Continue with University?

[SHOGUN]

I'm at the point of my life right now where I feel like the decision I'm going make this upcoming fall will really determine what I'm going to do with the rest of my life. I'm 19, and I have attended of the U of A for 2 years now (1 year of Arts and 1 year of Business - Accounting). I absolutely hate it, and the reason why I have the mind set of dropping out. My GPA has dropped to 3.4 to 2.7.... Yeah, I know dropping out of University is considered to be a dumb move by many but I seriously have no motivation in continuing my studies in Accounting.

I'm considering looking at the EMS field for a bit but I'm hesitant since I have spent so much money and time in credits at the U of A and would feel it would be a complete waste. In addition, if I were to get far into the EMS field, I would think I would be not have the motivation in going back to University. If I were to stick with University, I'm looking at the alternative majoring into nursing.... however, since my grades have dropped significantly, I feel I will struggle getting into the program, therefore AGAIN, spending MORE money and time into courses to raise my GPA. I'm lost, I hate the feeling and need some kind of guidance. I feel I have failed myself.

I have not told anyone about my future plans... as I fear the reaction. Since there are a lot of older, mature and wise people on this forum, any advice and words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[Cain]

I'm 27 and going for a 2nd degree at U of C.

You are still really really young, don't be afraid to take your time figuring out what you want to do. And don't fear backlash if you were to take a year off from university to help yourself decide what you want to do. I think one of the smartest things I could have done is take a year off after high school before diving into university...I think I would have benefited from that greatly.

[LGA]

I dropped out of college after two years of ENGG because I realized I just didn't enjoy it at all. I figured I would have to work for the large majority of my life and I may as well find a job that I would enjoy for that time. Now I'm back in school and motivated as I found something I actually really enjoy doing.

If you don't like what you are doing now go out and work for a year or two, see if you enjoy what you are doing and move on from there. I found that I hated working in a deadend job that I had not invested interest in, but also found that because I did have money and some more free time I was finding things I actually did enjoy doing.

So my advice is that if you are really not happy with what you are studying right now, go out and actively try to persue something that you do enjoy doing and find a way to make that your career. And it does seem like you have found out what you would want to do, I would go do the EMS thing for a while and see if you actually enjoy it. Don't worry about not finishing school as that is always something you can go back to, even if you have to start from scratch I found I was considerably more motivated and that made the process much easier.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Looking at the sunk cost is silly.
If you don't like what you're doing, what difference does it make how much money you've spent on it. That money is gone, and the only thing it can do for you now, is get you closer to doing something you don't want to do.

If you want to try something new, make the decision based on the merits of what it is that you want to do, not how much you've invested in something you don't want to do.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by SHOGUN

...
I'm considering looking at the EMS field for a bit but I'm hesitant since I have spent so much money and time in credits at the U of A and would feel it would be a complete waste. [B] ....

I got into a field of work that wasnt what I wanted to do long term (it seemed ok at the time) instead of going to university when I was your age. I ended up in a bad position and it took me until 28 to get back to school and now I am 35 and just about to finish my degree.

Even if accounting is not for you, take a bunch of options and find something you enjoy. Get a general degree in something, then you can take some specific training later that would be appropriate for a career.

[Nandric]

Well I am neither older or mature, but at this point in time I know exactly how you feel as I am going through a close enough situation as you. Ive been in school for 4 years and am one year away from graduating. This year ive been dealing with a lot of depression and motivation issues after having to quit outright the sport I grew up doing because of an as of yet unidentified health problem. Also, not knowing what is ailing me is probably the major component in why im feeling so down on myself because it seems to ebb and flow so I get a taste of feeling normal again and then it just goes back to shiat a day later.

As of right now im contemplating taking a year off and going traveling to just get away from everything regain some motivation as my marks are steadily going down hill and this has been my worst year at U of C ever.

I really cant recommend one thing or another, but one thing im sure a lot of people are going to say is to just follow what you think you might like/love to do. Since once you start to actually work if you dont love it you will always regret that one decision. I have been asking A LOT of people lately and I think I am going to take the year off because flunking out of university in my last year because people think I should just get it done seems like the wrong choice.

I guess I really havent answered to many of your questions but in this situation there is really no wrong or right answer and it basically comes down to what you want to do now and in the future and how what you choose will help you get there.

[metallicat]

EMT school is two years, is it not? If that's what you want to do, then go for it. Drop University, and go to NAIT or wherever offers an EMT program.

[The Big Chill]

I was exactly where you were just a few years ago. The best advice I can give is to take a year or two off to work and travel. Thats what I did and it really helped me to figure out what direction I wanted to go in. I went to south east Asia for a couple of months and it was a very fun experience, yet humbling at the same time. Really helped me out.

[OilKiller]

Stay in school man...or you'll end up old, unemployed and posting on CP at 11:00 PM on a Monday night...

[DrJ]

Before you leave your accounting program, what don't you like about it and what is it about EMS that draws you to it?

Is it accounting specifically or is post-secondary study?

[TSXCman]

I am currently making a very long time of completion out of my undergrad and have had similar feelings of disinterest. There is no right answer unfortunately, but you would be smart to research what your gut is telling you to do, and do a comparison with your friends and family about the pros and cons of each route.

I have chosen the path of just sticking with it and fighting to complete even though i am not totally interested in what i am doing, but I am at a point of just needing to complete something.

Alternatively, one of my very good friends spent 2 years in university, then dropped out in the 3rd because he did not want to continue. he lived with myself and 4 friends in a house of students and worked labor for a year while he researched how to become a firefighter. It has now been 3 years and he has completed fire fighting school, worked a year or 2 as a fire fighter on the oil fields, and has now been accepted fulltime in an area around Toronto (he got the area he wanted). Last time i saw him he was very satisfied with himself, and 10 times healthier.

So you have options, and are able to go in any direction that you commit to. You are very young as well so don't feel like you have ruined your life if you chose a certain direction, or even if you feel the need to change a few times.

There are few things harder than choosing your career path when you barely know what anyone actually does with their jobs.

[SHOGUN]

Originally Posted by DrJ

Before you leave your accounting program, what don't you like about it and what is it about EMS that draws you to it?

Is it accounting specifically or is post-secondary study?

I'm literally ######ed in math... only reason I got by in high school and 1st year was because I studied my ass off every day JUST for math... I figured this boosted my ego that I can handle accounting... WRONG.

I want to go into a career where I care and help people when they're the most vulernable .... yeah sounds simple and corny.. but if I want to devote my life to something... I feel this will make my happy in the long run.

[SHOGUN]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I was exactly where you were just a few years ago. The best advice I can give is to take a year or two off to work and travel. Thats what I did and it really helped me to figure out what direction I wanted to go in. I went to south east Asia for a couple of months and it was a very fun experience, yet humbling at the same time. Really helped me out.

Honestly it would be great to just get away and travel... but have no money and need to pay off my student loans.

[Kipper3256]

I'm kinda in the same boat! I'm 20, and I took two years of law studies after high school which I really wanted to do at that time. After I finished I wanted nothing to do with it, so I've been taking the last year off school just working full time, and partying :P. Now I'm thinking about going back to school in September but I have no idea what for :| it's not fun but don't pressure yourself too much

[OutOfTheCube]

I'm 22, went into SAIT for radio broadcasting right after high school. Half way through I kinda knew it wasn't what I wanted to be doing, but I didn't want to throw away a year's worth of work for nothing. So I toughed it out and got my diploma with a pretty good GPA.

Since then I've worked a rather uninteresting retail job for two years (full time, but it's retail... yeah) and know that's DEFINITELY not what I want to do with the rest of my life. It's given me the time to decide what I really want to do, and this fall I'm going to the U of C to take communication studies. The best part? My two years at SAIT count towards that degree, so none of it was a waste at all.

I know if I was starting from scratch or never used my two years at all I'd feel very negatively about post-high school life, so I would say you should try and find something that your education can apply to. Either a transfer program or whatever. Regardless of being unhappy in it, it is a lot of time, work, and expense to just try and forget about.

[pylon]

http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpos...2&postcount=57

That is all. Choose wisely young grasshopper.

[Traditional_Ale]

Originally Posted by Bring_Back_Shantz

Looking at the sunk cost is silly.
If you don't like what you're doing, what difference does it make how much money you've spent on it. That money is gone, and the only thing it can do for you now, is get you closer to doing something you don't want to do.

If you want to try something new, make the decision based on the merits of what it is that you want to do, not how much you've invested in something you don't want to do.

Standing effing ovation for this post.

[3 Justin 3]

You're only 19. I'm only 20 but I would never think of dropping out of school.

I wouldn't consider the year you were there a sunk cost like someone mentioned. A year is nothing, and learning is NEVER useless. Even if you don't use it, the more you know the better.

Someone I know was a mechanic but decided he didn't want to do that, and he came back to get an Entrepreneur degree and he is 25 I believe.

Depends though, since you have taken 2 different degrees already, is it that post-secondary just bores you or are you just not interested in those subjects.

For me, I took an Applied degree in Entrepreneurship because I hate normal classes (like the BBA in Business) and I find the classes I am in now are much better for me because I enjoy what I do. My entre degree won't get me the jobs a BBA would, although that isn't really the point since the point of being an entrepreneur is doing it yourself and starting up your own company.

[MelBridgeman]

haven't you heard? 30's is the new 20's .. you got 10 years to figure it out.

[Phanuthier]

My suggestion is to :

1. Follow the obvious path. Don't worry about "wasted" time/effort/money, for all you know, its those 2 years that made you realize you want to be a EMT (or whatever you want to do)

2. Stay optimistic. You can have goals other than university, and not hate the coarses you have now. Stay positive, try your best, and if the obvious path is for you to do something other than what you are studying, so be it.

3. Look for opportunities in what you hate doing now, you never know, alot of what you could be learning in those classes you hate could be transferable and useful for something you want to do, and those classes might be more interesting/useful if you stay positive about it. A lot of times, its your own biases and attitudes that make you good at something or makes something interesting, not the material itself. Just make the best out of any and all opportunities you come across with. You never know.

Keep your head up, stay level headed, try your best, but follow the obvious path that you are on and don't feel obligated to stay in university because of parents, marks, money, et al.

(For me, I'm mid-20's, UofA alumni and went to graduate school on a whim for a field I knew almost nothing about, and certainly not where I thought I'd be 1 month before I finished my undergrad, but I tried to keep my mind open to all opportunities and I like the position I'm in now career wise.)