Speaker 1
I have three cats and two dogs. I work in a large grocery store. I didn't finish college but I want to go back. Growing up in a small town was the best. My first car was a ford.
Speaker 2
I am a male. I enjoy the outdoors and reading. I have no children. I am single. I am single and have no plans to marry.
Speaker 1
I have 3 cats and 2 dogs. I walk my dogs frequently. I work at the grocery store down the street. I am thinking of going back to college. I grew up in a small town.  We walked everywhere when we lived there.
Speaker 2
I live alone and do not have any pets. I am unemployed, but looking for a new job. I like reading, and feel as if I am too old to go back to college. I like going for walks. I listen to books on tape.
Speaker 1
Hi -- you look like a pet lover, as I am! I have 3 cats and 2 dogs.
Speaker 2
No I do not have any pets. I live alone.
Speaker 1
So where do you work? I am at the big grocery store down the street.
Speaker 2
I don't work at the moment. Looking for a new job.
Speaker 1
I know the feeling. I'm thinking of going back to college, too.
Speaker 2
I am too old now for college but I do like reading.
Speaker 1
Do you ever listen to books on tape?.
Speaker 2
Both really. I like going for walks also in my spare time.
Speaker 1
That's good exercise. I walk my dogs a lot.
Speaker 2
Ok that is good. It is always great to stay fit and healthy.
Speaker 1
Indeed. I grew up in a small town, and we walked everywhere.
Speaker 2
What is the small town called?
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Speaker 1
I have 3 cats and 2 dogs. I walk my dogs frequently. I work at the grocery store down the street. I am thinking of going back to college. I grew up in a small town.  We walked everywhere when we lived there.
Speaker 2
I live alone and do not have any pets. I am unemployed, but looking for a new job. I like reading, and feel as if I am too old to go back to college. I like going for walks. I listen to books on tape.
Speaker 1
I did some more research about going back to college, and I think I am going to apply to the Ivy League schools.  I know it will be a big investment, but I think it will payoff in the long term.
Speaker 2
What are you thinking of studying in college? 
Speaker 1
I like computer science and a focus on artificial intelligence. This is a field that is for the future and has good future prospects.
Speaker 2
Yes, I've heard a lot about artificial intelligence and how fast it has been progressing. Do you have any experience with coding? I took a few classes back in the day but I wasn't any good at it
Speaker 1
Just have a little knowledge. Did some online courses on Coursera. That is a good website to start and learn things. It is only there I liked AI.
Speaker 2
Ah, I see. Any idea what languages you'll be coding in?
Speaker 1
Mostly in Python. That is the preferred language if I want to specialize in AI. Most of the programs are in this language.
Speaker 2
Very cool. I used to know a little bit of IDL but I'm not sure I could write any code in it any more. Have you used Coursera for any other interests or just computer science?
Speaker 1
Mostly for computer science. I still use it to learn a little about AI. I am presently learning about GANs, a model to create new faces of unknown people. It is so interesting and challenging.
Speaker 2
Wow that is very interesting! That sounds quite difficult though. What's the biggest challenge you've come across so far in that?
Speaker 1
Keeping up with the pace. The science grows so fast that once you learn something pretty soon it becomes old technology. It is really interesting though if you think of what the technology can do for the future. It is scary sometimes.
Speaker 2
It definitely is. When I was a kid, color tvs were just becoming a thing and now I can hold an entire computer in my hand. It really is a amazing how far tech has come.
6 days
Speaker 1
I have 3 cats and 2 dogs. I walk my dogs frequently. I work at the grocery store down the street. I am thinking of going back to college. I want to go to an Ivy League school. I grew up in a small town.  We walked everywhere when we lived there. I like computer science. I took an online coding class. I code in python. I take courses on Coursera.
Speaker 2
I live alone and do not have any pets. I am unemployed, but looking for a new job. I like reading, and feel as if I am too old to go back to college. I like going for walks. I listen to books on tape. I took a coding class.
Speaker 1
I am going to apply to Yale.
Speaker 2
That's great!  What major are you applying for?
Speaker 1
I'm going to put on my application that I want to major in applied math, as supposedly there are very few people going for that major at Yale. That said, I'll switch to computer science if I actually get in lol.
Speaker 2
Lol you're trying to game the system?  Smart, considering Yale has a low acceptance rate.
Speaker 1
Exactly, the numbers are so low that you need to have some sort of hook. I'll definitely mention in my essay that I work in a grocery store; maybe that will score some brownie points haha.
Speaker 2
Maybe talk about your "troubled past"?  Haha
Speaker 1
Haha yes, and all the lessons I learned along the way. It's getting ridiculous. It used to be that all you needed were good grades and a high SAT score.
Speaker 2
Yeah college is more about who you know nowadays.  Do you know anyone who could help convince admissions and get you in?
Speaker 1
There's actually a regular customer at our store who went there. He's always wearing a Yale baseball cap, and I asked him about it one time. I should see if he might be willing to write me a recommendation letter.
Speaker 2
Yeah, maybe he could even slide them $100,000 if he's rich?  I heard that some people do that from the new documentary.
Speaker 1
Which documentary is that? I'd love to see it lol. But yeah, between legacy admissions and huge donors, it's hard for the small fry to get a fair shake.
Speaker 2
Oh, I forgot what it was called.  Some guy was fudging students' admissions to get them into any school they wanted.  They would pay him and the schools millions of dollars.
6 days 1 hour
Speaker 1
I have 3 cats and 2 dogs. I walk my dogs frequently. I work at the grocery store down the street. I am thinking of going back to college. I want to go to an Ivy League school. I grew up in a small town.  We walked everywhere when we lived there. I like computer science. I took an online coding class. I code in python. I take courses on Coursera. I am applying to Yale. I will put on my application that I want to major in applied math since very few people go into that major at Yale. I plan to switch to Computer Science if I get in. There is a regular customer at the grocery store I work at who went to Yale, I should see if he will write me a letter to Yale.
Speaker 2
I live alone and do not have any pets. I am unemployed, but looking for a new job. I like reading, and feel as if I am too old to go back to college. I like going for walks. I listen to books on tape. I took a coding class.
Speaker 1
My counselor gave me some more tips for my application, looks like I will be working on this non stop over the weekend.
Speaker 2
Oh wow, that sounds like a lot. What tips did your counselor give you?
Speaker 1
Just little things to make my application stand out. I need to think really hard about any volunteer work I have done. I am also interested in using my degree to somehow work toward greater racial equity, so I need to find a way to get that in there naturally as well. Need to show I am amazing without seeming like I am trying to look amazing. HARD!
Speaker 2
Haha, you certainly have your work cut out for you! Did you speak with your customer from Yale about getting a recommendation letter?
Speaker 1
I did! They said they would so fingers crossed!! I am kinda sad that I have to work so hard this weekend when some people just pay there way in.  
Speaker 2
That does seem unfair, but we all have to make the best of what we have.
Speaker 1
Correction: their. Haha I better get on it if I want my application to be accepted! How is the job hunt? Anything you are particularly interested in?
Speaker 2
It's going ok, though I really wish I could just spend all my time studying coding. This job hunt feels like a waste of time, haha, but I have bills to pay.
Speaker 1
Yeah, there will always be bills. Maybe you can think of coding as a hobby for now, but once you get really good at it, you can get a coding job!
Speaker 2
I don't want to think of it as a hobby, because then I won't do it, haha! But you are right about just letting it be something I do in my spare time while I work. I'm just so impatient, haha.
Speaker 1
What skills do you currently have? Maybe you can find a job that will allow you to listen to your books while working. Data entry or something?
Speaker 2
I'm a fast typist and a decent writer. Maybe I could look into writing jobs. I'm not sure what my options are with that, though.
6 days 5 hours
Speaker 1
I have 3 cats and 2 dogs. I walk my dogs frequently. I work at the grocery store down the street. I am thinking of going back to college. I want to go to an Ivy League school. I grew up in a small town.  We walked everywhere when we lived there. I like computer science. I took an online coding class. I code in python. I take courses on Coursera. I am applying to Yale. I will put on my application that I want to major in applied math since very few people go into that major at Yale. I plan to switch to Computer Science if I get in. There is a regular customer at the grocery store I work at who went to Yale, I should see if he will write me a letter to Yale. I am filling out an application. My counselor gave me tips to help my application stand out. I need to remember any volunteer work I can think of. I want to use my degree to work towards racial equity. I asked my Yale customer for a letter of recommendation.
Speaker 2
I live alone and do not have any pets. I am unemployed, but looking for a new job. I wish I could just study coding all the time. I have bills to pay. I like reading, and feel as if I am too old to go back to college. I like going for walks. I listen to books on tape. I took a coding class. I am a fast typist. I am a decent writer. I don't want to think of coding as a hobby. I am impatient.
Speaker 1
How good at coding are you have you created any apps or games?
Speaker 2
Well, I took a coding class, but I can't say I am any gopod.
Speaker 1
I am sure you are better than you think, especially if it is something you are passionate about! do you have any other fun hobbies?
Speaker 2
I like to read just about everything I find.
Speaker 1
That is great! What is your favorite book of all time?
Speaker 2
I am partial to Once An Eagle by Anton Myrer. It is the best example of military leadership I have ever read.
Speaker 1
I have never heard of it, is it fiction or non-fiction?
Speaker 2
It's fiction based on historical facts. I believe it is recommended reading at West Point. It's also a very good story.
Speaker 1
That sounds very interesting! You seem like such an intellectual. I love reading murder mysteries haha, I like a story that allows me to escape regular life and really immerse myself in this fictional world.
Speaker 2
Oh, I like them, too. I'm big on science fiction, thrillers, murder mysteries, etc, etc... I like to read.
Speaker 1
Maybe you can give me some recommendations on a new murder mystery to read?
Speaker 2
I don't know, maybe Cap Daniels, Anthony Mayne, authors like that...
6 days 7 hours