She's Unsure She Should Continue College

Hello Papabear! 

I've asked for your advice before, but this time it's not for relationships or anything. This time it's a tiny bit more complicated.

I'm completely torn. I want to continue going to college, but I recently discovered that I had lost one of my scholarships (my GPA dropped to 2.6 and I had to have at least a 3.0 to keep it). I have also found that I cannot afford an apartment for the next semester and the only jobs I'm sure I can get are minimum wage; which obviously will not pay for an apartment.

On top of that, I have no career in mind. I've been trying to get a Psychology degree, but that won't do much for me if I don't want a career. My mate told me that it might be best to just drop, as he was worried about how stressed I was during my first year (he will be dropping college, as he found it's just faster to learn things on the Internet at his own pace). I'm also weary of what my mother would think if I dropped this apparent dead-end road.

I just can't decide if I want to learn the way my mate does or continue my college experience.

Michelle Woofwoof

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Dear Woofwoof,

Welcome back to Papabear’s column :-3

The Internet is a cool way to learn many things, but if you ever hope to get a job as a psychologist you are going to need a college degree, preferably an advanced degree. No one is ever going to hire a “psychologist” who learned his/her craft by browsing the Web. Ain’t gonna happen (your mate should take note, too). So, unless you want to abandon that dream, you need to study at an accredited institution.

Now, there are several things you can do to get back on track, one of which is to get that GPA back up where it belongs. Another is to not get an apartment, or to share an apartment with several other people. Having your own digs is a luxury that most college students cannot afford, and you should not expect it as a given. Another option is to attend a college or university near your parents’ home and live with them while you finish school. Still another option: go to school part time. Instead of carrying 15 or 18 credits per term, take 2 or 3 courses tops while you work the rest of the time. See if your college, too, offers online courses to make this easier and possibly less expensive. Also, if you are an underclassman, consider taking your first two years at a community college, which is cheaper, and find one that has an agreement with your university to easily transfer credits toward a bachelor’s.

Now, if you don’t really wish to be a psychologist or pursue a career that requires a 4-year degree, there is no shame in that. Americans are always telling their children that they have to go to college when, in truth, college is not for everyone. There is actually a high demand in this country for tradesmen who have a two year degree in industry-related fields like CAD/CAM operators and dental hygienists (for some reason, dental hygienists are in very high demand right now, but don’t go to some fly-by-night place to study. If that career appeals to you, talk to your dentist and ask him or her where the best place to get certified is.)

Here is a helpful article about things you can accomplish with a two-year degree: http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/nerdscholar/2012/top-jobs-associates-degree/. Many of these jobs pay very well, too.

Finally, there is no shame at all in pursuing a career such as master plumber, electrician, contractor, mechanic, or beautician. I, for one, admire and highly value a person who can do such things with skill, and one thing you can count on: these jobs are NEVER outsourced overseas because it’s not like you can ship your house or car (or face or hair) overseas to have someone in China fix it and send it back, eh?

I hope this gives you some ideas and inspires you to look into fields that may be more suitable to you and bring you financial stability and personal satisfaction.

Good Luck,

Papabear