So I just started community college a couple of days ago and have come to the conclusion that I don't even know if I should be there. I only really am going because my high school kept saying that you should go to college after you're done with high school, so I signed up to do the basics. I still have no clue what I actually should do with my life and wonder if maybe this was a mistake. It doesn't help any that I'm scared about the possibility of failing and the money and time would all just be a waste. I wish I knew what the hell to do. I think I might go through this semester no matter what grades I get, but after that I don't know if I'll go back for another semester. I keep hearing about other people at the school through over heard conversations saying they know exactly what they want to do and wish I was like them.

Don't be an idiot, higher education is always the answer.

It'll sound really generic, but just make sure you're doing something, even if you aren't sure what your plans for the future are.  The worst thing you can do right out of high school is hesitate or get complacent with where you are, because before you know it, your chances will have passed you by and all you'll have left is regret and self loathing.

They have counselors don't they? Drop by and talk to one.

Unless you have a job that pays well already, I suggest you stay in college.
 
You'll figure out what you want to do eventually.

Most people don't know what they want to do with their lives even as late as their 40's.  Don't be like these people if you can.  Work on staying in college and try and get a side job on the side.  Figure out what you love most to do and go for it.  At the very least do something to earn money with your education because if you opt out now you won't even have that.

When I first started college, I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do. Then I decided on my major toward the end of my freshman year. Then when I graduated, I realized I had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. So I ended up kind of fumbling the following year and a half or so while working a campus job until I started doing temp work through employment agencies. I eventually got enough experience to apply and interview for a full-time job and get hired, and I've just kept moving on from there.

Life is weird. It rarely ever goes the way you think it's going to go, but as long as you keep working at doing something, you're better off than just doing nothing.

After I graduated high school I also had this. I hated school and was far to immature for continuing my education. So I quit college to work at Lowe's. I would say it was a mistake, but I learned a lot by quitting school for a while...years. Soon I'll be returning. I took me years to decide what I wanted to do. The economy was better then though, I would think hard about what I wanted to do. Until you decide, at least go part time. Never drop out.

Life is weird. It rarely ever goes the way you think it's going to go, but as long as you keep working at doing something, you're better off than just doing nothing.

It's really important to get a college education.

You don't have to do it NOW, however. If you're unsure of what you want to do, don't do what my sister did and jump straight into college without a decision, and kept changing her major. Ask around. Explore your main interests. Take some core classes that look kinda cool. It was through core classes that I discovered my film minor. Don't jump directly into anything and above all DON'T WORRY! It'll be ok. Don't give up just yet though.

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

Awful advice.

@SeriouslyNow said:

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

Awful advice.

Yep. That is pretty bad advice.

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

Awful advice.

@SeriouslyNow said:

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

Awful advice.

Yep. That is pretty bad advice.

I'm feeling the same way right now since my goal hasn't the need for a higher education, but it's too risky to drop especially the way things are. I'm going to try my hardest to transfer to a CSU and get a major in C++ computer language.

@ch13696 said:

@SeriouslyNow said:

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

Awful advice.

Name me one major that is necessary to have a degree in besides medical, scientific, or law.

Your assumption that anything else is useless is the reason why you give awful advice. There are also qualified lawyers, doctors and scientists who serve coffee for a living. You don't understand the real world at all.

@ch13696 said:

@SpikeSpiegel said:

@SeriouslyNow said:

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

Awful advice.

Yep. That is pretty bad advice.

Most likely, this is coming from people that feel their major's are very useful.

Nope! I really don't. Doesn't mean that I don't need a degree, as well as work experience, to make myself competitive.

Just take some general classes, that should at least give you a year or two so you have some time too figure out what you want your major too be.

I switched majors before I started my first day, and I'm pondering the idea of switching again. But since most of my classes were general, if I do, I haven't thrown much away.

Hey dude, thanks for starting this thread, I'm currently also in a position where I just finished ''high-school'' and cannot really figure out what to do with my life. 
However, I don't know if this is useful information for you, - I decided to go to Israel for a year, just (as it has been stressed) to do something, especially now that I have the time. Of course it helps a lot that I actually have a huge interest in going to a Kibbutz, but It could have been something else, not necessarily a trip to Israel. 
 
Peace.

Don't be an idiot, higher education is always the answer.

I'm in the same situation, although I'm not going to college yet, nor do i plan to.
Might try being a cop, protect and serve and all that good stuff. They get alright wages and go to retirement at 45-50 max.  Oh btw, don't worry too much about it, everything works out in the end.

You'll hear a couple of bitter people tell you that if you're not going to be a scientist, doctor, or lawyer, then college is worthless. 
 
They're quite wrong and obviously haven't been in the real world much. Oh, sure, you can get a job without a degree. But it won't pay very much at all, it won't be very secure, and you'll work your ass off for a bunch of assholes that will get rid of you on a whim. 
 
This isn't to say that there aren't people with doctorates in those kinds of jobs. There are. But the college degree, with a good amount of skill, a straight set of priorities, and a little sprinkle of luck can net you a much, much better job. 
 
Personally? I'm a commuter at a 4-year college near me. I'm a sophomore and have no clue what I want to do, so I'm going to find something to major in that can get me a job. I'm going to have some debt, and I'm going to have to live with that, but in the end it will pay off. Still paying off the debt at 30 years old? My life won't even be halfway over at 30!  
 
Even if you disagree with all that's said, let me give one big hint: don't stagnate. Don't just become content with a little something. Always try to bring yourself up. You won't regret it. 
 
Oh, yeah, and make sure you put your priorities straight. Work always comes before entertainment, and you'll really have to pick and choose when and what you want to entertain yourself with. 

I think the suggestion to just keep doing something is pretty good.  I didn't, and now I'm fucked. 
 
If I had just kept with it, I might still have no idea what I wanted to do, but at least I'd have a piece of paper that told people I was worth hiring for something. 

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

Ok, medical I can understand, finding an LPN or RN job at the moment is probably the easiest passage you will find. Science? You better be pretty damn smart and run your field like a master, because buddy, there are a thousand of you out there. Law? Your kidding right? There are so many "established" lawyers running around like a chicken with their head caught off it's not even funny. I'll remind the guy at the bus stop on my way to college that he should just stick with his law degree because it's the only worthwhile one.

@ch13696 said:

@SpikeSpiegel said:

@SeriouslyNow said:

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

Awful advice.

Yep. That is pretty bad advice.

Most likely, this is coming from people that feel their major's are very useful.

My major wasn't anything that gave me a direct road into a specific profession, but the knowledge I gained from four years of college was necessary for me to have the job I work today.

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

I studied for 5 years to get a master's in interaction design and work as one now so fuck you very much mr burger flipper.

@MideonNViscera said:

@Metalideth said:

Don't be an idiot, higher education is always the answer.

Attitudes like that are the reason there's a million waiters with $100000 debt.

I have a relative that's in this position. They've gone to college for the medical field. The schooling's almost over and the person still lives with their parents with debt well over 100k and has to borrow money like they're 16 when in fact they're almost 30. It'll take that person a long time to get rid of the debt they've racked up and it's going to be a long time before they get to buy a car or a house. I take pride in having worked a manual labor job for a couple years. Then I got promoted to work in the office. Now I own shares in the business and I'm going to get a house soon completely debt free. Sure I can lose my job and house but that can happen to anyone at any time. There's no such thing as job security. College helps and is good, but it is not necessarily needed to be successful in life. There are many many other paths that can make you happy and successful. Higher education isn't always the answer.

It's easier to get a job with a college education.  You need a job to buy stuff.  Don't be lazy now or you'll regret it later in life.  If you're just starting school, I wouldn't worry too much about your major or future field of study since you'll need to get all the crap required courses out of the way anyway.  Two years down the road you might have a better idea about where you want to take your future.  Or maybe not.  If the latter, I suggest business since it can be applied to a number of different fields. 

I've spent a total of 5 years at university and still only have a job were mostly high school kids work. The people who are as old as me (mid 20's) are managers and such because they have worked their way up when I was spending my time in school. Also I have a lot of loans to pay back. Right now going to university doesn't seem like the best decision I ever made. Maybe if I knew what I really wanted, but I didn't so I have studied a lot of different stuff.

@ch13696 said:

@SeriouslyNow said:

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

Awful advice.

Name me one major that is necessary to have a degree in besides medical, scientific, or law.

Your assumption that anything else is useless is the reason why you give awful advice. There are also qualified lawyers, doctors and scientists who serve coffee for a living. You don't understand the real world at all.

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

I studied for 5 years to get a master's in interaction design and work as one now so fuck you very much mr burger flipper.

Find what you love and then find a way to do that.

I can hardly afford my school, I hate the shit out of it, and my major is completely and utterly useless (english). I'm fucked, and am merely biding time by sinking thousands into that shithole of a school before ending up debt-ridden and jobless upon graduation. The thing about college is that, since the economy has fucked for so long, it's become this "Mystical Golden Ticket" to any job you want post-high school. Now it's about as useful as a fuckin' GED. Just grind out these four years and hope to God you won't be fucked like the other 99.9% of us upon graduation. It's all you can do, man. The world is literally so fucked that there's only one path left to go through life. No longer are we allowed the options of even trying to become self-made, because no one is going to give you a chance. It disgusts me.

@FancySoapsMan said:

Unless you have a job that pays well already, I suggest you stay in college. You'll figure out what you want to do eventually.

Well, there's always the military.

I kid, if you are this worried about college, you probably wouldn't want to join a service.

Just take core classes for now, check out some of the clubs if your school has em, think about what you enjoy doing in life, and find a path that suits you. Give it a bit, not everyone knows what they want to do. Sometimes you just need to try things out and wait till you get it. Figure out a general direction you like (art, math, teaching, social studies, skilled labor) and then investigate further into the ones that appeal to you.

Whatever you do, don't just let life push you through, that's how you get stuck in some shitty job doing something you hate.

Although if you really do remain that directionless and never really figure something out, it may not hurt to think about the military. If you know what end of an Ethernet cable your supposed to plug in, you could probably get a relatively low key MOS/job. I knew a couple people, had no idea what the fuck they wanted to do, and then ended up really enjoying their military career. If you make it 4 years, you end up in a position of much great stability to approach your desired career, with some money, something to put on a resume, and very little to worry about in terms of paying for college. Plus you get training, potential some damned good training, and a lot of assistance with education while you are in the service. Money's not great unless you go career, but you won't need to spend quite as much if you do things right.

I'm making every effort possible to join the Marine Corps (a lot of set backs, I'm in a program to get you into boot camp right out of high school, and it's been a pain getting credits finished up, plus I've been going through a bunch of legal issues because of my abusive father having issues with my brother and other stuff), but if I manage to stick with it for 4 years, that puts me at the maximum benefit from the GI Bill, ready to start college, with a bit of money in my pocket, and still only 22. It means a hard 4 years, but it's also something I want to do, and I'm not doing it for the benefits. Obviously it's not something you should do if you aren't willing and able, but if you are, it's certainly an option to consider. Just don't rush into it because you think "oh hey, everything is hopeless and this is my only option."

i just suggest you get a degree in something that matters. i went to community college with multimedia degree and i can't find a job. i want to become a graphic designer but that doesn't seem to be working since places that i send my resume to doesn't seem to be hiring. college people are going back to school so it seems like places are hiring again, i heard back from 3 stop and shops in august but other couple of months i didn't.

I graduated from college like 6 years ago and still don't know what I'm doing with my life. Join the party.

I would like to thank everyone for all of your advice. I think I will continue to go to school this semester and probably the next doing basic courses while figuring out what I want to do. I just hope I can succeed in my classes.

@Vodun said:

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

I studied for 5 years to get a master's in interaction design and work as one now so fuck you very much mr burger flipper.

Burger flipper? HA! Far from it. I've worked in the casino business for almost 8 years making between $15-20 an hour. I've dealt with every single thing that has to do with money. Yes, I did lose my job because of the outcome of the economy, but that just shows that I don't need a degree to make some good money. However, I am in school for a field that does make sense. The medical field.

@Vodun said:

Don't know where you're from but where I'm coming from 20 bucks/hour pretty much constitutes burger flipping money. Good luck with your education in "the medical field". I'm sure your narrow mindedness will serve you well in that profession.

Where I'm from burger flipping is $7.25 an hour.

@Bloviator: Ouch, jesus christ how do you survive on that? 20 bucks was hyperbolic but I actually know a guy who worked at a burger chain a while back and at current exchange rates he made around 14-15 an hour.

Figure out what kind of life you want, and make your way backwards and see where it took you.

@Vodun said:

Don't know where you're from but where I'm coming from 20 bucks/hour pretty much constitutes burger flipping money. Good luck with your education in "the medical field". I'm sure your narrow mindedness will serve you well in that profession.

Where I'm from burger flipping is $7.25 an hour.

@SpikeSpiegel: @SpikeSpiegel said:

@ch13696 said:

@SpikeSpiegel said:

@SeriouslyNow said:

@ch13696 said:

Don't go to college unless you're really sure that you want to do something in the medical, scientific, or law field. Everything else is just bull shit.

Awful advice.

Yep. That is pretty bad advice.

Most likely, this is coming from people that feel their major's are very useful.

Nope! I really don't. Doesn't mean that I don't need a degree, as well as work experience, to make myself competitive.

....how many lawyers do you think graduated this past year and passed the BAR exam? And of those, how many do you believe got a job? What were their total costs after law school (i.e. Grad School where you have no life until it's done)? Your advice lacks nuance...I've yet to even suggest a careful examination of job prospects based on the type of law that you went to school for let alone median wages in the profession (Not as rich as you'd think, media does a horrible job with this). I'd stop giving advice now guy.

@Vodun said:

@Bloviator: Ouch, jesus christ how do you survive on that? 20 bucks was hyperbolic but I actually know a guy who worked at a burger chain a while back and at current exchange rates he made around 14-15 an hour.

...this sounds like bullsh*t. Current exchange rates? Was he out of country? Where did he work? Was it an upscale area? Most currencies "float" against one another today...so I don't quite see how that's a relevant metric. $15 an hour in the US doesn't net you a comparable lifestyle in Hong Kong based on COLA or the difference in inflation/purchasing power/etc. So....come again?

I'm with you. The future is scary. I try not to over think it.