Hi everyone! I thought I would answer some common questions (or try my best to) regarding being a student at Waterloo and GBDA as a program. Please keep in mind though my opinions and answers could change as I progress through the program as I've only completed my first year so far. Also feel free to leave any extra questions and I'll try (or someone else) will try their best to answer
How are you finding the course so far?
TLDR: Courses aren't too difficult overall, but be sure to manage your time or else they will become difficult.
Long Answer: The required courses aren't that difficult overall especially if you come from a sort of IB/Stem heavy background, however your electives could definitely make or break how enjoyable your semester is. That is to note that it isn't going to be easy to score from the 85-100 range (depending on the course) but as someone who had a 94 average coming into university I was greatly humbled by way lower marks.
Especially for courses such as CS105 or ECON101 they aren't necessarily painfully difficult (you will find yourself stressed about assignments/exams though) but definitely if you find yourself falling behind in the content it will be pretty difficult to catch yourself back up to speed and especially don't try cramming assignments/studying for exams the night before.
An important note for GBDA 101, (idk if its like this for the all the other GBDA courses) they give you exactly 2 weeks for each assignment however they are usually due 8pm the night BEFORE you got Stratford. My advice is to complete it the day before its DUE so you can spend the final day making last minute touches or reviewing to see if you missed any of the criteria. I can't stress how many times I would start the project the day it was due,, and find myself working past the 8pm deadline almost till I had to leave for Stratford at 8am in the morning. Don't be like that me lol. (or do that's your choice)
Important to remember!! Some of the courses can come across as almost "too easy" to some and often times people will underestimate how much time/work is actually required in order to actually perform well in the course this can actually remove motivation to do the work ahead of time and many can find themselves regretting everything (we've all been there) moments before the deadline of an assignment wishing we had started earlier.
Have something to organize your work, make small goals instead of cramming everything - take time to understand content (especially in CS) and if all else fails know a group of people who can help you explain assignments, concepts or just provide overall support.
Is the coop actually good?
Honestly my stream is the first one with coop added to their program (which we do in our third year), before it was just internships so there hasn't been an actual GBDA official coop done yet - however waterlooworks is a great resource to try and help find coop, but with how the tech job market is going these days (in terms of ux/ui) I don't think it's a bad idea to look into trying to find your own reliable companies to do coop with. Just because your program has coop doesn't mean you are guranteed a coop. Remember that in these industry you portfolio is everything, so whether you get a good coop or not depends on your effort and dedication to creating strong connections or a strong portfolio, this really goes for how well you will do in this program overall.
Would u recommend living on res or just renting?
I lived on Village 1 in my first year, going into second year I am renting in waterloo. It's not a bad idea to live on res first year it definitely helps you become more familiar with people in your year and also outside of your program as everybody is looking to find people to meet off the bat of arriving to university. Especially if you live in the LLC - you will become closer to people in the program faster then majority of those on their own, this could be great for creating study circles, and just overall finding friend groups in the program.
However you will soon realize you don't have much privacy/space/sanitation in these residence and dream for your own actual personal space. I think its okay to try it out for first year and then op to renting throughout the rest. However if you have peers who live in the nice condos nearby you will find yourself jealous of their amenities (I can't even lie). The condos are technically cheaper then residence if you try to get them earlier however I don't know what's their pricing coming closer to the date you move in.
Do you also commute to the Stratford campus?
For first years, they provide a shuttlebus that leaves at 8am in the morning on Friday's the one day you need to go to Stratford and they provide shuttle back free of charge. However if you are not a first year you will need to pay 10$ to take the shuttle one way and it arrives at very limited times throughout the day. There are no regular buses you can transit to Stratford campus with, so your best bet is to either get a car or have a friend who can carpool and you pitch for gas money.
How is the social life in the community?
Waterloo gets a bad rep as a socially awkward student body who just studies all day. (which isn't technically wrong) but there are many strong communities to be apart of if you are truly passionate or interested in something ranging from just liking anime/games to business connections, drawing, heritage clubs etc etc there is really everything for anything you could imagine (even a rizz club) but you have the make the effort to be apart of these social circles, it's not going to arrive at your doorstep for you.
I actually spent majority of my first year alone, doing schoolwork or sleeping especially in the winter months my energy to make friends really depleted, but I do find people are pretty open to new friends and friendship can just grow from a small compliment to each other it really up to the person whether they prioritize their social life or their studies.

Basically just what the title says. So I'm planning on majoring in Technical Theatre, and after college, ideally I would work lighting for theatre performances, but I'm 100% not against doing it for movies or commerical stuff. Now I know minors are not required for this at all and I don't wanna give myself unneeded stress, so I'm planning on cruising normal for the first year, and then after that deciding if I wanna go through with the minor, or if that would just add to much work load.
Okay so all the explaination aside, basically what I'm asking is, is there any Minor that I could work towards that might help me learn a little bit more about tech theatre (mainly lighting in general), and/or might look good on a resume?

which ones are considered 'Major'? ones that require T5 Azoth Staff, or just any of the ones that have the larger icon on the map?
trying to get a Journey objective done

Hey y’all,
I’m wanting to transfer into the Human Bio major, but I won’t complete the prerequisite courses before 6 quarters at UCSD elapse (I changed my mind kind of late). Does that mean that I’m ineligible to apply for the capped major?

I'll just post what was said.
Absolutely! Let's dive into an exciting cooperative scenario, set within the universe of BattleTech.
Scenario: The Falling Star
The year is 3025. Your team is a band of mercenary MechWarriors, contracted by the government of the planet Aldebaran IV, located within the Periphery. An unknown force has taken control of an old Star League-era orbital defense satellite, named the "Falling Star", and has begun bombarding the planet's major population centers.
Your team's objective is to infiltrate the enemy's ground-based control facility for the Falling Star, neutralize the defense systems, and override the control of the satellite. The facility is located within a fortified mountainous region, and it is swarming with enemy Mechs and armored units.
Automated Enemies:

1. Patrolling Mechs: These Mechs patrol predefined paths around the facility. If a player's Mech is spotted (enters their line of sight), they break their patrol pattern and pursue the player, attacking on sight. After losing sight of a player for three consecutive turns, they return to their patrol.
   
2. Turret Defense Systems: Turrets are scattered throughout the facility. They have a fixed firing arc and will shoot any player's Mech entering their field of fire. Turrets are immobile but heavily armored, making them a substantial threat.
   
3. Reinforcements: Each turn after the alarm is triggered (either by entering a turret's line of sight or attacking a patrolling Mech), roll a dice. On a roll of 4 or higher, a new enemy Mech is deployed from the facility's hangar and starts moving toward the players' last known position.
   

Victory Conditions:
Your team is victorious if they can infiltrate the control center and override the satellite controls. This requires a player to reach a specific point within the control center and spend two uninterrupted turns overriding the system (without being attacked).
Loss Conditions
The mission fails if all player Mechs are destroyed or disabled.
Remember, cooperation is key. Players should share information about enemy movements and plan their approach strategically to avoid the alarm triggering too early. Making use of the mountainous terrain for cover, coordinating attacks, and prioritizing targets based on threat level can all contribute to a successful mission.
This should give you a high-stakes, cooperative scenario with a variety of challenges for your team to overcome. Adjust the number and strength of enemy units as needed to maintain balance and keep the game enjoyable.
He then asked to expand on the fallen star campaign. There were several options created from prompts but he chose to do that scenario. Here is the expanded information.
⭐ Falling star scenario details.. The enemy loadout and total Battle Value (BV) of your team will greatly depend on the skill level of your players, how challenging you want the game to be, and the specific Mechs you have available for play. However, I can provide you with a balanced starting point that you can then adjust to fit your needs.
Let's set up the enemy forces:

1. Patrolling Mechs:

• Locust LCT-1V: Light Mech, known for its speed and agility. It's armed with a medium laser and two machine guns. BV around 400.
  
• Hunchback HBK-4G: Medium Mech, heavily armored and armed with an AC/20 and two medium lasers. This Mech is slower but can deal significant damage. BV around 1,000.
  

1. Reinforcements:

• Centurion CN9-A: Medium Mech, balanced in speed, armor, and firepower, armed with an AC/10, two medium lasers, and an LRM-10. BV around 900.
  
• Thunderbolt TDR-5S: Heavy Mech, sturdy and well-armed with a large laser, LRM-10, SRM-2, and three medium lasers. BV around 1,300.
  

To keep the game balanced, I suggest giving your team a total Battle Value of about 4,000-4,500. This should provide enough firepower to deal with the threats while still making the scenario challenging. For example, your team could include:

1. Raven RVN-3L: Light Mech, well-equipped for scouting and evasion, and armed with an SRM-6 and two medium lasers. BV around 1,000.
   
2. Griffin GRF-1N: Medium Mech, a good all-rounder, equipped with an LRM-10 and a PPC. BV around 1,200.
   
3. Warhammer WHM-6R: Heavy Mech, packing a serious punch with two PPCs, two SRM-6s, and four medium lasers. BV around 1,700.
   

Remember, these are just guidelines. Feel free to adjust the enemy composition, your team's total BV, and the specific Mechs used to fit your group's preferences and the miniatures you have available. The goal is to have an enjoyable and challenging game, so tweak the parameters as needed to achieve that.
Turrets in BattleTech can come in various forms and can be armed with a variety of weapons. For the "Falling Star" scenario, it might be best to include two different types of turrets: Laser Turrets for direct damage, and LRM Turrets for long-range bombardment. Here are their suggested stats:

1. Laser Turret

• Armor: 30
• Structure: 10
• Weapons: 2 Medium Lasers, 1 Large Laser
• Heat Sinks: 10
• Battle Value: Approximately 150

These turrets are stationary but pose a significant threat if not taken care of. They have a good range and firepower but can't track targets that are too close.

1. LRM Turret

• Armor: 30
• Structure: 10
• Weapons: 2 LRM 10 Launchers
• Ammo: 24 rounds each
• Heat Sinks: 2
• Battle Value: Approximately 200

LRM Turrets can be a threat to even the farthest targets on the battlefield. However, they're less effective at short ranges due to the minimum effective range of LRM launchers.
Turrets can't move or evade, but they're typically heavily armored, making them hard to destroy. They have a 360-degree firing arc, but remember that weapons in BattleTech have minimum as well as maximum ranges. Players will need to consider this as they move around the battlefield.
Feel free to adjust these stats as you see fit to maintain the balance and fun of your game.
The number of turrets in the "Falling Star" scenario would depend on the balance you want to maintain and how challenging you'd like the scenario to be for the players. A mix of both Laser and LRM Turrets can keep the players on their toes and make them strategize their moves more cautiously.
For the scenario, you could consider having:

• 2-3 Laser Turrets: Positioned strategically around the facility or guarding crucial access points.
• 2-3 LRM Turrets: Spread across the map to provide a wider coverage and to dissuade players from staying too far from the facility.

Having around 4-6 turrets in total should provide a challenge without overwhelming the players, especially when combined with the patrolling Mechs. The Laser Turrets will prevent players from rushing directly into the facility, while the LRM Turrets will deter them from staying at long range and picking off enemies without any danger.
Remember, the goal is to create an engaging and challenging scenario, not to overwhelm the players to the point of frustration. If the players find the game too challenging or too easy, adjust the number of turrets or their placement as necessary.

I’m not expecting to even get 1/4th of the questions right on the MPE, but it’s okay because my major isn’t math intensive(I’m truly terrible at math). However I’m required to take STAT 201 because it’s a prerequisite for nursing school(I’m planning on taking Stats my 2nd semester of freshman year), if I do atrociously on the MPE and get placed in MATH 140(which I’m A-OK with) will that affect me being able to take STAT 201 my 2nd semester?
Edit: My major is currently B.S. Horticulture but I’m taking nursing prereqs alongside Hort because I’m not too sure what I want to do yet.

Hi I read other threads talking about these schools' cs programs. The major overview I read was CCNY having the most reputable but cutthroat and competitive engineering program , Hunter having their program applied through a BA program behind not-so-great professors , and Queens having a mediocre to good review overall for CS. My main concern is whether majority of my math concentrated courses and algorithms classes will be elligible to transfer over. I understand CCNY requires Calc, Bio&Chem(notsure both or one), and Physics, on my transcript prior BUT with acceptance, will I automatically be placed in their Grove school? Other threads make this program out to be difficult and competitive to get into... Can anybody elaborate?
Also Hunter having language and liberal arts requirements lowkey turns me off when I'm moreso focused on applied math, compsci, algorithms&methods, etc. Helpful insight from current or graduated Hunter students is appreciated.
Queens was never my first option but I'm willing to consider it for the sake of a program that offers more commitment to cs.
>>> I'm already aware CUNYs suck when it comes to their cs programs. Gotta play with the hand that you're dealt tho ;_;

• Total budget (in local currency) and country of purchase. Please do not use USD unless purchasing in the US: $900
• Are you open to refurbs/used? No thank you
• How would you prioritize form factor (ultrabook, 2-in-1, etc.), build quality, performance, and battery life? Ultrabook, with at least 32 gb rams if possible. High storage, battery life high enough to last a day of classes.
• How important is weight and thinness to you? As long as it is not super heavy to walk around with and isn't thick to where it is hard to carry or fit into a backpack with other books.
• Do you have a preferred screen size? If indifferent, put N/A. N/A
• Are you doing any CAD/video editing/photo editing/gaming? List which programs/games you desire to run. I am majoring in computer science and hope to run some coding and play some video games on it.
• If you're gaming, do you have certain games you want to play? At what settings and FPS do you want? I want to play a bit of terraria and CSGO if possible. As long as it runs good enough with minimal lag fps and settings are not high priority.
• Any specific requirements such as good keyboard, reliable build quality, touch-screen, finger-print reader, optical drive or good input devices (keyboard/touchpad)? I would like a decent keyboard that doesn't feel clunky. And a mouse option would be appreciated.
• Leave any finishing thoughts here that you may feel are necessary and beneficial to the discussion. Again I am a college student and I am not totally sure what can all be done for me in this circumstance with the price range. I would prefer an hp as it gives a very good student discount. But do need a computer that can run good for homework

Heads up, this is gonna be a longer post- I debated about showing this for a while, but after some recent life events I figured it was time to talk about it. No jokes today, this is straight from the heart.
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If you told me three years ago I would be involved with VTubers, collecting merch and cheering about her little everyday things and interactions, I would have never believed you. At the time I was a completely different person; I rocked the emo look, I was wrapping my college life and even throughout COVID I still had plans for going to med school and overcoming those unique challenges. I had the same views on anime and the whole culture that the majority of people (or at least the US) has, never taking this seriously. But then again, there were also a lot of things going on with me at the time that I don't miss.
For starters, the pandemic really threw me for a loop. I had always planned on going straight to med school after college, and had a set plan for getting all my requirements and classes done over time to get into a really good med school. Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way; Lots of research opportunities and classes I needed to take suddenly dissolved before my eyes, setting me back a few years as I had to work harder to get the same result. I graduated college just fine, but the fact that my dream was in jeopardy shook me. I still tried applying and getting into good schools, but got turned down at every point because they didn't yet make exceptions for the pandemic. It launched me into a depression, and for about 2 years after graduation I was more or less a NEET living at home barely able to function. I kept trying for different schools and working odd jobs, but constant rejections and nothing sticking for good only worsened my situation.
I was well into the weeds when I found Hololive, which wasn't the cure-all (like anyone would think that) but it was entertaining to say the least. This community isn't perfect, but I've met a ton of nice, funny and incredible people all over due to VTubers, so while it didn't help my situation, it made things more bearable.
Then along came Council- naturally I was excited, the EN members/speakers were my favorites. I liked all the new Gen 2 members, but Kronii hit different right from her debut stream. From the superficial points like her design, her voice, persona and talent- down to her more innate and special attributes like her humor, empathy and relatability. She instantly became my favorite, and I wanted to do more with her content and unique streams. I had no art skills, no limitless pools of cash for SCs, no real talent to make my mark- but I did like making shitposts, and when I remembered the popularity and fun people had here on Reddit, I thought to myself, "That's perfect- I'll go ahead and do that!"
To this day, I don't think of Kronii as a truly perfect person. She's got her flaws, but we all do; What's important was that she (or at least her persona) is what I aspired to be: confident, ambitious, funny, intelligent, in short what I dreamed of being like all throughout college and in the future. As the days turned to weeks turned to months, I've kept up the meme posts both because they cheered me up and because I wanted to keep supporting her. Throughout it all though, I think it was also what I needed to 'wake up' and shake me out of my stupor. Lying in bed all day sad about what could have been had got me nowhere, and it wasn't showing any signs of changing. But if I acted more like Kronii, being optimistic and working my hardest towards making the best of things, maybe things would change.
To my surprise- they did! My family said I looked and acted happier, I went out more and made some IRL friends, held a job for more than a few months and actively found/worked towards getting the medical requirements needed for school. Just three months ago I got accepted into med school- the studying and workload has been crushing, but I would rather go through ten years of it than back trapped in my own head. It's a surreal experience, one that I would not have believed had I not seen the results first hand, but here I am.
I want to end this on a serious note though: Kronii herself did not help me get to this point. I don't think a random person on the internet was the answer to all my problems, nor would I dump all of this onto her over several SCs as if she saved my life. This achievement and path of self-realization was my own doing, my own hard work and the persistence not to give up when times were tough. But Kronii did help show me the startline- not directly, not on purpose, but just a case of right place and right time. Without seeing the kind of person that she is and the kind of person I knew I wanted to be, who knows how long I would have been stuck in my depressive state or if I would achieve my dream.
So Thank You Kronii. You appeared at the right time in my life, showed me the possibility of what I could be when I couldn't see it myself, and I am proud to say I am thriving. It's my own hard work and patience that got me here, but throughout it all you've been a source of inspiration and laughs that made me happy. I'm going to keep working hard, not because I want to make you happy but to achieve self-fullfillment as a person.
...ok, small joke. TL;DR- "Just don't be sad." but it worked.

I see so many posts complaining that worthwhile and lasting friendships don’t exist on here. While that may often be true for a good majority of posts, I promise it is not the only possible outcome.
The last online friendship I made here lasted almost 3 years. We texted every single day, morning and night, and it was the best part of both of our lives. We shared everything, the good and the bad, and the relationship eventually grew in to something we never saw coming. Unfortunately, like all good things, it eventually came to a mutual end. I will say though that it left a lasting impact for both of us, and it gave me hope that others like her do exist out there as well.
It took some time, but I have come to realize how much it meant to have someone like that in my life. I want to see if I can find that kind of connection again. Someone who is sweet and caring, wants to be someone’s little girl, and is looking for someone like me to love and care for them is exactly the dynamic that I am looking for.
If this sounds interesting to you, please reach out. We can talk some, swap pictures, and see where it goes from there. The only requirement is that you absolutely must be at least 18. Please respect that. Living in USTZ is also a big bonus.
I hope to talk to you soon!

Hello Internet. I'm honestly not sure what exactly I'm looking for, I'm open to just about anything. Ideally we get to know each other before anything serious happens.
A little bit about me: Born in Michigan, have lived here basically my entire life. I want to move someday but I'm not entirely sure where I'd want to move to. I have an interest in travelling around the world and seeing different places. I'd love to tour Europe some day. Right now I'm finishing up a degree in Information Technology. I'm excited to be done with college, but not so excited to start paying my student loans. I love computers and video games and my ultimate goal is to become a software developer or work in cyber security. Lately I've been working on my fitness and health as I've gained more weight than I'm comfortable with during the past couple of years.
As for you, I don't have any major requirements for you other than to just be a cool human being.
I'd like it if you could send me a photo of yourself upon messaging me and I will reciprocate.
If you've made it this far, let me know your favorite pizza topping.

(Just to be clear, I'm grateful for the job, money is money. And while its not livable, at least I have a roof over my head. My rant isn't about being poor or anything, its just.. frustration)
To give some background, I'm 23, I live in Florida, and my parents who house me do not support trans people. Out of highschool, my mother and I had some disagreements about what I should do with my life (and due to some circumstances at that time, I wasn't strong enough to argue). It resulted in me going to work immediately instead of college. Now, several years later, I am only a part time freshman (and have been for two years) at my community college. If I am honest, I've been dragging my feet. My mother insists I need a vocational job, saying no other job will make me money or is reasonable. Plus she doesn't believe in four year degrees, saying they're a waste of time and will not get me a job. Even when expressing that most jobs ask for a minimum of a bachelors regardless of the degree field, she dismisses it and calls it ridiculous. Every time I bring up a vocational job that is even remotely tolerable, she shuts it down.
My mother, despite her disagreement, is obsessed with the idea of me being in the medical field.
There has never been anything I've wanted less for myself. That has been consistent for me since highschool. I don't want to be in the medical field, I hate it, it bores me, I dislike being in a service industry, and I don't support how it works in this country. My mother thinks I'm just underestimating myself.
Its been... maddening because I live with her and I do not feel like I can argue. And everytime I try to reason with her, she tells me I'm being childish and an asshole. Then blames millennials. I've had other people listen to her talk and they... definitely agree I'm not being an asshole in the conversation.
The truth is, I already work in a hospital. I do registration and insurance eligibilities. I enjoy working with insurance, even though I hate its reason for existence, the actual job is fun. Plus I've been able to help other trans people with their insurance issues if I've been aware of it. There's also been times where my presence has helped an LGBTQ person feel comfortable being in the hospital. Thats the only joy I've had working there. It does not balance out the negativity AT ALL. Because of my parents being very transphobic (not enough to kick me out but definitely too scary to comfortably discuss it), I have more or less gone back into the closet after highschool. Its very don't ask don't tell in my house. Cept for when they want to make fun of me for it or complain about trans people to me. I have been working in the hospital as if I'm not trans at all. Which, is good, because I hear the clinical team laugh at trans people, or say transphobic stuff. Even my own team, who are not clinical, has done this. On more than one occasion, I've been told to go peak at a trans person in their room because "they're so funny to look at". They all were normal people. I can't imagine coming out now in this environment... And its worse because while the company boasts for trans people (even the application has a pronouns section), I can't speak up about it because of the power dynamic. Plus, in Florida, that seems like a bad idea at the moment.
I want to... get on with my life. I'm twenty three. I wanted to start my transition by nineteen. I want to move out so I can safely do so. I want top surgery. I want to have my partner with me. I have to be so careful about how much I mention being trans to my parents because I don't want them to blame it on my also trans boyfriend. Since I spent so long scarcely mentioning it. Only when they questioned if I had grown out of it yet would I bring it up and remind them I've always been trans. I can't afford to move out and do things I'd like. I can barely afford my car payment and I'm getting 15 an hour!
If I want a job that pays better, I need a degree. If I want a degree, I need to move out. If I want to move out, I need a job that pays better. It never fuckin ends.
I'm so tired. I can't find anything that pays well enough for me to move out that doesn't require a degree. And even then, some places who require a degree don't pay enough. I feel so stuck. My mother thinks she's giving me this amazing opportunity to go to school and live under her roof so that I just have to pay for tuition and my car but not rent. Its just... not as grand as she thinks. I don't want to be in the clinical field. I want to get a degree and be an editor or a technical writer or in HR or SOMETHING. I even wouldn't mind doing IT. Except she turns it all down and I'm too anxious of what will happen if I ignore her.
My physical safety (in my house) isn't at risk at all. Which is good. I'm still scared though. There's a major power dynamic in my house. Their house, their rules. They've told me before that I'm lucky they let me live in the house as a guest. Which, I don't like the implications of.
I applied to Folx and Plume but I'm still waiting to hear back. The length of time feels like I definitely got passed up even with having experience in a clinical setting. My boyfriend says to have hope and that I might still hear back but its... hard. I feel urgent.
I just don't know what to do with myself? I regret not having more balls in highschool and applying to university. I didn't have faith in my grades and in my IQ to apply for scholarships or schools. I wish I had. I'm glad I went and got work experience but it seems like its doing nothing for me. I'm coming to a cusp of having to apply to a technical program. I'm scratching and clawing to find any excuse not to fall down the clinical pipeline and wind up hating my life in two years. I don't want to waste my life anymore than I already have but it feels too late.
Just... frustrated and upset. Wish I was more brave. Wish I had options to get myself out of this rut.

I don't have a "passion" or anything like that. I'm good at school and have a reasonable safety net, though one that's not quite thick enough to weather my parent getting even more sick, so I can't rely on it. I just want to make money and live my life doing whatever on the side. Currently, I'm a computer science major with a statistics minor but I have the opportunity to double-major and wondering if there's some sort of back-up plan people would recommend; my parent is pushing me toward finance but somehow I wish there was any other option.
I'm just worried that maybe compsci won't work out or something and I'll need something else. I was looking at getting a teaching certification but I'm in the US and that crap differs state by state and would require a triple major besides, which I don't think I can do. Is the solution here to just go for a compsci-field PhD and have academia as a "backup"? Does that even make any sense? I think I would enjoy teaching, I just have little interest in research so it's not my first choice.
I'm even at the point where I'm wondering if maybe I should just go pre-med since that's pretty much guaranteed to be a stable income for the rest of my life and I know I'll be able to do it (financially/mentally) despite the fact I'm not really interested in medicine.
Sorry, I just don't really have anyone else to ask, especially since my worries are so vague and kinda stupid and based on vibes. Wanted advice but don't really know exactly what to ask. Thank you.

As I read through the posts on here, I notice that most of the comments encourage leaving the PA/SA, especially for those who are not married/don’t have kids/other constraints that would make leaving difficult (many of them from married women that say it only got worse as time went on). However, how do you find the strength to leave when the relationship isn’t all “bad” (other aspects were good)?
(long post so TLDR at the bottom)
I am in my mid 20s and have been dating my boyfriend for a couple years now. When we started dating, the sex was amazing but only a few months later we began to have major issues in the bedroom. He has substantially lost interest in sex, blaming it on a low libido/his age (30s) and assuring me I wasn’t the problem. He frequently loses his erection or is unable to keep it. I tried everything I could to “spice” things up to no avail. He admitted that he still masturbates a “couple times per week” (no way to verify if this is true as we don’t live together but I suspect it could be more frequent). I learned porn was at play and asked him to stop watching it - he swears he has but there is no way for me to verify and as much as it hurts to think about, he probably still does because his ED issues haven’t improved. I don’t know how much of it is ED vs PIED. He has also admitted to fantasizing about other women when getting off AND while having sex with me (he claims he only did this to not lose his erection which is a bullshit excuse). This hurt me so so so incredibly much. I felt a small part of myself break. I demanded that he stop doing so and he tells me that he no longer thinks about other women during sex but still fantasizes about them when masturbating (“i can’t help it i’m a man we need variety blah blah blah”). Honestly in the hypothetical scenario that fantasizing about others during masturbation was the ONLY issue and we had a healthy sex life/he did not watch any porn whatsoevehe did not fantasize during sex, it is something I could get past but if I’m being honest with myself it is unlikely this will ever be the case (and if it does happen which I know will require immense work - I’m scared about what else I might uncover and how much more trauma will I go through due to relapses).
TLDR: I know deep down the answer is to leave. However, what makes it so difficult is that the relationship isn’t all bad/so black and white. He is very loving and supporting in many other aspects. But I know I will have to endure more pain for an outcome that isn’t guaranteed. At the same time, the dating scene is incredibly bleak. Porn has become so normalized and I feel scared I won’t be able to find a man who doesn’t watch it. I fear losing precious years in trying to do so (it seems many men swear they don’t watch it at first and it can take years to uncover the addiction). How many times will I have to get my heart broken and pick up the pieces?
Please share any advice about navigating these fears and leaving your PA/dealing with the aftermath! <3

I have this on another sub but a few people mentioned posting here and I would love a server's point of view. Plus I have a update as of today, June 5th.
I am so upset I am shaking. I have custody of my niece and our water got shut off. I have a full time job but recently picked up a second job as a server because I need cash to get it back on. I am living off the tips I get. I have to walk to work to save money and it was almost 100 degrees so I was sticky sweaty. I went into the public bathroom, there is no employee bathroom. I was freshening up with my wipes trying to be as quick as possible and I heard a “hi”. A kid had crawled under the stall. There is always obnoxious music blaring so I didn’t hear him come in.
He looked like he was old enough to know better, maybe 10 or 11. I had my back to the door because I have this fear that someone will look through the cracks, irrational and silly but still. I immediately started yelling at him to get out and the little shit was laughing like he knew it was wrong! I thought maybe his mom was washing her hands or in another stall but nope! This kid was in the women's bathroom alone. I have been SA’d in a bar bathroom before and my fight or flight kicked in.
I chased him out of the bathroom and started asking “who’s kid??” very loudly. He was still laughing thinking it was funny.
His mom runs up and yanks him towards her screaming “why are you talking to my kid!?”. I told her he had crawled under my stall while I was changing. He says “Yeah I almost saw her naked!”. The mom starts screaming at me asking “why were you naked in a public bathroom!?” and that I was a predator for “being in the mens bathroom”.
At this point my manager came over to tell everyone to stop yelling and making a scene. I admit I was a bit worked up but an unaccompanied child should be cause for concern, no?
I told her I was in the WOMEN'S bathroom and she looked at her son and asked if he went into the men or womens and he started to cry saying he was confused and didn’t know. The bathrooms are clearly marked. I told her if that was true (it wasn’t) then he needs a chaperone to the bathroom if he can’t read.
She threw a huge fit and I got fired because I was still in my probationary period. My boss said I couldn’t be freshening up at work or “getting naked” at work. Which I wasn't fucking naked! I was sweaty and gross about to start a double shift. We don’t have employee bathrooms or changing rooms but are required to change into a uniform.
Today, June 5th I went back to speak to the manager who is above my boss. Serving jobs in my area are scarce and I really need a job where I get daily tips. He and I spoke and he said he “couldn’t risk a child or guest being involuntarily exposed to an employee who is naked/ partially clothed in his restaurant”. I WAS IN A BATHROOM STALL. In the post on another sub the majority of people were saying I got fired because I made a scene and was yelling but that wasn’t why! It was because a “guest” crawled under the stall and saw me changing/freshening up.
I’m fuming.

Hey, everyone! This is my first time posting on this subreddit and my first time making a post like this in general, so I apologize in advance for any formatting errors or things of that sort.
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I recently got the idea to make this post after seeing Destiny watch The Young Turks discussing Joe Biden as well as seeing Destiny get in a conversation with someone who argued that the FDA had a "conflict of interest" with pharmaceutical companies. Lately, I have been seeing the phrase thrown around so much that it feels like it has lost a lot of its meaning and weight.
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I recently graduated from law school and I am currently studying for the bar exam, so there's a good chance that my opinion stems from my experience in the legal field. I am also mostly going to be tackling the phrase "conflict of interest" from that perspective in this post. Nevertheless, I still think my argument has some merit behind it because, to my knowledge, the phrase originated from (or, at least, was most commonly associated with) the legal field before it began being used the way it is used today.
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I. Basics

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Firstly, conflicts of interest generally arise in situations involving three or more people. The most prominent examples are when (1) an attorney is looking to take on (2) a prospective client's case but has a duty to (3) a current or former client.
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Nowadays, though, the phrase is typically used to refer to situations involving just two people. But, somewhat by definition, an agreement made between two parties cannot have a conflict of interest because such an agreement is usually formed when both parties already have interests that are aligned and that do not conflict (with some wiggle room so that each party feels content with how the arrangement played out for them). Much of contract law is based off of the idea that both parties feel like they are getting something out of it while pursuing some common goal. If two parties have a supposed conflict of interest, what they're really having is a scenario involving a misrepresentation, fraud, or a parting of ways.
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The person Destiny spoke to who said the FDA had a conflict of interest with pharmaceutical companies was incorrectly using the phrase in the manner I have just outlined. That's not to say the person's argument had no merit, but a conflict of interest is a much bigger deal. What that person was describing was instead just a mere bias or incentive the FDA might have, not a conflict of interest. I think people are too willing to believe that other people or entities are far less likely to "go against" such biases and incentives than they actually are. Furthermore, people underestimate the complexity behind someone's self-interest.
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Going back to the FDA example, sure, the FDA gets money from pharmaceutical companies, but to make the blanket assertion that that alone is enough for the FDA to want to get as much money from them as possible, despite the potential ramifications they would face if one of those companies were to harm the public by releasing a defective drug, is simply a bit one-sided and simple minded. Money alone is not as powerful of a motivator as people make it out to be, and an agency like the FDA would take into account far more factors when making decisions, especially when it ultimately only cares about itself. Whatever money it stands to gain is nothing compared to the political pressure it faces, the accountability it has to the public, and much more. The FDA would likely prefer to lose out on some money than be associated with whatever disaster might come about if it allowed a pharmaceutical company to distribute drugs that harm people.
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II. Definition & Examples

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As for what a conflict of interest actually is, we can look to Rule 1.7 and 1.9 (and their comments) of the American Bar Association's Model Rules of Professional Conduct.
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Rule 1.7: Conflict of Interest: Current Clients (americanbar.org)Rule 1.7 Conflict of Interest: Current Clients - Comment (americanbar.org)
Rule 1.9: Duties to Former Clients (americanbar.org)
Rule 1.9 Duties to Former Clients - Comment (americanbar.org)
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Notably, Rule 1.7(a)(2) and 1.9(a) provide guidance, stating that a conflict of interest exists when "there is a significant risk that the representation of one or more clients will be materially limited by the lawyer's responsibilities to another client, a former client or a third person or by a personal interest of the lawyer" and when "[a] lawyer who has formerly represented a client in a matter [ . . . ] thereafter represent[s] another person in the same or a substantially related matter in which that person's interests are materially adverse to the interests of the former client unless the former client gives informed consent, confirmed in writing," respectively.
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The comments also help explain what a material limitation is. A lawyer asked to represent several individuals seeking to form a joint venture is likely to be materially limited in the lawyer's ability to recommend or advocate all possible positions that each might take because of the lawyer's duty of loyalty to the others. The critical questions being the likelihood of a difference in interests eventuating and, if that does happen, whether it will materially interfere with the lawyer's independent professional judgment in considering alternatives or foreclose courses of action that reasonably should be pursued on behalf of the client.
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As for when a lawyer's personal interests can cause a conflict, one example is when a lawyer has discussions concerning possible employment with an opponent of the lawyer's client, or with a law firm representing the opponent.
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Lastly, when it comes to former clients, a lawyer who recurrently handled a type of problem for a former client is not precluded from later representing another client in a factually distinct problem of that type even though the subsequent representation involves a position adverse to the prior client.
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(There's also the Model Code of Judicial Conduct but for our purposes its basically the same thing)
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III. Conclusion

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In summary, it is actually rather difficult for a conflict of interest to exist, given how narrow the scope of them is. The rules have a rather strict interpretation of what "adverse" means, to the extent that you basically have to be doing something against your client, in some way related to someone who is doing something against your client, or taking on multiple clients who might have competing interests (like one client's defenses requiring you to throw the other client under the bus) in order for what you're doing to be considered adverse.
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It is even more difficult to have a conflict of interest with former clients, since the rules allow you to basically do anything as long as you aren't taking on the exact same case (or types of cases, in some instances) you were doing for your former client or involved in something where you could use your former client's confidential information against them. Plus, even if there is a conflict of interest, the majority of conflicts are "consentable," meaning the lawyer can proceed, despite the conflict, under the ethical rules so long as the lawyer obtains informed consent from each of the clients in writing (with the implication being that so long as people are aware of it and choose to proceed anyways, that's fine).
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Sorry for the little rant, but it just seemed odd to me to hear so many people incorrectly using the phrase recently and using it for situations that just simply aren't conflicts of interest (because they involve two people or because they don't rise to the insanely high bar needed to actually be considered a conflict of interest). Thank you for reading!
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TL; DR
People are using "conflict of interest" wrong, and we need to reclaim it by gatekeeping its use to high bar that the phrase requires and demands.
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Edit: Here's a link to the Young Turks Segment and the FDA conversation, if my memory serves me right:
Biden Escalates War w/ F-16's Destiny Reacts To TYT - YouTube
David Pakman Responds And Calls Out Destiny - YouTube

What are some of the gen eds that freshman are required to take? Do the gen eds vary by major? I’m an accounting major, and I want an idea of what the possible classes I will have to take this fall as an incoming freshman are.