If I could, I would drop out...

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I currently go to a top five liberal arts school, and for what it is, the classes are great. However, school environments in general offer little freedom--everything is routine, and we're graded on how well we can fetch and regurgitate information like dogs. I love learning, but not in this educational system, where grades take precedence over knowledge. The education system is so flawed, yet everyone around me continues to go with it. I know people are going to talk about "passion" and "devotion" to a subject, but that's only within context of this university system. I can't believe it when I come on this site and see people obsessing over getting into Harvard or Yale, when they're all mental prisons in one way or another. Of course, I know few are going to take that last sentence seriously, since we have this idea of "college = salvation" ingrained in us (especially here).</p>

<p>It sucks, because I've done well here without doing a lot of work, but a lot of time, I don't want to be forced to do something I don't feel like doing. Had I not gotten a full scholarship here, I would've dropped out already, but its an "opportunity" I guess I should hold on to. </p>

<p>There's a lot more I wanted to say, but I don't feel like articulating myself too much right now. I feel a little better about school since I've stopped caring about the grades. But w/e.</p>

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<p>Yeah, if I had the choice I'd drop out of school in a heartbeat. People go to school for better job prospects and a "great" future. to me school is just a means to an end. I'm an art history major but i'm not necessarily passionate about it. I need a BA in order to go to grad school.</p>

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<p>I agree with fresh and x90 about college. It has definitely not an intellectually enlightening experience. For classes, it's mostly memorization and the atmosphere of the campus itself is more boring that what I'm used to. But, take it what you will, college is much less stressful that the "real world". Everything's taken care of for you. Enjoy that while you can.</p>

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<p>The grass is always greener on the other side.</p>

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<p>i didn't mind school up until 3rd year engineering and now I'm miserable. if i was in arts I'd probably like it.</p>

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<p>Russel You may enjoy it a lot more in 4th year engineering when all those job offers come in.</p>

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<p>^^^yep</p>

<p>no pain, no gain. I go to a prestigious university, and I def. have learned a lot more than my peers are learning in the same subjects at less prestigious schools.</p>

<p>but yea, a lot of my peers are very smart or very clueless...and I guess I'm the same way about diff. classes.</p>

<p>college is more bout than just learning academics.....Im slowly beginning to realize this...its about 4 years of difficulty adjusting to a new environment, stricter rules, difficult decisions, financial considerations, family issues, etc.</p>

<p>it is basically preparing u for the real world, and employers like to know that you have the capability to handle this kind of stress...and would be able to handle the stress of a workplace.</p>

<p>lol....or im just being too optimistic</p>

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<p>Great post ns347. College is a growing up experience for a lot of people. I realized that the kids who tend to do poorly in college are not the ones who are unintelligent, but the ones who relied too much on mommy and daddy.</p>

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<p>^^ i dunno if you're implying im one of those kids, but i came out of the ****ing gutter to get where i am now. but at some point, i have to question: what is the point of all this hard work an devotion? so i can get a job and make lots of money? that doesn't necessarily mean ill be happy -- hell, my job could potentially be as restricting as school is.</p>

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<p>Mental prison? You jailed yourself. You can drop out. No one's putting a gun to your head. Truth is, you're a miserable person who'll be miserable everywhere. You chose to stay in college because you prefer your LAC bubble to the real world. We all do. You chose to do this, deal with it or get out. Whining won't make you happy. if you refuse to do what you want, you'll never be happy. Even after college. </p>

<p>Here's my outlook and why I'm happy - I wanna get a JD. I picked a subject I like (Econ) and don't mind studying for a couple years. my dreamjob would be Law/Policy so Econ makes sense as well. I have 4 years of college to enjoy, then 3 years of grueling hard Grad work, then the real world. I'm excited about it. You know what I wanna do with my life? I wanna get married, have 2 kids, live in a pretty house in the 'burbs, near NYC. I want to be happy...that's really all I want. If your expecations are ridiculously high you'll be miserable. </p>

<p>What do you want? What did you expect? That there would be unicorns? An enlightening out-of-body experience? That's not college, that's an acid trip. Do what you like and you'll be happy. Stop acting like you're being forced to do this and that. Truth is this is your best option or else you wouldn't be doing it. You hate college but you can't handle the real world right now, so you're here.</p>

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<p>accidental double post</p>

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<p>Wow, way to make baseless generalizations. Perhaps it was to make yourself feel better, hm? Let me address your points, because they're so far off that I had to do a double-take</p>

<p>"Mental prison? You jailed yourself. You can drop out. No one's putting a gun to your head. Truth is, you're a miserable person who'll be miserable everywhere. You chose to stay in college because you prefer your LAC bubble to the real world."</p>

<p>This is ridiculous. I'm from one of the poorest areas of NYC, and I actually HATE that I'm restricted to such a confined place. You talk about me whining -- I'm almost POSITIVE that I've endured harder experiences than you ever will growing up. Don't confuse me with some pampered rich kid -- I didn't make my post for pity replies or a sense of entitlement. I wasn't some suburban kid happily aspiring to be an a sheltered environment where I could study and play beer pong on the weekend.</p>

<p>" We all do. You chose to do this, deal with it or get out. Whining won't make you happy. if you refuse to do what you want, you'll never be happy. Even after college."</p>

<p>The free education was what was enticing...?</p>

<p>" Here's my outlook and why I'm happy - I wanna get a JD. I picked a subject I like (Econ) and don't mind studying for a couple years. my dreamjob would be Law/Policy so Econ makes sense as well. I have 4 years of college to enjoy, then 3 years of grueling hard Grad work, then the real world. I'm excited about it. You know what I wanna do with my life? I wanna get married, have 2 kids, live in a pretty house in the 'burbs, near NYC. I want to be happy...that's really all I want. If your expecations are ridiculously high you'll be miserable."</p>

<p>Wow, that's so amazing. Once again, you're making assumptions. Do you know what my expectations are? Did I tell you that I wanted to be an astronaut and an NBA player? If anything, my expectations are simple and reasonable. College work is not difficult, for the most part -- I'm just questioning the means by which the educational experience is tainted.</p>

<p>" What do you want? What did you expect? That there would be unicorns? An enlightening out-of-body experience? That's not college, that's an acid trip. Do what you like and you'll be happy. Stop acting like you're being forced to do this and that. Truth is this is your best option or else you wouldn't be doing it. You hate college but you can't handle the real world right now, so you're here. "</p>

<p>Here's the irony of your statement: You talk to me about having high expectations, yet you're just telling me overly)idealistic garbage. Unless I become a hermit, I have to find a way to cope in structured society--so I have to endure. It's the best option, but only in respect to societal expectations. And who are you to tell me what I can and can't handle? Once again, I've gone through a lot of things in my life, and I'm that much stronger for it. And believe it or not, I'm a pretty content guy most of the time -- I play a few sports quite well, I play an instrument, and have hooked up here. I just came to share my thoughts -- not whine. I just have to find my own route, and somehow try to adjust this system to my needs. Honestly, based on your last reply, I wouldn't expect you to understand. But that's fine -- I was merely ranting.</p>

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<p>"I'm a pretty content guy most of the time -- I play a few sports quite well, I play an instrument, and have hooked up here. "</p>

<p>wow, he seems to have it all!</p>

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<p>lol, I appreciate the sarcasm.</p>

<p>this was the wrong forum to post on. i mean, i've gotten PMs from a lot of like-minded people, which is refreshing to see. however, i should've expected that i'd be hit with a barrage of people who can't see anything else other than what they've been taught "works" and attack me. tomorrow's leaders!</p>

<p>just the thought of it makes me really optimistic!</p>

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<p>lol dude, chill. that was the only part of your post that made me raise an eyebrow. </p>

<p>also it would be a little cooler had you actually done something about it, rather than just ranted on CC and mocked those who go through it all too. but that's just me.</p>

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<p>I understand that you find the system boring at times. But I mean... You have to learn the facts sometime, you can't do wonderful things without knowing the basics of a subject....
And no, grades aren't really the best way to do things, but there is no better system right now. Some schools give written assessments, that's true, but for mos other people (and employers) grades tell them how well you did and how much you worked. Sad but true. They need a way to see who worked and who didnt and grades are it.</p>

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<p>x90, I can definitely see where you're coming from. My response to this whole machine that the higher education system has defined for us, is to free myself from the system and do the things that I want to do once I get a degree. No more BS like law school, or happy hours after work at an I-Bank. But until then, I'll just have to grit my teeth and play the game just like everybody else - I need that college degree. Hopefully, you will do the same, and realize where your true passions lie.</p>

<p>Also, molly4190's post is so helplessly ironic that I don't think she'd understand either. Life is not about checking off the boxes and accumulating things - that's not how you achieve happiness (it's how you achieve happiness in "The Matrix"). Somewhere inside of her, she has a real passion (whether it be learning or arguing or reading stuff) and she's not pursuing it. That's just sad.</p>

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<p>What was the point of the OP again? Instead of posing a question or a suggestion, the OP merely complains about the “grading system” at universities in general – saying because of this he would drop out “if he could” (yes, he indeed can).</p>

<p>Jesus… just… no.</p>

<p>It’s obvious what has happened: some professor or teacher penalized you for something pedantic or has some ridiculous grading policies/ absurd hurdles to get a good grade in his or her course. You got a (god forbid) B or C in some class, and were completely devastated. Thinking it’s the end of the world, you make this retarded post “putting the system on trial, man” and ironically, despite being devastated by one silly grade in one class, actually advocate dropping out of college entirely (not seriously, though – you’re just b!tching).</p>

<p>Listen, no one said GPA was supposed to measure knowledge or passion, and people know that too. GPA reflects a student generally getting work done, going through senseless hoops when required, being punctual, supplying the information demanded, and generally following orders. WHICH IS PERFECT FOR THE CORPORATE WORLD, BUDDY. </p>

<p>They want to see who can, in cynical terms, scurry their way to the top and impress the boss. Those are exactly the kinds of people they are looking for. That is the purpose of a college degree: to prove you have basic intelligence, can at least basically function in society, that you’re not a sociopath, and can generally follow instructions. Your GPA and activities may also prove how ambitious you are and how much you try to make yourself and those around you look good, which are valued traits to possess in the eyes of employers.</p>

<p>But if you don’t care about GPA and your vocation as the end-all be-all of college, it is also a great place where you learn how to critically think and evaluate. You learn HOW to learn and HOW to critically think in college. You are given more tools rather than resources (knowledge of varied subjects) in university.</p>

<p>And even if you’re cynical enough not to believe that, well, personally I think college IS a pretty fun sanctuary to get drunk and otherwise mentally altered, disobey rules, and have virtually no responsibility with tons of horny young, tight-bodied girls bouncing around. If you would prefer skipping college to go straight to the working world, be my guest – but I wouldn’t blame college for your misery.</p>

<p>Also, you need to check you defeatist attitude if you ever hope to accomplish anything. Everyone has problems and a fair share of us have had troubled childhoods; but you gotta be kidding yourself if you think anyone cares. Deal with it and move on. And saying “I grew up in a neighborhood worse than yours” – you just sound like the dozens of rap artists that say the same thing: not compelling, stupid. Have a beer and chill out.</p>

<p>On a side note, who is annoyed with the term “hooked up.” If you made out with them, you made out. If she blew you, she blew you. If you screwed, you screwed. Every time a guy says it, it’s the same thing – you made out with or petted each other, nothing further, but you want people (me) to wonder/ think that you had sex. Of course, I know that if you did have sex, you would have told me exactly that if you wanted to impress me. Plus, whenever someone tells me they “hooked up” with so-and-so, I just ask them point blank if they had sex. They always say no. Stop trying to impress me.</p>

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<p>peter_parker, you have clearly and pathetically missed the point. Have fun at...Citigroup?</p>

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<p>I never said I was running the rat race; I'm just telling you the way things are and why.</p>

<p>I completely encourage breaking free from the system and the traditional paths laid out for you. But it's pretty ironic that you say that, Lecaf, but are still going to "the conformist spirit-killer that is college."</p>

<p>If you don't like it, drop out. College is an ENJOYMENT AND ENDS in itself. If you consider it a MEANS to higher positions in CUBICLE LAND or the CORPORATE WORLD, then why the hell are you attending, Lecaf, other than your painfully obvious lack of self awareness and hypocrisy? Tell me exactly why you are "sticking it out." Hopefully, your posts were meant to be a joke.</p>

<p>And yes. I do appear to have missed "the point" of the OP's pointless whining and bellyaching about unchangeable reality and the consequences of his own decisions. Please enlighten me with that supposed "point."</p>