I could use some stories about UMR graduates that have really great jobs (not necessarily high pay), or any other information that will give me a slight morale boost. Monday just kicked my ass.

shut up. go to mizzou

Haha.

yeah seriously though, if after having a bad day, the only thing that can keep you going is motivation by other people from seek, then you probably wont make it. There are going to be a lot of days to kick you ass, but you have to have your own ability to go on, not count on a bunch of people on forums.

You will die poor and alone in the gutter, and no one will ever love you.

Hm. Well...

I graduated in December 2003, BS in CompSci, minor in math. My GPA was adequate, but nothing stellar. I currently work for Titan Corporation, a defense contractor, in Leavenworth, KS. I commute from the suburbs of KC. The drive is 45 minutes one way, but it's fairly relaxing, as my average speed is around 60 miles an hour (42.15 miles in 45 minutes).

I work in an office with about 20-25 people in it. My workgroup consists of 4 programmers (including me), a tester, and the "lead engineer". He's kind of like my first level boss. Next in line is the one in charge of the entire office. Both of them are really cool, nothing at all like the PHB in Dilbert. Our group almost like an autonomous body. Most of our directives come from our users, not corporate high-ups. I work on a war simulation that majors and lieutenant colonels in the Army train on. To borrow a signature from Catyourasstodevnull, I put simulated warheads (or bullets, tank shells, artillery shells, whatever) on simulated foreheads.

My salary is...about average. Maybe a little bit lower considering that prices have increased.

My advice to you:
There are days that will kick your ass. I had a week (a real 7 day week, not a school week) that kicked my ass one semester. Try to balance it with days/weeks that you kick ass.
GPA is somewhat important.
Get involved in research in your department.
Leave no stone unturned in your job search, including newspapers.
Don't waste your time with the Career Center. When I said "leave no stone unturned", the Career Center doesn't count as a stone. It's more like a quagmire.
Don't be tied down to a particular city for the job hunt.

Here's how rolla works, you are bored out of your mind for about your first 2 weeks. Then you realize EVERYTHING is due on the same day (its a conspiracy i tell you). One sleepless week later your back to nothingness. It's a vicious cycle. This time last week i had 4 major tests between Tues. and Wed., and only time to study for them on Monday. This week, i have jack shit to do. It's just how it is. Learn how to make the most out of your down time. Drink, Play some counter-strike, go home, fuck your girlfriend, whatever, just be sure to do somenting to relax, otherwise you lose your friends and college becomes miserable.

Trust me

Don't knock the COC too much, plenty of people get good jobs by going through them. In fact, I seriously doubt you will get a job with a big corporation unless you either go through the COC or have some kind of internal connections within the company.

you sound like the catholic church...ba-zing!

alcohol. what more motivation do you need?

somebody's a bit too tipsy for a monday

you couldn't spend enough to get me tipsy. i am just having fun.

Say what you want, but I'll be flying/driving across the nation this semsiter and next on plant trips due to interviews from the COC. What will you be doing?

No such thing...I don't think you've been in Rolla long enough.

Yeah, just be glad you're not in a 3 week slump. Try having 6 midterms, 1 semester project, and IFC officer applications and interviews within a period of 10 days.