I don't know if this is the proper forum or not, but it made sense to me.


So it seems like there is a very good chance that I am done with poker now or in the next six months, and I am considering going back to school.

Brief History:

Went to Indiana University on full ride in Mathematics, but dropped out first semester.

Played poker since then. I am now 25.

Took GMAT this summer.

I have no credits from IU, but I did get 5's on like 5 or 6 AP tests. Unsure if these still count or not.

Goals:

Obtain a USEFUL degree. My interests are law, physics, mathematics, emerging technology, politics. Contributing to society and humanity are number one in no matter what I choose.

Meet a woman for long term relationships.

Learn as much useful information and skills in a wide variety of areas as possible.

Not spend too much money.


Questions:

Am I crazy to leave poker? I believe that I can consistently make a lot of money at poker still. It doesn't make me unhappy, but I don't gain much satisfaction either. I have to leave country to do it.

Can I get into decent schools? Can I skip undergraduate? Can I get scholarships?

What are the best avenues to get involved in actually helping society without being in a charity? (I do want to sustain a somewhat similar lifestyle)

It looks like I am too late for Fall of 2012...is this true? Ways around it?

Are any of the admission consultants actually worth while?

Good overseas schools for Americans? Could try to play poker part time and go to school, but I would have to live outside the USA.


Thanks in advance and if you want any more details about my history to help, just ask!

Thread's probably better in student life. Not that you won't get quality responses here. Most people in student life just visit that forum for the creepy facebook girls thread.

Best and most useful undergraduate degrees and/or programs? The most difficult?

If mods would prefer it in student life, that's fine. Be a first timer.

I'm from Canada so I wont be of any help regarding technicalities. However I can answer the obvious question...

NO ! It's legal status being uncertain, it's obviously the right play to get a degree of some sort, just as a back up. You said poker didn't make you happy, so keep it as a hobby. GL.

I've talked to krmont about this and recommended:

1) Not trying to skip undergrad (options seem extremely limited if you try to do that)

2) Strongly considering school in UK or Canada in order to be able to play some poker on the side. But knowing that poker could also be a distraction and has to be balanced carefully if done.

3) Might have to take SAT again since you've taken it so long ago

4) Probably majoring in Physics and Political Science (Law=not a major/covered by PolSci, Physics covers interests in mathematics/tech (though could also do Math and/or could do Engineering instead))

5) It looks like some schools will still take apps for the fall, especially in the UK, but admissions chances are worse at the later deadlines

I definitely see this year or next as getting to the end of comfortability in the college environment, so think it's a really good idea to get going.

My state(Wisconsin) doesn't use SAT scores, but I worked in an Admissions office and do know(we use the ACT) that they consider it not revelant after a certain age. Not relevant, as in, you don't need to take it and whatever score you got no longer matters.

I'm not sure how your AP Credits will work, but I'd assume you would still be able to get a large number of credits for them, you should have dealt with that right away when getting into college and those credits should transfer.

I'd say get into a school again and then study abroad.

could be worth looking at UK schools if you want to play a bit of poker and not spend too much, because afaik tuition fees are capped at 10k pounds for international students (could be wrong, someone can confirm?), whereas in USA obviously it can run into a ton of money if you study at a top school.

should probably also look into canada too.

First figure out what kind of job/carrier you want and than decide what type of schooling (if any) you need to take.

I am looking into UK schools. They seem to be very affordable and work into playing poker part time.

My ultimate goal is to get a Phd in Physics. I want to work on cutting edge technology that helps benefit the human race.

I have been told that I need to retake the SAT, because the majority of schools want to see it. I am not very worried about it, as its just an easier version of the GMAT, which I did pretty well on.

Best programs for Physics/Engineering that are outside the top 25? I have been told that getting directly into the top 25 at my age is close to impossible.

Take the 1 and 2 year courses at community college and than finish up the bachelor at your local state college.

Than when you go for your Phd, try and get into a top 25 school.

I would recommend getting an Engineering(EE) degree over a Physics degree since you are going to ~29 when you graduate and might be too burned out to continue to get the PhD. If this is the case you will have much better carrier prospects with an EE degree vs a Physics degree.

Why community college over real university? I have been told by many advisors that CC does not pull much respect.

Are there any good colleges that let people take one or two courses?

You are saying Engineering degree is more employable than Physics, I guess?

You take your freshman and software class at community college and than transfer real to the university where you finish up your junior and senior class to receive your bachelors degree. This basically cut the cost of getting a 4 year degree in half. No one will know (or care) that you took your lower division class es at community college since your diploma will say X State University at Y.

Why would you want to take only one or two courses? I don't understand the question?

A physics degree (or almost any science) that is less than a PhD is almost unemployable.

I believe, so I may be wrong, but applying to a top 25 school as a transfer with credits from a Community College will not be effective.

Most colleges I have spoke to have told me that they want me to take one or two courses at a four year university before applying. I'd like to know which ones allow this and which ones would be best.

You are entitled to that opinion, but I don't plan on quitting after my bachelor's degree.

"Not spend too much money."

Getting a bachelors and a PhD at a top 25 school is going to be very expensive. Getting a bachelors at a cheaper state school and than getting the PhD at the top 25 school is going to be much cheaper.

Okay you make a great point.

Easy to get tunnel vision.

I do agree with you that going to community college before making a serious commitment to a major university is good thing, but Kyle is trying to get into a top 25 school. The community college route is generally a very good one if you're planning to go into a state school. I'm not sure it would look very good for a top 25 school.

I agree 100% with Chisness' post. I like the idea of going to school abroad for you, assuming you can handle the responsibility and not let poker come first. I don't know how it works in international universities, but I applied to my current school as a last second applicant in April and was accepted by June. I don't think that's likely to be a common thing in bigger schools, but I would hardly give up hope for Fall 2012.

I have had a few schools, CalTech being the highest ranked, tell me that I could still go for Fall 2012 if I pass their (probably) very difficult math tests.

There are some states(I dont know about UK schools at all) in the US that have "Guarenteed Transfer Programs", which tell you if you complete certain required credits(usually its like ~60 credits, aka 2 years) at a state community college you can apply in your first year for the Guaranteed transfer, which if you hit X gpa(need higher for better schools) you automatically get accepted.


I go to the University of Wisconsin-Madison(Badgers), and I got in this way. I got my 2 year Associates Degree at a small community college and only needed a 2.6 to get into UW, granted since then it's been bumped up to a 2.8, but still extremely achievable.
Some other four year schools in the state you needed just a 2.0 to be guarenteed for transfer.