9 answers
Aayushi
Student
New Delhi, Delhi, India
1
Question
Asked
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I want to drop out from college and wanna do something else. Should i go for it?
I have completed 2 years of my college,3 more were left but now i have started to realise that this is not the career for me, what should i do? #career #colleges #dropout #career-choice #career-advice #career-plan
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9 answers
Madison Maddox
Talent Acquisition
24
Answers
Kansas City, Missouri
Updated
Madison’s Answer
Hi Aayushi! I agree with the above responses. What was your intended degree/career path?
With the limited info, my suggestions are to at least complete an Associate's Degree since you've already put in 2 years of school, always have a back up plan and make sure you pay off your school debt as fast as you can if you have any.
I have friends in their 30's now who wished they stayed in school because they're trying to get to that next level in their career but without a degree of any sorts, they're limited. There are companies who offer tuition reimbursement which is a huge benefit and can save a lot of money!!
College is tough and draining but the reward at the end of the day is the degree and a big future!
Don't give up!
With the limited info, my suggestions are to at least complete an Associate's Degree since you've already put in 2 years of school, always have a back up plan and make sure you pay off your school debt as fast as you can if you have any.
I have friends in their 30's now who wished they stayed in school because they're trying to get to that next level in their career but without a degree of any sorts, they're limited. There are companies who offer tuition reimbursement which is a huge benefit and can save a lot of money!!
College is tough and draining but the reward at the end of the day is the degree and a big future!
Don't give up!
Liz Anaya
Product Manager
3
Answers
Boulder, Colorado
Updated
Liz’s Answer
Hello, With colleges being so expensive, if you are not sure about your career choice it may be better to pause your college studies for a short time. You can explore other fields of interest by getting an entry level position in that field. I recommend you finish your college degree once you have decided on your new career path. It has been proven that those with a college degree earn more than those without over your lifetime.
Navin Ganesh
Data Analytics
4
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Navin’s Answer
You have provided limited information about the course that you are pursuing now. Your question needs further introspection. If the reason you want to dropout is a way for you to escape the challenges that you are facing with the course, then the answer is No. You will face challenges irrespective of what you do at some point of time. You should look at strengthening yourself to meet the challenge. Try speaking to someone who can understand your specific situation and provide unbiased feedback.
On the other hand, if you already have a plan and have realized your passion in a different area, you can consider switching. However, definitely take time to think deeply and get some feedback from people around you who can provide a unbiased response before you decide to quit as you will essentially be throwing away 2 years of your time and effort.
On the other hand, if you already have a plan and have realized your passion in a different area, you can consider switching. However, definitely take time to think deeply and get some feedback from people around you who can provide a unbiased response before you decide to quit as you will essentially be throwing away 2 years of your time and effort.
naveen bharadwaj
Tech support
94
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
naveen’s Answer
Hi Aayushi ,
Its wonderful that you have completed 2 years in College. Now that you have realized that this is not a career for you. It totally your personal decision to change your career. I am not getting a clear picture as to what exactly career change your opting for. Depending on your and your Parental, socio economic status you can quickly make that switch in career. In case you have the option in your College to change to your subject of interest you could very well talk , and get the change done. In case its not possible or you are looking for an alternative career, then you can quit. If you are highly passionate about something then just got with your Gut feeling. I do see that you are from India, kindly talk your Parents, Peers and Mentor or experts before you take that Decision. Don't take any hasty steps.
Its wonderful that you have completed 2 years in College. Now that you have realized that this is not a career for you. It totally your personal decision to change your career. I am not getting a clear picture as to what exactly career change your opting for. Depending on your and your Parental, socio economic status you can quickly make that switch in career. In case you have the option in your College to change to your subject of interest you could very well talk , and get the change done. In case its not possible or you are looking for an alternative career, then you can quit. If you are highly passionate about something then just got with your Gut feeling. I do see that you are from India, kindly talk your Parents, Peers and Mentor or experts before you take that Decision. Don't take any hasty steps.
David Mendoza
Financial Advisor/Planner
6
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
David’s Answer
Hello Aayushi,
Financially, there are several things to be aware of when dropping out of college. Things to consider: federal student aid, student loans, and scholarships.
FEDERAL STUDENT AID
You may be required to pay back a portion of your federal student aid, such as the Pell Grant. This amount can be up to 50% of what the Department of Education deemed as unused for classes.
STUDENT LOANS
Federal student loans will need to be paid back, exit counseling or speaking with the loan servicer should be able to help with repayment options . Private student loan lenders have their own requirements, it is important to understand their process.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Some require degree completion or significant academic progress in order to not have to pay any back, but it is possible you may need to partially or fully repay scholarships, depending on the requirements of each.
Hope this helps and best of luck!
DSM
Check the requirements of each financial aid option received
Financially, there are several things to be aware of when dropping out of college. Things to consider: federal student aid, student loans, and scholarships.
FEDERAL STUDENT AID
You may be required to pay back a portion of your federal student aid, such as the Pell Grant. This amount can be up to 50% of what the Department of Education deemed as unused for classes.
STUDENT LOANS
Federal student loans will need to be paid back, exit counseling or speaking with the loan servicer should be able to help with repayment options . Private student loan lenders have their own requirements, it is important to understand their process.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Some require degree completion or significant academic progress in order to not have to pay any back, but it is possible you may need to partially or fully repay scholarships, depending on the requirements of each.
Hope this helps and best of luck!
DSM
David recommends the following next steps:
Tushar Gupta
Business Analyst
3
Answers
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Updated
Tushar’s Answer
I guess you should complete your studies, and in parallel start working on what you want to do later. It's a difficult one to get a job without a degree and if you feel you are up to it you can put your effort in better time management so that you can complete your studies and prepare for alternative career path that you want to adopt.
Sunil Doddagoudar
Business Analyst
5
Answers
Belagavi, Karnataka, India
Updated
Sunil’s Answer
Unless some hurdle (which is very difficult to cross at this time for you), I would suggest you to continue study and get your degree. Also, it will be helpful in future to have a formal degree if you want to apply any bank loans or something..
Imagine what you want to be (career and or hobby), and see if current education helps.. If answer is yes, then continue..
One more thing, it may also be because of boring teaching.. so, you can try online class for the same topics/Subjects.
Imagine what you want to be (career and or hobby), and see if current education helps.. If answer is yes, then continue..
One more thing, it may also be because of boring teaching.. so, you can try online class for the same topics/Subjects.
Chet Lee
Engineering Manager
12
Answers
Portland, Oregon
Updated
Chet’s Answer
Hi Aayushi,
Definitely I agree that college can be a stressful time, with lots of doubts about your career choices! In a five year program, please realize that you have not really started the real curriculum yet, the first two years can be a combination of basics (groundwork), investigation (looking at fields within your major) and even weed-out (tough classes especially to see who has the chops to stick around. Generally speaking, the work you have done thus far may not have much at all to do with the actual work you will do.
You haven't specified your major so it is difficult to interpret your exact misgivings, and their implications on your actual career. But here are some ideas:
1) Do you like the people in your classes? Different fields attract different personalities. If you don't like the people you are studying with, this does not look good for a profession.
2) Are there more advanced students who you can talk to (further along in the curriculum)? Perhaps friends, Teaching Assistants, etc. They may be able to shed some light on how the later work may differ from the first two years
3) Most schools have guidance counselors or mentors (professors or students) you could discuss your concerns with.
4) Can you intern in the position (or related to your profession), to better understand exactly what the job is about?
5) Consider taking a gap year or semester. But if you do so, use it to look into other options. For instance auditing other classes, or trying a job in a related field. The closer you stay to where you are now, the less added schoolwork you need to do. Again, I would anticipate for most majors, the first two years is pretty general, so could be applied towards many different degrees.
Most importantly, don't stress over this too much. A large fraction of college students change their majors at least once! It is pretty normal to think, "This isn't for me." Certainly, I thought this as an engineering major. But with that degree, this didn't mean designing machines necessarily. I could have done sales, technical marketing, business or any other types of things. I found that technical management (bossing teams of engineers) was a rare skill among engineers, and that I was pretty good at it. Friends of mine received History and Psychology degrees, but now run major businesses and do programming. Having a college degree increases your hire-ability as well as your long term lifetime earnings.
Good Luck!
Contact resource at your college for their inputs (mentors, 3rd/4th/5th year students)
Look into gap year potential for your school
Investigate internship, or job shadow opportunities
Definitely I agree that college can be a stressful time, with lots of doubts about your career choices! In a five year program, please realize that you have not really started the real curriculum yet, the first two years can be a combination of basics (groundwork), investigation (looking at fields within your major) and even weed-out (tough classes especially to see who has the chops to stick around. Generally speaking, the work you have done thus far may not have much at all to do with the actual work you will do.
You haven't specified your major so it is difficult to interpret your exact misgivings, and their implications on your actual career. But here are some ideas:
1) Do you like the people in your classes? Different fields attract different personalities. If you don't like the people you are studying with, this does not look good for a profession.
2) Are there more advanced students who you can talk to (further along in the curriculum)? Perhaps friends, Teaching Assistants, etc. They may be able to shed some light on how the later work may differ from the first two years
3) Most schools have guidance counselors or mentors (professors or students) you could discuss your concerns with.
4) Can you intern in the position (or related to your profession), to better understand exactly what the job is about?
5) Consider taking a gap year or semester. But if you do so, use it to look into other options. For instance auditing other classes, or trying a job in a related field. The closer you stay to where you are now, the less added schoolwork you need to do. Again, I would anticipate for most majors, the first two years is pretty general, so could be applied towards many different degrees.
Most importantly, don't stress over this too much. A large fraction of college students change their majors at least once! It is pretty normal to think, "This isn't for me." Certainly, I thought this as an engineering major. But with that degree, this didn't mean designing machines necessarily. I could have done sales, technical marketing, business or any other types of things. I found that technical management (bossing teams of engineers) was a rare skill among engineers, and that I was pretty good at it. Friends of mine received History and Psychology degrees, but now run major businesses and do programming. Having a college degree increases your hire-ability as well as your long term lifetime earnings.
Good Luck!
Chet recommends the following next steps:
Dr. James Zavala
Lieutenant Colonel
133
Answers
Lorton, Virginia
Updated
Dr. James’s Answer
College is not for everyone but you have to think of what you want to do. College is only for a few years and then you have the rest of your life to live. Do you know what you want to do if not going to college? I understand college can feel overwhelming with all the coursework required along with having and enjoying life. But you must think long term. What do you see yourself doing 5-10 years from now? Does it require an education to do it?
Good advice
Sunil Doddagoudar