Should I drop out of college?

I have recently been in a slump as well, and college has been the first thing to go when I am stressed. I have been working on college for well over ten years and am 5 courses away from my Bachelor’s degree.

Sometimes life gives us cause to take a step back and weigh our options. Sometimes life doesn’t pull punches and knocks us on our ass. It comes down to “fight or flight”.

Practically, I suggest you talk to the school counselor. I am not one, or I would give more specific guidance. Incidentally, I am sure there are flutherites that can give you those kinds of answers.

The bad news I got? That I have Multiple Sclerosis. I didn’t talk to my school counselor, I got a Licensed Professional Counselor. Now I am once again feeling like picking up the responsibility of these classes and am moving forward again.

IMHO, 0nce you get a firm direction that suits your long term goals you will feel better

Being in a slump is not a good reason for giving up on your degree. You need to do some serious research and work out if the career you were aiming for is still what you want to do and whether the other option will take you where you want to go, financially and from a satisfaction perspective.

Do speak to a counsellor but also do some of your own research. Speak to some people who are working in the field you were aiming for. Don’t make any rushed decisions.

What are you majoring in?

If your decision is so equally balanced (you are on the fence) then I would pick the lucrative career.

If your major is something like Art History then I’d go the A&P route.

If it is Engineering, then I’d stick it out and get the degree.

Before you make any decisions do some research. Find out if there are any trade schools in your area where you can earn some kind of certification in your chosen field. Find out what kind of education employers are looking for in candidates for this position. Also research the job market and employment prospects for aircraft mechanics. If you are going to be able to get and keep a job you love with a certification then that is the direction you need to head. If that isn’t realistic and you have your heart set on that position you’ll have to suck it up and finish your degree.

If you do decide to stick with college be sure to speak to an adviser to make sure you are taking the right courses and are on track to finish as quickly as possible. Also be sure you aren’t taking any superfluous classes because this can impact your financial aid eligibility in the future.

Just be sure that whatever you do is well thought out and planned and not just a reaction to what you are going through right now. Good luck!

Consider talking to a career counselor on campus. All colleges and universities have career centers.

Getting AN education is very important these days. Now you may be smart to shift away from the typical bachelors and get some kind of education involving aircraft repair, more like a trade-school-degree, rather than a typical bachelors. But get SOMETHING or you will most definitely come to regret it.

Don’t give up. Just don’t. Keep putting one foot forward. If you give up every time you feel like you’re in a slump, you’ll never finish anything, because slumps are a part of life.

Although, I have to ask, is a Bachelors required in order to become an Air Craft Mechanic? (Yay! We need more mechanics! We REALLY do.) If not, and you get one anyway, I would think that would possibly put you first in line for promotions.

Look into Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, located in Daytona Beach, Fl. I had two friends graduate from there after Vietnam.

Vietnam graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fl? Sorry! I had to play Gail Called for a moment! :)

Needs some punctuation. Here’s the thought.

I had friends in the 1970’s that went to Embry-Riddle on the GI bill.

Time, they are a-changing. You will find that most skilled trade jobs are hi-tech jobs these days. They require the ability to program computers, and that it helps to have a college degree.

Stay in college. College is more than a trade school. It teaches you how to think and to live. It gives you the skills you need to do far more than your job—skills and knowledge you will need to do so many things that will help you in your life.

It’s a no-brainer to me. Stay in school. There is an exception. If you can not focus and can not work well in your classes, then take time off and do something else. But your goal is to get back to college when you are clear on why you are there. When you are clear that you need to learn thinking skills that will help you in everything you want to do in life; especially the things you have no idea you will want or have to do yet.

Do yourself a lifetime favor: Stay in school.

Sorry, it was 4AM when I was making this question, I forgot to say what I was going to college for. Bachelor in Science for Aerospace Maintenance in a general category with safety as a minor. I’ve been the military for 9 years so nothing college teaches can prepare me for life, I just want a means (education) to get to an end (career). I worked on aircraft before in my younger years in the military (B-52, A-10, KC-135) and I can tell you 89% of the stuff I’m learning in school has absolutely NOTHING to do with what I want to do. Matter in fact, there are helicopter mechanics in my class with me that are just taking classes because they are having friendly competition with their kids (they say a parent should have a degree before their kids). I actually already have a certificate of completion from the school, fro completing all the main courses that would actually apply to a specific job (mechanic) and the rest of the classes I’m taking of course are towards the bachelor. I’ve been getting straight A’s mostly but now I’m into the main college part and running into APA problems and see no particular reason why I should be learning how to write a paper in order to get a job turning wrenches. Plus I don’t have a strong academic background so all this college stuff is above my head (the regular classes, not the technical ones), so it’s like I don’t belong there.

@Tropical_Willie I’m actually going to Embry-Riddle, I’m enrolled at the Ft. Campbell campus, since that’s where I ETS’d from.

…see no particular reason why I should be learning how to write a paper in order to get a job turning wrenches. Plus I don’t have a strong academic background so all this college stuff is above my head (the regular classes, not the technical ones), so it’s like I don’t belong there.

This is exactly why you need to stay. You don’t know what your future will hold. You can only imagine turning wrenches now, but your life will be long and I guarantee you you will be doing other things in the rest of your life. If you have an education, and if you can write papers (which is really teaching you how to think and express yourself quickly and clearly), you will get better opportunities in the rest of your life.

You don’t have a strong academic background, which means you are further behind than most people and you need to get a college education even more than most people. Belonging there is in your own head. You belong there because you are paying for it. The professors serve you. You are the boss. But, of course, you don’t want to be boss, so you’re going to quit.

Honestly, you don’t know what you will face in life, so it is pretty foolish to say college won’t prepare you for anything. You are thinking very narrowly and really not looking at the future in an open-minded way.

I think there are some things you will have to take on faith. You don’t have the life experience to understand this now. Years from now, you will probably be glad you finished. College is going to add $10k per year to your salary. Maybe not immediately, but it will.

Good luck. Whatever you do. Good luck.

A difficult and very personal decision. FWIW in a previous thread I was bemoaning the fact that I had not waited a few years to go to College while @dappled_leaves was wishing she had started earlier. And now I am wishing I was back in school.
From my perspective, I would agree with @SpatzieLover, @Dutchess_III and the rest who suggest staying in.