Hate College. Need Advice?

State Forums
1

I love to learn. I am a curious, ambitious, open-minded, creative person. When I want to know something, I look deeply into it and use critical thinking to judge whether what I am learning from is a reputable source. I grew up in abusive homes in foster care for the first 11 years of my life and have mostly healed from my experiences. I have had articles published about child abuse, given speeches, and started 2 businesses (both of which I had to shut down as they got too big to manage with college). My dream is to work with an organization that fights sexual exploitation. In fact, I recently went to the National Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation a few weeks ago where an organization offered me a paid internship that I could not accept due to college. I have been at my school for 3 years, but have changed my major so I am still considered a junior.

And I absolutely hate college. I feel like it sucks all of the creativity out of me and I am not really learning. I don’t feel challenged. In classes, we just memorize material for exams. The teachers just lecture on everything you can learn from the books. I don’t feel like I am really learning anything useful or that I can apply to my job after college. On top of that, I feel like I can’t relate to any of my fellow classmates. But everyone keeps telling me to get a degree or I can’t succeed. I am getting an almost free scholarship from the school since my adopted mom works here, so I feel bad for hating college.

I’ve thought of dropping, but I’m scared. Scared that what people are telling me about needing a degree to succeed might be true. I’ve lived in very poor homes and I don’t want to live in poverty. I am currently majoring in integrated studies which is a major I can pick and choose classes from. I’m choosing classes that interest me, but I can’t stand how college is structured. Now I am taking 20 hours this semester, 19 next semester and 4 in the summer to just try to push through it, but the end feels so far and I am unable to find time to do things I enjoy. I really need advice. What should I do?

2

Stick with it. You are half-way there and you really need the degree in the non-profit world. Perhaps it is your school choice that is the problem, not the choice to go to school?

3

Stick it out. You may get a paid internship but without that college diploma, in the non profit world, your ability to rise in the ranks and pay scale may be hindered. It is a means to get to where you are going. It is where you are. Embrace it for what it is and find what there is to enjoy rather than everything you hate about it. Perspective changes everything. You have the ability to see this through and succeed. You have gotten this far and I know you have what it takes to finish. You got this. Everyone gets down and questions. Be careful not to burn out. It’s ok if it takes you a little longer if you need to. Best of Luck.

4

Is there a chance to take a break and do an internship over one semester to renew your vision of what you plan to do? Sometimes a break from the books with real life work and application can remind you of keeping your eyes on the prize.

5

It seems you may already have the experience you need to move on from college. If you’ve been writing articles and starting businesses, maybe it’s time to drop out of college and move on in the real world. While a degree is helpful, what matters is your actual experience and skills.

6

No… the degree does matter. One reason you may hate it is because you are taking such a heavy load. But stick it out one way or another. Short term pain for long term gain.