What's your thoughts on staying in college indefinitely, for the lifestyle?

College Confidential Community
1

<p>Ok, so here's my story. </p>

<p>I know that there is a very good chance I'm going to annoy a few people with my situation, and I'm willing to accept that. </p>

<p>I'm a 30 year old guy. I've been in college off and on since the Fall of 2003. I am still an undergrad. I've basically been in school for 11 years as of this coming fall and have not yet earned a degree.</p>

<p>I didn't get into this situation on purpose. A number of factors simply built up over time that led me to where I am today. When I began school I started out Pre-Law, and wanted to become a lawyer. I spent the first three years of school earning my core credits and did very well. Everyone I knew thought I had a future brighter than the Sun, blah blah blah, you know the drill. </p>

<p>At the end of my 5th semester, I began to realize that I didn't have a CLUE what I really wanted to do with my life. So I decided to just lay back a bit, and take two classes instead of four. This was Spring 2006, I was 21, going on 22. </p>

<p>That fall I decided I wanted to go into medicine. My family was over the moon to hear it. I was very excited, and enthusiatic. However, I realized it would be a long time before I even got my foot in the door because I had virtually no math training. Without math training, I would not even be able to begin my required science courses. </p>

<p>I know that a lot of "practical" college kids tend to be good at math, and look down on people who are not, but this is what it is. So I thought "Ok, I'll give myself a year to train in math, and in the mean time, I'll take a lot of classes involving my minor." My minor is political science. </p>

<p>So I began to took political science courses and other courses, which in retrospect, were whatever I wanted to take.
But somehow I just never got around to my math training, and continued to just do the same thing each semester. The semesters added up, time has a funny way of doing that, and things happened. I went through a few relationships, had a booming social life, played college tennis, travelled internationally, sat on administrative positions in student government, was an officer in several extracirricular groups, and eventually had to take time off from school for recurring health issues that still affect me to this day. </p>

<p>So as you see.... time just crept up on me. Fast forward to now. Here I am, I've been in school more than a decade, a Biology major, and I've not taken a SINGLE Biology class. Not one! I must be the only college student in the US like this!</p>

<p>Because of my medical problems, which nearly incapacitated me on more than one occasion, my family has been very understanding. They accept the fact I may do something careerwise other than medicine, as medicine may be too high stress for my body to handle. They have told me they will support me in any career I want as long as it is respectable (i.e. not criminal or blatantly unethical). </p>

<p>So my plan of action is this: I'm decidedly a perpetual student. No getting around that. However, because I have been in college so long, I have a very broad and distinguished academic record. I have a fantastic GPA, classes in many different subjects, I was a college athlete, student gov't lobbyist, and I served on the board of directors of a non-school organization, and was the youngest person in the group's history to do so. </p>

<p>So.. I will mostly change my major to Political Science, because I only have one class to go in it, get my basic math credits, and I should be able to graduate this fall. After that, I am considering getting my MBA or trying to continuing my poli sci education and trying to become a college professor as I know a lot of peolpe at my school and have connections from being there so long. Professors like me. </p>

<hr>

<p>HOWEVER! The more I realize how soon I can finish undergrad up, the more I just don't want to leave. Post-high school, I've never really known anything other than college life, and once it's gone it's gone. You see, even though the friends, the games, the girls, are all a part of it. I love the school environment. I love being in classes. I love doing research, talking to professors, learning new things. And because at 30 years old, I still look like I'm 17, and am very good looking, nobody has ever once, acted like I was somehow out of place. Not once. Every year I get mistaken for a freshman!</p>

<hr>

<p>Now I do intend to one day start a career. I'm not planning on just staying in college until I'm an old man. But I simply just don't want to leave yet. </p>

<p>I know what some of you might say. You might say that I have the Peter Pan Syndrome, that I'm afraid of change, that I need to grow up and be a working stiff like "the rest of us", or that by staying in school I'll ruin my financial prospects for when I'm older. Well... the thing is, is that the only reason people get annoyed at people like myself is that I don't appear to conform to the social norm. At 30, I'm supposed to be in a career, and married, and with two kids and a mortgage, and because I've rejected that norm, that upsets people. </p>

<h2>But what is the norm? Do all that? Then what? Climb the corporate ladder and get ready to retire? Then what? What does any of that do other than make a person feel a little bit better about themself? Why not shed this expectation and do something unique and different?</h2>

<p>So that's the story of it? How do I tell my family that I want to stay in college another 2, 3, maybe 4 years?
I'm currently in the process of setting up various investments and doing freelance writing in order to set up a good income for myself. Would they be more accepting of my decisions if I found a good way to support myself?</p>

<p>If you read this LONG entry, thank you. </p>

<p>Blake</p>

2

<p>OP, I don’t think people get concerned about your situation because it isn’t the norm. There are many jobs and professions out there to choose from, and the goal of college is to prepare you for one of them. You’ve considered two conventional ( and with family approval) careers, but not taken the steps you need to achieve them. One can only assume that you don’t want either of them. If you did, you’d be motivated to attain them. </p>

<p>People get concerned about your situation because it is self destructive to waste time and money in this holding pattern. For most people, the college years are not full adulthood, but preparation for it. When a parent pays for college, the expectation is that it is your job to do the necessary work to complete it. This is like any other job. Maybe parents are willing to give some slack to the student who needs a little more time to figure things out or who has had unfortunate difficulties like you have, but in the real world, employers do not pay employees indefinitely if they don’t do the job they are paid to do. </p>

<p>As much as you wish to stay in college, time marches on. You might still look and feel like you fit in at age 30, but in time, you won’t. This is not the same as an adult returning to college because those adults typically also have their own same age peers and responsibilities. Staying in college a long time delays job advancement, possible earnings, and forming friendships with same age peers. People get concerned about long term students because ultimately, you are only hurting yourself.</p>

<p>If I had any advice it would be to take advantage of student health counseling and the on campus career center to see if there is a career path that does interest you. It might not be in traditional college, but a technical school or other training. I would also advise you to seek counseling for any emotional issues that are blocking you from taking the next step to a more fulfilling adult life later on. </p>

3

<p>Yes, I so realize that eventually I won’t look or feel as young as I do now. But that’s part of why I don’t want to leave just yet. I have a rare situation in which I actually appear over a decade younger than I am and have the energy of someone that age too, EVEN with my health issues. I kind of feel like why let that go to waste by spending the next 4 years in some cubicle, when I could be studying abroad, meeting new people, going to athletic games, and learning new things in the class setting?</p>

<p>Honestly, I really don’t see how starting a career at 34 would be any worse than starting one at 30. </p>

<p>Also there’s another thing I didn’t mention before. My girlfriend is in college, and she’s only just finished her freshman year. We’re having so much fun, once I’m out of the college world, there will be a divide between us that will never be mended. We’ll be in different worlds.</p>

4

<p>Every decision has pros and cons. It’s between you and your parents. If they are willing to pay, and the college is in no hurry for you to graduate, then that is up to you. </p>

5

<p>When I was in college a million years ago, there was a guy approaching 30 who was a student who had literally never left. I thought it was cool then and I still think it’s cool . If you can swing it, why not? It’s actually downright Renaissance of you. :slight_smile: </p>

6

<p>I thought colleges cut student off at about 180 credits attempted or so? It’s an “academic compliance” policy, no? Maybe that’s just for students involved in using financial aid. Anyone know? </p>

7

<p>It has to do with receiving financial aid. I never received FA, never qualified. </p>

8

<p>If you have the means to pay for it (or your parents are willing to continue funding you), and that’s really what you want to do with the next few years of your life, I see no harm. You’re happy and that is meaningful.</p>

<p>One quick thought, you said you have accumulated credits in a range of subjects. In the next few years, you could work on completing requirements for a major in a few of those subjects, thus graduating with multiple degrees. You might have to wait until the last semester to take the final courses for your majors though as some schools will require you to graduate after you complete your major (which isn’t an issue for most people, but a problem for you). Good luck!</p>

9

<p>I certainly will look into that. The subjects I have the most credits in are Political Science, Economics, and Psychology, all of which I total of a 4.0GPA in or close to it. My overall GPA is well in the 3 range.</p>