r/PCC

Hi everyone, im hoping to get some advice for the upcoming Fall term. This may not be the right place to put this but im unsure where else to go.

Heres my struggle, i have too many interests. Im struggling terribly to choose a major as each time ive tried before ive felt bored and unmotivated.

Ive tried going into online pcc courses twice and each time ive dropped them as i struggle with the lack of structure and being neurodivergent makes it really hard for me to motivate myself in them. Im hoping in-person classes change that.

I feel like i want to take a class in everything. I have interests in a multitude of classes and subjects but none of them really pertain to any one major or degree, i have interests in many different things and i love to learn about different topics.

Id love to take an art class, a automotive repair class, an engineering and cad class, id love to take a second language, a interior design, a music class, a physical education class. I dont know what i want to do in life, but i want to learn, and i want to explore all of my interests because i know that one or a few of them could lead my down the right path.

So heres my question, how do i go about creating a schedule or choosing a major that lets me go and do all of these things? Before i talk to advising i wanted to get some advice, see if anyone else has this kind of structure as well.

Like... How did we get to this point? What the fuck happened to working over the summer and being able to pay tuition? Or working part-time during the academic year and being able to afford daily essentials?

I am someone who has an interest in economics; and I honestly feel that this is basically a form of generational sabotage. How is it possible for a generation to work longer and harder than ever before, having higher productivity, just to get less in return? And all while stocks soar to all-time highs and the richest in society build large metal dicks just to go up to space for a Saturday afternoon....

The social contract used to be simple, you could graduate high school and get a livable job, or go on to graduate college to get a good job. Now we got left with a situation where you can't even afford to live while working a minimum wage job just trying to earn a college degree, which may not even cover the monthly rent on its own. Now college is a necessity just to get a livable job.

I have begun to notice a trend (at least in the local economy), which I also believe to be part of the generational sabotage. With so many of us being members of the labor market out of necessity, during peak times for college (such as finals weeks), the labor shortage seems to increase (as I would assume college students begin to work less to wrap up classes). However, this reduces the available goods and services produced, which economics says in times of shortage the prices will increase, and goods will be provided to those willing and able to pay the most (which would not be us as college students). So, we're basically told to work and get some of the goods and services we need, or have an even harder time or inability to obtain them.

I also feel this pushing of an increase of society's total work onto college students reduces the benefits that a college degree is supposed to provide. The purpose of college is supposed to be to learn and become more knowledgeable, but I feel it's beginning to turn into more of a game of how to accumulate points to make grades and get a piece of paper at the end (but that's what society says is required). Like, with the time shortage, which society forces as a result of the mismatch between hourly wages and living expenses, I find myself regularly not spending as much time with course material as I would like to actually be able to make connections and understand the world better (actually learning from the material), because I have to go clock back in at work.

Shame on our societal leaders who took a well-functioning society, and turned it into a shitshow where the majority college students can not even afford to spend enough time and/or have the necessary resources to focus on their studies....

I have a predicament and I was trying to get some input from other students

This is the second class I have taken at PCC where a teacher requires students to attend something off campus for classes that are listed as online only.

In spring I took a one credit ECE class about Montessori and the teacher had us do two off campus activities one was a two and a half hour observation at a Montessori School, the second was the entire class meeting at her former school that she used to own for 3 hours on a Thursday night. The class I specifically signed up for was to be online only because I have children that don't have child care.

When I was unable to attend the off campus portions she made me drop the class.

Now I am in a health safety and nutrition class and a few days ago the teacher announced to us that we need to attend a school and do a two-hour observation to make a safety checklist to see if the school follows it. And that we need to turn it in by the 5th even though majority of places are closed for the 4th of July. This class specifically is online only with no meeting dates.

This seems like it goes against the school's agreement of what an online class requirements are and it doesn't seem fair. Especially with the summertime my children are not in school and I am not able to find somewhere to observe especially with such short notice.

This is my first year at PCC and I just finished my early registration and I was wondering how would you go about claiming your financial aid.? Is there a set time and day it's sent out or do you go in person?

Are the bookstores open this week, specifically PCC Cascade? I ordered a textbook, but I cannot reach anyone at the bookstore when I call. I don't live very close to PCC Cascade, so I don't want to drive over there and find no one there. Any advice?

Hello, I have a question regarding summer semester financial aid amount. I first added 3 units 7-8 weeks ago and the amount on financial aid correctly showed. Later I added 3 more units which was 4-5 weeks ago. But there wasn’t any change to the amount. I am currently in both of these classes. When I called financial aid office last time, they said to just wait. When I called today, they were saying the amount I see is the most up to date and I am receiving less because it’s my first semester here and I only get to have leftover from last college (transferred from a csu). I don’t understand what is right.

Has anyone experienced this before? I normally wouldn’t care, but it’s the summer, and limiting my available time each week to complete assignments kind of sucks. I’m trying to actually have some fun this summer, ya know?

When does the Urgent Student Needs request form open up for summer term?

Long story short my gpa dropped below the requirement of 2, its currently 1.85. i dont have any summer term classes currently, i haven't registered for fall classes yet. i have a meeting with my advisor the 6th of July and I'm planning to make the academic plan them. i know the document's have to be submitted before july 1 so I'm just worried about not getting financial aid and not submitting the things on time. I currently dont know what to do

I just noticed that after I finish my business transfer degree that I will have enough credits for a general studies degree as well. Do most people just grab that one if they’re able to or skip it?

Just bought a Bi 112 textbook that I will eventually need to get rid of. It's specific to the course and PCC. The guy at the bookstore told me they don't rent out books or buy back used copies--which kinda sucks. I was wondering if theres any kind of way to pass along the book to people that need it next? Some sort of PCC text book buy/sell forum.

I would sell it to someone for next quarter at a reduced price

Rent: $712.50 +utilities (solar on the roof, electricity is super cheap)

4 Bedroom

1 Bathroom (downstairs)

Basement

Kitchen, modern appliances

Spacious backyard with mature fruit trees

Hey PCC students! Are you a student looking for a place to live this summer?

My roommates and I are looking for a new tenant to fill our fourth bedroom who is ready to sign a lease by July 21st. The lease will start 8/23. You can either sign a 4 month lease (8/23/26-12/23/26)) or for a year (8/23/26-8/23/27).

Our house is in North Portland near Cascade Campus, which is neat if you mostly attended classes at Cascade (like me).

We are 3 guys looking for someone 20-25 y/o preferably with prior experience living in a household with other roommates outside of family. Big + if you make art or music.

We also have a creature (cat), and our house is queer and bipoc friendly. Ask your friends, tell your grandma, and screen shot this post and share! If this feels right for you, feel free to message me for more info 😸🫶🏻

In the MyCourses tab on the right side is a box “Plan my Degree - Find out what classes you need to take to graduate by visiting GRAD Plan”

GRAD Plan is an invaluable resource and in my advising it seems not enough students know about it.

It shows you how your current complete & enrolled classes fill your degree requirements. It shows you what you still need to finish your declared degree. It lets you plan out future classes and make sure they’ll meet the requirements you expect them to.

It will also let you “What if” another degree. Wanna see what your degree requirements look like in Nursing? Run the Associates of Applied Science in Nursing What If and see how the prereqs count towards the degree and the Nursing classes you’ll take if admitted.

Thinking about transferring to PSU? Talk to PSU transfer advisors and see how any specific recommendations they make fit into the Oregon Transfer degrees.

I encourage my students to always run GRAD Plan every time they register just to make sure that things fall where they expect. The Gen Ed lists can be tricky and it’s a shame when a student takes a class they thought was a Social Science but turns out not to be. There is no flexibility for course exceptions in the Oregon Transfer degrees and it’s not always easy in the more flexible ones either.

Hello! Does anyone have a lab manual for Bio 112? I don’t care if it’s used, I just want to do the readings and if I want to do the material I’m just going to take an evening and a bottle of whiteout and freshen it up :)

Hi guys,

I just found out that my precalc class has a no-calculator policy for exams. I was wondering if this is standard for most precalc and higher-level math courses, or if it usually depends on the instructor/class.

My instructor did ask whether I thought I might need an exception to the policy, so I’m waiting to hear back on that. I’m mainly concerned because my biggest issue on exams is speed, especially with arithmetic under time pressure. I can do the work, but not having a calculator definitely affects my confidence and pace.

For people who have taken precalc, calculus, or higher math classes: were your exams no-calculator? And if they were, were the problems designed so the arithmetic was manageable by hand?

I’m not worried about passing as much as I’m trying to set myself up for an A, so I’m trying to understand what’s normal before the class gets too deep.

Does anyone have suggestions for art classes and professors? I’m not great with art. I’m working on my Transfer degree it’s an Associate of science. It requires 7 credits of art. I find art harder than math and science. I took a pottery class and didn’t do to well. It’s not that I’m trying to find an easy way out but is there any professor’s that don’t grade harshly? I just am not good at art! Thank you!

Hi all! I am old school and love me a physical copy of lectures and syllabus to refer to. I wanted to remind everyone of two really fantastic options for free printing!

1. Multnomah Public Library. You do NOT need a library card and you can print up to 100 pages one sided/50 pages double sided for FREE…. PER DAY!!! this includes ALL their satellite Libraries- I know there is one on Killingsworth close to Cascade but not sure about the other locations. I think this is just black and white at the location on Killingsworth. Not sure about the other areas.

2. Vancouver Public Library- you get a $3 dollar credit for printing per week. Library card is needed but they may work with you if you talk to the front desk- great group of people. 10 cents per/bw page (each side is a page) and 30 cents per color page

3. PCC has printing as well but I am personally constrained by the hours- you do get $10 credit per term.

How to maximize your printing:
- I like to print my PowerPoint lectures as 3 slides per page with the notes area and make it double sided.
- I went through my multiple choice worksheets and made the answers in 3 columns to save space
- change your margins to narrow
- change your font size if your eyesight allows

I was awarded 2,465 for each term (Pell grant) , but it’s only showing 180 is available on bank mobile, I’m only taking one credit this term, next terms I’ll be full credits, but I know it’ll be adjusted to your credits amount, is this a normal amount? With the rest of the money transfer to the next term along with the 2,465? I’m going to contact our financial aid office about this obviously but just want to post this incase someone has the answer already or same for them