Interview

This is the bulk of my interview material. I was unsure if you wanted to see this, so I thought I'd post it.

People interviewed:

A.     Danny-Accounting (business, Sr.)

B.      Emily-Secondary education (history, Fr.)

C.      Scott-Chemical engineering (synthetic development, Jr.)

D.     Shauna- Linguistics (translation Arabic/Spanish/Italian, Jr.)

Interview questions:

1.      What is your major and what year are you in school?

A.     Accounting, senior

B.     Secondary education, freshman

C.     Chemical engineering, junior

D.     Linguistics, junior

2.      Why did you pick that specific major? What is the more specified part you wish to be in?

A.     “I have always found interest with numbers and business, but I was never good enough to be one of those big shot mathematicians or engineers, so I settled with something that I can do and that I hope to enjoy. As for which part of accounting I would want to be in, I’d have to say either big business or banking.”

B.     “I picked this subject because, well, I love to teach and help people, and I thought, ‘what better way to do this that to teach.’ Also I chose history as the specific part of teaching because if find it strangely fascinating and I have a weird, some might even say crazy, obsession with reading about past events.”

C.     “For me the major kind of fell into my lap. I knew I was interested in chemistry, but I didn’t do well in math my first year of school, after that though I have worked hard and gotten good grades, and am well versed in both math and chemistry, so I thought ‘hey I enjoy this, so what can I do that incorporates both?’ and that’s how I became an engineer. Why chemistry specifically, I like reactions and making stuff.”

D.      “I can’t tell you why I chose this subject, I just did. In high school I hated languages, but now I love ‘em. As for the specific study of Arabic? It is an odd language that intrigued me, and is in high demand for translators right now along with Spanish. And, as a side thing I got to take some Italian and French and Portuguese classes, so I know some of that too.”

3.      How much studying do you tend to do weekly, and daily?

A.     “20 or so hours, 4 hours 5 days a week, I save the weekend for my family.”

B.     “I couldn’t tell you probably close to 35-40 hours, especially since most of my stuff is reading. Daily, depends on my classes but I save Sundays for ‘me’ time so however 35-40 hours 6 days a week comes out to be.”

C.     “Um, probably like 2-3 hours 5 days a day, mostly while I’m at work, so like 10-15 hours a week.”

D.     “I spend almost all of my free time in between classes and work studying; I would say that amounts to almost 5 hours a day. Though I tend to not study on Saturday or Sunday since they are my busiest work days. Over all about 25 hours.”

4.      What type of work do your studies revolve around?

A.     “It’s hard to describe, the best way to say it is how much money is messed with versus how much money was allotted.”

B.     “Reading and research that is all I seem to do.”

C.     “Math and chemistry, my other classes and studies are random things ASU requires for a degree and hold no value to my specific one.”

D.     “Practicing my reading and writing of the languages, researching cultures, and talking to people from class in forums online and in person.  

5.      Is this challenging for you, and do you enjoy the subject matter?

A.     Not really and yes

B.     “No I love it too much to notice if it is hard.”

C.     “Sometimes, and for the most part.”

D.     “At first it was, but now my brain is sort of rewired for it, and of course I like it.”

6.      How much schooling do you plan on accomplishing?

A.     Masters

B.     Bachelor’s, maybe a masters

C.     Masters

D.     Bachelor’s

7.      What are your ambitions while you are in school, and after you have finished school?

A.     “Work hard and take care of my family while earning good grades, and hopefully some good recommendations so I have a job right after.”

B.     “To go through school with minimal distractions, and to get good grades so I can hopefully have good teacher reviews when I look for a job. Have a job as a high school history teacher.”

C.     “Get decent grades and find a job in Colorado as an engineer while going to CU Bolder for my masters.”

D.     Did not ask.

8.      When did/do you start your specific major classes?

A.     Junior year

B.     “I have already started some as a freshman, mostly because I want my degree in three years and I have the time as a student teacher.”

C.     Sophomore year

D.     Freshman year.

9.      How long have you wished to be a participant in this field of study?

A.     “lifetime career choice”

B.     “As long as I find interest in it, hopefully my whole life.”

Follow up: would you ever change professions?

            “Yeah, in a heartbeat if I found something I loved and that interested me more.”

C.     “Until they force me to retire.”

D.     “As long as I’m useful and there are other languages to learn.”

10.  Which year of schooling do you think is the hardest in college?

A.     “My senior year has been, I have had to make up classes I didn’t realize I had to take, so my work load is enormous.”

B.     “I think next year will be. All the super high level math and science classes are going to take a lot to understand and master.”

C.     “I have no idea, probably next year because I hope to take 20 credit hours and still be able to work, so I can live off campus.”

D.     Didn’t have the chance to ask.