Short and sweet...

<p>Well, I've got a problem in regards to my class schedule this upcoming fall semester. My community college has a jazz band class at 12 to 1 PM on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I was also thinking about just picking a major and sticking with it no matter what happens. I picked mechanical engineering because it's offered at the university right here in my hometown, is a gateway engineering program to any graduate program I might want, and the degree would only cost me $7,000 a year TOTAL (as opposed to $16,000 a year at other nearby, less prestigious state schools) since I'd be able to live at home.</p>

<p>The mechanical engineering program at this university has the class Statics at 1 PM on MWF. There's a few problems with that. The jazz band class almost NEVER lets out on time, going over 99% of the time. As well, my community college is all the way across town from the university. I'd like to stay in the jazz band for a number of reason:</p>

<p>-They desperately need me
-They pay almost all my full tuition/fees bills at community college
-It provides something to do since I have horrible social awkwardness and can't go out much without having the police called on me for acting highly suspicious for whatever reason. (This happens to me WAY too often when I go to the grocery store by myself and whatnot)</p>

<p>I know: Why should I take pleasure over finishing my degree? Eh. I just don't know what I would be able to do otherwise. It'd be a boring fall semester filled with full-time lower-division engineering classes, 20 hr/wk job, and staying home most of the time since I'd primarily only be home at night.</p>

<p>What do you think would be a good option for me? These engineering classes are only offered once a year. Not even in the summer. (It's a VERY small state school)</p>

<p>I should also mention that I don't know if I want to be a mechanical engineer. It's just the only subject that incorporates my favorite two things--math and physics--which I can also finish in three years. I'm interested in finishing ASAP.</p>

<p>So, are you saying you want to take a course at the community college and a course at the university? Did you complete your degree at the cc? Did you apply to the University? Why don’t you look into music opportunities at the University now, instead of having to go back and forth. And, I would focus on the engineering if that is what you think you want. College is about learning and preparing for your future, with the normal goal of getting a job. If you are also planning a career in music, or just enjoy it, I would see what the university can offer.</p>

<p>I’m confused, why are you taking classes at both CC and Uni? Most students either do one or the other… is there a band class/club you could do at the state school? Also, you say they’re covering most of your tuition for CC, is a large portion of your yearly tuition for CC or is it mostly just the band class you’re taking there? Is leaving band early an option, or how early would you have to leave to get to Statics on time?</p>

<p>How important is Statics? Will not taking it now put you behind on your degree? (ie, if you don’t have it in the Fall, will you have other tech classes that you can take Fall/Spring?) Are there other options for Statics? Does your CC have an equivalent, or does another local school offer it at a different time during Fall?</p>

<p>Band is a ton of fun and a good outlet/escape from school, I don’t blame you for wanting to stick with it. However, I’d still put degree requirements first… if you can’t find another band/statics class, and missing statics’ll seriously mess up your degree plan, I would drop band. I hope you can find some option to make them both work!</p>

<p>I haven’t finished my degree at the community college, but I will finish it this December. The problem is, engineering statics is ONLY offered in the fall. If I stayed and finished my degree at community college, I would find myself stuck in January unable to progress in my engineering curriculum since the next time engineering statics would be offered would be in Fall 2014.</p>

<p>My whole degree plan is kind of off since I went straight into upper-level courses from high school. I don’t have any plans for music since I had to abandon those dreams a while back. I just find playing in the jazz band one of the easiest ways to get a $1,000/semester scholarship. It’s a scholarship that can be used for whatever education expenses I might have. Since the university itself is small, there isn’t a large music program there at all. Just a band and orchestra, and that’s pretty much it. From high school, I’ve hated band and I hate orchestra. With a passion. But that’s because the level of music was not challenging to me. (Lol. We’d have several evening rehearsals a week for songs like Beethoven’s 7th Symphony - Allegretto and still not be able to play that for any reason.)</p>

<p>Is there any way that you can just get out a bit early? If you’re really that important to them, and a decent player, it shouldn’t be a huge deal, right? And, after all, you’re going to school to get an education, and I would hope a music teacher would understand some things are really important. Although I wouldn’t really recommend just blindly sticking to a major, cuz college is about experimentation, but if it’s what you wanna do, just try talking to the professor. Worth a shot.</p>