Im a junior right now in a catholic high school. I have no idea what I want to do and I have no idea where I want to go. Pretty much everyone in my grade is planning to go to really good universities/colleges and then theres me. I’ve had so many idea on what I want to do and where to go, but looking at it now its all gone. I don’t want to do anything that I’ve been wanting to; I just got bored of the idea. I don’t really have the best grades but they aren’t the worst and I didn’t do well on the ACT. My mom wants me to do well in life since it didn’t happen to her. She wants me to go to a good college and have a good job.Whats the point going to college if I dont know what I want to do, where I want to go. Im also going to have to start applying to schools and etc by around fall. I have no idea what to do. I have been thinking a lot about college and all, and I just don’t want to go anymore since I have no idea what I want to do/go. I also feel as if college just isn’t for me.
You have time. Sometimes being uncertain about taking a step, or even being afraid, can make one want to quit before getting started.
I had one kid go to community college first and by time she was ready to transfer to a four year for her junior and senior year, she knew what she wanted to major in. It was nothing remotely close to what she thought she was going to major in when she started. She graduates next month, and although she does have an idea of what kinds of jobs she is going to apply for, there is no job lined up yet. There are a LOT of unknowns and uncertainty! This is normal!
The other kid went to a small private school and yes, it was not easy to listen to the other kids talk about which schools were “good” and which schools were “bad”. Lots of her classmates seemed to be so sure of themselves, what they wanted to do, and so confident! It seemed like everyone at her school was shooting for prestigioius elite schools. By time May rolled around, not everyone was GOING to a prestigious elite school. She ended up at a big public flagship and has since discovered a major that has caught her interest and she is headed down that path now. We’ll see what happens!
There are a lot of people here on this forum that will help you find a college you can afford and that will be a good fit.
It can be hard if your parents are not helping direct the college search. Do you have access to a good therapist? This is a hard age, a big transition, and having doubts and fear is so common.
Yeah you’re right, there is still time. I still need to figure out what really interests me. Also, my school isn’t that great at preparing us for college. A lot of people who graduated and went to college dropped out after a shot period of time and Im scared I might be like one of those people
I would suggest taking a gap year. I think that, especially in America, they are not taken enough. Spend a year doing something that sounds interesting to you and try to figure out who you are before you try to figure out what you want to study. Paying for college and then dropping out is a massive, massive loss of money. Start with a summer class or some community college classes that interest you and then later re-evaluate what your goals for the future are.
Our D who went to community college was no rock star student. She worked the entire time, and didn’t always take a full course load. She went to the tutoring center, and often. Math was a difficult subject for her, and she took some remedial math courses at first, then college level. She repeated one math class, in order to get her grade up.
She started at a school she could manage (and one we could afford), and she proceeded at a pace she could manage. She took more than 2 years to get her AA. By the time she was ready to transfer down to our state flagship, she was full of confidence and ready.
There are many paths, and many ways to set yourself up for success!
College is a great place to figure out what you what to do, you do not have to know now! I thought I wanted pre-Med, but ended up falling in love with history and film. Going to a decent LAC helped me figure that out. You also meet lots of cool people at college and you learn to be a critical thinker. As @Midwest67 says, “there are many paths” and you will figure it out!
If you don’t feel like college now, maybe it’s better to wait a bit while you learn more about yourself. It is expensive if you are not ready, or it’s not for you.
Here’s an idea. What about working at the Grand Canyon or some other national park for a while after you graduate? There are many jobs including bus people, servers, cashiers, desk clerks, etc. At the Grand Canyon, the concessionaire provides housing, for something like $70 per month. Food is subsidized/discounted. You walk right by the Grand Canyon walking to work. There are lots of opportunities to hike, and I think nature is good for everyone–really, really good. Hundreds, maybe even more, work there, and there is a reasonably large employee community, including many young people. One could work at any national park, although many are not open year round. I know someone who did this, and it was a life-changing experience. Besides, Flagstaff is the nearest city to the Grand Canyon, and it’s a really cool place. Lots to do there, if you have a car or have a friend who has one. Northern Arizona University is there, so large college community. It’s very cool too.
What you’re feeling is really normal. It’s great you are self-aware enough to know it and confident enough to express it. Good luck!
I think it’s crazy - and kinda fake, actually - how everyone “wants” to go to college these days, and knows exactly what they want to study and do for a career. It’s not normal, I don’t think, but the schools are kinda forcing this idea on kids, and then parents buy into, etc… Back in my day, people go to college to figure out what they want to do. If they weren’t gung ho about going to college right off the bat, they went to community college or technical school, or went right into jobs. I think college - or some kind of forward-moving plan - is important, but the idea that everyone has to go right from high school to some high falutin college is wrong, in my opinion. I suggest enrolling in general ed classes at your local college, and getting a fun part-time job, and just explore. Keep doing that and see where it takes you. Oh, and when I was in college - at a community college - I took a great class that was all about helping us figure out our interests and aptitudes, and explore educational and career paths. See if you can find something like that. Oh! But for now, since you’re still in high school, just have fun and work on establishing good study habits. Try to get enough sleep so you can be engaged in your classes, and try to learn some cool stuff. 
Look too into gap year programs. I think there’s a section here in CC on them. Include in your search, Unschool Adventures, one I’m familiar with.
Oh, one more thing. Tell all those other people who are so focused on college that you’re not sure what you want to do, and that you’re gonna take some time exploring that, and you aren’t going to waste your time or money going to college just because everyone else thinks it’s what everyone is supposed to do. Think outside of that box, and be proud about it.