i so very,very feel you. i tend to tell people that what i got out of college was that i got four years older. that’s the snide version (although not *so* snide in my case – four years made a hell of a difference and i am certain i couldn’t have hacked it beforehand). the thing is i actually learned a *lot* in college – but i learned it in my major, which is something i’ll probably never do again, having skipped on grad school.

but, okay, here’s my pragmatic, cynical view on why it’s worthwhile. i majored in a science with the plan of going to grad school. having not gone to grad school there is next to nothing i can do career-wise “in my major.” but, frankly, what most places that don’t require a higher degree are looking for is, actually, the piece of paper. they want to know that you can put the effort into something (anything). i am now working a job that, really, doesn’t require any college-level skills, but on applying for it the only qualification i had was a degree. and i really think it helps (now, whether that is sensible or not is an entirely different discussion).

also, again excepting higher degrees, no one is ever (ever) going to care what your gpa is once you’re done.

and, last, you can always go back. sound torturous to me, but if you find yourself with drive to do something specific for which you aren’t trained someday, it is an option – and a viable one.

sorry if that was long and read like some kind of advice column – this kind of rang a bell =)

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LaurynX Reply:
August 30th, 2009 at 2:22 pm

lol @ “i got four years older.” That’s what it feels like to me many times. I’m hoping experience will make up for my GPA if I ever decide to get another degree though. Thanks.

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L,

I think the majority of people end-up working in fields that have little or nothing to do with their college majors.

Part of that is probably due to the fact that it’s pretty hard to know exactly what you want to do with your life career wise at 18 or 19 years-old.

Anyway hang in there grad school is when most people study in a field that they are really interested in.

And sorry to hear about the three cheese steak nachos.

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LaurynX Reply:
August 30th, 2009 at 2:29 pm

“I think the majority of people end-up working in fields that have little or nothing to do with their college majors.”

That frustrates me…sigh. It is hard to know when you haven’t been out there to see what’s possible. After this I don’t think going BACK to school would appeal to me unless I was passionate about it.

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Boy, do I know how you feel. I felt this way for three years. I left feeling like I didn’t learn a thing. I would say find things you enjoy outside of the classroom like volunteering and extracurriculars. That’s what got me through. I also did a semester abroad. Best decision of my life.

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