Continue with University?

[getbak]

I went into Engineering out of high school because I had good marks in math and science and it seemed like the thing to do...and I absolutely hated it. I did 2 years,and looking back, it was the most miserable 2 years of my life.

When I decided to go to Mount Royal and actually do something I was interested in, it was the best decision I've ever made.

If being an EMT is what you want to do with your life, pursue it. You should be able to transfer some of your credits if that makes you feel better about your last 2 years.

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by getbak

I went into Engineering out of high school because I had good marks in math and science and it seemed like the thing to do...and I absolutely hated it. I did 2 years,and looking back, it was the most miserable 2 years of my life.

Man I hear so many people say that, you definitely aren't alone there. I went into Engg too cause I was good at math/science, and I love it. I couldn't see myself in any other career, and now I'm in nerd central where everyone is a gigantic nerd.

[Pinner]

19 and going to the U of A for 2 years... Get away from the books and work the rigs or something. Make lots of money and spend it on party girls and booze, and waste the rest of it.

You have lots of time to figure it out.

[calgaryrocks]

Originally Posted by 3 Justin 3

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.

You are right that he shouldn't regret it as learning is never useless, but it is still a sunk cost. Sunk cost is what you have invested into something that is gone, that even if you totally change direction it is gone. the year and money spent for the education is a sunk cost, whether he completes it or not, it is still a cost.
anyways I agree with the other posters that said you should pursue what you want to do. it's not like you are getting amazing grades, and you still have a few years before you are finished your degree. (if it was one year left I would say just finish it so you can fall back on it while pursuing the EMS). talk to people who do what you are thinking you want to do, see if you can volunteer or something this summer to see what it is like to actually do the job, then go get whatever you need to get paid to do that job. (nait etc). you are very young, and if you have decided what you want to do that is awesome, but don't wait til you are 23 and have gotten an accounting degree you hate.

[ma-skis.com]

1 year of knowing what you don't want to do is better than 20 of doing something you definitely don't, think of it this way, you spent 2 years eliminating things you don't want to do.

Some people take 30 years to figure that out.

[troutman]

Only 19?

Backpack around the World for one year. Take a personality test to see where your interests lie.

Follow your bliss.

[Mass_nerder]

I think taking some time off from school could really benefit you...
You obviously jumped right into university after high school, if you're 19 with 2 years of university under your belt, so you're probably a little burned out.
It's pretty rare for someone to come out of high school with a clear idea of what they want to do in the future. It seems more like a lot of kids jump into university right after high school because they're just going through the motions, without actually taking the time to decide what's important, and interesting to them.

I personally jumped into university without really knowing what I wanted to do. I just asked my older sister what she thought I should take, and ended up in a lot of business courses, since she was a business grad. I had a blast at university, but found that I really had no interest in any of the courses I was taking, and my grades were terrible. I only lasted one year.

I took a few years off and found a program at SAIT that I was really interested in, and found that I was actually doing great in school and I enjoyed it. Since then, I've been working for almost 3 years in the field I studied, but I've since realized that there's a limit to how high I can climb with my current education.
I'm 26 and heading back to University in the fall, for another 5 years.

Even if it takes a few years to really find something you love, it's never too late to go back to university and get what you need.

[Rutuu]

Well the reality is you've been in University since you were 17 and not to be insulting, you don't know crap about anything. How do I know, because I was the same way.

Sounds like you found something you think you'd enjoy. Now the key is to research that position.

1. Find someone in the job already and talk to them
2. Figure out the lifestyle that the best, average and lowest guys in that profession live
3. Think about where you wanna live and if that location requires your chosen profession

Just some basics...and you're already ahead of the game because you're asking on here.

PS: Don't become a draftsman...not one of the guys on here enjoys their job.

[SHOGUN]

Thanks for the responses guys...

[Tron_fdc]

Finish off your second year without failing anything. I can pretty much guarantee at some point you might want to go back, and repeating courses you lost interest in at the time will be a major pain in the ass.

A few things to consider:

- most employers won't recognize 2 years of post secondary as much more than a high school diploma when you apply for a job, unless you're looking for work as a clerk, or entry level sales. Something to think about.

-You can finish your degree in one year after 2 years of post secondary. Check out Royal Roads on campus www.royalroads.ca

- Take a year off after you finish your second year. Go overseas. Drink your face off and bang fat girls. Learn to surf. It will clear your head. There are plenty of work holiday visas available for guys your age anywhere in the Commonwealth, and I would take advantage of that before you turn 25.

- there is no time limit on finishing a degree. I'm 35, and will finish mine in 2 years. I was like you, and DESPISED school when I was 19, and my grades will back that up. I actually enjoy it now, and it makes it sooooo much easier to study and concentrate.

[604flames]

I completely agree with those who've suggested a year off (either after high school or during university).

I took a year off right after high school, worked a menial job, and by Christmas I was itching to go back to school.

But for some people, university isn't the thing to do. I've known what I wanted to pursue for a career since I was 14 but still went to university to "grow up a bit." But by third or fourth year I wanted to get the process over with to go ahead and move on with something at the time I felt was more pertinent to what I wanted to do with my life. Looking back I still think it was the right move though.

[blankall]

If you decide to take a year off, don't close any doors on your way out. The labour market is brutal right now and you may find yourself in a less than desirable job if you drop out of school.

I know a lot of people who dropped out of school, when in reality they should have stuck out an undergrad of any kind. They find themselves in their late 20s or early 30s with a kid and stuck in a job they hate. They don't have the time or resources to go back and get an undergrad.

The vast majority of undergrads are total BS and you will learn very little. However, it's always a good idea to get one with good grades. That way you can pursue a master's degree when you finally figure out what it actually is you want to do.

I hated my undergrad. I even hated my post-undergrad degree. I love the career it got me though. Although you may hate schooling in general, as many do, it can open a lot of doors.

[Da_Chief]

You really need to talk to actual professionals that are in the field you are interested in. You've gone from Arts to Accounting and now are thinking of EMS or Nursing. You're just trying different things that interest you but nothing you're really passionate about.

You've got the summer, write down your top 3 interests and go to career fairs, conventions etc and meet professionals from those fields and see what exactly they do and see if you wana do that.

University itself can be a total bore sometimes, if you do decide to stick to university then seek out clubs and join them. Find a balance between education and extra curricular activities to keep yourself interested in staying there.

[MickMcGeough]

You are not your parents' generation. You don't have to have a degree by 22 years old and be starting a professional career. In fact, I advise against it. Not many of us know ourselves well enough at 18/19 to pick a career you want to spend the rest of your professional life in. It's way too big of a decision for an 18 year old to make, who's never done #### besides go to high school and work at Applebee's.

My advice: get out of the country, see how people really live, try out a bunch of jobs, don't worry about money, come back home broke with a bunch of good stories and some direction, then worry about university (and if it's even still applicable).

[Flames Draft Watcher]

My advice is take a bunch of different classes and try to find something that inspires you regardless of whether you consider it to be leading towards a "practical" degree and career. University can be a great learning experience in many ways. I think most people will underperform when they are taking something they aren't passionate about. Try to find what you are passionate about and you'll learn something about yourself.

I ended up taking a Humanities degree in my mid 20's after being a software developer for the first half and have never regretted it despite it not leading to a specific career thus far. Wouldn't change a thing, it was such a great experience. Many great profs, read a lot of great books and had a blast living in a different city in residence and meeting all sorts of different people from different parts of this country and other countries.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

My advice: get out of the country, see how people really live, try out a bunch of jobs, don't worry about money, come back home broke with a bunch of good stories and some direction, then worry about university (and if it's even still applicable).

/thanked

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by fotze

I think other than about 2% of the population, most people don't like they're job/career and would not do it if they did not have to to make money.

It's probably a little bit higher, but I think that's true.

I think a big reason for that is that when you're 18 and you've never had a real job, money is a serious motivator, and you choose a career that promises to be well-paying rather than fulfilling. Most people don't figure out that a fulfilling career is worth infinitely more than a well-paying career until they've already invested several years into their career, at which point most are too afraid to start over.

But just because most people hate their careers doesn't mean the OP has to.

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by fotze

I think other than about 2% of the population, most people don't like they're job/career and would not do it if they did not have to to make money.

I'm very cynical about finding your passion as it relates to a career. You're gonna hate your job anyway so may as well make decent money. I think people bullshat themself into thinking they like their job. I've done it on numerous occasions.

and another thing, don't listen to me, to young to follow that advice.

I've always said, it's called "work" for a reason. If it was fun, it'd be called "play". My goal has always been to find the right balance between good pay and not minding the work. I work to make enough money to have fun outside of work. As long as the job pays the bills, and I don't dread going into work every morning, then I'm pretty much content in my career path.

[Kaon]

I actually went the opposite direction you're looking at taking right now. Straight out of high school I thought EMS was what I wanted to do, I had a good friend interested as well so we started going through courses together. EMR (which at the time meant you made very little and worked remote rural) was about 5-6 months of school at the time, and EMT (better pay, better skills, better locations - smaller towns/cities) was about about 8 months.

It wasn't for me, I couldn't see myself in the long term being happy doing it and found through a summer/temp job in oil and gas accounting something that I really enjoyed doing. Over 10 years later I'm still happy I ignored the money I sank into EMS and went for a degree/designation. I chalk it up to a valuable life experience that changed who I am in a very positive way.

You could contact some fire departments to see if you can do ride-alongs or look at Chestermere or smaller areas outside Calgary to see if they need volunteer fire fighters. While this is not what you're looking at you would be amazed at how often fire and EMS respond to the same scenes and work towards the same ends. This would allow you to see if it really is something you want to do, and it can give you a real flavour of what you would be doing. Being a first responder is rewarding, but is also very challenging.

Mostly to be able to see this as a volunteer or ride along you just have to be willing to drive to areas that really need people to provide the basic services. So you'll likely need to look outside of Calgary.

[Sliver]

If there's one thing parents love, it's when people on the Internet advise their kid to drop out of university!