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options after flunking out
I went a semester in a private college and earned no credits, then transffered to a community school and flunked out. With my past transcripts I'm afraid no school would ever accept me. I don't have the option of not returning to school. I'm afraid no college will consider me with such horrible transcripts. What are my options?
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First, let's look at what got you in this position. Did you fail because you weren't motivated, or because you struggled with the coursework? Did you actually try, or you just never went to class?
You need to look at the reason why you chose to be in college in the first place. Is it because you feel like you HAVE to be there and your parents or society is forcing you?
If the problem was that it was just too challenging but you tried, you should have spoken to your professors and got tutoring. Professors are usually understanding and like being approached. It may vary with schools, but you could have been put on academic probation or appealed the university on why they should have kept you, or even talked to your professors about what you should do because you knew you were going downhill.
However, if it was because you didn't even want to be in school or had no interest, then you shouldn't have gone to school. I'm assuming that this is the case because you earned no credits, which means you went there and did nothing. If you really cared about it, then you would've at least tried. (Btw, I hope I don't sound like I'm putting you down, I'm just trying to help you find the root of the problem. You have to find the source of the problem before you can try to fix it).
Not everyone goes to college. Some people aren't as fit as others. Yes, it is statistically true that the higher you are in education, the higher your salary is, but life isn't over if you don't go to college. A lot of people don't go to college, but I'll warn you, people like that have to prepare for a rough, rough life.
So here are your options:
If you genuinely care about getting a degree, you can transfer to another community college, earn your degree online, go to a tech institute, things like that. You can also seek certificate programs and vocational training. Vocational schools are like those who teach a certain area of expertise, like to become an electrician.
If you're like me, if you are doing something you don't like to do, you will quit it. I would like you to find what it is you like to do. What interests you? Take a minute and think about what you are good at, what people compliment you on. What can you see yourself doing years from now?
If you are interested in art, visit an art school and find out what you need to get in. You obviously have to build a portfolio.
You can go to cosmetology school to learn how to do hair, makeup and nails. I don't think you even have to have a high school degree for this, you can just be 16 years old. You go to school for a year or two (it costs $1000-$2000). In order to get licensed, you are required to practice a certain amount of hours (it varies depending upon which state you are in). The hard part about this is that you have to hustle to establish a stable clientele base before you can expect to see good money.
If you are interested in health and fitness, maybe become a personal trainer. You have to spend some money on getting the books to study for the exam, but once you pass it you are certified. This will be hard if you don't have a general knowledge or are not good at anatomy, physiology and nutrition. You also have to be a friendly, personable person who enjoys helping people reach their goals.
Getting a license to be a real estate agent is pretty much the same procedure for being a personal trainer. You buy the materials, attend some workshop classes (you don't go to school for this, they just offer classes), then take an exam. The trouble with this is, you should find out the demand of sales in your are. In some states, people are always buying or leasing houses, but in others, real estate is very slow. This isn't a guaranteed job because you don't have a stable income. You could make $100,000 one year and $30,000 the next. If you aren't a good salesman, then this probably isn't for you.
You could take one of these jobs to the next level and start your own business. Although, entrepreneurship isn't for just anyone. There's a lot of loss in the beginning, but rewards in the end. However, it takes a while to establish a business and there is a high failure rate.
In the end, don't do something because you feel like it's the right thing to do, like you ought to do it because everyone else is or someone told you to. In the end, it's YOUR life. YOU have to live it, not your mom or dad. I hope that at least one of these options I listed appeals to you. Even if you don't go back to college, at least try something else. It'll be a very hard life for you if you're stuck flipping burgers with a high school diploma.
Good luck!!
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You never mentioned why you flunked out of both schools. That makes a heap of difference in the responses you will get. If you flunked for not attending classes, partying etc. than there's not much you can do to change any school's perception in my opinion.
However, I think you may have flunked not because you didn't try but because you did and just didn't understand things or couldn't write the kind of papers at the level they wanted. I'm wondering whether or not you have focus issues and or an undiagnosed learning problem.
You should look into that as schools will bend over backwards to help students succeed and will give you another shot if you can defend yourself and explain what happened with test results and a diagnosis of one. They'll help you succeed provide note takers, tutors, special software etc etc.
If that's not the problem than perhaps you should look into a business school or a trade school where you could learn to be a carpenter, electrician, mechanic etc. or go to culinary school so that you can work as a cook in a restaurant etc.
I have a feeling you're a hands on learner and that's the only way you can function. Definitely, finding a trade or something you're really good at and making money off of it is key for you. Look in to those kind of schools and programs and tell them that you haven't fared well in other schools and need a hands on program and support to succeed. You'll find a much better atmosphere than at a college.
These places have low student-teacher ratio and can give you the one on one to succeed. You just need the drive, effort and determination to succeed above anything at it. Loads of options, failing out of those schools may seem bad now but perhaps it happened so that you go down a better path.
In conventional colleges grades matter on a transcript but it's not all that matters. The entrance exam and essay as well as interview is 80% of it really. They'll ask why you flunked but if you can defend it properly they'll judge you based on right now versus a few years back. It's about character and proper fit. But yes, you belong in a trade school doing something that you really feel fired up about.
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