Thinking of dropping out of college.

Reality has set in. I'm just not smart enough. I quit my job to return to school and finish up my degree. The higher level classes have really got me down and I just don't have what it takes. It's depressing to know that at 31 there are people who are 10-12 years younger than me that are much brighter than me. I think I'm smarter than I was when I was 21 which leads me to believe that I was a real dumb ass at the time. Oh, well. Looks like it's back to truck driving for me.

This is a life altering realization for me. I always thought I was smart enough to do just about anything I wanted. Anybody else ever gone through something like this?

What do you want to be? What are you specializing in that you're having difficulty with? There are always options. Keep it up.

I thought I might be a technical writer when I after i got my degree.

But there are options like others have said drop your course load if possible. Maybe try getting your degree in something else, I know, now it might be too late to start over but keep it as a possibility.

My sister couldn't get in anywhere for English (which was her major as a undergrad). This month she will graduate from Yale with her masters in religious studies or something like that and she already got a job teaching at a local university and they're still going to let her teach English.

point is: Don't give up. I know my sister felt like she was the lowest form of intelligence when she started Yale but she's getting her masters and that's all that counts.

I know you can do it. Best of luck but Don't quit no matter what you do.

Are you sure it an intelligence factor and not just that your study skills are rusty? What are you going for?

Did you know that intelligent people are better at spotting their own flaws than others? I'll bet a ton of money that others at your school feel the same way you do. I'm in grad school now, and it's hard for me sometimes because I'm certain I'm one of the dumber people here, and I doubt myself sometimes. But over time I have realized that others have the same insecurities.

This is all part of "higher education." I was always one of the smartest people in school - and even in college, according to my peers - until I got here. Now I'm challenged constantly, and that's part of what it's all about. Try to enjoy it, and go talk to your profs during office hours. It's amazing what that can do for the psyche and for your own edification.

Hang in there!

PM me if you want to talk about it.

:hi:

there are lots of people with college degrees that aren't smart, * for one. You may just need to change fields/take it slower/ or look at different schools. Don't give up, you can do it!:hi:

Everyone has down times in school. Take it one day at a time!!!

I tried to go back to school when I was around your age. The problem for me was that I HAD to work full time. I didn't have the ability to go to school full or even part time.

I never started college and was trying to at least get an AA. But for me, I didn't have the $$ to do it and work part time. In the end, it's worked out for me. But it's taken years for me to get in position at work that I'm happy with.

I wish I had gone right on to college out of high school. But if "If's" and "but's" were candy and nuts we'd all have a wonderful Christmas.

Keep on truckin' and I don't mean drivin' one.

Which classes are giving you trouble? Can you speak to the professor? Get some tutoring?

So, step back for just a minute. You've been out of school for awhile. You're out of the practice of studying perhaps. For goodness sakes, don't give up! The only way out is through. In reality, it doesn't matter what your GPA is. What matters is you sit in class for the required number of hours, pass the classes (even with a C), then you get your diploma. It will open so many doors for you.

I'm 37 and heading back to grad school in the fall. I worked and had a baby to raise through the last part of my undergrad career, so my GPA was not all that grand. I'm nervous as hell! But I've wanted to do this for such a long time. No, I'm not 23 and fresh out of college. I'll be a bit rusty. But I'm definitely going to try my best.

I hope you will continue pursuing your degree. You deserve it!!!

Rock on--

RV

Particularly with writing. We have to do 10 page papers at that level and I'm only good for about 5. There is also a lot of reading involved, I think more so than other majors, and I just can't retain what I've read. It's nothing that anybody can help me with. If you don't remember things then you just don't remember things.

:P

I have an English degree. I'd be glad to "discuss" books and things over email. Heck, my 13-year-old won't listen to me. Maybe someone will.

Don't let one class sink you. You can do this. I felt the same way about math. Ugh. I got a tutor and scraped by with a C, then ran screaming.

YOU CAN DO THIS.

I bet you remember lots and lots of things that interest you. Songs, commercials, dialogue from movies, stuff like that. This isn't much different, it's just less intersting, right!?

If all else fails, talk to your Prof. That's what he or she gets paid for!!!

Keep going. Don't give up. It won't last forever. The short-term hell is worth the long-term benefit.

Let me know if I can help. PM me.

RV

It seems you are feeling overwhelmed? If so, why? I'd think the answer to that question, then trying to fix that, would be much better than just quitting outright. You waited a long time to go to college and you deserve to be there.

Is it the subject matter or study habits and conflicts with other life demands?

As an example, I know that DU affects my ability to get things done. And need to cut myself off at times. Like now.

Don't give up. Maybe a visit to a career counselor is in order, instead.

It had the result of me switching my major from psychology to English.

There is nothing getting in the way of my studies. I only work one day a week and I don't have family considerations.

You ARE smart enough. I went back at 42 almost finished, yada yada. Don't make the same mistake I made. I loved it, got good grades but, life got in the way.

It's 90% perspiration 10% inspiration.

Don't make me come out there and beat you ;)

i quit in the late 80's and didn't go back until about 1995. i have taken on or two classes a semester and it has taken FOREVER for me to finish but, dammit, i am almost there. but i every day i regret not finishing when i could have. maybe then i wouldn't be working under people in their early 20s who actually finished. i have more experience and do the same work but get paid less because i don't have that piece of paper.

Finish now!

And to you, kmlewis, hang in there! You will finish!

school after being out for over 20 years. I have been working on my Associates for 2.5 years, taking 1-2 courses a semester (it's a time and money thing not a workload thing). My grades have been excellent but I'm 46 and I'm doing it just to say I got a degree. I have no goal or job that I think I'm going to get from this.

So look how much better off you are than I am. You are much younger. You know what you want to do with your education. You have a goal in mind.

Don't give up. I bet it has nothing to do with how smart you are. If this is what you want to do you need to find a way to slog through it. Lighten your course load or team up with a classmate to study together, it will make a world of difference.

Good luck with your decision.

and for a while was convinced i was stupid. now i realize that i just hated the pre med crap and never even paid attention in class. later i started taking psychology, sociology and gender studies classed and went from a 3.0 GPA to a 3.77 GPA...

my point is its highly unlikely that you are stupid. you are probably just doing something you're not interested in.

Smart is smart. All that matters is getting the degree. In the long run it won't matter whether or not you got A's or C's.
Get the degree then you can go back to driving a truck. You won't regret it. Guarenteed.

Look, we've already established that anyone in this forum is smart enough to be President of the United States, so obviously you're smart enough to finish college. Here are some thoughts: (1) If you have trouble remembering things or focusing, go for testing to see if you have ADD. It's a very big problem among adults, who almost never get treated for it. It can be treated with very safe drugs like Ritalin; (2) bright students give the teacher what s/he wants. Most teachers don't want original thinking; (3) Figure out the easiest way to complete your degree requirements; (4) As far as advanced English classes, talk with the teachers and give them some info on your background. If you're not from a bookish background, English can be tough, but a lot of teachers will be flexible. If you don't finish now, you'll be kicking yourself later on. It's a real pain to finish a degree later on (I know). Good luck.

For some reason(s). Sounds like something has you down besides college.

As for the younger students, there's a BIG difference between "smart" and "intelligent," not to mention "wisdom," an asset that's only acquired by time and experience -- and that means you.

Droopy, I'm convinced that you can get that sheepskin. I know -- I dropped out of college to go to work for a few years, and went back to finish up at age 28. It wasn't easy, but I hung in with it.

Talk with your profs and instructors during their office hours and express your concerns. Let them know what you're experiencing -- if you feel that you're falling behind, perhaps they can let you know where you stand, and what you can do to tough it out. I found that there was some healthy respect from the faculty for a guy who comes back to complete unfinished business.

Hang in there, Droopy -- you've got "college man" written all over you. :toast:

So hang in there, it'll be worth it in the long run.

is your evidence that you are unable to make the grade, so to speak? Are you actually putting in the time studying, but not able to pass? Difficulty buckling down to study? Studying ineffectively or the wrong things? A procrastinator like I was/am? Whassup?

with some 300 level classes I'm taking. I study and do all the required work and get a D. I spend hours working on papers and try my hardest only to get a C-. I'm doing everything that's requried and I'm studying, but I'm just not cutting it.

If so, can you learn anything about why you do well in them? Or do you always get this kind of result?

You say that you work hard on papers and get D's. Okay, does the professor write comments on your paper to explain what's wrong with it? If not, s/he should. If so, have you read and thought about the comments? Have you asked the professor to go over the paper with you and tell you exactly what's wrong with it? S/he owes you that much.

Please, please, please go talk to the prof if you have any concerns about any class.

In my years of teaching, I noticed that the students in trouble rarely came to see me or attended help sessions. It was always the good students who came in to ask about some tiny little point and attended the help sessions to make sure they hadn't missed anything.

By the way, I disagree strongly that professors don't want "creative thinking." If there's anything I hated about teaching, it was the attitude that the only important thing about school was grades, preferably without having to learn anything, and that the only way to get good grades was to psych out what the instructor "wanted" so you could snow them into granting that precious "A."

Professors want you to learn the material, preferably BEYOND regurgitation, and preferably with a little serious thought.

But I tell you once again: go see the professor. S/he is probably wondering why you aren't consulting him/her and is about to write you off as one of those students who just fades away. You need serious, detailed input from the professor about why you're having trouble.

Oh, and did I tell you to go consult the professor?

my GPA by taking fewer courses at a time. Sure, it meant it took me longer to graduate but I felt I got more out of the experience by taking my time with my work.

you can be passionate about. Consider going to the college career center to take an interest inventory. Find out what kinds of fields are related to your own preferences.

I have gone through this sort of thing more than once. You just have to do it. It's worth it in the end.

My GPA, after 3 1/2 years, is a mere 2.10. I am a geology major, and I want to go to graduate school, and I don't think I can get in...actually, I know I won't be able to get in.

I just don't have the ambition to do anything. I don't know...I'm in the same boat you're in. :(

Maybe you don't spend enough time studying?

I returned to college at about the age of 31 and studied like a maniac. I recorded class lectures, organized outlines, memorized, took notes while reading chapters in text books, and recorded my own cassette tapes on subjects and classes to listen to while driving and sleeping (at different times).

ARE YOU WORKING YOUR ASS OFF? If not, you should be.

Genius is 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration. Hey! I just made that up myself! :)

...it's about being a "good student" which means hanging in there 'til the bitter end.

Have you talked to your professors honestly? When I was really struggling in complex, higher math classes, I went to my professors and told them I was trying very, very hard and was not "getting it". I must say, they were very understanding and went out of their way to work with me. Professors WANT their students to succeed.

Tell them candidly what a tough time you are having and give them a chance to help you out. I don't know that I ever fully mastered those high level concepts, but they showed me ways to simply get thru the material with the basics I needed to pass - I was very grateful and somehow got through it. You will too. :toast:

that it isn't that you're not smart. You've been outside academia for more than 10 years! It's a foreign country and a foreign language. Give yourself a break, catch a breath and hang in there. Lighten the load if you have to, transfer if you have to, but don't drop out except as a very last resort.

To answer your question about similar experiences, I placed out of a lot of classes at Penn and had a highly triumpant first semester. Sooo, I skipped straight to some fairly advanced coursework. and got my ass handed to me. The next semester I took a bunch of Wharton coursework 'cause I was planning a dual degree and uh, lost interest immediately. I came home, went to Downtown U for a semester, got in a Junior Year Abroad program in England, and wound up going back to Penn to graduate after a total of 3 1/2 years. So the good news is that there can be a happy ending (or anyway a diploma) AFTER you've totally given up.

the upper lever courses were very time consuming. at the time, i worked to support myself through school and i had a hard time keeping up with the reading load. getting into study groups helped alot. but i wouldn't drop out unless you really feel conviction to do so.

to add: that was then this is now and to answer your question, YES! i sometimes feel like i'm getting dumber by the day. for me, the culprit is stress. intense, sustained stress wreaks havoc on my attention span, concentration, memory, ability to articulate ideas, and overall brain farts. :) maybe too much stress for you too?

good luck & best wishes to you!