Post high school

[ClausE30]

Like everyone says, go to school. I'm working on finishing my Junior year at University of Washington. The first two years I had no idea what I was aiming for and at times felt like going to school wasn't getting me anywhere. I took general classes in math and science and bunch of random classes. Needless to say, I'm going for a BS in Earth and Space Science (geology). Hoping to get a job out in the field and doing hands on work (can never see myself working in an office); maybe work in the Oil or Natural gas business but I haven't quite figured out. Goodluck with whatever decisions you make!

[Beastolizer]

GO TO SCHOOL.

Last year was my first year in college too. I'm now a sophomore.

I went to a very good university in my state and was not prepared for it at all. I had very good grades in high school, so I thought I would be! I ended up being overwhelmed with the work load and pretty much party'd my way out of college in 1 quarter...

In the end, I really wish I would have gone to the local CC for 2 years to get my AA to make a smooth transition into the university. Not only that, but it saves you a lot of money in the long run and it has helped me get myself back on my feet!

All in all, GO TO SCHOOL.

[will61]

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, CHERISH IT!!


but forreal go to school now, and get it out of the way because in today's society you WILL NEED some kind of degree.

[mamzak]

After high school I followed the herd and went to school... hated it, and did pretty shitty because I didn't really care. I never studied in high school and graduated with honors and used that mentality in university and learned the hard way that that's not how it works. After two years of fucking around I decided to do my apprenticeship as a heavy Duty Mechanic. I really enjoy what I'm doing, I'm on my third year now but I realized last year that I didn't want to do this forever as it's incredibly hard on the body. So I started taking night classes at the university I left originally. Now I'm a lot more focused, and have a ton more motivation to succeed in school.

Depends if you think you'll be motivated enough off the hop to go to school, because it's a hell of a waste of money if you aren't.

[avery0829]

I decided to go to a community college after high school and on my second year. I personally recommend it. If I had went to a university I probably would have messed around more than I did. Plus I am studying abroad now, because I pay a quarter of what a university is. So kill two birds with one stone, travel and go to school.

[swingard]

I'm a teacher and have seen alot of different students make alot of different decisions over the years. Since you are asking for advice here is what I would encourage you to do...

Do not take a break!! Trust me, this is a horrible idea...
You have to get some kind of training period. Armed forces, trade school, college... but something. CC for two years is a good idea if you decide to go to college. Decide for yourself what it is you want to do. Above all get trained in somethig you love to do.

After you get through your schooling or whatever you decide to do... then take your break man! Cross a few things off the bucket list.... go traveling, go live in some awesome places, cross a few things off your bucket list. You will have a few things going for you if you wait until after you graduate with your post highschool training... you will be more marketable, you will be a lil older, but much more mature, and you will have a much better idea of what dreams you want to realize.

Just my 02 cents

[thmaztc]

if you have the opportunity to go to college, go for it. take general Ed courses your first semester while you try to figure out what you want to do. there are so many resources in college that can help you decide what's the best route for you school wise. take advantage of all the resources out there and be open minded to everything thrown out to you because you never know if you might stumble upon something thats for you.

at the end of the day it's all going to depend on you and how serious you are about college, or any profession you go into. hard work is key, no matter what, is key to success and there are some sacrifices that you make have to make in order to excel.
in currently in my fourth semester at rutgers and planning on majoring in something business related. I knew since the beginning that I wanted to major in business but didn't know exactly what. but im about to finish all my prerequisites and by now I have a solid idea of what I'm going major in.

in the beginning I was sort of like you, I just wanted to go to college for the hell of it. but sometimes it's just not that easy because college is a whole different ball park. I've seen people who go college of the hell of it and do horrible in my opinion (2.5 cumulative gpa) and others who really know what they want or have a solid foundation like myself and do pretty well (3.5 cumulative gpa). (these gpa are based on fourth semester students).

be open-minded, use all the resources given available to you, surround yourself around people who serious about their studies if in college, and friends and family are an important support system to have.

hard work pays off, even if you don't go to college. you have an idea how great it may feel you rape an exam, not the other way around since you say you take honors classes. trust I was there as well not to long ago. just remember even though you may to give up stuff in the short run, it all pays off in the long run. DONT TAKE A BREAK AT ALL!!! just because you might feel exhausted from high school doesnt mean much once your in the real world. having a good job after hs might seem good for a while, but having degree in something you love you to do or interests you will be worth more in the long run

hope you find this helpful and anybody on here as well and best of luck to you.

shout out to all the engineering people on here

[browntown]

Just something to chew on. Life can get in the way of school. If you think you will eventually go to college, go now. You'll never have the lack of responsibility you have now.

My wife thought she'd take a break between high school and college. In that break, she ended up marrying her first husband, having a child, and working for 10 years in industries she hated.

She went back to college at 28 and just graduated 2 years ago from Willamette U. I'll tell you right now, going to college at 30 is much more difficult than at 20.

Do it while you can still be on your parents health insurance and you don't have life as a distraction.

[gearheadE30]

I suppose I should mention that while I commend many of you for success in your respective fields of strongly academic study, I have no interest in pursuing an education in thermodynamics. Don't misunderstand, I'm not a fucking bum that wants to go to college for the sake of a degree and contains no academical prowess whatsoever, I'm just not interested in the general use of mathematics or science. I, like most, would go to college in order to get a better job. But not to get a job that may be financially satisfying, but as tedious as using a spoon to demolish a brick wall.

Definitely not saying that you have to do engineering or whatever or you're a bum; that would be ridiculous. You've got it right in that it is about figuring out what you enjoy doing and what you can do every day and actually look forward to. I'd say a solid 50% of my ME friends are in it because they didn't know what they wanted to do. It's probably the most adaptable degrees out there, but that's also why it can be extremely difficult.

I suppose the main thing is that even though it can be dumb, a lot of jobs require that you have a degree before they will even interview, let alone hire you, at least in engineering fields. This becomes an even stronger trend working into upper management. My dad is an ME with an EE minor and eventually got let go from a job he worked for the last 15 years due to company restructuring. Long story, but the end result was that he had a very, very tough time finding a job in a similar position, simply because he doesn't have his masters, and the vast majority of people at his level do. It had nothing to do with experience or anything else, just that stupid piece of paper.

On a side note, I don't get thermo at all. I got the lowest grade of my college career in that class.

[noE30]

Another vote for CC, I just finished my AA at the local CC. As a matter of fact my diploma showed up last week. Whats next? Not quite sure, probably spend the summer trying to decided ..

[Gerta]

To OP, do the 'Liberal Arts' cirriculum at you local CC, and get your Asscociates Degree. By then you may have a better idea what you want to do.

I did my Assoc. at a local CC, then transferred to the big University nearby. I was on academic probation, then decided to take a break. That was 14yrs ago. Not getting my Bachelors' is one thing that to this day(and probably for the rest of my life)I regret very much.

Online College Mike .... do eeettt! Get that degree!

[619E30]

Local CC for me as well. Then transferring to SDSU for my last 2 years.

[VinniE30]

it's like they dont realize that DESIGNERS (not engineers) are responsible for how cars look, most of the time. and yes, we take responsibility for crap like the aztek too, sorry guys. Claus Luthe was a designer, guess what he designed?

With the way cars look nowadays I would like to see the engineers design the cars. Like a complete function over form sports car.

[MR E30 325is]

School is definitely the way that you need to go.

I did the Marines before I joined NAU (where I am at now) and it has made all the difference. The discipline makes school 100x easier. Plus school is now free. And being a Veteran gives you a giant upperhand in the long run.

I see a lot of kids fresh out of high school who do not give a single shit about the university. Sleeping in class, being all around lazy and generally not caring is pretty sad.

But to each his own. School for sure.

[eskimo810]

I can def relate to this. I graduated high school not know what I was going to do with myself college wise. So I decided to take a year or so off and see what happens. I started working at a local screen printing shop. I have worked my ass off for over a year now and I am the head supervisor for the printing production. We just hired a dead beat college graduate from JMU and all he did is party his years through college. I am a high school graduate and I am a supervisor of a college graduate. I make next to nothing as it is, sometimes college doesn't work out for some people. He is lazy and comes in hungover almost every day and just plays on his phone and does nothing with his life still! Making more money and being a supervisor to a college graduate feels good at times but I just was offered a chance to go to school within the next year or two and Im going to take it. Its nice making money full time but it isn't as "sweet" as what it seems.

I have matured a lot since when I graduated and now that my mind is in the right place I just was recently offered a chance to go to school and Im gonna take it! As much as I don't want the stress of work, and job to make some extra money. I know that it will pay off in the long run. Having that piece of paper opens doors to oportunities that you wouldn't be able to reach without it. Take r3vs advice and go to school. Start off at a CC and get your basic classes out of the way. Its cheaper and easier than going to a regular college for 4 years. Transfer to a good school and get a degree and go from there.

P.S. sorry for the long post.

This is what I'm interested in doing. I don't want to start working full time; I want to go to school, but I do want some time to figure myself out and practice my drawing and such. And I have a job ready for me that will earn me almost $20/hour if I'm working full time.

It just seems like a good idea, I just receive so much criticism from people when I bring it up-hence the purpose of this thread.