Life After College
Speed_2_Dave
Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8788Members
Join Date: 2002-11-15 Member: 8788Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">ala Fam</div> Anyone got pointers for a college drop out? Outside of don't drop out? I'm trying to figure out what I'm going to do with my life. I am currently a sophomore Computer Science major (I knew it wasn't anything like coding, so the reasons why I'm dropping out have nothing to do with dissillusionment as to what my courses would consist of), have only done well on Database classes, and am currently figuring out what I ought to do with my life.
My parents have given me the option of coming home while I work off my student loans (college wasn't cheap), or I could bum off of my fraternity brothers for a while until I find my own place up in my college town.
Both have advantages (friends, jobs, up where I go to school, rent is free at home), but I'm having a hard time figuring out WHAT exactly it is I want to be doing while I'm a "college dropout."
Well, I'm kinda lost, confused, and insecure about what I'm going to be doing with my life for the next 3 years, and joining the military is NOT an option (medically disqualified, I'd have to pull a lot of strings to get rid of that)
My parents have given me the option of coming home while I work off my student loans (college wasn't cheap), or I could bum off of my fraternity brothers for a while until I find my own place up in my college town.
Both have advantages (friends, jobs, up where I go to school, rent is free at home), but I'm having a hard time figuring out WHAT exactly it is I want to be doing while I'm a "college dropout."
Well, I'm kinda lost, confused, and insecure about what I'm going to be doing with my life for the next 3 years, and joining the military is NOT an option (medically disqualified, I'd have to pull a lot of strings to get rid of that)
Comments
Whatever you end up doing for a career, make sure its something you enjoy doing. If you enjoy your work it won't seem like a jail sentance (like school does :P) and instead will be quite enjoyable.
That's really all the advice I can give ya. :/
I really have no advice except the obvious.
Good luck otherwise.
NOTE TO SELF" Game reviewer = fame = good money = me sitting on my butt al day playing video games = another dream =]
NOTE TO SELF" Game reviewer = fame = good money = me sitting on my butt al day playing video games = another dream =] <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Note to Shadow: Take some English classes and you may have a shot. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I know one of my majors is going to be german, the other was going to be geology, before I learned geology is mostly boring and involves looking at one too many rocks. Then I was thinkign history, but I haven't taken any history classes yet.
During your time at college did you never take any other classes that you liked? Unless this is a technical college (which I fear it might be), then you probably don't have GDRs.
I suggest going back to the good ol' Economics suggestion (or was it Personal Financial Management?): Get a piece of paper, label categories important to you (Friends, money, rent, job availability, personal sway, etc.) mark each one on your paper with a number in ranking (you might think of a third option, like wandering the country in search of enlightenment <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> ), and then add up the columns and do which ever gets highest.
Not to be the corny, "Hey, that doesn't help at all" guy, but, "You're the only one who knows what's totally right for you."
This is the easy part, the hard part is the ulcer I am getting worrying if I will find a job or not <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo-->
You said your a sophmore...which means that you still have 2 years to figure out your major. Hell, you don't even have to major in what your career will be, it just helps. Me, i'm planning on majoring in History or English, but neither of those are what I truly plan a career for.
For fudge sake, DON'T EVEN PLAN YOUR CAREER right now.
Take it one day at a time.
If college is not for you why not try those computer/buesiness trade schools.
Where you only take classes dealing with your computer stuff instead of wasting time and money on other classes you dont care about like art or history that you would have to take if you went to a normal college.
They are shorter due to less classes and usualy no where near as costly.
Of course, I'm leaving school after this semester for a job at Raven, but that's a slightly different scenario. Anyway, the point is, like some others here have said make sure you examine all your options. If you want to drop out of school, that's your decision, but make sure it's a well thought out one. There are plenty of options available for people without college degrees, and in many fields experience is still more important than a piece of paper with some signatures. But just make sure that for whatever you want to do, you know that you're making the right decision. And if you don't know what you want to do, figure out what you need to do to figure that out. Example:
My fiancee had a hard first semester at UNL and never recovered. She was kicked out at the end of the last semester. Thing is, it's not a huge deal to her because she wasn't enjoying it or getting anything out of it. For now, she works full time and takes it pretty easy. Maybe moving to Madison after the wedding will open up new options she never saw or thought of before. Or maybe she just will settle into the role of a housewife. But regardless of what she finds in the future, for now she's out of the school setting, which had started to do more harm than good.
Good luck.
The issue with my school is that it is indeed a Technical one, and I found myself enjoying the squishy classes more than the important one. I've always known, deep down, that I'm a liberal arts kinda guy, but I never realized how scatterbrained I was until this year. The problem that I really seem to face is that the only courses I can find that hold my interest at the moment are all "GDR" classes.
I've been contemplating switching to German and something else, but if I am to do that, I'll have to transfer anyway. The problem is that I haven't really thought a lot about what my options are until recently, which means I'll be in limbo for 6 months to a year (or longer if I want to start off my next school debt-free.) Meh, I'll figure it out. Again, thanks for all the helpful posts!
I am not sure about the case in America, but in the UK, its quite common for people to work for a few years and stuff, then apply to University when they feel like it. If possible, might be a good option, taking a break from education.
Hey Fam,
Where are you doing your course? I applied for a few comp sci/games programming courses in the UK and I wondered if you were at any of my choices. I'd like to hear you opinion on the course you are at now. See what I've got to look forward (or not) to.
I never saw myself doing this, especially during my first year of schooling, but it is fairly obvious that I'm not mature enough to handle any kind of typical/standard school setting and that the longer I stay here, the poorer I am, and the longer it will take me to pay off my dues so that I can financially afford to try and finish my education.
Hey Fam,
Where are you doing your course? I applied for a few comp sci/games programming courses in the UK and I wondered if you were at any of my choices. I'd like to hear you opinion on the course you are at now. See what I've got to look forward (or not) to. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Im currently at University of Wolverhampton, although I have a friend studying a similar course at the University of Essex.
do what i should have done:
1. don't go to college
2. make levels/art/code for game mods
3. ??
4. Profit
my friend works at wallmart, hes been there two years and risen up to a warehouse manager, woo woo.
i work at a three-man pc repair shop, and now im in charge of hiring, talking to customers, building new pcs, and keeping the store running (read janitorial) its really experience in every possible field. and the best part, the owner has made it clear that i am his second in command, so as long as i stay with him, even after he has opened three more shops, i will become the vice president or regional manager or something.
while i have no intention of staying with him after i get my degree in two years, if you arent in for more schooling i really think working at family business can be a great idea. you get to be friends with everyone involved and it will change your life. the money's not great, so you may have to keep living at home for a while, its not like a massive corporation can pay you whatever youre worth, a small business can only pay what they can afford.
it doesnt have to be a computer related place either, because every business these days needs IT help.