Education Questions and Answers
College, making it through?!?
Question:How can I successfully finish college? It's taking A LOT of effort on my part to even finish my first 2 years, so how in the world am I going to be able to stick it out for another 2-2.5? I haven't decided on a major, though I don't want to stop going for I fear if I do, I won't return. What can I do to make things smoother/easier/and more pleasant in college? Thanks
Answers:
College is a lot of work no doubt about it. I've found that finding a major that you like makes it easier to make it through the more humdrum general education credits, because you know where they're leading you. IE when you finish those courses you can go onto the major courses that you really enjoy. Doing it this way gives you more focus and a goal to reach for.
The tricky thing is picking a major you really like. That's a question only you can answer. It takes some soul searching, but if you take the question seriously an answer will come. Just to get you started:
What sort of things do you like to do? Do you like the idea being in the business world or do you see your self doing something more social--sociology, psychology, political science-- or more scientific, something involving math, engineering, chemistry, etc. Of the things you could see yourself doing, which lines up best with your skills?
If you want to be an astronaut, but you're not good in science it might not be the right career path, but perhaps you can see yourself in Marketing and your good at talking to people, for example.
I hope this helps you find a major, but I'm unsure what you mean by "A LOT of effort" because that could mean you're having trouble understanding the coursework or it could mean you're having trouble with balancing college lifestyle with the academic demands.
If you're having trouble in your classes I would suggest going to your campus academic center or career center to find a tutor. These people will either be teachers in field they tutor or top students, present or past, in the class they tutor. Depending on the school policy you can arrange meeting time around your schedule.
If you're having trouble balancing the college lifestyle with academics; you need to sit down and decide what you're really looking for from your college experience--is your degree actually your main goal, or is it to meet new people and the degree is a secondary benefit. Then act accordingly to get what you want. Studying extra or whatever.
As to making the whole experience more pleasant you might try finding a club or group to join to add diversity to your college experience. So its not one sided, academic v. fun, but a better balance. Surrounding yourself with friends or people that you hope to emulate can also help take away some of the stress and help you become the person you want to be.
get an ipod
*START OF COLLEGE*
*FINISHED, GET A JOB*
As a recent college graduate the best advice I can give you is to create a solid support network of friends, classmates, and faculty that can help you along the way if you get stuck. There is no motivation like friendly persuasion.
You might want to pick a major that is basic, like business or pschology. It might not lead directly onto a specific career path, but you will be able to get your degree, which is usually the most important thing. By getting that B.A. or B.S. you can make the most of that in applying for jobs, even if they are in a field you never studied in.
Don't waste time by quitting, Pick something you can complete quickly to get your degree. Then you can get specialized later.
You might want to sit down and decide on a major. It really helps to be studying something that your passionate about. And if your really struggling that much, you might not be ready. It's like my mom told me. I got to college and flunked out my first year, but i went back with a vengence to do well. But she told me if i wasn't ready for college, it was ok. I could leave and take a few classes here and there at a community college and work and go back when I was ready. Basically, don't be in a rush when you don't even know what your in a rush for. If your not ready it's ok. However, if you are, just search for that passion that drives you. Something will make you want to get out of bed everyday and keep going, you just have to find it.
Are you doing things you actually enjoy? Are there classes that you like? Join any clubs? Finding things on campus that you like doing?
Once you get a major stuck down it will help a little since you will have the framework for what the next few years classwise will look like.
How are you managing your time? Remember, you need to take time off from studying and academics and do fun things too. Its all about balance and streamlining things.
Are you partying too much, or being an academic perfectionist? BALANCE is the key. Remember these are only 4-5 years of your life and once they are over and you complete your degree no one can ever take that away from you.
You must sacrifice now while you are still young. The 2-3 years that you have left will go fast. Believe me as you get older it becomes harder to finish college. Ive had a lapse of three years and I am currently finishing up. I realized right away it didn't get any easier. In fact I regret not sticking to it in the first place, but oh well. This summer I will finally be done. Another thing is that just because you major in a certain subject does not mean that you are limited to that field the rest of your life. My buddy majored in Latin America Studies and is now a Physicians Assistant. He had to go back to school after a few years in the workforce, but it was worth it for him on a lot of levels including his wallet. Someone mentioned Buisness and Psycology as good open fields and I agree. But you may be much happier if you major in a subject that interest you and do not be afraid to experiment with different classes. If it takes you an extra semester to finish, then so what. Good luck!
Remember, a major is not a lifetime commitment! For many graduates, all it tells a potential employer is that you have the ability to master an area of expertise (to some degree). If you have an idea of the field you'd like to go into, it's better if that area of expertise is closely related or applicable to your career interests, but not absolutely necessary.
If you choose a major, you'll be able to get into more interesting, upper-level classes. Believe it or not, you'll probably enjoy them a lot more than what you've done so far.
As to making things more pleasant generally... I advise my students to have a real hobby. ...not drinking alcohol, but something you can use to relieve stress, regain focus, and otherwise enjoy and relax with! Anything will work (jogging, sewing, tennis, art, music, theater, etc.), just give yourself something in your life that will help you feel like you're not working 100% of the time.
Hang in there and good luck!
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