Dropping out of college?

santucci218 · #1 12-29-2007, 05:34 PM

I am almost 19 years old. I live in Pittsburgh, PA. My name is Paul Santucci and I work part time in a music store. I don't have my license because I am lazy. I have a lot of fun around here. I hate school. I go to community college and I can not stand it. I took 5 classes this semester. I dropped out of 1, failed 2, got a D in another, and got a B in the last.

I am young and stupid. I like learning....when it interests me. Philosophy, Computers, deep thought, it interests me a ton. English, Math, I hate them and can not stand to learn them.

I know many successful people around me did not go to college. In my immediate family i am the only person to even finish high school let alone start college.

I am at a point in my life when I need to make a choice of what to do. The problem is, I haven't a clue. How is a kid like me supposed to choose what he wants to dedicate his life to. I am honestly so confused.

Talkbassers young, old, experienced, give me your views.

fenderhutz · #2 12-29-2007, 05:46 PM

Technical College. Pick an area of focus then and get something (degrees or certs).

I am 30 and making more than 50k without any degree but have missed out on jobs over 70k due to not having something (other than a few tech certs).

College wasn't for me for a variety of reasons. That my field is tech oriented and I NEVER want a middle management position I like hands on way too much.

EDIT: I also refuse to work 50-60 hour weeks salary. I value my time with my family way to much to waste it killing myself working my life away. SO getting a degree in my field almost puts me in that management position where I am tied to my work 24 hours a day. No thank you.

Joey3313 · #3 12-29-2007, 05:49 PM

IMO, if you can't commit to it now, don't waste your money. Take a year off, work some random low level job, soul search, whatever, and go to a school with that being your true focus.

Or, just take courses that interest you now. Who knows, maybe taking some random class will spark an interest you never knew you had. Worst case scenario is you take a class and don't like it...big deal, you're doing that now.

bongomania · #4 12-29-2007, 05:52 PM

I am 37, I dropped out of five different colleges when I was younger, and I'm stuck making under 35K. In the job market I'm in (location, career, '07, age, etc.) no decent job wants me without a degree of some kind. At least hammer through a tech certificate of some kind, seriously. It sucks to be my age, making mortgage payments and car payments and insurance payments, with the same income as a high school kid.

santucci218 · #5 12-29-2007, 05:55 PM

technical college seems sweet. So does Musicians Institute. I dont know exactly how good the people are who go there though. Thanks for the inspiration guys. I would love to hear some more opinions.

steve21 · #6 12-29-2007, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

I am 37, I dropped out of five different colleges when I was younger, and I'm stuck making under 35K. In the job market I'm in (location, career, '07, age, etc.) no decent job wants me without a degree of some kind. At least hammer through a tech certificate of some kind, seriously. It sucks to be my age, making mortgage payments and car payments and insurance payments, with the same income as a high school kid.

fwiw, I don't make 35k a year. >_>

richnota · #7 12-29-2007, 06:23 PM

I'm the first person in my family to go to (and graduate) college. I wasn't very inspired but I my dad insisted I get a degree--something he was never able to do. Did I learn much? Not really, but that degree opened the door for a cool job.

Now I get to buy Rob Allen basses, drive a Jaguar XK and pretty much have a lifestyle my working class family couldn't even imagine. I'm not endorsing it only for economic reasons (theres far more to life), but its about independence--the ability to choose.

Unless you're a gifted musician, are uniquely qualified in some other skill or are really motivated to hustle sales, the lack of paper will limit your possibilities.

fenderhutz · #8 12-29-2007, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richnota

I'm the first person in my family to go to (and graduate) college. I wasn't very inspired but I my dad insisted I get a degree--something he was never able to do. Did I learn much? Not really, but that degree opened the door for a cool job.

Now I get to buy Rob Allen basses, drive a Jaguar XK and pretty much have a lifestyle my working class family couldn't even imagine. I'm not endorsing it only for economic reasons (theres far more to life), but its about independence--the ability to choose.

Unless you're a gifted musician, are uniquely qualified in some other skill or are really motivated to hustle sales, the lack of paper will limit your possibilities.

Are you tied to your job and work 40+ hour weeks for these luxuries?

santucci218 · #9 12-29-2007, 06:26 PM

im good for an 18 year old, but compare that to Metheny who was teaching at berklee at 18 i am just a drop in the bucket.

santucci218 · #10 12-29-2007, 06:28 PM

bleh, i knew i was going to get mixed opinions on this. The problem i have now is that my answer lies within and i cant uncover it myself.

fenderhutz · #11 12-29-2007, 06:29 PM

You have to make this decision. Why not just go to school part time for awhile?

santucci218 · #12 12-29-2007, 06:31 PM

can you go to college and just take any 2 classes you want? like, do i have to take math and english?

fenderhutz · #13 12-29-2007, 06:31 PM

I took bowling and art 101 one semester. I guess it's up to your advisor and the school.

santucci218 · #14 12-29-2007, 06:37 PM

lol bowling huh? thats sweet.

Thank you man, i think im just going to take a few elective classes this semester.

fenderhutz · #15 12-29-2007, 06:39 PM

Take a few electives and find and interest of study OUTSIDE of college and read some literature or Kurt Vonnegut or something so your brain doesn't shrink, maybe even learn a new instrument for a challenge.

santucci218 · #16 12-29-2007, 06:44 PM

i still need to finish learning bass man.

mike_v_s · #17 12-29-2007, 06:46 PM

I did very well in high school, but I honestly do not think I was "college material". I dropped out for a while. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, so I did nothing. Quite a wake up call. There was nothing more inspirational that seeing what my life would be like if I had decided to just exist.

So I re-enrolled with no aim or goal. I spent as much time in school getting a Bachelor's Degree as a decent student would getting a Doctorate. I switched majors about 4 or 5 times. I took classes that I wanted to take for fun. I nickel and dimed my "required" courses over a number of years. I simply had no clue what to do and wasn't ready to commit to a career.

So I finally settled on political science. Not because I had a job in mind, but because it interested me and I was less likely to skip it. Around that time I also made a commitment to graduate. Again, not because I felt like it would help me with an unknown job in an unkown field years down the road...but because I wanted to keep as many options open as possible. I didn't want to close any doors before I decided which ones to open.

My first two jobs out of school required no education and paid about what you'd think. My first "real" job (something I considered doing for a career) DID require a degree. At the time I had been looking VERY HARD for a few months because my wife was pregnant and we were near broke. I got hired right when we needed it. I would not have had that opportunity if I hadn't finished school. That job sucked a huge male horse's reproductive organ, but supported my family when we needed it most.

Fast forward a few years and here I am, making a very good living at an employer that couldn't care less if I had a degree (I'm a landman). If the industry goes south, I have a degree to fall back on.

So that's my story and advice. Finish school. Even if you scrape out with a GPA equal to the "peace" sign. You might need it, You might not, but if you don't know what you want to do...keep your options open.

Mike

richnota · #18 12-29-2007, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Are you tied to your job and work 40+ hour weeks for these luxuries?

Sometimes I work sixty hour weeks. I travel around the world. I get to know people you watch on TV. My work is fascinating and I'm never bored. I like what i do.

But its not about "luxuries" (though it beats the **** out of being poor--which i was), its about being able to have the option to decide to say **** it all and live a simple life or not.

Get a college degree and go write poetry or play polkas. Or join the greed heads on wall street. You get more options. Bag college and you get less options.

msquared · #19 12-29-2007, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richnota

Unless you're a gifted musician, are uniquely qualified in some other skill or are really motivated to hustle sales, the lack of paper will limit your possibilities.

I totally agree with this, but with the caveat that you have to be into what you're doing or college is going to be a waste of time.

I dropped out of college and am doing quite well for myself, but I feel that I am lucky enough to have a true passion for what I do.

richnota · #20 12-29-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by msquared

I totally agree with this, but with the caveat that you have to be into what you're doing or college is going to be a waste of time.

I dropped out of college and am doing quite well for myself, but I feel that I am lucky enough to have a true passion for what I do.

very good point.