<p>I've received an offer to work at Carnegie Mellon this summer on a signal processing project.</p>
<p>I'm from Canada so it was very hard for me to get this position as I can't apply for an REU. I had to compete with many Americans from top schools who the Prof wouldn't even have to pay much out of his pocket due to REU and other grants.</p>
<p>But! I really like this girl from my class who might or might not have a boyfriend. She won't be going to Carnegie Mellon in the summer. </p>
<p>I suppose this could be broken down into a career aspect and a love aspect. From a career aspect, working at CMU with signal processing will give you a guided, constructive summer that employers will like. </p>
<p>From a love aspect, I mean a guy has to follow the heart. However, with love comes risk and the unknown. </p>
<p>I do not know the guarantees about the girl—such as, are you guaranteed you’ll be able to see her over the summer? And, if she has a boyfriend, how long will that relationship last (the neat thing is you can be at an internship while waiting)? If you stayed where she was, would there be similar job opportunities?</p>
<p>So, I say take the job for three reasons:
The job is a guarantee.
It would be more impressive in the girl’s eyes to have a guy that has money and responsibility. Else you gotta play the guitar really well.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder. And it may take a few months to really realize if you like her or not. Then you have some time to prepare worming your way into her heart.</p>
<p>Also, you still have a semester—why don’t you get her now?</p>
<p>(But I actually did get lucky… married a great guy from my engineering classes 24 years ago. Thinking back, it was probably good we only dated senior year in case it didn’t work out.)</p>
<p>“I’m trying. Its going…okay i guess, well not so well…I asked her out and she said she was busy.”</p>
<p>That’s not a good sign at all. A girl telling you she is too busy for you is a polite way of turning you down. All the more reason to come intern at CMU!</p>
<p>I’m doubting the sincerity of the OP, but here goes.</p>
<p>1) You don’t know her well enough to know if she has a boyfriend or not.
When we don’t know someone, they are perfect for us. We can fill in all the blanks and they will complete us. Get to know them and they are NEVER how you imagined they would be. Sometimes better, mostly worse. Ignorance is no basis for a relationship.</p>
<p>2) She says she’s too “busy” to go out with you.
The answer is staring you in the face. She doesn’t want to go out with you. Maybe try to organize a study group or something, but beyond that you become a stalker.</p>
<p>3) You are being offered a fantastic research opportunity.
Enough said.</p>
<p>4) There are lots of really good looking smart girls in Pittsburgh and at Carnegie Mellon.
Okay, I don’t know this from experience, but did you ever see the movie Flashdance?</p>
<p>To quote a really silly movie (Jackie Chan’s “The Big Brawl”):</p>
<p>“To sit by a closed door when an open door beckons, is both foolish and futile.”</p>
<p>my parents would rather have me stay home after graduation but if its a 4 month internship they won’t have a problem. </p>
<p>They would rather have me take a position at one of the lesser known schools or a company in my hometown but they aren’t opposed to me going to Pittsburgh for 4 months. </p>
<p>I have offers from the schools in my hometown but nothing form companies yet (although its a bit early for companies)</p>
<p>“Never get serious with someone who is in your classroom or discipline.”</p>
<p>Totally disagree…every boyfriend I ever had was in my discipline, and I’ve been married to the same person for over 21 years…have always done exactly the same thing. Definitely get serious with someone in the same occupation.</p>
<p>Agree with all the posters that say, take the job, you are so lucky to get it!!</p>