I have lost all interest in college....what should I do?

[Superdoopercooper]

(no offense to the econ majors out there... I have a "concentration" in Econ from MIT )

Switch to a major that doesn't SUCK. Really, fine a major you are more interested in.

Also, consider taking a semester/year off to either:

a) travel and get your priorities straight

b) get a job in the real world and realize that a job without a college education is probably not what you had in mind for the rest of your life.

c) blow off school entirely... and go back in 5 years when you've matured, know more about what your goals and aspirations are, and will actually care about/do well in school.

 

[novon]

this always happens to college students, personally I took 6 months off to work in the IT industry, and now I'm much more accepting of school. and I have good work experience under my belt, and I figured out what my major and career is going to be. Take some time off, explore your interests.

 

[Azraele]

If you can't get yourself in gear with college, what makes you think you'll be able to handle the responsibilities of say..a job? Plus, a lot of employers want to see a college degree.

 

Take a semester or two off. If your not into school then your not doing anything but wasting time and money.

 

[GoodToGo]

goto grad school

 

[indd]

take a semester off and work. that's what I'm about to do. I told my parents I was going to take off school 2 years ago and they totally freaked out. Now I'm graduated and in grad school. It doesn't get any better! I like to learn still, but don't care about tests, quizzes and homework. (not parent supported btw)

Next semester I'm taking a break .. and looking forward to it big time. My parents don't like it too much, but that's their problem. I need time off to clear up my head.


indd

 

[GQUnknown]

just drop out then. college cost a lot of money. If you dont plan to learn you can put the money into better use. Such as a new car. Think about it. Do you spend $20,000 a year for something that you are not motivated for or do you go out and buy yourself a brand spanking new car.

your choice, in the end happiness is the ultimate goal isn't it.

my 2 cents

 

[Helpless]

<<

b) get a job in the real world and realize that a job without a college education is probably not what you had in mind for the rest of your life.
>>




Speaking of which, take a semester off to intern somewhere full-time would be gret for you...Not sure how far along you are in your studies, but places like the USDA's ERS (Economic Research Service), Federal Reserve, FDIC, PWC, etc, etc, are always looking for free/cheap labor

If you are sick of theory, grab an intern and take 6-months to collect your thoughts and some 'learning by doing'

 

[anonymouschris]

you guys have all been great and suppportive. thanks!

 

[jeremy806]

Stay in school and get the degree done.

If you need a year to relax, take that year after you graduate.

Anyone I know that has taken time off school to relax is still in school now or dropped out and will never finish.

jeremy806

 

[bonk102]

WongSoonPak, i have the same problem, i'm a "senior" right now, and have 9 more classes to take, actually 10 because i'm being fxed from one this semester for not going to class enough, my solution was this. Sit down, take a day or two off, and really think about what you want to do with yourself. Think about what you want to do in a year, then 2, then 3. Consider all the financial implications of not staying in school vs. leaving for a semster. For instance i found that if i take a semester off, i'll pay an extra $6000 to go back. so for me, it'd be worth it to just say F it and fight through it. I know where your coming from though, and you really do need to just sit down either alone or with a very close friend, and figure things out. Don't listen to people that dont know YOUR situation because they wont know the circumstances that lead to your decisions, i hope this helps ya out some, good luck

 

[MonkeyButler]

<< just drop out then. college cost a lot of money. If you dont plan to learn you can put the money into better use. Such as a new car. Think about it. Do you spend $20,000 a year for something that you are not motivated for or do you go out and buy yourself a brand spanking new car.

your choice, in the end happiness is the ultimate goal isn't it.

my 2 cents >>




"Your choice, in the end is happiness" so he should go and blow all his money on a car? Oh brother.

What an idiotic short-minded idea. Dont drop out and spend the cash on something unnecessary. Getting burnt out isnt a big deal. Most likely, you will quit for a bit then realize how limited the income potential and job ranges are without a proper education and will probably return more motivated to do something. Following the advice quoted here would only turn you into a guy who cant afford anything else because he blew all his money on frivilous crap. Going to college when you aren't mentally ready can be a waste but following the advice of morons is stupidity. I totally believe you are smart enough to think a bit further into the future.

 

[suspectbanana]

I was in a similar situation when I first started college. My girlfriend was 70 miles away (not that far but far enough when you're a homesick 18 year old) and I was stuck in a major that I was no good at. My GPA dropped off the map, I got put on academic probation and I flunked a bunch of classes. I eventually left college and came back home and attended community college, thinking this would solve my problems. It didn't. I just ended up being unhappy at home rather than at college.

A few things changed my perception of college though, once I decided to go back.

First, I changed my major (from comp sci.) to one I was geniunely interested in and good at: psychology.
Second, I changed my living situation. I moved out of the stinking dorms, which I hated and moved into a student housing cooperative with 24 other peeps. I've made more friends at the house than anywhere else and I still maintain relationships with most of them.
Third, I got to know the city I was living in. Rather than spend all my time alone in my dorm room, I learned to get out and see the city around me. Santa Cruz remains, to this day, one of my favorite places.

It took me a bit to realize that rather than make myself miserable, I should have just done what I could with what I had where I was. In the end, I wasted two years of my life trying to fix and change a situation that I, once I gave it some time and effort, turned out to be a really valuable experience.

However, during my stay there, I also met too many people who were doing amazing things WITHOUT a college education to believe that college is absoultely necessary.

If you're not unhappy with college and how your life is right now, take a minute to take stock of the situation and try and see if there is anything you can do to effect some positive change. Perhaps a change of venue is in order. Maybe your living situation sucks. Look into other majors. Experiment a bit.
But if all that turns up empty, hell, you don't have to be in college. Take a break, come back if you want, stay away if you want.

But I still look back at those years I wasted and I want them back. Now that I'm out of college, I realize that that period in my life is over and while I am moving on, there is only one period in your life when you're young and away from home, in an environment surrounded by other people sharing in the collective experience of college.

Anyway, enough of my crap...GL with everything

 

[777joee]

<< wong, wrong again!

college is VITAL!
I was fooling around in a dot com to gain the experience and I want to see from inside.
When the dot com run out of money, I was damn worried. Because if I lost the job, I wont' be able to get a good as good as it (pay, work etc)
Now I am finishing up my thesis (final requirement for graduation) so that no matter what happen I have something to fall back to.

Life without a degree really suck ass. You will come under a a*shole degree holder at work instead of being one >>



But I do not have a degree and I am making over 70K a year and have people that do have degrees working for me. Yes the paper on the wall is nice but NOT necessary in the real world.

Find something you like and do it.

Once my kids are out of college (their idea not mine) then I will have my fun.

Life is what you make of it.

BTW I still don't know what I want to be (other than a good father and husband 23+ years to the same woman) when I grow up and I'm 47.

 

[Harvey]

wongsoongpak -- I have lost all interest in college....what should I do?

Find your interest, again. You may have to drop out for awhile to understand why. That's what I did, a long time ago.

The answer is, the degree, itself, is one of those "merit badges" that opens doors and makes the entire rest of your life easier. The classes you take are not the only place to learn in college. You also learn how to study and learn and how to communicate with other educated people. You may want to change majors to something more interesting, but having a degree in any any recognized major will be your ticket into a workplace with other educated people.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Drop out for a while and do something else. There is no sense wasting the money on college now if you aren't going to get anything from it. If it is your money what your parents say shouldn't really be a concern. Tell them if they want you to go so bad they will have to pay for it.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Wong, if you can practically take some time off, then do it. Sounds like burn out. Then get the hell back in, IF you are ready. Some people aren't college material. Not a knock on intelligence, but if you don't have the temperment you are screwed. If you want to know if college is worth it, well from a money standpoint of course it is, well can be. I wanted to be an astronomer from early on. The problem for me would have been finding work. Not many ads in the paper. College would be useless for construction work, carpentry etc. Now there are those here who make great money and never went to school. You can too, but what you need is twice the motivation to get there. Somebody makes 100,000k without a formal education? Betcha most of them have a business, and work 60+ hours all the time. Exceptions i'm sure, but how many? How many non-business owning non-college educated people out there making big bux? Not many, at all. So, make YOUR decision about what to do, but choose wisely.

 

[bcterps]

Nothing anyone says here is going to convince you that college is vital and necessary for a successful life. College is great, and for most people, a necessity if you plan on earning a good salary. It may not be for you, however, you are young, stick with it, and graduate as fast as you can if you want to get out so bad. Be glad that you still have time before you enter the real world. I dont know if a quarter off is really going to change your appreciation for college. I have a feeling that the only thing that will make you appreciate college is if you drop out, work for a couple of years, then realize that you arent going to get that far without a degree, but who wants to waste a couple of years just so you appreciate college -- just stick with it.

--Ben

 

[GQUnknown]

Monkeyforabrain,

are you stalking me and making a comment on everypost that i make, go get a life loser.

I will watch this topic, cuz i am sure you will make a comment. Don't you have anything better to do than to read every single post that i make just to make a stupid comment.

Geez

 

[GQUnknown]

monkeyforabrain,

I really don't believe you, you are such a lowlife. U search for my past posts and bring up and old topic last posted a whole day ago just to make a comment. Holy crap you are so amazing. I have never seen someone with so much time on their hands.

you really truly amaze me.

 

[goog]

First off, college is not vital, beneficial yes, vital no. I have my degree (business - marketing, HR specialities), but I spent basically 6 years getting a 4 yr degree, transfer after 1.5 yrs. ended up taking more classes than I needed too (intentionally).

Take some time off. Travel, get a crappy job... whatever.
I'd seriously consider switching majors take something you like, get your degree you'll be glad you did.
Remember it's your life, you make the decisions that affect it.

 

[ace31216]

Change majors!!! Find something you're interested in.

If you just hate school in general, then too bad! Everyone hates to study, go to work, exercise, ect. But if has to be done. If everyone didn't do things that they didn't like or didn't feel like it, the world would stop and be in chaos.

I just graduated from college and the competition is getting tougher for jobs..especially in this economy... almost everyone has a degree these days and many are going for their masters. Don't be the one left behind.

I am not saying you need a degree in order to succeed. I'm just saying it gives you an advantage. At the same time, I feel college allows oneself to grow, develop, build a strong foundation, sharpen skills and form networks with people.

Be more active. Join a frat or some organization. Do things that are fun and mix it with your studies.... hope things work out. Good luck

 

[Cessna172]

I was in the same situation as you. I decided to quit college. I worked for 2 years, realized how much better getting up at noon was, and went back to school full-time 2 years later and finished. But I am so glad that I took that time off. My GPA before taking time off: 2.1; my GPA when I went back 2 years later: 3.9. Trust me, if you need time off take it--maybe you'll be like me and go back for one reason or another (my reason was laziness), and maybe you won't. I'm pretty sure Bill Gates isn't upset that he never went back to Harvard. Having a degree gives you more options, but I really believe that the long-term affect on your life is minimal--it's more about how driven you are to succeed. They say statistically that people with degrees make more money. I can almost guarantee you that the difference isn't the degree--it's the person. Driven people just tend to be the types that finish college (hence the correlation in financial success). But you don't NEED one to be successful in life. There are tons and tons of examples of this.

 

[UofI]

Get your interest back or be prepared to work 10 hours a day :Q

 

[notfred]

Bullshlt you're not living off your parents. If you were supporrting yourself, they'd have no say in whether or not you go to college.