College Dropout

If you're a junior, I think you can stick with it for another two years. Most, if not all, well-paying jobs require some kind of degree.

I'm happier than I've ever been in the last couple of years, but dropping/flunking out of college after my sophomore year was a big, big mistake--one that will take years to correct.

I went through the EXACT same thing junior year. I couldn't be bothered to attend a class that wasn't a film course. I had terrible attendance rates. It's normal to go through this. By junior year you've figured out that the whole goddamn thing is a consumer based enterprise. The schools themselves don't care about educating you. They just care that they get their check from somewhere. They don't care if it's Sallie Mae or Sally "Pork me Rhino" Struthers. Teachers generally seem apathetic.

But it passes. You realize that pushing ahead and finishing is worth more than stopping after the halfway point. You find a teacher who really does help you. You meet a person or three who shares similar interests. You screw five different chicks from the same class without any of them even knowing each other (400 person astronomy classes are good for this). You realize that you really are going to be paying these bills later. So you had better make the best of it.

In short...keep at it. If this was your freshman year, or maybe even first semester of sophomore year I would consider a change. Stick with it and finish it out. Get the piece of paper that you have already spent a ton of money on.

And be sure to attend enough sessions so that you actually know where the exam is for each class. At the end of one fine semester, I sat down in the usual classroom for my sociology of marriage class. I was ready to at least get a C on this exam. I barely attended but I knew the lingo. About fifteen minutes into the exam I realized I was taking the exam for some psychology mess. Was quite funny.

You go to Penn State too?

Regarding your question, it's probably a good idea to go to a counselor for the panic attacks. As for the failing classes part, if you're in a major you really enjoy, just retake the classes next semester. If not, just drop the classes and reconsider majors (If you can still drop classes this late in the semester).

Stick it out, dude. I know it can be mind-bogglingly tough, especially after enduring that shit for a few years, but when the smoke clears, you will have your degree.

I got in a nasty car accident right before my last year and I was on crutches bumming rides off people until my last quarter. It was the worst year of school for me but the most rewarding because I toughed it out while others dropped for lesser reasons. See a doc for the panic attacks and just take each day at a time.

I know you're desperate and looking for advice, but strangers on a message board can't really help you with this one.

And if you really want to ask this question, gets words not only from dropouts, but from people who seriously considered dropping out but decided to tough it out and why they made that decision.

I'm currently taking a semester off because I'm a dumb bastard, but I will be back next semester. There's actually a little more to it, but yeah I basically was going through the whole, "is this really for me" thing, and while I know that the best thing to do is to just tough it out and graduate, I did ultimately decide to just take one semester off to get myself settled again, and I am actually much happier not having to worry about class and shit, but I will be back to attending class within 2 months again.

Not that I get to wipe my ass with hundred dollar bills, but I left college after two years when I was offered a salaried retail management job, and now eleven years later I have a very good job and live well. I managed to turn my retail management into an office job, and have moved up from there. My life is just fine without a degree.

That being said, I wish I had finished with some degree - and degree. It was very hard to get out of retail management (even though it pays very well, the hours and lifestyle are rough when you settle down with family, in fact it was one of the majors reasons in my divorce) without a degree. Not to mention, every time I think about getting a new job, I hate sending out my resume and hoping that the potential employer won't ask if I ever finished.

I often think about going back, getting some kind of degree, but at 32, with two kids - I just don't know if I can go to class, take tests, and do what college requires me to do.

So my advice, from someone who is living it, would be to finish. I wouldn't take any time off, because once you do, it makes it so much harder to go back. Yes, you can make money now, but as you get older - you will regret it.

Stick it out man, it will be worth it in the end.

Okay, therapy session over...