I am currently a sophomore in College, in my second semester. My first year I was undeclared, had no direction…Now I’m in my second semester, on a Nursing track that I don’t think is right for me. I have currently a 4.0 GPA, and I feel guilty that at this point I still don’t know what to do with my life. My parents are paying money for my College and I feel bad that all they are doing is wasting money on me since I can’t get it together.
I think I may drop out of College this semester, to figure out what I should actually start doing with my life (I do plan on returning to College), but in terms of career and major I am clueless. I also would love to pay my parents back for the classes they paid for, as I find it’s unfair that I followed through with two-years of not knowing what to do with my life.
Does this sound reasonable or am I making a mistake by dropping out temporarily?
Can you change courses? Or talk to someone at your college who may be able to help? If you’re really unhappy and think you’ve made the wrong choice then don’t push youtself to carry on
Finish strong this semester, then look into taking a gap semester or year if you really need to. Try to avoid incurring any fees and keep the door open to come back if possible. A 4.0 in nursing is nothing to sneeze at! Don’t give up the possibility of continuing or using those good grades in some other major. Your parents have not wasted their money if you take a temporary break, but can still move forward after that.
What will you do when you take time away? How will you figure out a new direction? Are you still interested I healthcare, but maybe some other part of it? Or looking for a larger change?
If you want a larger change, you might spend some time with the Book of Majors (from Collegeboard). It lists majors and possible careers/jobs from them. Take some post-it’s and mark the ones that are super interesting with one color, and the ones that are “maybes” with another. Then see if you have clusters or ones that jump out for further exploration. Go to your college career center and ask them for help, too.
Once you identify some good candidates, figure out your next steps. If the majors you are most interested in are available at your college, look into how to take classes to try them out next semester. I know nursing is a very regimented track, though – you may have to make a firm decision on staying in it or moving on. It can be hard to sample other majors. Or maybe you could take a summer class or two?
I’d say don’t give up on your four year degree. It is really something you will be glad you have later in life, and you have support from your parents now. You might end up with an extra semester or two if you change tracks. That is unfortunate, but not a reason to drop out. Apply yourself to finding a new direction, and take a gap semester if you need to. But don’t drop out altogether.
If you really do need a break, I recommend taking a leave rather than dropping out. Keep your options open! Also investigate what impact this would have on any merit scholarships or need-based aid that you might currently hold before you pursue any course of action.
I also agree that you investigate other majors or perhaps take this opportunity to get some of your gen ed requirements out of the way - hopefully in courses that might interest you. You may spark an interest in a completely different field. @intparent has already offered very sound advice, so I won’t repeat it. Congrats on your strong academic start. It may be that you end up following some other path and that is fine. The majority of college students change their major at least once.
You’ve only been there one full semester! Don’t quit nursing so quickly, finish the semester strong before making any rash decisions.
@Mandalorian, the OP is a second semester sophomore.
Taking a break might be good.
Nursing background can also be turned into premed with added classes. Maybe that’s a better track?