Better networking later: this is hopefully obvious, but knowing smart, competent people is useful for pretty much everything ever.
I’d actually like to see this better explored/supported… I believe it’s true, and I’ve experienced it myself, but maybe if we could break down the specific ways in which networking can be useful, we could do it in a more optimized way (although if we optimize too hard, I assume we run the risk of coming across as phony?)
Avoid courses that are hard requirements for anything.
On the other hand, if you’re not sure what you want to major in, you might try taking lots of these sort of classes to learn what you liked, start on long chains of prerequisites early, and keep your options open.
I’d actually like to see this better explored/supported… I believe it’s true, and I’ve experienced it myself, but maybe if we could break down the specific ways in which networking can be useful, we could do it in a more optimized way (although if we optimize too hard, I assume we run the risk of coming across as phony?)
Collaboration: e.g., if I start a software company I’ll be very happy that I know so many good programmers personally.
Signalling: for instance, people assume I’m more of a hardcore math person than I am because many of my roommates did well in math competitions.
Halo: I’m reasonably well-networked in some communities and people there seem to give my opinions a surprising amount of weight. Not sure if this is causation but it seems probable.
Favors: This has been the most important for me so far. Knowing people (who want to do things for you) is an almost fully general substitute for having skills. I’m not very good at biology, but my roommate knows enough to explain anything I don’t understand. I’m bad at promoting my organization’s events, but I can ask my friends on the student newspaper to help.
With regard to coming off as phony, I think in some circles there may be an implicit understanding that “networking” relationships are based on mutual benefit. YMMV though.
I’d actually like to see this better explored/supported… I believe it’s true, and I’ve experienced it myself, but maybe if we could break down the specific ways in which networking can be useful, we could do it in a more optimized way (although if we optimize too hard, I assume we run the risk of coming across as phony?)
On the other hand, if you’re not sure what you want to major in, you might try taking lots of these sort of classes to learn what you liked, start on long chains of prerequisites early, and keep your options open.
Collaboration: e.g., if I start a software company I’ll be very happy that I know so many good programmers personally.
Signalling: for instance, people assume I’m more of a hardcore math person than I am because many of my roommates did well in math competitions.
Halo: I’m reasonably well-networked in some communities and people there seem to give my opinions a surprising amount of weight. Not sure if this is causation but it seems probable.
Favors: This has been the most important for me so far. Knowing people (who want to do things for you) is an almost fully general substitute for having skills. I’m not very good at biology, but my roommate knows enough to explain anything I don’t understand. I’m bad at promoting my organization’s events, but I can ask my friends on the student newspaper to help.
With regard to coming off as phony, I think in some circles there may be an implicit understanding that “networking” relationships are based on mutual benefit. YMMV though.