Going to college... What do I do with my Ball Python? - Page 2

KORBIN5895 · 06-21-13, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smy_749

I had no idea there were so many righteous human beings in these forums. Nobody ever partied in dorms, went to a girls dorm that they weren't supposed to, smoked weed, drank before 21, sped on the highway, cheated on a test, nothing right?

Everyone knows that kids go to college to follow all the rules!
Get off your high horses, you all break the law some how. I wasn't encouraging her to do it, but the same time I highly doubt they will permanently kick her out of the university when they usually just give students who do much worse a slap on the wrist or an F in a course or something.

I guess I'm just a rebel without a cause, I've rolled through a few stop signs in my day.

I don't have an issue with kids pushing the rules and breaking them but I do have a issue with adults encouraging a kid to break the rules. Kids get enough peer pressure without adults acting like idiots and possibly jeopardizing the kids future.

sweatshirt · 06-21-13, 09:45 AM

Eh... I need to research on college more :/

KORBIN5895 · 06-21-13, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Not all kids have daddy's money or business to fall back on.

This isn't about a high horse it's about someone's future. Education is paramount and I don't see how an "F" is any less serious than being kicked out. It would surely drop the GPA and may lose someone their funding to stay in school. Way to go! Your analogy has someone dropping out of school instead of being kicked out of a dorm. A+ to you.

This.

I always planned on falling back on my uncle's business if life got too hard. I actually did well in college but I failed an absolutely ridiculous class ( They took five assignments to determine my final grade and I didn't do one they ended up choosing.) and I wasn't comfortable with major so I never got a degree. I then moved to a different country and I am up that brown stream without a paddle. Therefore I think education is very important.

smy_749 · 06-21-13, 09:53 AM

If you get an F you can retake it and replace the old grade in most universities.
And you missed my point. I don't drink or smoke and commuted 5 days a week 2 hours driving everyday. I didn't even go through the college 'experience'. My point is, if she is anything NEAR a normal college student, shes going to be doing alot stupider, more risky things, than having a ball python in her room. And if they do 'catch her' with it, they will probably just say get rid of it and forget about it. They won't throw away your education because you wanted to have a little pet. They just have the policy so every dorm doesn't turn into a zoo. As for encouraging her, I didn't say she should do it. I said plenty of kids do it, and they don't get caught so she would probably have nothing to worry about IF she chose that route.

If you've ever studied engineering, you'd know that an F is not the equivalent of dropping out, at all. The average engineer at my school had a 2.3 or 2.5 gpa....and that was fine, they all got jobs and lived happily ever after. My close friend had a 2.0, and he makes 90g's a year at Boeing so.....

Oh, and lastly, the F thing was about if your caught cheating in a course. I don't see how a ball python would cause you to cheat and receive an F in a course....

Oh, and I was a mechanical engineer for 2 years, and got 3 F's because I never showed up to class. I switched to molecular and cell bio and I have a 3.4 and I never replaced the F's...Its not the end of the world.

bcr229 · 06-21-13, 10:34 AM

Here's the problem that goes beyond just "breaking the rules": if OP does take the snake to school with her and it's discovered, she likely will be given a very short time to dispose of it before being evicted from the dorm, assuming the university doesn't call Animal Control immediately to deal with it. The likelihood of her pet getting a soft landing at that point is nil. At least if the OP starts looking now she has a better chance of placing this girl into a good home. Heck, it's an adult normal female BP, a local breeder may just snatch her up.

I don't doubt that I broke some rules on my way to work this morning, but the consequences of that would fall solely on me and no one else. Breaking rules where other people or animals could get hurt is a no-no.

Lankyrob · 06-21-13, 11:19 AM

Forget about hreaking the rules, theat isnt a good way to start the next stage of your life. Tell us where you are and someone on here may be able to board the snake for you iuntil you finish college or suggest othre options for you.

There are plenty of options that dont involve lying on your first day.

Concept9 · 06-21-13, 11:26 AM

Just send the snake to me.

Problem solved.

Lupinus · 06-21-13, 12:17 PM

Hit up local boards or FB groups. See if any friends not going to college want it. Heck, put an add on Craigslist if all else fails.

It'll be better than being told to get rid of the snake NOW, or getting kicked out on your behind. Only other option is if your school allows off campus living for freshman don't live in the dorm. And then you have a land lord that has to be OK with it.

thomas1123 · 06-21-13, 12:34 PM

Hey there, sorry about your situation. But I just finished my freshman year of college and honestly youll be fine with it. You just have to be smart about what you do. You could get the snake rack and put it under your bed disguised as a clothes rack like you said. The RA's are NOT allowed to go through your belongings or and of your things. When they did room checks at my school they come in and look to see if you room is clean and that is about it. At my school we only had 2 room checks the whole time I stayed there. People had hamsters and other reptiles that they just hid. Idk how much different your school is from mine but usually RA's are students and they usually dont care because they ave their own thing to do. Oh and also even if theu do somehow find out you have a snake you they usually give you like 2 days to get rid of It so I would just take it to a friends room from those two days after room check bring it back.

Ourobouros · 06-21-13, 02:02 PM

College tuition is a gateway to destitution unless your getting a free ride. Sounds like you are but just in case... It's a common misconception that you HAVE to go to some big fancy college to be successful. I did just that and it's almost ruined my life. I could have a house now full of snakes if I just knew how screwed up the system really was to begin with....

Mark Taylor · 06-21-13, 03:06 PM

If it was me..

I would try to find someone that will look after the snake properly (Reputable breeder or collector).
Come to some sort of agreement that you pay all expenses for your snake plus some for time cleaning etc. And have access too, so you can get to see your snake live a happy healthy life while you are away.
When you finish your education you still own your snake

If you are unable to find that person I would sell to someone who has experience and wish it all the best.

Chu'Wuti · 06-21-13, 03:24 PM

Keep in mind that different universities have different policies and different disciplinary actions for violations. While one school's RAs may not be allowed to do room checks, another school's RAs may do them.

At some schools, freshmen are not allowed to live off campus.

Many people have advocated breaking the rules, but I encourage you to consider the possible consequences and how they might affect both your future and your snake's future. Are you willing to accept any possible consequences that might occur? Instead of thinking, "It'll never happen to me," consider carefully, "What if it DOES happen? What will I do then if I'm [kicked out of the dorms/lose my snake permanently/have to pay a huge fine/????]?"

You might check your local herp society, or find out whether there is a herp society near the school you plan to attend, and ask whether they have a member who might be willing to foster your BP. You might also contact the zoology/biology department there to ask if there is anyone who might be able to help you. Someone might be willing to allow you to move your BP into the corner of a classroom. Another possibility might be to check with a highschool or middle school science teacher in the area--would one of them welcome a BP living in their classroom if you went and fed and cleaned each week?

These are just some possibilities off the top of my head. I hope you figure out something that feels comfortable and workable for you and your snake!

Terranaut · 06-21-13, 03:26 PM

Wow I just read all of this and most of you are over reacting to each others comments big time!!!
Honestly unless you would trade a house for this snake just rehome it to someone who you think will take good care of it. Go to school and get another after. How hard is this to figure out? Seriously, I love my snakes but I would turff them in a heartbeat if the rest of my life depended on it.
To the Op....you already know what you must do, stop looking to have your mind changed and do it. You will not spend eternity rotting in hell for giving your snake a new home. If your giving it away you should have little trouble finding it a home. Now get your life on track and your future the direction it needs.

Mark Taylor · 06-21-13, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

Wow I just read all of this and most of you are over reacting to each others comments big time!!!
Honestly unless you would trade a house for this snake just rehome it to someone who you think will take good care of it. Go to school and get another after. How hard is this to figure out? Seriously, I love my snakes but I would turff them in a heartbeat if the rest of my life depended on it.
To the Op....you already know what you must do, stop looking to have your mind changed and do it. You will not spend eternity rotting in hell for giving your snake a new home. If your giving it away you should have little trouble finding it a home. Now get your life on track and your future the direction it needs.

Amen

Ourobouros · 06-21-13, 08:52 PM

I guess I'm just a rule breaker and wouldn't care if the rule said I couldn't have a snake. I already know some here think suggestions similar to mine are going to be considered a bad influence or just reckless but it's really not a big issue. A dog or a cat is a different story but snakes are easy to hide. Whatever... College sucks... Graduated and now no jobs in my field... Student loan debt exceeds credit card debt now and everyone lied to me about how it works.. Screw the system. I'm bitter and I know it. One of my admitted faults. Oh well. In the end it's gonna fall down to what kind of person the OP is... And what goals in life the OP has.