If You Are Googling Whether You Should Drop Out Of College, STOP.
In August 2013, I filed the paperwork to withdraw from Barnard College. I had just turned 21, had been working on a business for over a year, and felt that paying tuition to answer work emails instead of actually listen in class was ridiculous. So I left.
So far, it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. While I still intend to finish my degree, in the past seven months I have earned the least expensive MBA ever (the one that comes from actually doing), learned what I need to feel fulfilled, and have grown up far more than I would have shuttling between lecture halls and frat parties.
Sometimes it feels like the label of “college dropout: is tattooed on my forehead. It tends to be one of the first 10 things someone learns about me, whether by my own doing, online, or through other people, and I attract a lot of college students who are pondering their educational paths.
At least once a week someone asks me if they should drop out from school. 99% of the time my answer is HELL NO. If you are asking me, a person you barely know, to validate your life decisions, there is something hugely wrong.
When I left school, I could count the number of people I told beforehand on two hands. I was so certain that it was what I needed to do that, after asking a few close friends and mentors for guidance, I went with it. I am glad that those friends and mentors were supportive, but I would have left school either way. I knew that it was what I needed to do to be happy.
The type of person who will be successful after dropping out of college needs a few things:
- Tenacity
- Self-Awareness
- The belief that they will be wildly successful.
- And, more than anything, not giving a shit what other people think.
If you are asking me for advice on whether you should drop out you probably don’t meet all of those points. And if you don’t meet those criteria, I insist that you not drop out.
Maybe you aren’t starting a business. Maybe you are two years in yet still uncertain about what you want to study. Take a semester off. Hell, take a year off. Take the time you need to better understand where you want to be and how your education can get you there, but don’t take on the label of “college dropout.”
While me, my friends, and the niche community that we live and work in don’t overly stigmatize dropping out, the majority of society feels quite differently. No amount of ego, or tenacity, or self-awareness will stop people from judging you for lacking a piece of paper with a bunch of words that pronounce you a college grad. That’s where not giving a shit pulls you through.
If you don’t give a shit what other people think, you don’t ask someone who doesn’t know you, your story, or your safety net for help. You go for it.
So, if you think you want to drop out of college but find yourself asking strangers for advice, or worse Googling, please don’t do it. Stay in school, get your degree, play it safe, and take risks later.
Interesting take, not sure I’d agree though. Good and rational choices depend on the quality/honesty of information and whether a person has an understanding of all the necessary factors affecting a decision. Not everyone is fortunate to have everything figured out at the get go, and some need to do more research and find facts (in this case, experiences of people that have already dropped out to avoid making common mistakes, etc.) to make the best choice possible. Saying that accessing the biggest (albeit flawed, but still good if you use it properly) source of information known to human civilization to get a person’s facts straight and break down their biases towards a major life decision is wrong to me.
Be careful not to be too proud of your success. For me reading this, as a university drop out myself, it’s okay, and I feel happy for you and me and others like us who make something of their life. But I can’t help think others might feel patronised. I mean, taking what you’ve said LITERALLY, you are pretty much stating that anyone who doesn’t drop out of college/university lacks determination, self-awareness, self-belief and a backbone.
When I first left university, knowing that hundreds of other students also wished to leave, I would also claim the same thing. Most 18 year olds are a bunch of sheep and do whatever is the done thing, in the past it was going to work, probably with your fathers business, now with Student Loans etc, it’s going to university.
Don’t forget (like I also keep doing), that in some cases, a university degree is essential. Doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, computer programmers, forensics, scientists, mathematicians, researchers, pretty much almost everything that needs a skill set and a foundation of knowledge in which experience will neatly coincide with and help to develop the individual into a professional. Maybe me and you aren’t professionals in our fields. I know my colleagues would think that about me, after having spent years and years in higher education but earn a salary the same as mine, a 21 year old university-drop out.
Still, every day I’m growing and learning, as I’m sure you are too. And perhaps we will go back to university! Or at least, maybe I’ll take some online courses. Cus if there’s one thing I miss, it’s my brain getting stimulated.
I don’t think a college dropout who is determined of choice would have to suffer later in his life for being a dropout. But this would not work with everybody. You should have a plan before you dropout. And try harder to make it workout. This will create difference.
Good stuff. A little bit narrow – I agree with what Sarah was saying. But there is some good content here.
At my website, successfuldropout.com I interview a successful dropout entrepreneur every week. These interviews will shed way more light on this subject if you are interested.
I lost count of how many classes I failed and retook. I am not as capable as I used to be. I am dropping out and I wan to either commit suicide or run for office.
Hi Nex,
I hope you are doing well. If you are in need of help, the suicide prevention lifeline is a great first step: http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Best,
Pippa
I want to become a mechanic and im in highschool but i been failing my classes and i got a job but i think it is pointless to be going to school if im going to be a mechanic
I am a college student and have been considering dropping out, and I think it is a bit ironic to post something on the internet then to proceed to tell someone questioning their future that if they googled whether or not to drop out that they shouldn’t.
I attend The Ohio State University and I am proud of my education but have always had the feeling that I was bound for something better, this ambition is something that I do not believe college can satisfy. I want to live in the real world and take a risk and possibly even fail, and use this information to better my future self. This is something that college cannot offer. Eventually I’ll be forced to pick some major that I thought was somewhat interesting when I was 19 and then trying to make a career out of it. That shouldn’t be how people decide the rest of their life, to me that is the definition of settling. I know I will make something of my life yet I visited this article? What does that say about me?
The reason I visited this article was not for someones opinion on what I should do, I know what I want to do possibly even need to do to achieve my full potential and happiness. I visited this article because even though I know what I want, and I do not care what the general public thinks of me and my actions, I do care about what my parents think of me. I googled something along the lines of “should I drop out of college” not for reassurance but for information. I don’t know how my traditional military serving father will react to me telling him “Dad I feel like I am meant for something better, something that college cannot satisfy” I’m assuming if I tell him that, he will think that it’s just all those college liberals corrupting me, and wanting me to think that the “man” can’t hold me back. Then my dad will then proceed to ask if I’ve been smoking any weed.
So please, if you do respond to comments all I ask to you or any other successful college dropouts, what do I say to my dad to make him believe that this is what is best for me? What route did you take with your parents and did it impact your relationship with them?
Thank you for your time if you do decide to respond to me, which I hope you do.
The final and only other thing I ask is I intend to make a plan for my future (once I hopefully dropout) do you have any suggestions on how to go about this plan making? Are there any obstacles that I may not be thinking of that you may have encountered? I want to look into job oppurtunities but will admit I am scared how seriously they will take me, is this a legitimate concern?
Thank you, I enjoyed the article and sorry for the long reply.
Hi AJ,
Thank you for such a thoughtful comment! Looking back on this piece is always interesting for me because while I still believe what I wrote to be true, a lot has changed since then. Like I expected, I did go back to school, graduating this fall. Throughout my educational journey, I was lucky that my parents were supportive. The fact I was working on a company and could pay my own rent definitely helped matters. Being nervous about how your parents will react to your idea makes sense, but funnel that nervous energy into creating an organized plan of action that will convince them that they can trust you in making the best decision for yourself. Whether it’s your parents or a potential employer, people will only take you as seriously as you take yourself – especially when you’re young, so start taking yourself seriously. Being “bound for something better” is an amorphous idea, give some shape to it. Be bold and brave and strive for amazing things, but as you consider leaving school, please remember that things don’t just fall into place when you drop out. Regardless of all other factors, all good things are the product of hard work.
Please feel free to email me at pippa@pippabiddle.com and I’d love to offer any advice I can.
Best,
Pippa
Nex don’t do it. Many other people want to commit or have been depressed you are not alone. Talk to people to help you stop.
Talk to people who are depressed as you are, you can help them, help you.
My ex-boyfriend’s uncle was a dropout he used to struggle (still is). He can’t support his family. But most importantly he can’t support himself.
While I understand where you’re coming from I strongly disagree. If you find yourself googling whether or not to drop out it does not show lack of tenacity etc. Research is fundamental before one takes as large a leap as this. It’s important to understand both sides of the story. Actually I’m quite disappointed in your point of view because you are making those looking for information feel stupid for doing so. That’s not right. In fact, I suggest they google the shit out of it. Find out as many stories as you can. From some is where you’ll draw your strength. Myself, I intend to drop out and don’t appreciate you telling me I don’t have what it takes to drop out… Like yeah right. LOL
Personally I HATED COLLEGE. I had been burnt out since sophomore year of high school, was majoring in engineering, and went to a school that wasn’t a great fit.
After two years I transferred to a state school and worked a full time job so I would be debt free and keep myself busy so I wouldn’t think about how miserable I was.
Senior year I couldn’t push any longer, so I went to a psychiatrist, faked ADD symptoms, and got adderall. Then I was able to use that to push through my last two semesters (then I quit using it).
You cant always be happy and even if you are miserable for 4 years college paves the way for a better future. Suck it up, do whatever it takes to push through it (drugs, overeating, orgies), get it done, and move on with your life.
I’ve been thinking of dropping out of college degree but unless if I get a decent job maybe where the salary is equivalent to a diploma level salary. Because I’ve been extremely depressed lately I don’t get to have fun and spend time with my family esp my little brother, almost every night I have to open my laptop and do assignments and tutorials. The college im into, I find it very stressful, the mid term exams and assignment deadlines are mixed together and within 2 weeks. (I just feel like expressing myself here hehe and sorry for bad english hehe) Feels like its better to have a job slightly lower rather than not having to spend my free time.
Me personally, I would recommend to anybody who wants to quit college to don’t do it , continue your major and make a side “project”, something that you like doing, you might like doing your side projects for your mental happiness and your major for the monetary side, this is what helps me with my robotics major, I like the practical part(my side bussiness) but kinda hate the theoretical part(college courses), but I know I gotta suck it up and go on, it’s better to have your college major as a back up in case your “hobby” doesn’t get productive. What I learned is that in life you got to have some backup plans in case things don’t go as I would want them to go. I just wanted to give my view since I’m in the same position as a lot of you guys(and girls 🙂 ). mihaigagiuc@gmail.com
i feel like i should
College is a scam, I’d rather not go to college, than have to pay back thousands of dollars In student loans
such a beautiful piece thank you for inspiring me <3
So much judgmental stuff here. You know why I graduated? Because I’m from a country in which there is something magical called affordable college, which is non-existent in the US. Then I went to grad school only to realize that it was extremely painful and led to nowhere. So yes, I AM DROPPING OUT.
I dropped out. Got a job. Finished a degree. Went back to work as a janitor.
Lol I needed this. I do not think a better article could be written about this subject honestly.
I have a lot of mixed feelings about all this that was written above. I’m studying Audiovisual and Multimedia (camera stuff, design, 3D, etc) and I’m not happy studying it. I know, sounds obvious that I should drop out and find something else to study, but really I only dislike it because I’m not good at it.
I guess what I’m wondering is am I not good at it because I’m not giving it my all? Or am I not the best in this area because there’s something out there I’m better at? Am I looking at this the wrong way?
Another thing that really is stressing me out is that for me to make it and have a job, I have to be good and have a good portfolio… So why am I wasting my time studying this if I’m not even gonna have a job in it’s area (since I’m not good at it)?
I saw a comment that said that we should endure it, and I agreed at first, then I started thinking “yeah it’s easy for this guy to say this because he studied something that gave him an almost certain employment in it’s area (engineering) when you have a uni degree”. Like it was said previously, it’s obvious that in some cases, a university degree is essential (like engineering), but that’s not my case. It’s not a piece of paper that’s going to garantee I have a job, it’s my skills and what I can do. I find myself torn between studying something that will probably land me a job immeadiatly like studying a law course or something and where my skills dont really matter that much (it only matters that I finish the degree), or trying to find a course in which I see myself and that could interest me, but with which I risk not having a job.
Appreciate any answers, I guess I just wanted to let this out of my chest.
I found this article and the comment section to be very enlightening.
Thank you.