Work or School?

[SomePerson]

Today at SpaceX, the team I work on had a design review meeting with Elon Musk, CEO and founder of SpaceX. At one point, my manager said a few nice things about me and that it was a shame that he was losing me in 6 weeks to go back and finish school.

Elon immediately asks me to take time off school and work for SpaceX. Then at the end of the meeting he turns to me and says, "and think about what we'd have to do to get you to stick around"

That's one ****ing opportunity, when the CEO asks you to stay around. But on the other hand, my classes are all in series, so taking a quarter off means I'd need to repeat the entire year, not just that quarter... I could go part-time and do both school and work, but then I'd still need to come back next year in all likelihood, and I just want to get this school thing over with and go full time.

So I don't know what to do. :P

[Akuryou13]

well what are the chances of them letting you come back after a quarter off work? or are you going to be taking the whole year away from work?

[SomePerson]

Right now I'm an intern for the summer, and had been planning to take the whole year off. I don't have any arrangements yet to continue working after I graduate next June, but my manager seems to like me so I think it could happen.

The other thing that I forgot to mention: The project I'm working on is way behind schedule, and that's one of the reasons he wants me to stay. His goal was to get this new engine test fired by the end of the year. Honestly, that's not going to happen. Which means that I'd probably be asked to work through winter quarter too...

I'm currently the only one working full time on this project. My manager spends most of his time on it, and there are a few other supporting roles, but we don't have enough resources. And so it'd look really good if I stayed. But that makes school a pain in the ass, y'know?

[bloopy]

I'd say school, get the school over and done with. Surely the opportunities can only get better after that.

[bonz]

Hmm, a job at SpaceX certainly looks great in your curriculum vitae, more so at your age.

Are there any possibilities to finish school with evening classes/night school?
Or maybe even as a correspondence school?

Also, here in Austria highschool students often go abroad for a whole school year and in most cases "lose" one year too.

I'd go for rocket science. You don't get that chance every day.
You can always finish school the regular way afterwards, when SpaceX has gone bankrupt. ;)

[SomePerson]

I'm gonna try to go in the middle - working part time as a full time student... See if I can get flexible hours so that I can take time off as needed for finals/midterms etc.

[BetongÅsna]

Isn't that an insane amount of work?

[Akuryou13]

Isn't that an insane amount of work?life is what you make of it. don't put in any work, don't get any results.

[BetongÅsna]

That's a remark of someone who's never had to handle an impossible amount of work. Fact is, you need to eat and sleep.

[Akuryou13]

That's a remark of someone who's never had to handle an impossible amount of work. Fact is, you need to eat and sleep.lol, this is true, but I work a full time job and am a full time student as well. assuming you don't have to put in extra hours at either place, it's not overly bad....most of the time....it does get tiring.

it probably depends a lot on what you're studying, the level of homework, and the job you're working. as well as the general levels of stress in your life outside of those things.

[BetongÅsna]

Wait, you study and work full time? How many hours of each is this, exactly? :confused:

[bloopy]

And how grey is your hair?

[Akuryou13]

Wait, you study and work full time? How many hours of each is this, exactly? :confused:keep in mind I'm an art student. I worked all last year from 2PM-930PM with 2 days off. those 2 days were tues and thurs because I had class from 8AM-6PM (while MWF I only had class for about an hour and a half). spent my time at home working on homework and relaxing as best I could. in college terms, I was taking 9 credit hours the whole time except the first quarter, which was 10 credit hours.

And how grey is your hair? it's not. I shave it all off. I was going bald :p

[bonz]

I was going bald :p
Well, there you have the side effects of doing fulltime in both.
Have fun with your new baldness, SomePerson!

[MtlAngelus]

I thought that's what the viking helm was for...

[Akuryou13]

I thought that's what the viking helm was for...you wanna buy me a real one, by all means do so.

[MtlAngelus]

you wanna buy me a real one, by all means do so.

If I do, will you post a pic of you wearing it?

[Akuryou13]

If I do, will you post a pic of you wearing it?I'll even do my best to puff out my cheeks and frown.

[thomasp]

I'm so glad that thread didn't get culled in the great thread massacre of 2010 (http://forum.team17.co.uk/showpost.php?p=499052&postcount=23)

[MtlAngelus]

What size is your head, aku?

[Akuryou13]

What size is your head, aku?very large. about 62cm around.

[M3ntal]

SP: It's in your CEO's interest to get you to quit school and work for him. That way you are less likely to find a better job in the future due to lack of qualifications, and he can pay you less because of the lack of competition for your employment. He'll basically own you.

Tell him you would be happy to work full time after you've finished school. If he says (or makes you feel like) the job offer is only valid if you drop out of school now, he is looking to exploit you as cheap labour. If he wants you working there because he appreciates you as a valuable employee, he'll be happy to allow you to finish school and pay you as a qualified professional when you graduate.

P.S, if he needs this current project finishing, he'll find someone to finish it in your absense. It's his company hence his responsibility, not yours, and he should not make you feel like you're "letting him down" by going back to school. He knew the conditions of your internship when you were hired.

[Akuryou13]

SP: It's in your CEO's interest to get you to quit school and work for him. That way you are less likely to find a better job in the future due to lack of qualifications, and he can pay you less because of the lack of competition for your employment. He'll basically own you.

Tell him you would be happy to work full time after you've finished school. If he says (or makes you feel like) the job offer is only valid if you drop out of school now, he is looking to exploit you as cheap labour. If he wants you working there because he appreciates you as a valuable employee, he'll be happy to allow you to finish school and pay you as a qualified professional when you graduate.

P.S, if he needs this current project finishing, he'll find someone to finish it in your absense. It's his company hence his responsibility, not yours, and he should not make you feel like you're "letting him down" by going back to school. He knew the conditions of your internship when you were hired.a million times, this. very well put, sir M3ntal.

[FutureWorm]

very large. about 62cm around.
for a split second this was totally out of context and i thought you were talking about your pénis

very disorienting

[SomePerson]

Very good point. You're right that I have no obligations and that I'm completely justified in finishing my schooling.

My buddies at work today kinda convinced me not to do it. Also, I want time to do the UCLA Rocket Project again, to design my own rocket and do my own thing. It's my last chance to do that with any kind of budget. I'm supposed to be propulsion lead next year, and I'd be letting the project down too if I didn't have enough free time. But I want that freedom one more time; I'm not willing to give that up yet. I wasn't prepared to give it up when the school year ended. It wasn't a fitting end.

[Akuryou13]

for a split second this was totally out of context and i thought you were talking about your pénis

very disorientingO_o that would be terrible. no girl could ever sleep with me. it just wouldn't be possible..... truly a fate worse than death. unable to get any because you're TOO well endowed.

[SupSuper]

It could always be a long-distance relationship. :rolleyes:

[Akuryou13]

It could always be a long-distance relationship. :rolleyes:I'll see if Kelster is available.

[FutureWorm]

I'll see if Kelster is available.
aahahahaha

[bonz]

It could always be a long-distance relationship. :rolleyes:
The long distance around the 62cm circumference? :D