Do overs

[pbray]

Back home after the last class and the final exam. I surprised the instructor with autographed copies of my books, and let him know how much I enjoyed the class. When last seen, he was reading DEVLIN'S LUCK while the rest of the students finished up their exams.

In the past few days I've been thinking about what other courses I'd like to take. My degrees are in Computer Science and Management of Information Technology. But given sufficient time and money, if I were to go back to school now, I'd study something completely different.

As a second career I'd probably go for a degree in Library Sciences, specializing in computer-based research. For pure fun, I'd study forensic science, or perhaps languages or history.

What about you? If you could study anything you wanted, what classes would you take?

Comments

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

Oooo, what a lovely idea! :) Except that I don't think emigration is an option for me -- I'm told it's very difficult to get health insurance in the US if you have to tick the little "cancer" box on the forms...

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Even harder if you're self-employed, like, oh, say a writer.

[sylvia-rachel.livejournal.com]

Indeed. That's true here, too, of course: the self-employed can get pretty much the same drug coverage, semi-private hospital coverage, etc., as is available through your average large employer, but unless they can get in on a group plan through a professional association or similar, they pay a lot more. Even such a group plan costs more than the employee premiums on an employer-offered plan, because employers typically pay 50 to 75 per cent of the premiums (the $90/month I pay for family coverage means my employer is paying something like $270/month). But in Canada, (a) everybody gets basic coverage through provincial health plans, for which premiums, if any, are income-adjusted and usually minimal; and (b) providers of supplemental insurance (for things like prescription drugs and dental care) can't ask for your medical history or turn you down on the basis thereof.

Always riskier and more expensive to be self-employed, though...