DAMNIT I hate school

[equate975]

BTW, I worked my fucking ass off this semester to pull things around. Nothing was ever late (except this damn presentation) I am always in class before it begins, except anthropology because my previous class is on the complete other side of campus and its not physically possible to walk in 10 min early.

And its not about me not passing this damn semester, last semester was a bitch, I took all these classes that are very difficult for me, mostly math and computer science, so I ended up scraping by by retaking classes and getting D's. Which ended up with a lot of uncompleted credits and several F's from computer science.

I agree, passing required classes is easy, but at least for me math and computer science (which was my original degree) is almost impossible to do, I have tried for 2 years now and I can barely pass them. And theres a difference, 3.0 I can do, but anything above that is just not possible for me. I have always sucked at school, I have done everything, staying after class, extra studying, hell I even went to a tutoring school outside of school to fucking teach me. and I still barely make it.

So all of you who are preaching I have not put any effort into it can kiss my ass. I have never worked so hard in my life for this semester, and yes I am pissed because I am so damn close to making it and I might not.

[Jscotty]

Ok.. a fall back plan is great but have you really developed a fall back plan? Going to college is great but if you don't know exactly why, then the plan is useless. I mean if you want a college degree for the sake of having one (and there is nothing wrong with that) then do something easy. Major in english or basket weaving so you can breeze right on through. One advantage of having a degree is that if you decide that you want to go to a trade school, technical school.. or when you finally figure out what you REALLY want to do, then there are grants available for college graduates.

Take it from someone who knows- I could have breezed through college on something easy rather than failing out over something more difficult. When I finally got to a point in my life where I was serious about a career, I ended up taking out almost $85,000 in school loans to get to where I wanted to be. Had I taken the easy route to a degree when I was not serious about college I would have been able to go to school for free when I was.

[equate975]

I am, I wanted to do computer science but I can't. So I am just getting liberal arts just for the hell of it. I really have no plan to use it, but if it comes to it I have something to show for some job I need down the road.

I am going to go to a technical school for what I want to do after this, but if it doesn't work out and I need some crap hole job I can at least get something better than working at McDonalds because I will have some sort of college degree.

Edit:

My fall back plan is just to have a degree to get any job, I don't really care what it is because if its not what I originally want anything will work, just as long as I am not working 80 hour weeks at $5 an hour. Its not specific at all, but you know you can't get ANYTHING these days without a college degree of some sort.

[whakiewes]

What do you want to do with your life then? I don't buy the college fall back plan. Thats a complete and total waste if you are assured there is something you want to do with your life. You can always attend college at a later date when the time is right, but if you have no use for it then why are you there? Such as if you want to be a mechanic - going to college is not going to make you an extra dollar in the field. Experience is what pays in that field so you would gain nothing; if anything you are losing four years worth of experience of pay increases. I see freshman every year coming into school who are there for no reason other than the experience. I have yet to understand what the experience is as to why you would waste 4-6 years of your life.

What I can tell you is that the only times my grades have fallen was when I didn't put forth a full effort. I started partying, staying out late, sleeping in, etc... It was noticable as soon as grades starting being posted, and it never came back up. Typically you assume that you have a 3.0, when in reality all semester you have been doing 2.7 work. You get an A on a test, and try to factor that in to your life and substitute it for another grade. So I have a 3.5 in the class right now so I don't really need a good grade on the project. Well the 0 on the project brings you down two letter grades and now you have a 2.0.

I am not trying to preach to you, but college is not that hard. Its a matter of how you apply yourself. Time spent focused on classes and grades are a directly proportional relationship. If you put 80% effort into a class, you will have an 80. I had to rearrange my life to allow my school to be first and my other priorites to be second. I have found a good balance now and I am happy in most parts of my life (wish I could spend a little more time on cars). You may SAY that you applied yourself 100% this semester, but just as everyone else in this thread who attends college has said, you put forth what you get in return, or about 86%. Much better than last semester, but not 100%.

I typically try to be friendly in all my posts, and this post has the same intentions. I think you have misplaced priorities in your life right now and you are not entirely sure what you want in life. If you were, you would set your mind 100% and do that.

Wes

P.S. - I may add a disclaimer that while general ed in college is easy, now that I am doing 15-18hrs of 300 and 400 level classes, I am getting worked pretty hard. This semester I had three 10+ page research papers due within the last month of classes. Each was an easy 40hrs or more worth of work.

[Jscotty]

I wanted to do computer science but I can't.

Why not?

[equate975]

Why not?

I have to do tons of math, which is always my worst class ever. It doesn't matter how hard I try its just one thing I will never get. Best I can do is scrape by with a D, like I said I spent a ton of time especially in math trying to get ahead, that was one of my major reasons for going to the tutoring school, but I just don't get it.

As far as college degree as a fall back plan that is what I was saying, if I could go back and do it over I wouldn't. The only reason I am still going is I am almost done with my degree, might as well just finish it.

[Jscotty]

The only reason I am still going is I am almost done with my degree, might as well just finish it.

I agree. I am more likely to hire someone who wasted their time in college and finished than someone who wasted their time in college and then quit.

[JGood]

I agree. I am more likely to hire someone who wasted their time in college and finished than someone who wasted their time in college and then quit.

I'd rather hire someone who gave a logical explanation for not finishing (like realizing the career they desire is not related to that degree) then someone who said they finished just to finish, and got bad grades doing so. It's not quiting - it's changing your goals, managing time and money, and making logical decisions to get you where you want to be efficiently.

Common sense, logic, and a set career path > "not quiting"

But, there's too many variables to have this argument. So I'll shut up now.

[Kate525i]

I'm wasting MY money because I have gone this far, had I known how stupid this whole deal was I never would have gone to a traditional college in the first place, even with my degree I can get I don't plan on ever using it, its not what I want to do. The only reason I am here to begin with is just a fall back plan.

yeah... wow, that much money on a fall back..... wow......

and on another note. applying yourself can suck, sometimes it's fucking hard as hell, but you HAVE to do it. I spent the first 16 years of my life with an undiagnosed case of Bipolar. no one noticed until my soph. math teacher (who had also been mt fresh. math teacher) caught on because i was nearly failing when the year before i had aced his class with no effort. I had a rare case of early onset bipolar as a kid which my teachers all told my mother was "just her personality" and when hormones kicked in in highschool, it went out of control, big time. I couldn't finish homework, i couldn't remember most of the answers on tests, and i was usually too depressed or euphorically distracted to pay attention in class, esp. because geometry was never my thing. my point in all this is that I passed. with a high C. I went to couseling, got some meds, and busted my ass to pass that class. and things never got easier in highschool, nor when i took my EMT/FF classes, i still have to kick my ass in gear to study and all that. yeah, it sucks, and i really would rather be outside on beautiful days, but i'm often caught on the couch studying. but bare minimum should never be a goal, you should really try for 100's on everything because that way you're guaranteed to succeed in passing with a good GPA.

[mtechnik]

Hope you get through with school Equate!

Rootin for ya' I know the stresses associated with 1 test determining everythnig!!

[Jscotty]

I'd rather hire someone who gave a logical explanation for not finishing (like realizing the career they desire is not related to that degree) then someone who said they finished just to finish, and got bad grades doing so. It's not quiting - it's changing your goals, managing time and money, and making logical decisions to get you where you want to be efficiently.

Common sense, logic, and a set career path > "not quiting"

But, there's too many variables to have this argument. So I'll shut up now.

You make some very good points. I agree that changing your plans or your goals is not necessarily quitting if you realize something that you decide to do is not really for you. But that applies in the event that what you are doing is detrimental to your success and well being. Otherwise if you take on something and it turns out to be more than what you thought you bargained for, you ought to bite the bullet and see it to the end.

When I look at a resume and I see that the applicant went to college to be a doctor and finished his degree even though medicine was not something he really wanted to do, it shows a great deal of character. I think at one time or another we make a major life decision without understanding what we are getting ourselves into. The old addage says, "You made your bed. Now lie in it." And then when the situation becomes difficult those who have character will stick it out until the end.

I have had employees of mine quit after a few weeks simply because the learning curve made the job difficult. But those who stayed on the job eventually learned everything they needed to know and now they are enjoying the benefits of thier diligence. The only exception was one guy who worked for me for about a year. By the time he handed in his resignation he knew every aspect of his job to the point where he could objectively decide that he was in the wrong line of work. I consider him to be someone of great character.

But too often people give up and quit when the task becomes difficult. I am willing to bet that if you ask the average person what kind of career that they would be willing to do if they could get twice the money that they are making now, in a moment's notice they will say' "I will do ANYTHING for double my salary!" yet they will not survive 2 days on the job.

[StereoInstaller1]

So all of you who are preaching I have not put any effort into it can kiss my ass. I have never worked so hard in my life for this semester, and yes I am pissed because I am so damn close to making it and I might not.

Hey man...it may be tough, but being 40 and having no degree is tougher.

Hang in there, get it done.

You can always dig ditches with a degree, but it does not work the other way around.

Persevere, man, persevere.

Luke

[Mtriple]

nor when i took my EMT/FF classes

Are you a firefighter?

[Digitalwave]

P.S. - I may add a disclaimer that while general ed in college is easy, now that I am doing 15-18hrs of 300 and 400 level classes, I am getting worked pretty hard. This semester I had three 10+ page research papers due within the last month of classes. Each was an easy 40hrs or more worth of work.

I agree, first 2 years were a breeze, 3rd year was alright, 4th year was tough. I had four 15 page case studies in one class this semester, a 35 page financial forecast for a startup business in another, etc. etc. this semester. Oh and I run my own business, as well as work part time at a local shoe company, as well as have a girlfriend and social life. And I got a 4.0 (for the third time). It's all about priorities. Priorities have to shift a lot, sometimes I had to do homework, sometimes I had to hang out with my girlfriend. The point of marginal returns applies to all things in life