|
Should I / How do I go about dropping out of college?
I started college a year ago and at first things seemed nice, but now I don't like it anymore.
It's way too expensive, my parents didn't save up any money for it so I've already taken out like 12k in federal loans (on top of scholarships). Every semester the tuition is raised more and more and I don't know much longer I'll be able to afford it because I also have a car loan out and have to pay for insurance, groceries, ect.
I'm living on campus and I hate it. All of my roommates have been very rude and act like the space is all theirs to do with as they please, invite people over until crazy hours in the morning, and hog the kitchen. You can't really report them to an RA because then they get revenge on you.
No good jobs will work with my college hours so I keep winding up with crappy minimum wage jobs and I never have any money. I'm constantly sick to death with fear as I see my bank account hit double digits all too much. I haven't been able to afford any new clothes or anything at all so I feel terrible about myself.
Then I constantly hear people say that college degrees don't mean squat anymore, especially not a bachelors. That you have to get at least a Masters and there's NO way I can afford to go to school for 6 years. I don't even know how I'm going to afford next year.
The stress of everything is making me hate the entire experience. I would rather move off campus, work full-time, and take classes at night while trying to work up the ladder.
I don't know how to go about doing this though...I don't have any money saved up and I can never save up enough money to get a place off campus. All my money immediately goes to bills. I can't work and go to school full time because nobody will work with my class schedule. I also can't drop below full-time status as a student without getting kicked off campus.
I don't know a single person looking for a roommate off campus because everybody else has their parents paying for everything. I also can't move back in with my parents.
Help! What do I do?
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Colleges & Universities?
I understand your problem though dropping out of college is not something I can recommend. In today's job market it is hard to get a decent job without a college degree. While it is easier now for college graduates to find jobs in their field of study, it was only a few years ago college graduates were taking entry level jobs once reserved for high school graduates. That little piece of paper will open many more doors to higher earning jobs then without it.
As for the roommate problem. This is not as uncommon as you may think. The school just lumps people together. They either mesh or they don't. You're going to an RA won't always help. What you can do is go to the housing office and ask to be placed in a new room for the next semester. They may give you 100 reasons why they can't do this or they may just do it for you when you tell them you and your roommates don't mesh. You tell them they are party students and you can't get any studying done.
Remember two things when talking to the housing office. You are now an adult and you are also the customer. Yes you are the one paying for their service and while it is up to you to take advantage academically it is up to them to satisfy you with the other services they provide you that you are paying for. In this case you need a room where you can study so it is either move you or split up your roommates.
We covered the BS about a college degree being meaningless. You did not say why you cannot move back in with your parents. Is it pride or will they not let you. I would find it hard to believe that any parent would not help a child better themselves in any way they could. So they can't help you with college tuition but living with them and helping you with food and shelter is something I believe any parent would always do for their children. If its pride stopping you, swallow your pride and move back in with your parents, it happens to be they way of the world these days.
Dropping out of school and going part-time in the evening is an option. You might lose your scholarships something to talk to student aid about if and when you chose this course of action. How you g about this is go to your student counselor or financial aid or registrar's office and tell them what you wish to do. They will help you with the paperwork needed for the transition and as long as you are carrying a half of a full load of credits any Federal students loans will be held in abatement.
I also suggest you talk to your parents. I'm fairly certain there are things they are willing to do to help you if you ask them. I understand you are an adult know and feel you should not be leaning on your parents. Frankly that is a lot of BS. Like every other phase in your life you have had to crawl before you learned to walk. This is just one more phase in life where you have to learn how to live and survive in an adult world.
My son is 40 years old you would think he doesn't need much from the old man any more. Not true he and his wife call me often asking for suggestions and advice. Why? Simple I'm 30 years older than they are and have seen much more in life than they have and I make a good sounding board for things they may want to do but are unsure of. It is just another phase in life that parents play in the life of their children.
Talk to the school administrators about you roommate problem, about possibly going to school at night. Talk to your parents about living at home while you get your feet firmly planted on the ground. But DON'T drop out of school all together. It is easy to give up on things and it is a cowardly way out of a problem. It is far better to work through a problem and resolve it. You will be better for it and you will feel better about yourself for doing so.
]
More Questions: |