Doubting I can succeed in college

College Life
1

<p>I have assessed these past two years of college that I can succeed successfully in college, but I typically have only been taking two "major" classes per semester for the last four semesters. I usually have been working 20+ hours a week while going to school, and I've found that two "major" classes oftentimes can get unmanageable. I get straight As just like I want, but I don't know how I'll succeed when I have to take more than two major classes per semester from hereon out. I also lived from home these last two years while not having to worry about life's duties. Most of my free time is spent studying.</p>

<p>But if I were to transfer to a four-year university, I'd have full-time loads of all "major" classes. (upwards of 5 per semester rather than two). I'd also have to worry about lifely duties. Am I in for horrible university shock? I know I sound entitled and spoiled when I say this, but I can't imagine maintaining an apartment, working more than 30+ hours a week, going to school full time with 5 classes, and making sure I stay physically well. I feel like the only way I've managed to do well in college up to this point is because I've managed to dedicate all of my available time to studying. These last few semesters, I've been staying up all night at least twice a week just to make sure I study the material in detail to the point where I'm sure I understand it all: and most weeks I still wasn't getting things "perfect". I just think of what 5 classes a semester is going to do to me: staying up 8 nights a week because that's totally possible, eating less than once per day, etc.. I haven't had a social life either: it's just pure studying.</p>

<p>I'm just almost positive that I'll be overwhelmed with schoolwork, work, and life if I go onto a four year university. For those of you who can understand what I'm even talking about, what sacrifices will I most likely have to make? I know I might be able to succeed if I didn't work at all, but then I wouldn't be able to afford college.</p>

2

<p>You’ve got a few options. Don’t work 30 hours a week, don’t study as much and settle for lesser grades, or don’t transfer. If I were in your situation, straight A’s wouldn’t be worth not having a social life. I would definitely stop working or spend less time studying. </p>

3

<p>What happens if you cut back your work hours? Can you still afford to transfer if you do? I think 20 hours is too much to work with a full load and get very good grades, and 30 hours is definitely too much.</p>

4

<p>Well here was my logic: I calculated how much I would earn in a year working at probably $10/hr part-time 20 hrs/week and it would not pay for my university expenses in the slightest. Bumping up that hour count to probably 30+ hrs/wk, affording university expenses might be a little bit more realistic. I’m not planning to go out-of-state. I’m planning on staying in-state and the cost of attendance of anywhere that offers my major is $20,000/yr. I’ve been working for the last two years trying to make this type of money so that this wouldn’t happen but I’m having the horrible realization now that it was completely impossible.</p>

<p>The other (and completely undesirable option) would be to take out federal student loans to augment what I’d be earning in its place, but that’s only putting the problem off a bit.</p>

5

<p>Well, it puts it off while you hopefully earn a higher GPA and complete a degree, and then you should be able to get a higher paying job. Federal loans aren’t a bad idea, you just don’t want to go beyond that amount if you can help it. </p>

6

<p>You don’t sound entitled -it’s not recommended to work beyond 20 hrs/week while in college, which is why you’re already feeling overwhelmed. Federal loans are a reasonable amount of debt.</p>