6 answers
Tyrone
Student
Miami Gardens, Florida
6
Questions
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Did you ever wanted to give up on college because of how long it is?
#college-advice
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6 answers
Gloria Ortiz
Instructional Designer
845
Answers
Irving, Texas
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
Hi Tyrone,
Absolutely yes. College is not a walk in the park. You are going to have some subjects that are more challenging than others, Plus if you are like me, I was working full time while I was going to college so it was like having two jobs. And with two jobs, you don't always get to do the fun stuff. You miss important life events because you have to study. It can be a grind.
So how do you keep going? You need to consider a couple of things.
The Why - Why are you going to college? Sometimes it is because you think that you have to. That's not a really great reason, since it is so vague. So think about why. Does your desired career benefit from going to college? Being a doctor and a lawyer are fields where college is a have-to. My life experience has shown me that most careers don't actually NEED a degree. Yet most fields benefit from a degree. Why? Well college takes you on a deep dive into your chosen field in a way that life never really does. Say you want to be a computer programmer. College often teaches you a wide variety of programming languages that you may not be exposed to otherwise. It is a great gift to be able to look for the programming language that feels like a right fit, rather than going with the first one that you learned. Also, some employers like to see a college degree on your resume. College is hard. The fact that you finish college shows that you stick to something hard. I will tell you most of my days at work are not nearly as hard as college was. I stayed in college because in my field, a college degree is the difference between getting a job and not having one. Talent can get you hired doing what I do, but a college degree gets your resume in front of the people hiring for my job. And my Masters degree allowed me to bring knowledge to my employer that my employer didn't have. I had knowledge of software programs that they wanted to grow in.
Pace - are you taking too many classes at once? You may want to go to school full time because it is the fastest way to get done in the four years that everyone talks about. You may need to back off of full time to let yourself have a life. How do you offset that? Take classes in the summer. One of the best things that I did with my Masters degree is to always be in school. The summer break can ruin your study habits and it feels like starting all over again in the Fall. A steady habit of classes can make it easier to get through.
Support - Are you struggling in a class? Ask for help. Get a tutor or get a classmate to help you. School can be a grind because the subject is hard. Don't think that you have to do it alone. There are usually resources around you to help you get through that.
Good luck with college. It is not easy. I don't know very many people who regret getting a college degree.
Gloria
Absolutely yes. College is not a walk in the park. You are going to have some subjects that are more challenging than others, Plus if you are like me, I was working full time while I was going to college so it was like having two jobs. And with two jobs, you don't always get to do the fun stuff. You miss important life events because you have to study. It can be a grind.
So how do you keep going? You need to consider a couple of things.
The Why - Why are you going to college? Sometimes it is because you think that you have to. That's not a really great reason, since it is so vague. So think about why. Does your desired career benefit from going to college? Being a doctor and a lawyer are fields where college is a have-to. My life experience has shown me that most careers don't actually NEED a degree. Yet most fields benefit from a degree. Why? Well college takes you on a deep dive into your chosen field in a way that life never really does. Say you want to be a computer programmer. College often teaches you a wide variety of programming languages that you may not be exposed to otherwise. It is a great gift to be able to look for the programming language that feels like a right fit, rather than going with the first one that you learned. Also, some employers like to see a college degree on your resume. College is hard. The fact that you finish college shows that you stick to something hard. I will tell you most of my days at work are not nearly as hard as college was. I stayed in college because in my field, a college degree is the difference between getting a job and not having one. Talent can get you hired doing what I do, but a college degree gets your resume in front of the people hiring for my job. And my Masters degree allowed me to bring knowledge to my employer that my employer didn't have. I had knowledge of software programs that they wanted to grow in.
Pace - are you taking too many classes at once? You may want to go to school full time because it is the fastest way to get done in the four years that everyone talks about. You may need to back off of full time to let yourself have a life. How do you offset that? Take classes in the summer. One of the best things that I did with my Masters degree is to always be in school. The summer break can ruin your study habits and it feels like starting all over again in the Fall. A steady habit of classes can make it easier to get through.
Support - Are you struggling in a class? Ask for help. Get a tutor or get a classmate to help you. School can be a grind because the subject is hard. Don't think that you have to do it alone. There are usually resources around you to help you get through that.
Good luck with college. It is not easy. I don't know very many people who regret getting a college degree.
Gloria
Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
1590
Answers
California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Tyrone did you know it's possible to take college classes while you're still in high school. The process is known as dual enrollment, by taking college classes in high school saves you time in college. When they earn college credits, you won't have to take as many courses when you're actually in college. This could mean you could graduate college sooner and get an early start on your career or spend that extra working. Depending on how many courses you take, dual enrollment could help you meet course prerequisites to graduate sooner. Earning college credits in high school not only saves you time but also money. College courses that are a part of the dual enrollment program generally cost less than if they were taken after you graduate high school. In fact, many are completely free, which can add up to thousands of dollars saved. This translates to less tuition and, for many students, less debt when they graduate, a benefit that can't be overstated. Dual enrollment would enable you to take college courses and receive high school and college credit at the same time. College classes for high school students are offered a few different ways. Students can take them on-site at their high school, go to a college campus, or take them online. Talk to your high school guidance counselor they can give you information about dual enrollment, help you choose your courses and provide support when making decisions about for future career. Dual enrollment lets you get all (or at least a majority) of your core classes out of the way before you transfer to a four-year university alowing you to jump straight into whatever 4-year-degree you want to specialize in Tyrone.
See if dual enrollment is right for your Tyrone
Rules for dual-enrollment eligibility vary from state to state, check with their high school counselors to find out if you qualify. Usually, students must be at least 16 years old and have a GPA of at least 2.5; they may also have to take placement tests. Students will also need permission from parents/guardians and a school counselor or principal.
See if dual enrollment is right for your Tyrone
Doc recommends the following next steps:
Brayden Reiland
119
Answers
Corvallis, Oregon
Updated
Brayden’s Answer
Hello!
I think you are like a lot of students that can begin to question whether or not continuing school is worth it. College can be a difficult time in life not only personally about also learning difficult subjects and on top of that college is expensive. Whenever a friend would talk about dropping out or taking some time off I always asked how close they are to graduating. For a lot of people its when they are so close to the end and if they just stick with it for another year they'll have the degree, so in many cases I advice people to stick with it because you will regret it later if you drop out when you are so close to the finishline.
If its just the case where you dont understand material in a class or you did bad on a test or assignment I always say the best thing to do is go directly to the professor and talk with them about how you can do better. Most professors just want to see students to succeed because they were also in your shoes at one time and know the struggles of college. Go ask them about why the material isnt clicking or how you can better prepare yourself to do better next time. The worse thing is to not ask for help because a lot of time if you are struggling there is someone else who is struggling just as much so being proactive and asking questions can help more than just you.
Hopefully this helps!
I think you are like a lot of students that can begin to question whether or not continuing school is worth it. College can be a difficult time in life not only personally about also learning difficult subjects and on top of that college is expensive. Whenever a friend would talk about dropping out or taking some time off I always asked how close they are to graduating. For a lot of people its when they are so close to the end and if they just stick with it for another year they'll have the degree, so in many cases I advice people to stick with it because you will regret it later if you drop out when you are so close to the finishline.
If its just the case where you dont understand material in a class or you did bad on a test or assignment I always say the best thing to do is go directly to the professor and talk with them about how you can do better. Most professors just want to see students to succeed because they were also in your shoes at one time and know the struggles of college. Go ask them about why the material isnt clicking or how you can better prepare yourself to do better next time. The worse thing is to not ask for help because a lot of time if you are struggling there is someone else who is struggling just as much so being proactive and asking questions can help more than just you.
Hopefully this helps!
Claudia L
human resources
19
Answers
Cleveland, Ohio
Updated
Claudia’s Answer
No. The time will pass anyway, so you might as well earn your degree.
Ruben SL
Compliance Officer
13
Answers
Miami, Florida
Updated
Ruben’s Answer
College is a challenge, is not forever, and at the end is going to benefit your career and enrich your life. It will improve your job search opportunities and eventually you will see a return on investment with a reasonable salary and position. Take advantage of semesters abroad or internships to break up the daily grind. Also, there are a variety of online / virtual courses that you can enroll to make the experience more attractive / easier to cope (research online schools and online classes). You should consider enrolling in a club or organization to help you enjoy the experience and pass the time. Consider taking a break (a semester off or a summer off) to divide the time and workload. Something that helps as well is concentrating on your end goal, the reward that you will receive (a diploma) at the end of the road.
Brandon Dang
214
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Brandon’s Answer
No, not really. For me, I find that college/university will help with your career most of the time no matter where you go. Through going to college you are able to show employers the skills that you have learned that can help you through certain occupations. Sometimes it was a struggle, especially when it came to trying to figure out what kind of life I wanted to make for myself once I went into the job market. It is by no ways easy, but it is something that is temporary. It will eventually end, and it will ultimately help you in the long run with whatever you want to do. If you have a degree, there are more benefits then for one that does not have one, for instance, some companies grant higher pay to those that have degrees. It can be hard, but it is worth it in the end.