Dropping Out Of College

[Nihil Obstat]

For some people, school and careers are a means to an end. At least that's my current theory.
Some people will never really be fulfilled by their job. Won't take much pleasure in it. So you find something that you can be content enough in, and that gives you enough money to survive.
Money isn't everything, not at all... but in my opinion, it's a very useful tool. A tool that you can use to find something in life that will truly be fulfilling.

Of course this is coming from an eighteen year old who just started university.

[Luigi]

I say complete the semester and then drop out.

If you're not motivated, you're wasting your time and money.

Come back when you see the benefit of completing the degree.

Do be careful that you leave properly - inform somebody (academic advisor?), get an official opinion on how long you have to complete the degree, be sure all bills are paid at the school, return library books. Make a clean break of it.

[Apotheoun]

Era,

As I said in my earlier post, I dropped out of college and got a job working as a Claims Adjuster, and during the 15 years that I did that tedious job, I was assigned the additional task of training new Claims Adjusters. Now, the sad thing about that for me was that I was training people with college degrees in fields completely unrelated to insurance, and yet those new employees were making more money than me simply because they had a degree and I did not. Yep, I was training them and they were already making more money than me.

Quite frankly, I think it would be foolish for you to drop out of college with only nine classes remaining to complete your degree, but in the final analysis it is your choice, because it is your life.

God grant you many joyful years,
Todd

[jiyoung]

Oh, boy...I know how it is to want to just get OUT. I've been in school for four years, starting on my fifth--I could've graduated last semester, but because I wanted to change fields I'm starting over and I have another three years to go. All I have left to finish is my senior thesis at FUS--I have a way out. I'm plugging along because I know I want to do this, and though there's lots of drudgery I'm excited for what I'm doing. However--I also know that not having a degree of any sort will put you at a distinct disadvantage. As Apotheun said, you'll make less money than those who have bachelor's degrees. It makes you more marketable just to have that degree, whether or not you actually go into that field--and an English degree can be applied more widely than you realize. Anywhere where you might have to draft letters or something, so in an office setting, or if you want to go into screenwriting, publishing, advertising, editing, etc... And as some other people said, it helps just to know that you had the dedication to finish something like that. I know that if I don't use my music degree, it'll at least tell people when I graduate that I'm a trained performer who is at ease in high-stress situations, can interact with people easily, and is self-disciplined (which is what a performance degree will do to you). You can make more money with a degree than without, and in this job climate it's safer to stay a student anyway.

[mcts]

is there anything that you're going to be missing out on in these next 8 months? I mean, something that you know if you don't drop out, you're going to be missing out on? If that's the case, i say go for it and quit. Other than that, stick with it. I know that you have had to have worked hard to get to this point in your life, why leave all the work in vain? There are people all the time that say "oh, i'll go back to school" but never do. This way, if you end up deciding that you don't want to use your degree, you don't have to, but if you decide that you DO want to use your degree, you can.

that was my 2 cents. take it or leave it.

[Laudate_Dominum]

I can understand certain philosophical and/or ascetical reasons for wanting to avoid a degree. Heck, I'm all about dropping out, but I cannot encourage you to take that course of action (it is too personal a matter imo). You might not care now, but in ten or twenty years (or much sooner) you may regret it very much for reasons that don't even exist atm. That is the main concern that I have; it is a long-term decision and the opportunity to finish may never come again.

I don't know about you, but for me the old "you can make more money" incentive was actually one of the biggest turn-offs to getting a degree. God money I'll do anything for you... lol. Remnants of teenage angst I suppose.

[Apotheoun]

I agree . . . simply making more money is not a good reason for getting a college degree, but I can also say from experience that it is hard to accept being paid less than the people who you have trained in a particular job simply because you do not have a degree and they do.

[goldenchild17]

[quote name='Apotheoun' date='27 September 2009 - 11:34 PM' timestamp='1254116085' post='1973613']Quite frankly, I think it would be foolish for you to drop out of college with only nine classes remaining to complete your degree
[/quote]

While I think you gotta do what you think makes you happiest and I do believe that school really isn't useful for everybody, I do agree that with nine classes left it would make most sense to stick it out until may and go from there. Have you thought of like a trade school of some sort (although probably a moot idea at this point)? I know they have like one or two year nursing programs or tech programs or whatever else where you don't have to go to school as long and can get a certificate to work in the field of your study. Maybe if you were interested in working with computers you could get trained in just that and study just those classes which you might like better and get certified in the field. Of course that goes for other programs too, mechanic etc. I think janitorial may fall under this though not completely sure.

[desertwoman]

Like you said, the other classes you really don't care about and your doing your senior thesis right now on top of that. I did my senior thesis at the very end, meaning I took the extra classes first and then did the senior thesis with my adviser alone so I wouldn't be boggled down by the other filler classes.

I'm a fellow English major, and I do understand the frustration associated with it. Hang in there my friend. Finish that degree, and talk to your adviser. Tell her/him what's going on. The best thing about the English department is that the majority of them understand what you are going through and will empathize with you.

[Skinzo]

Hang in there and finish. An English degree can be very useful and could lead to a new challenge for you. Many foreign countries are recruiting people to come and teach English. With your degree you would be just what they are looking for. I don't think you will regret finishing, and I'll bet you will certainly be sorry that you didn't. You might get some real fulfillment by teaching English overseas somewhere for a few years. Just offer the suffering you feel by staying in to God, we need people who can offer things up right now.
God bless,

S.

[InHisLove726]

My mom is always telling me, "Education is never wasted." Even if you think you won't be able to use your degree now, think about the future. You may not want to return to get your Master's degree right now, but you might change your mind in the future. You are 9 courses away from getting your degree, so I agree with those that say you should finish.

I've been in your shoes for many years. I am no longer in school because I had trouble getting through the classes with my Attention Deficit Disorder. I recently discovered I am only 2 math courses away from getting my Associates degree at the community college! I have about 70 hours of credits that are just sitting there. Math is intimidating to me, though, and so I wonder if I should try to get it done, or just leave it alone. My mind keeps telling me, "Go back and get the degree." Even though I probably won't use it (definitely not if I enter religious life and stay), you never know what the future might hold. I might find out that I am called to marriage instead and I will want to get my Bachelors. If I have it half way done and have the degree to show for it, all I have to do is enroll at a university!

Never discount your education.

[Era Might]

Thanks again to everyone for the advice.

[quote name='Laudate_Dominum' date='28 September 2009 - 02:52 AM' timestamp='1254120740' post='1973624']I don't know about you, but for me the old "you can make more money" incentive was actually one of the biggest turn-offs to getting a degree. God money I'll do anything for you... lol. Remnants of teenage angst I suppose.
[/quote]
Yes! I completely agree. Honestly, part of me wants to drop out just for spite at having to prove myself worthy of a piece of paper that's going to get me money I don't want.

[Apotheoun]

[quote name='Skinzo' date='28 September 2009 - 03:45 AM' timestamp='1254131113' post='1973634']
Hang in there and finish. An English degree can be very useful and could lead to a new challenge for you. Many foreign countries are recruiting people to come and teach English. With your degree you would be just what they are looking for. . . . [/quote]
Yes, a friend of mine taught English in South Korea for a few years. He had a great time.

[Sojourner]

[quote name='Era Might' date='28 September 2009 - 07:49 AM' timestamp='1254138579' post='1973644']
Thanks again to everyone for the advice.


Yes! I completely agree. Honestly, part of me wants to drop out just for spite at having to prove myself worthy of a piece of paper that's going to get me money I don't want.
[/quote]
While I stand by my earlier advice, even if you don't have a family business to work in, I do think that even though you don't want money now it can go a long way toward providing you options in the future and opening doors for you. Or, you can always use money to provide options for others. But I also believe that getting a degree just for the sake of having a degree is not worth the time or money. You are close enough to finishing that if you should decide in five or ten years to finish it up, you can do so easily. Or you can take a few classes along the way and finish it over the next couple of years.

I personally think the "college education or menial labor" dichotomy does not necessarily hold true. Certainly an education opens doors to opportunities you might not be able to seize otherwise. But, there are plenty of opportunities available without the paper. The paper can make it easier to get a job that will be more challenging or interesting ... but in the long run, challenging and interesting are not the same thing as fulfilling.

If you take the time off from school, and use it wisely, you can create options for yourself as good or better than college can do for you, if that is your goal. My good friend and mentor dropped out of school for 15 years or so, and spent the time working and making a name for himself. He finished school eventually, then went on to law school, and now has started a promising law firm.

I wouldn't give this advice to everyone. In fact, there are very few people I would advise this way. Most people don't have the internal discipline and drive necessary to pull things together outside the structure of schooling, but you just might have what it takes.

[Winchester]

[quote name='Brother Adam' date='27 September 2009 - 09:20 PM' timestamp='1254100838' post='1973495']
The piece of paper will make the difference between a paycheck and no paycheck. [/quote]
I have no degree. I do pretty well for myself.

But dropping right now probably isn't a good idea. Might as well finish this part, Era.