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Seeing that there are a lot of people here my age and probably some in my situation. I come for advise because at the age of 22 I still have no idea what I want to or what path to pursue. So here goes:
I'm in my forth year of studies pursuing a bachelors in biological sciences. I don't want to continue doing this nor do I want to work in the field that I studied in. I'm simply fed up with studying and have no confidence that this piece of paper will set me up with an amazing job. I have roughly six more classes to go before I can get my degree (two of them labs) and can probably finish up in a year. I transfered in from CC. For now though I don't want to continue going to school. Maybe I'll go back after a couple of years; credits won't expire for a long while so I'll still have the school option open. Dropping out is for a variety of reasons: frustration, money, bad grades, ect. The typical dropout student emo/rant BS.  :p
I don't feel to bad about "temporarily" dropping out. I've completely paid my way through the first three years of school. This includes all living expenses. The last year however my parents chipped in. I'm only $15k in debt and in comparison to others I know this is absolutely nothing.
I have basically two options open which I hope you guys will help me decide and give me personal experiences. Simply put a job as a machinist or the military.
My dad can pull in some favors at work and can get me started as a machinist I would get "certified" through training there and my starting salary would be $16 an hour (he's been working there for about 25 years and they like him a lot; also I've worked there before and am working there now as a temp for the Summer). In the US this is REALLY good pay and hard to find with or without a degree. However although the pay is amazing I'm afraid I'm going to end up working there for longer than I plan and end up settling in this city which I truly dislike. This is my biggest fear, but the proposed salary leaves this as a valid option.
I would like to experience the differences in cultures in different countries. Not only be there as a tourist/spend a summer vacation there, but work there and integrate myself into something different. Something that I am not used to and the only way I could probably do this is through the military. I've been looking and the air force is where I would go in. The pay is much less here, but more options; as in not being sedative for an extended period of time in terms of where I am and what I am doing.
Again I really don't know what I want, but I do know that what I don't and that is to remain "here". But "here" lies a really good job opportunity and really good money. I won't get another chance like this if I turn it down. Another thing about taking the job is that I can work a year, two, or three and then do whatever. While in the military I am fully committed to at least four and there is always a chance that I'll hate it.
I can probably teach English in a foreign country with a degree, but I'd rather not. Nothing wrong with it just person preference I guess. 
I've been going back and forth for a while now, just like to hear what some of you have to say to help me decide.
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I'd imagine it would be hard to get yourself to come back to school and finish once you've dropped out for a while. Also, from the way you've described it - it sounds like a permanent choice, hopefully not a regrettable one. From my viewpoint- it seems a bit absurd not to at least finish your degree, but, if you absolutely have no desire to do it, i wouldnt bother either.
The only thing i can say is- people put up with a lot of shit in their jobs, and in my experience, it is very rare to get/find a job you truly love and "never work a day in your life blahblah bullshit", and you have to just take what you get and make the most of it.
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Calgary25998 Posts
There's only one logical option: Finish the degree.
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Interested in this topic.
Sort of in the same situation.
I'm just not sure what I want to do with my life.
I mean, I know what I'd choose to do if the choice was totally UP to me, but it isn't.
GL HF [x] subscribed.
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CA10830 Posts
suck it up and finish your BS/BA. you only have 1 year left. having that piece of paper opens up a lot of doors, even with jobs that have nothing to do with your major. just because you majored in bio doesn't mean you're stuck being a lab technician or research drone or med school.
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I can tell you now that $16 is nothing. I am doing co-op work (in-between school terms) and I get paid $30 an hour. You only have to do a bit more to get your degree; to throw it all away now would be shortsighted. Instead, you should grit your teeth and finish it, since I think it's probably better to spend 4 - 8 more months in school rather than possibly live with regret for the rest of your life. I can't count the number of people I've talked to who all tell me they regret not finishing school.
Go and finish your degree. Then you can do whatever you like.
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FREEAGLELAND26782 Posts
Finish the degree. The degree, whether or not you are willing to work for it now, will be worth it later. Like LID8 said you aren't necessarily restricted to that select narrow path.
Whatever you do though, I wish you good luck.
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This may take a few years but if you dont mind waiting...
take option 1, pay off debt, save up, take a sabbatical to pursue option 2.
I'm kinda in the same boat as you, except I haven't started any college classes for the same reasons you mentioned. GL
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On May 31 2010 13:03 JodoYodo wrote:
I can't count the number of people I've talked to who all tell me they regret not finishing school.
I can say the same about people who did finish and can't get a decent job in their field of study. There's a surplus in degrees and I doubt they take "the runt of the litter" when it comes to grades. It's only going to be a BS in biology I'm guessing your degree is something more challenging to obtain to get paid $30/hour.
PS: I have a BA in Bio. So it's better than nothing I suppose.
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On May 31 2010 13:00 Chill wrote:
There's only one logical option: Finish the degree.
Honestly I know this isn't what you want to hear, but it's seriously the best option.
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i agree with the others, finish ur degree as u are so close. if u drop out now, every HR boss seeing ur cv will think that u lack the determination to get things done if he sees that u gave up when u could already see the finish line. besides the lacking higher education which is crucial for many of the more desirable jobs out there, its simply gonna shed a bad light on ur personality for the rest of your life.
edit: oh, and about that "many guys with degrees are jobless aswell" argument: it might be true, but currently we are experiencing very unique economical circumstances. besides that, their chances for a qualified job (no fastfood or walmart stuff) surely wouldnt be any better if they didnt have their degree. in fact their situation would be even worse without it.
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On May 31 2010 13:10 Mickey wrote:Show nested quote +On May 31 2010 13:00 Chill wrote:
There's only one logical option: Finish the degree. Honestly I know this isn't what you want to hear, but it's seriously the best option.
Seems like it if you'd graduate that soon might as well get it done.
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You'll probably never make enough money to get out of debt (in additional to all the neat additional debts you'll accumulate for the rest of your life), and if you drop out, there's pretty much no chance you'll ever go back.
I moderately understand. I don't have high hopes for my degree; I think about dropping out everyday, but I'm only 24 credits away. I'm finishing my goddamn degree. I spent sooo much time, money, and energy, I won't quit. No need to spend the rest of my life at a fast food chain.
As for the military idea ==> hell no.
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On May 31 2010 13:10 BuGzlToOnl wrote:Show nested quote +On May 31 2010 13:03 JodoYodo wrote:
I can't count the number of people I've talked to who all tell me they regret not finishing school. I can say the same about people who did finish and can't get a decent job in their field of study. There's a surplus in degrees and I doubt they take "the runt of the litter" when it comes to grades. It's only going to be a BS in biology I'm guessing your degree is something more challenging to obtain to get paid $30/hour. PS: I have a BA in Bio. So it's better than nothing I suppose.
It's like this:
You might find people who finished their degree and can't get a decent job, but you will NOT find anyone who quit school and flopped their way into a life changing career. just doesn't work that way.
so you can either go with the option that can turn out good or decent (finish degree) or pick the option that has only consequences (dropout). of course this is in the long run.
just finish. skip class for a day, party get wasted, get your kicks out, then go back to studying.
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as long as you plan on going back i don't think taking a break is a bad thing. it will give you perspective and probably more motivation when you feel like finishing your degree.
just don't take too long.
uh yeah going back after a couple of years is a pretty bad idea. a year at most probably.
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16/hour isn't very good. It is pretty average in an area with a low cost of living.
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People who tend to take a year off don't come back.
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On May 31 2010 13:00 Chill wrote:
There's only one logical option: Finish the degree.
I have to agree. Man up and do it.
Even if you end up doing something different, it would, in my opinion, be quite stupid/irrational to not finish it, especially seeing as you're pretty close. You never know when it could be useful, or when a golden opportunity might pop out of the blue, and all in all you will have a degree when others may not.
It can really prove to be an invaluable asset (maybe it won't, but at least you will not have completely wasted four years of study).
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On May 31 2010 13:17 semantics wrote:
People who tend to take a year off don't come back.
vouch. i know so many ppl here in germany, mostly students of biology ( ) or social sciences, which make their living by being taxi drivers and about half of them end up staying taxi drivers for the rest of their life. and about 80% of those who interrupt their studies for whatever reason, with the intention to come back soon after whatever issues are solved, in fact dont come back.
dunno if its the same thing in the USA, but i guess so
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On May 31 2010 13:17 semantics wrote:
People who tend to take a year off don't come back.
This I know, but as of right now I lack both discipline and focus to continue with my studies.
On May 31 2010 13:21 Black Gun wrote:Show nested quote +On May 31 2010 13:17 semantics wrote:
People who tend to take a year off don't come back. dunno if its the same thing in the USA, but i guess so
Haha, yeah its the same.
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EPT
