Planning and Sudden Disaster, Want to Die

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>I took some advice and started planning and 'strategizing' my undergraduate studies plan which includes previous work from another community college (in addition to the one I'm currently attending). My plans were to transfer to Southern Methodist University and major in Computer Science and/or Business Administration in Finance or Management (from the school's highly-ranked Cox School of Business).</p>

<p>After school today, I began mapping out the courses that are transferable to SMU to calculate where I stand in regard to GPA, merit scholarships, and the 'feasibility' of gaining admission into the school.</p>

<p>After punching in my grades from the past and hypotheticals for the classes I'll have to take for the next year (including summer school), I realized that the odds are against me. Given that I make all A's (for semesters of no less than 18 credit hours) until application time, I would only have a 3.4 GPA. Looking at my Excel spreadsheet felt me feeling as though I was just diagnosed with terminal cancer. There's no way I can get into SMU with a pathetic GPA like that. I can kiss my opportunity at at least a decent school goodbye.</p>

<p>I don't know what to do now. I'm willing to put in the hard work to make 4.0 semesters, but in the end, it still won't be enough. I still can't get a decent college education.</p>

<p>I seriously want to kill myself now. I don't want to be poor and uneducated all my life, like my father, who doesn't take responsibility for his actions and equates ignorance with a justifiable excuse of not going the extra mile to improve his life.</p>

<p>It's as though all of this 'activity' is in vain. Perhaps there's just no value in my life and I'm just wasting space in this world. There is nothing I can offer anyone.</p>

<p>What a failure I am.</p>

2

<p>Step 1: Do not kill yourself. You need to see someone, talk to a counselor, or something.</p>

<p>As for the rest of your story, you need to realize that grades are not everything. You don't need to graduate college with a 4.0 or even a 3.4 to be successful or valuable as a human being. Getting a college degree should be your goal.</p>

<p>The very fact that you place so much importance on your education and the effort you're willing to put in shows that you will not be "poor and uneducated" like your father. The fact that you see his mistakes for what they are is proof in itself that you don't want to be like that, and that you're working towards being better than that.</p>

3

<p>Have you tried talking to an adviser at you community college or anybody at SMU? I'd talk to both and see what they have to say about your chances, etc. Also, it might be helpful to talk to a therapist. I don't presume to know what's all is going on in your head, and I'm not saying that you have any diagnosable "disorder," but you seem to be feeling pretty negative about things, in this post and in others you've made, and while CC is a valuable resource for parts of the college-related experience, a professional would be able to provide a lot more support for the emotional part of what you're going through. I don't know what all the resources that community colleges offer are, but I'm sure there's somebody who could help you find a good therapist.</p>

4

<p>Oh. My. God.</p>

5

<p>Since I'm just some random stranger who knows little about transferring and nothing about SMU's requirements, take this with a grain of salt. But --</p>

<p>Isn't it important that you have risen to the occasion of getting several semesters of 4.0 grades? Surely that counts for something.</p>

<p>Yes, you need to get the facts. You can do that by talking to someone at SMU. </p>

<p>You also need to recognize that there are many many many other options available to you to have a full and productive life. SMU is not the only path.</p>

<p>I agree with the others who urge you to see a therapist.</p>

6

<p>"oh no things are not going to turn out how i planned so my life is pointless. i should post on an internet forum about how i'm going to kill myself every time i come up against a minor challenge."</p>

<p>Your life sucks? Everybody has a reason that their life sucks. Get over it.</p>

7

<p>Seconded.
Anyone who compares a 3.4 gpa to terminal cancer really has never seen very many challenges in their life.</p>

8

<p>Maybe the moderator should review this thread as well as some of the other posts by the OP. This poster has a similar theme to all of his threads and posts. Many CC members have tried to help him and have encouraged him to seek professional help. </p>

<p>To OP, call a hotline and/or meet with a professional mental health professional. </p>

<p>To moderator: please look into the history of this poster's previous threads and responses.</p>

9

<p>if education is your life, epic fail</p>

10

<p>Your rising trend is still what matters. Don't give up yet.</p>

11

<p>InnovativeBoxx, how's Rob doing?</p>

12

<p>^I don't know. I don't talk to that guy anymore.</p>

13

<p>You really need to consider getting some help or just finding someone you trust, to talk with. College is no reason to consider killing yourself. And just because you don't attend a "top college" doesn't mean you can't have a decent career.</p>

<p>Heck, at my internship, my boss went to some state school in Arkansas and he's the president of a multimillion dollar IT recruiting firm on Wall St that has contracts with Fortune 500 companies (...yet somehow, I'm barely getting paid.)</p>

<p>As cliched as it is, the saying "life is what you make it" rings true. If the opportunities you want aren't coming willingly to you, take them or make your own.</p>

14

<p>You are not a failure if you don't achieve a 4.0 every semester/quarter. I never had a 4.0 when I was in college, and still graduated with a decent job. There are more important things in life than trying to be a perfectionist.</p>

<p>Guess what? Most employers care more about your skills than your GPA. "What can you do for us?" is their motto.</p>

15

<p>I don't even remember my GPA-no clue.</p>

16

<p>I apologize to CC forum members who have been annoyed with my negative feelings lately, but I felt the forum was my only (anonymous) way to vent my frustrations. I don't really have any friends and I'm not financially able to see a therapist, so writing out my feelings was the only 'release' to be had instead of containing all my frustrations. Believe me, if I did have friends I could talk to, I would speak to another person about some of my academic-emotional issues. My threads on the board would mostly all be of the positive, inquiring type.</p>

<p>After having some chocolate chip cookies last night and getting some good sleep, I arose this morning with a new 'strategy' and feeling good again about my future plans:</p>

<p>First of all, I made an error (in my favor) about my hypothetical transferable GPA. I forgot an entire semester of work, so it is possible to have a 3.5 transferable GPA before matriculation (and a factor on my application). </p>

<p>Second, I figured that I would get two associates degree, Arts and Science, since the number and type of classes I'm taking could be used to acquire both. With my first associates, I would work hard to get into the college's honors program, which can be used as another 'promotional' factor on my application to SMU. Secondly, I would strive to get on the Vice-President's Honor Roll and join Phi Theta Kappa (a national honor society for two-year colleges) for the Fall '09 semester. </p>

<p>Third, I would acquire my second associate’s degree and strive to get on the President's Honor Roll while remaining a member of PTK. With my accompanying GPA, I would graduate again with honors recognition for the Spring '10 semester.</p>

<p>Fourth, my application to SMU would need to have a highly compelling essay, possibly on my 'rise' from mediocrity/no focus to purposely identifying my goals and striving to achieve them. I would also include a minimum of three letters of recommendation (which are not currently required) from credible individuals.</p>

<p>Fifth, I would use the launch of my entrepreneurial venture and involvement in the Dallas business community for additional appeal. Properly managing a startup company and getting substantially involved with the Greater Dallas Chamber of Commerce has to have some merit with my application. (By the way, I'm not just involving myself in business activity to place another line on my university application.)</p>

<p>In summary, I'm using a number of academic accomplishments such as making the Vice-President's and President's Honor Roll, joining Phi Theta Kappa, graduating with Honors distinction, writing a highly compelling essay detailing my academic performance and grade trend, being actively involved in the Dallas business community, and getting recommended by credible individuals.</p>

<p>I've just about quantified everything there is to be, so I'm hoping some of these qualitative factors will supplement an applicant with only a GPA of 3.4-3.5.</p>

<p>My thanks and appreciation for everyone with helpful, edifying advice.</p>

<p>Wish me luck.</p>

17

<p>Easier said than done...but good luck.</p>

18

<p>Mind you, that 3.4 transferable GPA is transferable to SMU and what is most likely to be taken in account by the admissions committee. When I matriculate, my GPA will be higher because I'm transferring more than 62 credit hours, and the classes that will be "trimmed" (because I'm allowed a maximum of 62 hours), will be the courses that I performed the lowest in and do not account for an SMU degree plan or the school's general education curriculum. Coming in, I would probably have a 3.6 or 3.7 as a new SMU student.</p>

19

<p>I don't post much on these boards. I'm mostly an observer, but this thread makes me a little mad. </p>

<p>How you perform in college is exponentially more important than where you go to college!!! If you are a person who needs to go to a certain college to be successful, you won't be successful. A successful person shouldn't need a certain degree to do well. You can find success at any college!!! It all depends on how hard you will work for it. </p>

<p>Not to mention, once you're past your first job, your alma mater will mean little to nothing. Once you pass up that right-out-of-college job, your appeal to employers will be based on previous work experience, not whether you went to SMU or some lesser school.</p>

<p>Going to a more prestigious school can be a great boost for your career, but it is definitely not the only way to be successful. Likewise, an education from an average college will not restrict you to an average career.</p>

20

<p>buddy, no need at all to kill yourself. Get help on this. There are many colleges you can transfer to, you'll lose credits anywhere you go, so you get pushed back in class rank, and thus have more time to up your GPA, and then transfer again to SMU. Sure you'll wait, but sadly, waiting is what life it.</p>