I may not be a good person to answer, because I liked college so much I hid out in grad school for a long time afterwards. When I finally finished, though, the best thing was that when I got out of work I was finished with it. (This was pre-Internet.) Going home without a homework assignment of dissertation chapter hanging over you was very pleasant. Finally having money was pretty nice also. I had gotten married in grad school, so social life was not an issue.
But it really depends on why someone doesn’t like college, and the job they get. Plus, this is probably the worst time to be getting out of college in the last 50 years, at least.
The place where I worked after college had mainly an older crowd (think mid-30s and above), and when I finally did make friends they were people in that age range who either happened to be single or a bit eclectic.
And I lived in an apartment complex that had a lot of turnover and where I never saw much of the neighbors anyway. For months I literally had no one to hang out with.
I sure hope so, because I’ll be one.
Year one: majored in journalism. didn’t get into the actual intro classes til spring and hated them.
Year two: changed to music education. Also changed schools, so even some of my basics were no longer needed at the other school.
Year three (right now): withdrew in the fall for medical issues. Going back in January.
As the music problem has not been completed by any of the last five years’ graduates in a 4-year time, and I transferred, I don’t expect to buck the trend. One extra year for the major change, one extra for the huge courseload and the illness.
I was full IB in high school, too, so I’m not just screwing around now either.
I had a rather mixed college experience. On the plus side, it was a time where I did so many things and went so many places that the rest of my life since would seem to be boring, and there are many cherished memories. I was lucky not to have serious financial issues, and I had a supportive family.
I also have never been more depressed than I was during those years.
Looking back, those should have been the best years of my life. Even without major financial problems, the stresses from assignments and social pressures were more than enough to trigger that figurative ugly black cloud over my head almost all the time.
I was prescribed Prozac after about two years into college (it was all the rage at the time), and while I ultimately did not like how it affected me, it was effective in keeping my mood in check, and I ultimately learned how to separate my rational throughts from the negatives.
I stopped taking Prozac before I graduated, and I went essentially unmedicated for over 15 years, until recently. It was during this time that I went through most of my worst financial problems, and I was under-employed for quite some time, but even with all that, life in general was better.
If you’re not seeing a therapist for your depression or using any anti-depressants, I strongly recommend that you do. Even going once every few months to maintain a prescription is a lot better than nothing.
Just remember, depression is a disease, and it needs to be treated as such. Whenever it hits, make it a point to remind yourself of that.
I went to school in Boulder, CO and enjoyed my time at the University but also enjoyed the town and the surrounding countryside immensely, along with my friends. After graduation we all stayed in town for a few years but gradually peeled off to pursue whatever it was we were pursuing. I worked crap jobs during that time and was poor but I was single, had a roof over my head, and good friends so it was ok. I enjoyed the company of a lady friend from time to time but never really had a serious girlfriend, and I pined for a lass but it went unrequited.
I took big bike and Colorado river rafting trips that weren’t very expensive but were awesome. After 3 years of knocking about like that I went to the big city to seek my fortune which ended up working out well. My friends are all scattered to the four winds, though, and while we keep in touch, I miss them. I’ve not been able to make such close friends since back in those days.
So, on the employment/financial/dating front, yeah, the first few years did suck, but they did serve to get me off my ass. From a lifestyle, hiking, biking, outdoorsy, hanging out with friends standpoint the first few years were quite nice. A mixed bag, IOW.
I loved college. That’s why it took me 6 years.
College was filled with chicks that, for most, were not in a “click”, like they were in high school, (although not all.)
There are girls whose sole reason for going to school was to meet a mate.
I could walk up to the prettiest girl and start a conversation about a class we shared.
College was like…high school reinvented, in a way, more of “how it should be”.
I knew so many people by name. I had so many friends. I was never alone.
My senior-year, I could not wait to be done, because I thought the world was my pearl.
After school, I moved to a city where I knew nary a soul, and it was a very, very lonely time.
To meet a girl, in a strange city, while working a revolving-schedule, is impossible.
I landed a job as management in a union shop, and was warned about making friends with the union-people, because it could cloud my judgement. How nice, new town, new people, don’t make friends with them or you’re out the door. I made friends, because I was alone, and was soon out the door. Nice.
The best things I learned in college were about being broke. They are important life-lessons.
Stay in college as long as you can. The “world” is like it was 20 years ago, but worse, and 20 years ago, the world sucked.
I did not like college much, but I really got into work whilst in college and then dropped out and worked full time, and now I’m working as a freelancer.
Keep in mind that the above is a summary of nearly 15 years. I’ve had lots of ups and downs and if I’m honest, the most important rule I’ve learned in all of this is that you have to look your mistakes in the face, apologize more than you probably want, but most of all make sure that your goal is what you actually want to reach - and don’t think your goal won’t change, because it will.
But if you follow that, and you’re a bit smart, you’ll probably do fine in the long run, no matter if you stay in college or quit. College is really for people who already really know what they want and need the education, or for people who don’t have a clue, and just want a general education.
If you’re in group 2, and in the US (where education is bloody expensive), I probably would suggest you take a break. Do some “stupid” job for while in an area you like and see if it’s really all that. If it is, go back to college and study something relevant to that. If not, try something else. Repeat.
Yeah, that’s a problem for a lot of people. And it’s compounded by the fact that people in their 20s tend to be somewhat transient - constantly moving and changing jobs and whatnot. You really have to force yourself to go out and do stuff by yourself (which often sucks) otherwise you can litterally spend an entire weekend not talking to another human being.
For me, college was mostly fun. I was poor, worked 2-3 jobs (work-study and at least 2 part-time jobs) to pay the bills, had no car, etc. I also had a fairly large group of friends so there was always someone to do things with, and we partied pretty hard (I won an award for it my 3rd year at FSU). I spent most of my time goofing off, to be honest, and maintained a 3.2 GPA.
Once I quit school (after about 5 years) I started working in my current profession. I have no steady employer but am far from poor and have a couple of vehicles. I have a smaller group of friends, and still party pretty hard. I still spend most of my time goofing off, to be honest, and couldn’t be happier most of the time: I mean, I’m living my dream!
Life after college has been pretty good. College was work, I didn’t coast, but it wasn’t an ordeal. Part of it is being stubborn enough to see things through. Part of it is simply being willing to have fun along the way. Bad times, good times, they come and go. But the good will outweigh the bad IF you let it.
The financial pressures on the OP will ease up a lot - no more tuition, better job with better pay. You’ll still be paying off student loans, I assume, but even so, you’ll be in a much better financial situation. Plus all the time you spent in class can now be spent on your own interests.
So I think that, for the OP, life after college will be much better. I suspect the depression will lift somewhat because of the improved finances. Even if it doesn’t, overall the OP’s situation will be improved.
As far as the depression goes, the college should have some services to help. It’s worth checking out. And after college, the OP should be able to pay for professional help.
My parents paid for college, but I was looking forward to being on my own. As others have pointed out, the socializing situation after college isn’t as great, and that was a bit of a letdown for me. Other than that it was fine.
I, too, felt that way in my second year of college. But, I graduated in December of last year, and my experience since I left college has been mostly fantastic.
I got a job offer with a great company almost immediately after graduation, and moved out to Dallas to start working. My bf moved with me since we couldn’t bear the idea of being 1000 miles apart. So graduation essentially offered me the opportunity to begin anew in a place I’d never been, and with someone I love. We have a place that we can call our own now, and we don’t owe it to anyone.
He had difficulty finding employment, and only just found a job last month. So I’ve been supporting him entirely for most of the past year. It’s not been bad though; the money I make is more than adequate to support 2 people in my desired lifestyle.
Life after college has also afforded me the opportunity to travel abroad and meet a wide range of people from several different cultural backgrounds. I’ve seen some of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, and that’s all in one year! I’ve got plenty more to look forward to in my future.
The cons, really, have been the long hours that I’ve had to put in, and time away from my baby. I regularly work more than 100hrs in a week, and sometimes time at the office can feel dull and boring, but I’m incredibly fortunate nonetheless. I know my opportunity is not one that everyone will have, and I wouldn’t trade it for anythuing.
No, not really. I had severe depression for a few months after I graduated due to confusion about my lot in life and a feeling of a lack of autonomy.
However when I got a job finally it was pretty good. I was paying down debt, felt autonomous and my stress levels were near zero. I had tons of stress in college because I did a major filled with pre-med/dental/pharmacy/PhD students all fighting like hell for the best GPA. Once I graduated all that endless competition was gone.
All in all, the real world is better as long as you are employed.
What I do miss about college is the structured learning, and all the interesting people. I met tons of cool people with unique personalities (tons of assholes and self-ascribed deputies in the social police too, but still). I met cool people at work too however it wasn’t on the scale that you get to meet them in college.
So to me there are pros to the real world (more autonomy and freedom, less stress) but there are cons (fewer people, less structured learning, less of a feeling of constant novelty you get in college). The real world is better, but different.
Oh my gosh this has made me feel sooooo much better.
My teacher in high school (who was quite frankly, a dope head idiot) said that after uni you’re life is basically over and everythings shit (probably cus shes doing a shit job and addicted to drugs!!) and so I’ve been feeling for the past year “oh my god THIS is as good as it gets?!”
But to hear that it gets better is AMAZING! Collage is ok, but it’s definately not been the best experience of my life - the work is boring and I feel trapped!! But to hear it gets better has actually given me the strength to just get myself through the next year PHEW!!! My life will really begin after uni
I realize this is a zombie but just wanna throw this in – after I graduated and landed my first “real” job I got depressed for a while - not bad, but enough to go on meds. My doctor said some people do get depressed after major life changes, even good ones.
As far as the OP’s question goes - I can’t speak for anyone else, but my late teens and damn near ALL of my 20s sucked ass. My 30s have been much, much happier overall, even though I’ve had some pretty shitty things happen. The older I get, the happier I am.
PHEW!!! My life will really begin after uni