was accepted to Unity College in Maine. I have always wanted to do something exciting like this. Most of my friends will never leave Montana, and feel they are trapped. I tell them that they aren't even trying. Everybody has all of the oppurtunity in the world to become whatever they want. I can't wait, Maine seems to be a great state even though I have never been there and I don't know anyone. I am still pretty excited to go and I plan to study Wildlife Biology.

 

maine is nice, i cant wait to go to college, concord, NC is a hellhole

goin to boone, for good ole appalachian state university

 

Good one, Maine is a nice place. They have very civilised firearm laws too, so get a carry permit, and help keep crime down. Carry permit requirements just like Montana, 18 yrs old..

Theo

 

My hat is off to you Matt for going the extra step and furthering your education!

A BIG congrats on the loans and being accepted into a school different from your home state. It takes a lot for a school to do that. Many will give financial aid to students already living close to where the school is, because they are usually established in the area, have a job, and can pay back the loan. It shows a great deal for you.

Good Luck with Biology and make sure to make the most of the opportunity placed in front of you!!!

 

Thanks guys, I told my parents that I wasn't staying in MT and they told me I was going to foot the bill. They still support me but this is my adventure and I want to go. I think I will get more out of it if I have to pay for it, kinda like the satisfaction I get from working on my trucks. I did have to sell a 1979 F150 4x2 drag truck so I could go, but that was a minor loss.

 

Well, Maine is cold but very nice, and something is funny about your statement of "keeping the crime down". There's not really any in Maine, I don't even think there's a million people in the whole state lol.

They have good fishing there, went when I was younger and caught about a million yellow perch and some smallies.

BTW I like you am going on an adventure of sorts, but I'm moving back to my home state of Florida from Connecticut which I have spent the last 3 years in. I'm starting out at the Brevard Community College due to money constraints but hope to transfer to Florida Tech for Mechanical Engineering. I like you will be footing most of the bill and paying loans. It'll be tough but I have confidence in myself.

BTW Maine is one of the prettiest states there is.

 

Another point of view!!!I would love to live in montana, but don't know what it would cost to live there. Did the college thing back in the 70's. The college in Butte is supposed to have one of the best environmental engineering programs in the country from what I have read. I think they have several different engineering degree programs available. Maine , from the pics i've seen is a beautiful place. but , In my opinion, Montana has got Maine beat by a long shot. Of course, I live in texas, where the ladies have larger Silicone peaks than some of the hills around my home. fd

 

Congrats!
I only have one piece of advice for you:
You are taking on a substantial debt, and whether you get a degree or not, you will still owe that money. You know this already, but be sure to think about that point when you feel like you want to quit (and trust me, bro, you will at times).
I know a guy that took on $85,000 in student loan debt and quit school with a year left before he was going to graduate. He decided he needed a "change of scenery" and that school made him feel "stressed out and anxious". Those were his justifications for quitting school!
He's waiting tables on top of his day job just to pay the monthly loan payments, and lives in a tiny little studio apartment because it's all he can afford because of his debt.
DONT BE THAT GUY!!!!
Have fun, party hard, study harder, and eat lots of lobster!
BDV

 

mattsbox99,
Since you are going to be on your own, I have some advise for ya and you'll always be happy. Always look in front of you and live life with no regrets. You're going to be fine, congratualtions.

 

Nice going matt....I know a lot of people say that college is not worth it, but they're wrong. Someday.....when you want to advance, make more money, get a better job, you'll find out that is that piece of paper that gets you in the door.

It is easy to think at your age that 10-12$ an hour is a lot of doe. But wait till you want to fix up a truck, get a house etc....

Congratulations! jim

 

Welcome to New England!

Make it a point to head out to the ME coastline when you get a chance. Some of the best scenery you'll ever come across, IMHO.

 

Just stick with it. You will want to quit at times everyone does but it will be worth it.

What are you gonna do with your biology degree?

Just curious cause I got a BS in it last year.

I am getting a masters in Forensic Science and couldn't be happier. I think I would stay away from pharmacy or med school.
But is sounds like you got that covered being Wildlife biology. That was my emphasis to. I like things I can see.

 

Congrats on pursuing your goal and letting your heart lead the way. Let me give ya a few thoughts on college and life, based on my experiences there (BSME, and an AAS Mech Engr) + around 15 years in the real world:

1) You may be surprised how little you really learn in college and how much you will REALLY learn once you land that job. I've effectively made note of this on a job interview and gee, I got the job. In many ways, college seems to show you are capable of learning and applying things in a certain field, yet it does not ensure success. After you get your "ticket", the rest is entirely up to you.

2) Think about what you are pursuing and where you may want to live down the road. For example, there is not much demand for nuclear engineers in Post Falls, ID. Just an example; investigate now to avoid dissapointment later.

3) Be flexible after ya leave college. Pick up many different experiences and new skills. Managers like people who are willing to take on new challenges.

4) Do not come to work on day one and act as if ya know everything; rather be motivated and a good listener. After you are on the job a very short while, you may be surprised how much more there is to learn.

Hope it helps, good luck!

 

The eastern 2/3rds of Montana is a desert so there will be a dramatic change in the forest. I love to climb, hike,backpack,hunt, and fish and Maine has all of that and more. Montana is a very cost effective place to live because we have one of the lowest tax burdens in the country. Most of the people don't like to see out of staters and are generally rude drivers and nearly everyone is a hardcore republican. Crime is non-existant off the reservations. Montana has one of the most wide ranging climates of any state. In some places it will rain and then be sunny and then snow in ten minutes. I like it here, the reason I want to leave is see the world, and I hear they don't like really smart people in the Navy, they tend to know what is going on. Don't take that the wrong way. Some of the smartest people I know started life on a Navy ship.

 

Congrats!!

Yes it is a much more satisfying feeling paying for it yourself. I have my associates and am tranferring with a change in major, but I worked hard for my grades, even when I didn't feel like it, because I had to pay it back, same with skipping class, I want to get the most for my money. Its a big investment, make the most of it! Good luck!!

red