If you're not ready for college...don't go. Advice?

College Confidential Community
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<p>You see, I wasn't ready for college, but I went. Now, I'm in trouble...</p>

<p>I was (still am) lazy, unfocused, unmotivated...I was there basically because I was supposed to be there...and I honestly didn't know what else there was to do...</p>

<p>After monkeying around for 4 years, I graduate soon (three classes left), in, guess what? Philosophy. Why philosophy? Now, there's a good question...</p>

<p>Honestly, it was the only thing I could stand without dropping out. I found it interesting...I should have dropped out. </p>

<p>At the time, I had 2 years left and something like a 3.4 gpa. Had I dropped out, I could have made the money I needed to make at the time, and also gotten the much needed break I needed. I also would have had the mental fortitude to grind out a couple years in something of real world substance...as opposed to what I did. I could have easily done CS or Math...instead, I chose what was interesting instead of what was practical. Big mistake, seeing as it wasn't being given to me...rather, I was buying it. Remember, they are selling you something...you don't have to buy, ever. And it's pretty expensive....</p>

<p>I won't go into debt issues...luckily for me (or really unluckily....) I worked dead end jobs to keep the debt at a minimum. I still have a ton to pay off, but I should be able to do that in a year or two afterwards. </p>

<p>If you're going to college...don't sacrifice your gpa for work. Don't do it half way like I did...where I'd take on too many hours (work or academic) because I needed them. Even if it takes you 5 or 6 years, the good gpa is worth it. </p>

<p>Now I'm dragging myself across the finish line a barely competent student...a 3.1x gpa....</p>

<p>I need some advice...</p>

<p>My questions are:
Double back? I'd be 24 before I finished...assuming no break. Remember I need the break.
Head to grad school? At best, it'd be a mediocre grad school...and not in a field I want.
Eff education and start on the real world? I have absolutely no clue as to what the heck is out there.</p>

<p>I think what I'm going to do is take a year off regardless...just to get my mind straight...go lie on a beach somewhere. I'm looking forward to that...</p>

<p>But afterwards? I basically have three paths...
1)Second degree.
2)Grad school.
3)Work crappy job. How crappy? "Would you like ketchup with that?" (Nah, probably more like "black, two sugars?".)</p>

<p>Which would you do?</p>

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<p>Take a year off from what exactly? From life? Your mind isn’t going to be any straighter after a year on a beach than it is now.</p>

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<p>You caught me on a bad day…</p>

<p>Screw life.</p>

<p>Take a year off from everything I don’t want to do and do nothing but what I want to. All this “do as you should” garbage…I’ve had enough. I’ll do what I want.</p>

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<p>I wouldn’t see taking a year off as being a bad thing. You’re young…there’s still a lot of life left to figure out exactly what you want to do. Would taking a year off be the most “responsible” thing to do? Possibly not, but you can’t live your entire life based on what would be the most fiscally responsible. Going out and enjoying life is important too. There are plenty of options out there. A lot of fields have been more inclined lately to hire liberal arts/humanities majors in many different positions, simply because of the creative thinking, open minded nature of that type of major. One example is in med schools…the most popular major in accepted med school students right now is actually philosophy. I’m not suggesting that you apply to med school, but it serves as an example that you aren’t limited by your specific major. There are still lots of options out there. Many industries value the critical/creative thinking aspects that accompany that type of major.</p>

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<p>At some point in life you are going to have to get over lazy/unfocused/unmotivated. No employer that I can think of wants an employee with that attitude, that is for sure. How are you going to fund “lying on a beach for a year”? Pretty much every adult I know would LOVE to go do that. But reality intrudes… roof, food, transportation, entertainment $ are pesky things that most people need.</p>

<p>You could look into doing something that might help you find some direction (Peace Corp? Teaching someplace, maybe English overseas? Maybe something with a non-profit or an NGO? Internships if you could land something and have someplace to live in the meantime?). Even working as a temp might give you some varied experiences with different companies that might help you find something you are interested in.</p>

<p>If you haven’t spent time in your college career office, I’d also suggest you go see them for some aptitude testing, and also resume & interview help before you lose access to them when you graduate. Otherwise you will end up like my friend’s son, philosophy major who graduated a couple of years ago and is living in his dad’s basement, working at a coffee shop. Neither he nor his dad are thrilled about this arrangement…</p>