Is it even worth it...college..help

[Blackhawk2009]

Im completely broke, stressed out, and i don't even know what to major in. I used to be an aviation major but i switched out because it wasn't something that i wanted to do for the rest of my life.

 

I am a sophomore in college and i have finals next week and as of now all of my grades are C's a B and one D. My grades have just been going down and down. And now i can potentially fail 2 or even more classes.

 

I sat and thought about it for a while and i think i know why my grades are so bad and why im stressed out all the time. I am currently 1500$ in credit card debt and all of that is just from gas and stuff that i need for school, maybe 200$ of it is from stuff for myself. I got a job 4 weeks ago and since then i have not been able to get anything done.

 

I would go to school, then go to work for 8 1/2 hrs. This would leave me with 0 hrs to do homework and study. Sometimes i would work till 7 or 8 but then i would be too tired to even study and i would just go to sleep. I only work at target but the job can be so stressful at times. Like last night i had to work till 12:30am, during the week of FINALS!!!. Even though i told my work i want 20hrs a week they give me 30hrs and all day shifts.

 

When i was a freshman i wasn't working the first semester and i had about 3000$ and i did so good in school, i was so proud of myself. It really is the money and job that make me do so bad now.

 

What makes it even worse is that i have to commute 50mins just to go to school and 50mins to come back. I thought about transferring but the school that is near me would only take about 5 classes worth of credits and i would be a freshman again. And i just found out that i dont have housing for next semester because im still on the waiting list so i have to commute again for next semester, i am so sick of driving to school. I have to spend so much money on gas and insurance..i don't even know if its worth it anymore.

 

I feel like i would do so much better if i lived at school and had a work study job instead. My best friend lives at school and he has such good grades but doesn't have to worry about anything else besides school. I feel like its these kinds of people that make it in life while people like me just get stuck at target for the rest of their lives...i dont want to be at target for the rest of my life.

 

I feel like i have to go to college or else im gonna be at mcdonalds or target for the rest of my life but i don't even know what to do with my college education..im so lost. I have to go to college i cant live off of nothing. If i had a trade it would be a completely different story but i don't. I dont want to be forced to be stuck here because i have a modeditty job for the rest of my life....

 

I just needed to vent that out..thanks to anyone who reads and replies..it would be much appreciated.

[capbit]

If I were you I would find another job, since they dont listen to your requests. There are so many other jobs that can fit with your schedule.

School should always be your first priority. No reason to work your ass off for money and be failing out of college. Counterproductive if you ask me.

If I were you, quit your job, focus on your finals, and maybe find a seasonal job during winter break.

I will agree, living on campus does help you. I did very well my freshman year on campus.

[RayKay]

Alright, first of all - tell your work you do not want more than 20 hours. They hired you knowing that, and you need to stick to it. A lot of employers whom hire part timers try and take advantage of younger kids to work extra hours - DON'T let them. School is your #1 job, and most people whom hire part-timers/students realize that even if they try and get you to work more. If they don't get that...find another job.

 

Anyway, I know how you feel - in my undergrad I worked 20-25hrs a week too and it was not always fun - took a lot of work to budget my time properly! I am back in grad school now and working less hours (around 10 a week paid, plus pro bono for another 5) but have a higher course load (and it is more demanding program)...all I can say is you need to make the best use of your time (study during breaks, etc) and really, set your priorities. School is #1, so if you can only work 10 hours a week...so be it.

 

Look into student loans/financial aid through your schools financial aid office.

 

If it makes you feel any better - I am about $30,000 in debt right now from student loans/student line of credit for two years of grad school......but I certainly know I will be able to pay it back when I am done and there is no better "investment" than my education and future.

 

Don't drop out - you will regret it. And don't drop out because your employers don't respect your schooling that is for sure!

 

Commuting sucks...I know. I commute about the same amount of time too to my school (not that I want to live in res, I have a house!) and some days it really sucks....but it's really not that bad you know....could be far worse. I get up at 5am for my running & yoga, and leave by 7:30/45 to get there in time for 9:00am (most my classes start then) so I know, but in the scheme of things, it really is such a minor thing and certainly not enough of an issue to drop out of school for unless you are LOOKING for validation to do it!

[Clementine orange]

Yes, school is number 1 and all focus should be on that. If your job doesn't understand then quit it. Find a job on campus - they might be more understanding. Study during your commute time (uh, unless you drive) but you could do "books on tape".

 

You have the will and the brains, you just need to sort things out and keep your eyes on the prize.

[CaptainPlanet]

Major in accounting and get good marks.

[Blackhawk2009]

see i want to quit my job but i have 0$ in the bank and no one will give me money and i already have about 20,000$ in loans..its not really college itself that is expensive..its the gas, insurance, car, and food that kills me.

 

and i think i want to major in criminal justice

 

thanks guys by the way.

[Clementine orange]

$20,000 in student loans - join the club!

 

Like I said, keep an eye on your destination and hang in there

[CaptainPlanet]

If you don't know what you want to do, do accounting and take criminal justice electives.

 

Get good marks and accounting = good job.

 

Nothing worse than graduating with 20k in debt w.o a real world paying job.

[Superfreak]

Is taking public transit to school an option at all? Or carpooling with someone? I'll second the suggestion that you should visit your school's financial aid office, there's a good chance that they can help.

[RayKay]

If you don't know what you want to do, do accounting and take criminal justice electives.

 

Get good marks and accounting = good job.

 

Nothing worse than graduating with 20k in debt w.o a real world paying job.

 

I would say someone interested in criminal justice would have a hard time getting excited about accounting It's not ALL about making money...! And it would be hard to motivate yourself to work hard at it (and get good grades) if you dread even looking at the books for it.

 

My sister is studying to be an accountant - I am sure she will have a wonderful career and be financially set (you would never imagine looking at her she is a one-day accountant though!) if she is smart about it...however there is no way I would ever be one.

 

Believe me, nothing is more miserable than clocking and clocking out with nothing but the paycheque motivating you.

 

OP....student loans suck. I know....I have a lot of them. But, they are worth it (and often motivate you to finish quicker too!) in the long run and I don't know about there but here the repayment is not that bad, and there are also lots of loan-forgiveness bursaries available after graduation (and income tax benefits!).

 

Check with financial aid, apply for any bursary and scholarship you can....and lose a few hours at work - you can always make up for it by working your butt off in the summer.

[Dako]

Do you have room mates, an old car and a frugal life?

[CaptainPlanet]

I would say someone interested in criminal justice would have a hard time getting excited about accounting It's not ALL about making money...! And it would be hard to motivate yourself to work hard at it (and get good grades) if you dread even looking at the books for it.

 

 

Believe me, nothing is more miserable than clocking and clocking out with nothing but the paycheque motivating you.

 

 

 

Exactly, major in something pointless and thats where you could likely end up. Working at a restaurant or in retail. Stacking shelves is truly waiting for the clock to tick over with only a pay check for motivation.

 

Accounting would suck, but atleast you'd be learning lots of things. There is an enormous amount to learn. You'd get a good salary, lunch breaks, realistic prospect of promotion once your experience and knowledge improves. You'd be promoted based on merit, not just your ability to suck up hard to your boss like in retail.

 

I don't want to be an accountant either, but if I get much further into my life without making some sort of grounds towards a career, or a goal thats what I am going to do.

[RayKay]

Criminal Justice isn't pointless - not if you want a career in law enforcement for example (most people here hired by police force have criminal justice degrees). Some use it as their undergrad before heading into law school.

 

If he has a undergrad degree, I doubt he will be stuck stocking shelves on the night shift or busing tables unless he really wanted to do so. Some people also like retail - my brother (no degree by the way but is taking college courses in business management) is a retail manager at home decor store and absolutely loves it. So don't knock it for everyone.

 

I had an undergrad in history and political science (aka Arts degree) and had a good career in financial services (and took courses while working for certain licenses I needed related to it) and then later switched to purchasing/contract management, with lunch breaks AND coffee breaks...ha! But it just wasn't right for me hence my return to school. It paid well, and certainly the prospects were there...but it was "just" a job for me.

[CaptainPlanet]

Yeah never said it was pointless. People study criminology and join the police force and similar all the time.

[CaptainPlanet]

I don't think you really need a degree for financial services but it might help.

 

For some jobs you do. A lot you can start out w.o a degree and get it while you work.

[RayKay]

I don't think you really need a degree for financial services but it might help.

 

For some jobs you do. A lot you can start out w.o a degree and get it while you work.

 

Here you do need it, and you also need to get further education for your licensing. You don't need a B.SC. but you do need a B.A. or similar education (i.e. college diploma). Is it a formal (ie statutory) requirement...no, but I will say none of the companies here will hire someone without one and all of the ones I know of - whether they are a larger organization or a small independent brokerage have internal policies of only hiring those with post-secondary education (college or university).

 

I know it works differently in other areas (like UK) but here you often need an undergrad before many positions or before getting further education (ie you need an undergrad before law or medicine).

 

Even if you did not need one, the competition is great and there are going to be many WITH degrees whom WILL get the job over someone without it.

[Sweet Buttabean Jellayroll]

if i were you

 

i would drop out of school and get a full time job as to where i can make some money and come back to college when i can. nothing wrong with taking a few semesters off, or never coming back...but since your broke i say a full time job is first, no need to go to college if you have like 0 in the bank account.

[Blackhawk2009]

if i were you

 

i would drop out of school and get a full time job as to where i can make some money and come back to college when i can. nothing wrong with taking a few semesters off, or never coming back...but since your broke i say a full time job is first, no need to go to college if you have like 0 in the bank account.

 

once i leave i will probably never go back..thats basically what happened to my girlfriend As long as i get a degree ill be happy.

 

Does accounting involve a lot of math??? because i am very very bad at math as i also have a D- in calculus and this is the 2nd time im taking it.

 

if worse comes to worse and i have to drop out of college im just going to join the military or something so i can at least make myself useful.

 

And i took 1 of my finals today and i probably failed it. as i wasnt really able to study much for it because i had to cram it all into one night which i am very very bad at and i had to work 9 hrs the day before and 18hrs on the weekend, along with monday and tuesday being crammed with other class assignments...i cant win

[CaptainPlanet]

What math is involved in accounting ?

 

In Aus there is no math in an accounting major. Theres adding up, but not Math.

[Sweet Buttabean Jellayroll]

the thing is do you want to go to college? if you dont, dont let anyone tell you, that you have to or you wont be anything in life unless you go to college. you dont have to go there, i myself am in college and im going to take a semester off due to the same reason you are in. money. thats just me....

 

figure out if you really want to go or not, but if you dont go, you do need a job a full time one

[redrose85]

Blackhawk- Did you go to college straight out of high school ? Maybe you just need to work and save up some $ for awhile, and clear your head. Sometimes it is best to just think about what you really want to do for a career, and take your time. I can relate to the working too many hours bit. The final weeks of this last semester, my hours (usually 18-20) jumped up to 30 per week, so I was trying to get five final papers and projects done, as well as prepare for final exams. So, a full courseload, and a nearly full-time work schedule, with two unconsecutive days "off" (spent studying or doing some form of homework) per week. I've learned my lesson, and have learned to say "no, I can't work then, I need a day off.", or "I need less hours, my plate is too full right now." I am really finding that it all comes down to achieving a specific goal, and consciously working towards that. I went back to school close to 4 years after graduation from high school, and I definitely do think that an academic break is right for some. There is no shame in working a few jobs and then going back to school, when you are really ready to work hard.

[lust4life]

You could also try working full time & going to school part time. I'm about to try that myself.

 

Expenses killed my first year at college, I was too worried about how I was going to get the money to get the gas to drive to school. I couldn't concentrate in school for the life of me. I could handle the loans, you would pay them back once you got the "good job" from the degree you earn. It's the other expenses that no one factors in. Gas, food, clothes, school supplies, car payments, car insurance, phone bill...

 

Awful experience. I quit for a year now, trying to pay off some of my biggest 'money suckers' per month. I will be moving out soon with my boyfriend to try to give college another chance, & we'll see from there. I'll take just two classes a semester, and work full time. It will take a while longer, but in the end I'll come out more financially prepared. (and possibly more decisive on what I really want to do)

 

I have also been majorly considering joining the Air Force. However, I'd like to at least try college again & see where it takes me.

 

My best friend lives at school and he has such good grades but doesn't have to worry about anything else besides school.

 

-I know how that one feels.

But when you're handed everything in life, when do you learn to appreciate anything?

 

Anyways, just follow your heart on this one & good luck!

[Uncertain]

Those of you working 18-20 hours a week, how do u pay rent with that and what state are you guys located in? With 18-20 hours a week here in LA, CA, you couldn't make rent let alone food and everything else.

[Blackhawk2009]

well once i get housing i wont have to worry about much in terms of money because it will all be through loans that i can pay off later in my life

[CaptainPlanet]

I feel like i would do so much better if i lived at school and had a work study job instead. My best friend lives at school and he has such good grades but doesn't have to worry about anything else besides school. I feel like its these kinds of people that make it in life while people like me just get stuck at target for the rest of their lives...i dont want to be at target for the rest of my life.

 

Yeah pretty much then they will talk latter in life about how hard they had to work and how they have earned everything they have.

 

You're just going to have to work harder than them. Take some time off school and save up if you can earn enough in a year or two. Good luck.