Toying With Dropping Out of College

[Restrikted]

I'm in my second semester at Penn State, and I haven't found what I really want to do just yet. Just to be clear, it's all about money. Every time I think about it, it kills me to think that I'm wasting $10,000 a semester just to get an education which I will probably not use. I'm majoring in economics right now, but I don't think that is my life's passion. I like the idea of getting a degree so that I have something to fall back on, but if that degree is going to cost ~$80,000, I need to rethink this whole situation. What I really love doing is learning about the stock market and web systems(like php/mysql kind of stuff). I could be at home giving myself value in these fields, and it wouldn't cost me a dime. So, do I stay in college and get a degree, almost forcing myself into a life I don't want to be in (living the monotonous 9-5) or do I take that chance and rely fully on myself for a chance at a great life?

I know some of you might say to major in Finance, but I couldn't imagine trading stocks for a living.

[help4me]

So why not a dgeree in computers? Web design? Computer programming? Transfer to a cheaper school. Go for a degree with something like computers. Most companies (and even starting your own business) want you to have that piece of paper that says you can "fix" computers. Try a vocational (trade) school for computer certification. If you have any computer knowledge at all, try doing some free lance work. There are many free lance sites out there. Look them over, but be careful that you don't get ripped off. Read the site rules and check out the sites thoroughly. But don't give up on your education thinking that it's not doing you any good, or that you could be out there getting job experience. It just doesn't work that way anymore. Trust me... I know. I gave up on my college education because of money and family. Now at 33, I am stuck. I have found what I want to do, but I'm having a hard time finding steady employment in that field because I don't have the piece of paper that says I am qualified to do the work. It doesn't matter that I have a portfolio showing that I can do the work.

A college degree is not a guarantee, but it is a step in the right direction.

[YourSelf]

If you need any help in Economics I can help you, since I'm also studying that (undergraduate)!

May I ask you what don't you like about it? I'd be curious.

I also often think that it's a grey subject, but it really depends on where you apply it.
If you'd like to discuss about it... I'm here

[awakentransform]

I'm all for following your heart and not following the mainstream. BUT I still would recommend getting some sort of degree. Like help4me said, transfer to a cheaper college. Explore some more electives to see what interests you. Take some fun classes that bring out your passion inside. Once you get out of the college system, it's much harder to get the focus and find the time to do so later.

Just because you get a college degree, it doesn't mean you have to choose a monotonous 9-5 job. No matter what field you end up going into, and most likely you will change a few times during your lifetime, a college degree is the very basic requirement to be hired or respected as a businessperson.

[wolverine]

What do you find interesting about trading stocks and web systems? Is it the challenge of getting the system to work (for that matter, have you actually written any systems?), wanting to know the thrill of what stock trading could be like, the complexity and politics, the ---? Whatever it is, have a look for it and see why you don't feel you could be trading stocks for a living (it doesn't have to be all your life, but just for now, maybe the next 5-10 years).

As several others have said, change courses rather than dropping out completely. And I realise I'm in a different country and a different system, but why the hell are you paying that much? Is that a top-notch university or something? Move to a TAFE or a smaller college or something if that cost is the only thing that's bothering you. Apply for scholarships (not sure how doable this is over there). Get a part time job to do with your passions -- anything! But don't just drop out and think 'yeah, I'll just do the stuff I like at home instead'. Come up with a plan or a goal or something, something that is likely to lead onto a paying future.

And if you like web systems so much, work on them at home while you're doing your degree!


Wolverine

[Acting Like Godot]

Offering some food for thought:

Originally Posted by Restrikted

I'm in my second semester at Penn State, and I haven't found what I really want to do just yet.

If you haven't found what you really want to do just yet, how do you know that studying for economics is worse than staying at home learning about stock markets / web systems?

Just to be clear, it's all about money. Every time I think about it, it kills me to think that I'm wasting $10,000 a semester just to get an education which I will probably not use.

Are you underestimating the wider benefits of formal education? I have a law degree, but have stopped practising as a lawyer. Nevertheless I don't regret law school at all - among other things, it provided certain general yet very useful skills such as logical thinking; critical analysis; effective communication; precise writing and so on.

Would your studies not give you any benefits, even if you don't eventualy become an economist?

but if that degree is going to cost ~$80,000, I need to rethink this whole situation.

Surely you would have considered the cost issue, before you applied for college. What has changed now? Your interest in your studies? If so, this seems to be a prime case for considering making a change in your course.

What I really love doing is learning about the stock market and web systems(like php/mysql kind of stuff). I could be at home giving myself value in these fields, and it wouldn't cost me a dime.

Have you considered this? If you are very efficient in managing your time and energy, you could probably do your economics degree AND at the same time learn about stock markets and web systems on your own.

Plenty of people in college spend a very sizeable chunk of their time on activities other than studies. Some of those activities are constructive, and some are arguably not so constructive. For example, many college students are also busy participating in sports, music, cultural activities, student associations, mindless boozing; a lot of partying; a lot of sex; and elective courses outside their main studies.

You could be the economics student who does well in his (her?) studies, while simultaneously pursuing his (her) personal interests in stock markets and web systems.

I know some of you might say to major in Finance, but I couldn't imagine trading stocks for a living.

Just to be clear - a finance degree does not mean that you have to trade stocks for a living. A finance degree provides an obvious route into the financial industry (that means a job in a bank; insurance company; hedge fund; brokerage firm; financial advisory firm), but there are numerous jobs within these organisations, and certainly not just trading stocks.

Who knows? Perhaps one day you will be designing web systems within a bank that can be used to model economic trends affecting stock markets.

[supertom]

I think your scared of money, cause it keeps popping up and the finance and trading stocks thing at the end.

How come you like the stock market but not trading in it ??

BTW you remind me of me, im pretty much doing the same thing

[YourSelf]

How come you like the stock market but not trading in it ??

Ditto, I didn't really understand.

I mean, where I live the stock market is also part of economics.
Sure, you can read about the stock market on a normal business magazine or some simple internet tutorials (or even Wikipedia for that matter!), but at college it's another experience.

Is there perhaps some other reason why you don't like it?

[Restrikted]

The reason I like learning about the stock market and trading stocks is because it is just something I like to do, not something I have to do. I don't like the idea of doing only one thing for the rest of my life. I don't want to define myself as being a stock broker, or an economist. I would like the choice to do a number of things. Learning about the market and applying it to real life stocks, as well as learning about and coding php/mysql (eventually other languages as well) is something that I enjoy, and I like knowing that I can make money at it. But as soon as someone forces me to do something, I don't like it anymore. For example, I've been going running everyday for a while now, and my roommate asked to come with me, stating it would push me to run harder (he's faster and has more endurance), but I declined because as soon as someone is there to tell me how fast or how far I should run, it stops becoming fun, and I won't want to do it anymore. I enjoy exercising and learning things on my own, but when people force me to learn material, I start to dislike it. That's about the best explanation I can give right now (I have to go to class).

[YourSelf]

Is it allowed, at your university, to not attend classes and learn the subjects on your own?
If yes, you could do so, and then discuss with your tutor/professor what else you should learn apart from what is stated on your syllabus, and just pass the exams.

Many students at my university do that, also because they work part-time or have other activities.

Do you do any extra-curricular activity related to economics/business/finance?

Also, as someone already said above (and also as some of my professors told), a degree in Economics doesn't make you an economist.
It's just an undergraduate degree, not even a PhD.

After you get the degree you can do whatever you like.

[Nicketas]

Originally Posted by Restrikted

I'm in my second semester at Penn State, and I haven't found what I really want to do just yet. Just to be clear, it's all about money. Every time I think about it, it kills me to think that I'm wasting $10,000 a semester just to get an education which I will probably not use. I'm majoring in economics right now, but I don't think that is my life's passion. I like the idea of getting a degree so that I have something to fall back on, but if that degree is going to cost ~$80,000, I need to rethink this whole situation. What I really love doing is learning about the stock market and web systems(like php/mysql kind of stuff). I could be at home giving myself value in these fields, and it wouldn't cost me a dime. So, do I stay in college and get a degree, almost forcing myself into a life I don't want to be in (living the monotonous 9-5) or do I take that chance and rely fully on myself for a chance at a great life?

I know some of you might say to major in Finance, but I couldn't imagine trading stocks for a living.

If you don't know why you are in college, quit immediately.

Nothing in this world is worth being aimlessly in debt. Nothing.

Get a job, chill out for a while and live your life. Try new things constantly, work on your personal development (read steve's blog, use doctorpaul.net), then when you find something that sticks, DO IT.

Not all jobs are a 9/5 evil. Its ok to have one for a while so long as you TAKE YOUR TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHAT YOU WANT.

Once you do, the choice will be clear - WITHOUT disgusting amounts of debt.

[evelynlim]

You need to think over your decision carefully. Like many others, I see the economics knowledge as helping you to trade better. Having a degree is of course helpful. You may well earn over $80K from starting pay if you come from a better U. Of course, a cert is no guarantee of success in life.

What's most important is to pursue what you like. If you know what your end desire is, then acquire the necessary knowledge to reach the aim.

Evelyn

[Restrikted]

Here's the thing. My end desire is to be financially independent, so I can pursue all of the things that I've always wanted to do. I don't have any specific things I want to do, besides travelling the world, but in general, I want to be able to wake up, ask myself "what do I want to do today (things within reason)?" and be able to do it, without really having to worry about money. I realized that I can't really do this with any 9-5 job I would most likely get after receiving my degree. Basically, I don't want my life to consist of the "work until I'm 65, then die 3 years later from colon cancer or some random thing."

But I think I have decided what to do for now. I'm going to try to graduate 2-3 semesters early, just to get college out of the way, while pursuing web development/design, that way I can always fall back on my degree if I can't make enough money doing what I like.