I'm convinced that's what UB stands for.
First a little background...
I have a BSBA - my major was MIS, which is about as useless as a degree can get (I screwed up and didn't get into internships when I was in school because I had to work and make $$$ to survive, didn't have the parents paying my way). Can't get into the field without experience, can't get experience without getting a job...that old story. I've determined that I cannot be a store manager for too much longer before I lose my sanity. It's definitely not a career move, and moving up any higher almost definitely requires relocation which I'm not willing to do. I moved back to Buffalo because this is where I want to live!!
Anyway, as I bust my ass 50 or so hours every week taking crap from customers, employees, my boss, my boss's boss, sales reps, you name it, I look back and see the Pharmacists kicking back and making 2-3x what I am. Now I know their job is serious and important and involves people's lives, but it's a completely different kind of work. And it's in insane demand....a Pharmacist has power and can pick and choose where he/she works...it's on their terms. So I look into it and decide I will try to get into the PharmD program at UB which is very competitive. First I have to complete some prerequisites of course.
So I have 7 prereqs I have to complete. This is my first semester. I graduated in 03...only 5 years out of school right? No problem. Never had a problem with school before. Well it's week 4 and I'm debating on whether or not to drop the class and give up!! I have absolutely no clue what the professor is talking about and don't even understand where to start to get back on track!! It's all bullshit memorization....and is irrelevent...ahhh prereqs.
And UB is trash. Whoever designed the campus (North at least) was smoking some serious crack...it's the worst college campus imaginable. I literally spent 25 minutes trying to get back to the building near where I parked because everything looks the same and in many instances, nothing is marked....you often have no clue what building you're in as you make your way through the continuous "spine." That's number 1.
Second, the school is woefully outdated. They use blackboards and have transparancy projectors....I haven't seen either since middle school. Even the poor shitty Florida high schools I went to used whiteboards and PC projection. The desks and rooms are ancient and in really poor shape. My God, I spent $2500 to take this one course since they wouldn't consider me a NY state resident...they certainly aren't hurting for cash.
Third, the staff is worthless. As I sit in the lecture hall, surrounded by 18 year olds playing games on pogo.com on their laptoips, listening to their Ipods, playing games on and sending texts on their cellphones, I try to concentrate on what the professor is talking about but he's only reading the powerpoint slides verbatim...which are downloadable via the web. So why am I attending lecture???? He's not a teacher, he's an expert in his field. Which in some cases is great but probably not for a lower level course. I need someone who knows how to teach!! The TA doesn't give a damn and is even more worthless as nothing is explained and everyone is confused as hell. Then in lab, the woman in charge of the labs comes storming through screaming "PUT YOUR GOGGLES ON EVERYONE THIS IS A LABORATORY!!" and walks out. I only know who she is because her picture was on the website and she's so damn ugly. But she did not introduce herself in any manner...wouldn't it be logical to do so?!
Basically, UB doesn't give a damn about it's students and is a craphole. And I suck at chemistry. Wow this was long, sorry but thanks for listening if you actually read this!!!
Tiburon1724's Journal
My Podcast Link
02/06/2008 22:19 #43219
University of Bullshit01/30/2008 20:13 #43100
RoofingCategory: home
So does anyone have a roofer they can refer? The house I'm in the process of buying has a very old roof and it needs to be replaced in the next couple years....may as well do it asap especially since I probably won't see another sizable bonus from work after the one I get in March. I suppose they don't do roofing in the winter up here? At least I could get an idea of what it would cost?
mrdeadlier - 01/31/08 23:33
Belvedere Construction did my Dutch Colonial in Kenmore for $5850 back in 2004.
Belvedere Construction did my Dutch Colonial in Kenmore for $5850 back in 2004.
01/28/2008 22:55 #43072
Why!Why does it still say Orlando, FL at the end of each of my posts? I changed my location in my profile. I'm missing something :/
tiburon1724 - 01/30/08 20:13
quickly fixed, thanks paul :)
quickly fixed, thanks paul :)
metalpeter - 01/29/08 17:54
On my screen it now says Buffalo.
On my screen it now says Buffalo.
paul - 01/28/08 22:58
Its a bug, sorry. I will fix it. The new version addresses this problem and will be out soon.
--paul
Its a bug, sorry. I will fix it. The new version addresses this problem and will be out soon.
--paul
01/28/2008 22:53 #43071
JunoCategory: movies
Went to see Juno last night at the Regal on Elmwood. Great movie. Jason Bateman did a fantastic job in his role...everyone did actually. Lots of dry humor. Highly recommended.
01/28/2008 11:08 #43061
Bought a House!So I just accepted a counter-offer and have purchased my first house! Very excited! It's in N. Buffalo on Winston. Now for all the paperwork, inspection, signatures, etc etc!
joshua - 01/29/08 11:47
Awesome dude - congrats!
Awesome dude - congrats!
jenks - 01/29/08 11:06
winston is a pretty street. So is starin, I've learned lately... congrats.
And I just stumbled upon this gorgeous little block behind allen, with a little park in the middle... totally made me want to buy a house.
winston is a pretty street. So is starin, I've learned lately... congrats.
And I just stumbled upon this gorgeous little block behind allen, with a little park in the middle... totally made me want to buy a house.
tiburon1724 - 01/28/08 22:48
hopefully it won't take that long, the house is vacant. The owner was relocated due to her job. Inspection is scheduled for Saturday, appointment with the mortgage broker is scheduled on Wednesday. My apartment lease ends on May 1, so I'm hoping to close in April, ideally. We'll see!
hopefully it won't take that long, the house is vacant. The owner was relocated due to her job. Inspection is scheduled for Saturday, appointment with the mortgage broker is scheduled on Wednesday. My apartment lease ends on May 1, so I'm hoping to close in April, ideally. We'll see!
paul - 01/28/08 18:09
Thats awesome - congratulations. Although for use the time from offer accepted to actually getting possession of the property was like 5 months - so be prepared.
Thats awesome - congratulations. Although for use the time from offer accepted to actually getting possession of the property was like 5 months - so be prepared.
carolinian - 01/28/08 12:16
I live in N. Buffalo, too. Maybe Paul's (e:hertelstrip) is not such a bad idea.
I've been looking into buying a house, and I have the same exact fears/nightmares. The one thing that makes me feel a bit better is that one should also fear giving half one's paycheck to a landlord and never getting any ownership of anything. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
I live in N. Buffalo, too. Maybe Paul's (e:hertelstrip) is not such a bad idea.
I've been looking into buying a house, and I have the same exact fears/nightmares. The one thing that makes me feel a bit better is that one should also fear giving half one's paycheck to a landlord and never getting any ownership of anything. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
tiburon1724 - 01/28/08 11:20
yeah it's definitely also scary as hell. I literally keep having dreams of not being able to make the payments, dropping out of school, losing my job, and becoming a bum. :/
yeah it's definitely also scary as hell. I literally keep having dreams of not being able to make the payments, dropping out of school, losing my job, and becoming a bum. :/
mrmike - 01/28/08 11:15
Congrats! It is exciting to go and call the landlord to fix something only to realize you got to it, which makes it even more satisfying.
Congrats! It is exciting to go and call the landlord to fix something only to realize you got to it, which makes it even more satisfying.
janelle - 01/28/08 11:10
Congratulations! Buying our first house was the scaries and most exciting thing we've ever done! Enjoy the fun.
Congratulations! Buying our first house was the scaries and most exciting thing we've ever done! Enjoy the fun.
you should talk to (e:mike) and (e:terry) about UB/pharm/pre-reqs...
I dunno - I thought the classes in my major and the classes I took in the English Dept. were very good. I attended college between the years of 1996 and 2001 so the kids in my class basically slept rather than listen to an iPod or use a laptop during class... it simply wasn't something we did 6-10 years ago.
As for the lack of technology, I can't explain it - UB, being the "crown jewel" of the SUNY system, is a microcosm of the state of NY in the sense that they are incredibly wasteful and poorly managed. Take a look at what is on offer for the staff in Capen compared to what is in the classroom to see what I mean. My brother used to work for a company associated with UB and communicated with Capen alot - my God they feel so entitled! Boy the shit will hit the fan if they do not have a brand new, absolute top of the line laptop (far more elaborate machines than their job use demands) every two years.
I never really had a problem with knowing where I was in the spine - then again I vaguely recall being obsessed with knowing where I was in the spine.
I remember the spine having signs with the building names...
If you're in the Pharmacy program, you're probably in those two towers (Cooke and Hochstetter). Yeah, I used to get lost there too, whenever I ventured there (rarely, thank god). Worst was when I had to conduct a test there and I got lost ... :-D
I share many of your sentiments about UB as well. The only thing I like about it is Korean Express and the Kosher Deli. I'm currently enrolled in two of the most worthless classes offered. But they are required. My computer science course is such a freaking joke. I can't even begin to imagine what he is going to test us on. He must have asked the class 10 times so far "how many of you guys use a Mac?". You can tell he doesn't really prepare much for his lectures. He strolls in and shows us stuff we can do with various programs off the cuff. I'm still bitter that they are making me retake intro stats. If I have to do another freaking expected value problem I think I will scream. Good luck with Chem, and pharm school.
grad programs at UB are tops. Undergrad classes though... you will learn more eating the textbook than attending lecture.
hang in there.