What To Do Now

[MastuhWaffles]

I did pretty bad on my final exam in history and failed it, now I am on academic suspension and have lost my financial aid, and I have no idea what I'm going to do now. Any suggestions?

 

[Karbuster]

Same thing happened to me a while back, get a job, keep on truckin, things will get better

posted from Nexus 5

 

[tmcalavy]

Karbuster is right...suck it up and get a job and pay for school that way. Getting a federally-insured student loan works, too, as long as you don't turn out to be one of those turds who live on them for decades, rack up a big debt, and then expect to walk away from it Oprah style and leave the rest of us hangin' to pay for it in new federal fees for everything. Nothing wrong with taking the extended plan to get your degree/certificate...I did it that way back in the '70s and it took me 5 years instead of 4...know what? 35 years down the road employers don't give a crap about my GPA or how long it took...only that I can do the job well.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

I've been putting in applications everywhere, no one's called me back or anything.

 

[ridgerunner]

Summer school and option to finish up? Don't give up. Do it NOW or you never will.

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Summer school and option to finish up? Don't give up. Do it NOW or you never will.

I only just completed my first year. And I have to pay for it now. And I may lose all of my stuff.

 

[tmcalavy]

Sheezit! Where you going to school? I always had to pay in advance, with no lien on my stuff if I didn't pass...what kinda financial aid package is this...Bernie the loan shark?

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Sheezit! Where you going to school? I always had to pay in advance, with no lien on my stuff if I didn't pass...what kinda financial aid package is this...Bernie the loan shark?

Its the hazelwood, my dad is transferring his unused credit hours to me. I'm just not sure what I'm going to do..

 

[97RangerXLT]

been there, done that.

I went in for Mechanical Engineering back in the early 90's, found out that I hated SIU and the engineering and math department, flunked out and went to work in a factory. Wasted 11 years of my life there and my job went to Mexico. I used the TRA NAFTA money and went back to school (This time at EIU instead of SIU) and changed my major to Computer Information Systems and got my Bachelors in 2008. got a great job and never looked back.

I did already have an AS degree in Engineering before I bombed out tho, which helped immensely when I went back to get the CIS degree.

The one thing I will offer you advice wise, is do not quit school and go to work. I will agree with Ridgerunner, if you quit, you will not go back.

You have some decisions to make:

1. Do you want to continue in your degree? (if I remember right, you were going into ME or EE as well...)
A. If you do, you will have to retake some classes... ask yourself why you flunked it, was it because of a crappy teacher, crappy books? If you can do not retake it with that teacher. Get some texts that cover the material that do make sense, or hook up with a student in the class that knows his/her crap.
B. If it is because you were partying/ goofing off or too much time on TRS (yeah, it is a great time killer ) look at how you can change that, make an out of school schedule and limit yourself to leisure activities only after you have completed assignments/ and studies and understand them, or a 30 minute break to clear your head if needed.
C. Get involved in student organizations that are in your field of study. they can hook you up with tutors, get you connected with other students that may have taken the classes and can tell you which professors to avoid. (there is also a website called ratemyprofessor.com that can help you there too) Those student organizations will also connect you to recruiters for jobs when you get closer to your degree.

2. Do you want to continue at the current college/ university?
A. Seriously, if you hate the culture, the school and are miserable there, you are not going to succeed. Think about going to another school. let me tell you EIU was a world of difference from SIU, as well as the major being more suited to me.

3. financing. You do NOT want to finance your school if you can help it. seriously, work at McDonalds for the summer full time, and then go back to the school in the fall and see if you can get a part time job with the school. if jobs do not cover all expenses (and they probably won't) look into grants and scholarships. this may be difficult due to your GPA, but it is still worth the time. as a last resort, get student loans to cover what you cant cover by your own earnings/ grants/ scholarships/ family money. Pay the interest on the loans as you go through school... that will help immensely.

4. If you do decide to say the hell with college and go to work, I strongly urge you to take a trade class at a local community college. get a certificate in something you enjoy, it will take 2 to 4 semesters of your life, but you will reap benefits of actually getting a job that pays more than minimum wage.

I will say this right now of my experience, I really wish I did my major change right after I flunked out and went back and got my degree...I probably would have been where I am at now 11 years ago. And I did try to go back a few years later, but life got in the way...(married, had a kid, had no money because I was married and had a kid, so I couldn't go back to school).

Whatever you choose for yourself, I wish you luck, and remember, it is *your* choice, no one elses. Just think it through.

AJ

 

[97RangerXLT]

Oh one more thing...

If know you are going to bomb a class or you see that the professor is horrible, withdraw from the class. usually you can withdraw without penalty (gradewise) up to about midterm, and if you are pretty sure the class/ teacher is going to be a turd early on, you can even get your money back if you withdraw within the first week or two.

and it will not affect your GPA.

Be forwarned tho... withdrawing from a class can possibly put you at less than full time which will affect any financial aid or scholarships that you might have...

AJ

 

[MastuhWaffles]

Well first thing is I have to get a job. I would have to pay for next semester, but if I did well enough I would get my aid back... Its just getting through my parents, possibly giving me the boot.

 

[shane96ranger]

I've been putting in applications everywhere, no one's called me back or anything.

I interview and hire people all the time. It is very impressive if someone calls to ask if I've had a chance to review their application or resume. These types are more likely to be hired, even if they have a little less in the qualifications department.

Call back Mastuh, I think you'll like the result.

 

[97RangerXLT]

Shane speaks truth. ^^

And I totally understand what you are going through on the parents... My dad was uberpissed when I dropped out. it was one of the three (yes three) times I have ever heard him use the F word in my 43 years on this planet. And at that time, it was the 2nd time I heard it.

Focus on getting things together, and understand that your parents still do love you, but are a little bit disappointed.

So do what you can to get a job in the meantime. get out early each day and put in apps all over. let the business world of your hometown know you are out there, and like Shane says, give them a week to ponder you then give them a call back.

Always dress nicely when asking for the apps, chances are a manager will remember you. even if it is for Walmart or McDonalds.

And work on getting back into school. I think if you do all of this without prompting from your parents you will get a little bit of grudging respect from them.

and get a quick plan together for your job search and re-entry into school and sit down with your parents and tell them what you are doing, ask their input on it.

AJ

 

[tmcalavy]

Can't add anything to the excellent advice given so far, but I can offer a tidbit that is related. I've taught college-level journalism at two state universities in two very different states over the past 5 years...seen a lot of different students, motivations and skill levels. Some who were cut out for it, and a lot who were just there cause their parents wanted them to go. Take a look at your overall grades and then ask yourself whether you really feel college is working for you...you know did you get along with the culture and teaching methods and do you really feel like you're getting something out of it. If you find yourself fiddling with your smart phone in most of your classes, you and the college probably aren't connecting in a way that will benefit you. Then talk to your parents, tell them what you've decided about grades and your fit with college and ask for their opinion. If the college thing isn't working, then a good trade school with more hands-on learning options might be the trick...as one of the other guys said. You'll figure out what you're suited for and which way you want to go in life...just be patient with it, it won't just drop out of the sky with a big banner that says "This Way, Mastuh!" It took me a year to figure out that vet medicine wasn't for me after I spent two years studying all the basics for vet medicine. During that time I told an old lady I met that I was considering dropping out of college and just going to work somewhere...she reminded me that in spite of all the work it takes, a college degree/certification/etc. is something that no one can ever take from you...you can lose a lot of stuff in life through events/circumstances/a-holes, etc. but no one can ever revoke your diploma or repossess the knowledge you gained while getting it.

 

[onelif2live85]

Wow, this is motivational... Making me want to rething my major or at least stick through my pre req... Ahh life isn't always easy. Good to see it worked out for some others.