What should I do about college.

Student Lounge College Life
1

<p>Ok, I think this is where something like this goes haha...</p>

<p>This may get lengthy, but I could use some advice, so here we go:</p>

<p>I am a junior college student at a university with about 25,000 students with a 3.17 GPA and 50 hours credit (3.42 excluding a basically meaningless Computer science class I took, lol). I also have a state scholarship that gives me free classes for five years or until I achieve 120 hours off of it as long as I maintain a GPA over 3.00. So far, its 2 years and 50 hours obtained. </p>

<p>From the onset, I have slimly enjoyed school and the only reason I ever went is because of free classes and decent commutable distance (30 minutes back & forth). In reality, I desired to work one or even two full time jobs the year after high school while living with my father and then move out after saving some cash, but the scholarship was an immediate deal, so I took it now.</p>

<p>As a freshmen, I declared print journalism as my major. I changed to computer science in my sophomore year but found out that I have no conceptual mindset or interest in it and completely bombed (B & F in two classes I took). I went back to print journalism for about a month going into this summer but realised that although I have a decent interest of writing (only sports, that is) and people say I am good at it, I have a deep disrespect and disdain for our media today. Because of that, along with other journalists having told me to second think a career as a print journalist for such reasons when I was completing a project on this career in my senior year of high school and the very limited job opportunities, I have no passion for this subject and really don't want to be stuck doing sports writing, period.</p>

<p>So now, I am a junior and completely dead in the water as far as career choices are concerned. One thing (considerably a personal weakness) is I am one, if not, the most unpassionate person that one would ever meet and I do not enjoy many things. I met with my school counselor twice this past week and he referred me via a website that displays numerous options about things one may enjoy in an occupation. After I completed it, it showed a DEEP dislike for virtually any type of occupation you could name except for things such as bank telling, office clerk, postal clerk, etc...such busniness-related careers that require an Associates Degree which my school doesn't offer. These results I tend to agree to... For more prestigious business-related careers as management, finance, or marketing that would require a bachelor's degree....it referred that I would have absolutely no interest in it, and I believe for the most part that is probably correct. The counselor, however, said I would probably be best trying to major in something such as marketing/management as they do not offer Associate degrees. Even then, it did not show a dominating interest in those fields, so I may not like it, either.</p>

<p>I am probably going to give it a semester to see if I like the marketing/finance entry level classes but I am doubting it. I was completely turned off with Economics I (still got a B in it though even after bombing the final) and not really expecting Financing/Marketing to be any different.</p>

<p>In conclusion, Should I continue college even if I have no passion for anything including the area where I currently live? Should I transfer to community college? Should I sacrifice the remaining hours I have and just let it go for the time-being until I grow more of a passion for something, if I ever do? I really have no means of making more than $20,000/yr if I even needed that much for myself in life, as I consider myself quite low-maintenance.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I think you should stay in school unless a fabulous, long term, high paying job lands in your lap. Maybe look at your college degree as an education, not a means to a career. Is there any subject you like? Astronomy, geography, english? Also, some people need time to mature and college is a good place to do it. Lots of college kids have no idea what they want to do when they graduate. Until you have some concrete reason to leave college, I would advise staying. If you were paying full frieght, it would be different. You have nothing to lose but a little time, and it doesn't sound like you are turning down other opportunities to stay in college. I hope you find something you like to study.</p>

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<p>Don't have any advice for you, I'm sorry:( But is that Middle Tennessee State University you are talking about with "MTSU Burning out"? That's where I'm going in the fall!</p>

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<p>MTSU is equivalent to Middle Tennessee State University.</p>

<p>You will like it though (unless you are like me and don't seem to have a passion for any subject lol). I reside in Wilson County and I absolutely despise it here, but Murfreesboro is one of the few towns around the area that is a decent place to live (expensive, however) and I would assume you are staying in the dorms if you are from Millington.</p>

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<p>I suggest taking a semester or year off to explore life and see where it takes you. What do you have to lose?</p>

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<p>If I take a semester off I void the $2,600 per semester scholarship for classes. Otherwise, there would be no question as to me doing that.</p>

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<p>Meh. Join the military. You may not like it because you'd have to move (and you said one reason why you chose to attend school was that it was a short commute), but you'd have a chance to think, explore a field, serve the country, get paid training, and get money for school afterwards. Something to think about.</p>

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<p>You should suffer a serious tragedy which will make you re-think your lackadaisical outlook on life.</p>

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<p>Hmmmmm does death of mother and 2 friends in last 5 years count? Lol.</p>

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<p>While I am no doctor, it almost seems like you are depressed. Have you seen a psychologist? Your last post suggests that perhaps the death of your mom and friends could account for some of your apathy and lack of passion. I would suggest speaking to someone-perhaps some meds may be in order and it may give you direction and focus. Good luck to you. I don't suggest that you drop out now.</p>

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<p>Lol indeed.</p>

<p>I guess you are a loser.</p>

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<p>Guess so playa :p</p>

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<p>----While I am no doctor, it almost seems like you are depressed. Have you seen a psychologist? Your last post suggests that perhaps the death of your mom and friends could account for some of your apathy and lack of passion. I would suggest speaking to someone-perhaps some meds may be in order and it may give you direction and focus. Good luck to you. I don't suggest that you drop out now.-----</p>

<p>Nah...as far as that goes (this was loooong ago also) when people die I just figure they go to Heaven so as long as it is not suicidial then I do not really care....and none of them were. So blessings to them. :)</p>

<p>On a side note I hate any mediciation. Even simple things like advil or dayquil. They just put me to sleep haha.</p>

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<p>haha.</p>

<p>...</p>

<p>Do you smoke marijuana? Maybe thats what makes you so nonchalant.</p>

15

<p>Does second-hand smoking of cigarettes count? :D</p>

16

<p>There is always something we don't like but we have to do.
I'd say,continue college.</p>

<p>And once you get of college,you'll find you even have less passion when you were in college.</p>

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<p>Take the finance/marketing classes and do this: flip through your college catalog, write down a list of the classes that interest you and sign up for those classes this fall. If you take them & they suck then, atleast you can scratch something off your list. </p>

<p>Some people arent passionate about the subjects they take. I am not passionate about my major at all. </p>

<p>Maybe you should go to Community College. Not everyone needs a 4 year degree. Maybe learn a trade. You can make good money w/ a trade believe it or not... Some in demand CC/Trade school certs/degrees are: RN, LVN, HVAC, Plumbing, Dental Hygienist (anything medical)</p>

<p>If I were you I would give college another chance this fall and if its still not for you do something else in the spring...but you only have 2 years left...get a safe degree like accounting, business, or nursing or something...so that atleast when you graduate you'll have a job...</p>

<p>Look up the most in demand careers and go from there...</p>

<p>Idk, good luck!</p>

18

<p>MTSU, finish college. As Bessie (I think) said, you don't have to view your college education as a direct path to a specific career. You will, however, need a college degree to keep open many options in the future.</p>

<p>Finish the journalism major since you're probably close to finishing it anyway. If you take some marketing courses as electives, then you'll know whether that is of interest to you; at this late stage, you shouldn't change your major unless you have a solid basis for doing so.</p>

<p>Consider post-college careers such as PR, editing/publishing, fundraising, speech/grant writing -- anything that has a strong writing component to the job. Except for the PR route, none of these careers are particularly lucrative, but they are a start that may lead you elsewhere. (I know someone who was a journalism major and who, through a series of connections, now works as the press secretary for a high-profile politician.)</p>

<p>Like the poster who said he/she was concerned that you might be depressed, I'm worried about that as well. The fact that your mother passed away and that you respond by saying, essentially, no big deal--people die, is a red flag. I'm not a doctor, either, but I know enough to understand that a flat affect may be a sign of depression. I also know that guys have a difficult time identifying when they are clinically depressed because the disease doesn't manifest itself as they expect it would. Just a thought -- not a diagnosis.</p>

<p>Keep in mind that good writers are needed in a variety of careers.</p>

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<p>what if you enroll in online classes? Will you still be able to keep your scholarship</p>

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<p>Problem with online classes: I'm on 56k, haha. </p>

<p>Depression? Possibly..... But definitely not for the death related issues. Heck, people tend to get irritated at me for being laidback at the funerals of meaningful ones. I am religious so I find it rather....I dunno....awkward or selfish FOR MYSELF to cry over the death of an individual you knew to be religious. (P.S. I'm ignoring any religious debacle haha).</p>

<p>If it were depression its based on a couple things. One being my dissatisfaction of the the area where I currently live. I hate living in an area that is so out of things they have no broadband internet (What can I say? It disables one of my only passions of playing sport games online) and I can not walk anywhere in my area...it is an approximate fifteen minute transportation to even get to town. My previous area I lived in I could practically walk the entire area whenever and whereever I wanted. But then, I have not lived there in over six years or even been there in around five plus.</p>

<p>I reckon that part of the situation could be rectified if I moved unto campus, however, then I am strangling myself finanically, and considering the job market in this area is downright attrocious (which is quite fustrating that you can't even get a night/graveyard job at 3 super-walmarts or grocers in my area), I don't see myself being able to move into one until I get some type of work. Heck, I applied for a cash register position at a gas station a month ago which had "help wanted" signs posted and they said I was not qualified because I had no experience....and I believe they still have their sign up lol.</p>

<p>I am definitely giving it one more go around this semester while taking some intro accounting/marketing courses and if that does not excite me, I will probably just give college a break, go back to my former hometown, and then when I believe I have found an interest, return (or go to the community college in that area lol).</p>