opinions on college situation

[Twitch]

I'm looking for opinions on my situation. I'm currently going to college to major in business admin/finance. The major specific courses I do fine in, usually in the B- to A- range; but I seem to constantly fail my GE's. So this semester I am taking mainly all GE's, but I learned yesterday that I am going to fail 9 of those GE credits(equates to 3 classes). I'm assuming this will probably bring my GPA from a 2.7, down to the 1.2 to 1.6 range. I still have about 30 GE units left to complete, but I hate taking these classes, and at this rate will likely flunk out of school before I am able to complete these. Plus I should be starting my junior year in the fall, but I currently only have about 36 credits.

On the other hand, I have always been interested in cars. I have always wanted to learn auto mechanics, car restoration and fabrication. I would love to rebuild/restore classic hot rods and muscle cars, or work on a race team. I have a connection in both the Busch and Craftsmen series of NASCAR, so that could help in terms of working for a race team.

I figure here would be a better place to ask, than asking my parents. I know I should stay in college, but I find myself not really fitting in with the college-minded crowd(meaning I'd rather work with my hands, than be sitting behind a desk all day). While there all about money, I'm more for doing something I'd enjoy. So I guess my questions would be:

1) Stay in college or drop out and pursue a career in auto mechanics(hopefully race mechanics)?
2) If I stay in college, what other majors would you recommend?
3) If I never made it to becoming a race mechanic, how well off is the job market for auto mechanics in general?
4) School wise other than UTI/NTI, whats out there for auto tech schools?
5) Anyone willing to take my GE clases for me? haha, j/k.

Thanks in advance for replies.

[ChronoGN]

Re: opinions on college situation

Stay in college. Even if you graduate with a bad GPA, a degree is better than no degree. And its going to open alot of options for you after you graduate. If you drop out now and if the mechanic thing doesnt work for you, you arent going to have much choice.
If you like cars, maybe go into mechanical engineering with automotive option? Thats what I am doing right now. But, its a hard major to be in. I'm studying right now for finals and finals is still a week away.

[SpeedingFirebird]

Re: opinions on college situation

There was a recent thread with a similar question. The main points that came out of that thread.

1. don't turn your hobby into a career. you'll hate working on your own car
2. stay in school

If you are a B student, there is no reason you should be failing your GE classes. You say you "hate them", so this makes me think you are just not putting forth the effort. Buckle down, reduce distractions, and GET HELP. tutors, study groups, etc exist for a reason. Leverage them to their full extent. Also, look into your study habits and try to change them to suit your style. When my sister first went to college, she had terrible study habits and she kept failing classes. We sat down and found ways to help her retain the material. She graduates in a few weeks.

<waterboy> "You can do it!" <\waterboy>

[MrCoffee]

Re: opinions on college situation

have you thought about maybe going to community college to take your GE courses? then transfering back to the school you're in now. If you do that before you get kicked out it might look better. switching majors will be no help since your GE classes will stay the same. Definitly get the 4-year degree though man.

[Harrison]

Re: opinions on college situation

I've been going to community college the last 2 years, (4 semesters), and it was the best decision i ever made. I've probably saved 85% of what it would cost to go to a major 4 year university. Here in Va, the community college system has a deal with many of the major public institutes (Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, William and Mary) and so on. The class sizes are small and the work is fairly easy. If you graduate with your 2 year associates degree with atleast a 3.0, you are GUARUNTEED admission into these universities. That was the route i took, and im graduating with my 2 year degree in 2 weeks, and attending UVA (best university public education in the nation :) ) in the fall. Advice for you, STAY IN SCHOOL, a college degree today is what a high school degree was in the past, it is darn near almost required. No one can ever take your education away from you either. If community college is an option, i say do that. You can bring your GPA back up and apply for readmission to another university. Statistics do not lie either, college graduates generate a higher income than non graduates do. Find something you are good at, and get a degree in it. Many companys just like to see you worked hard for something for 4+ years, and are goal oriented. College isn't for everyone though, so figure out what a college education would really mean to you and your future. Good luck to you.

[sac2165]

Re: opinions on college situation

If you are a B student, there is no reason you should be failing your GE classes. You say you "hate them", so this makes me think you are just not putting forth the effort.

All of my GE classes were pretty much gimmie classes as long as you show up.

[HokieBird]

Re: opinions on college situation

If community college will help you get through your GE class and bring your gpa up do it. It sounds like you enjoy your major and are good at it, but you are having a hard time getting motivated for your GE classes. College is a game. Just play along and roll with the punches. You won't regret getting a 4 year degree and while working in an office all day can suck you will be better off down the road.

...attending UVA (best university public education in the nation :) ) in the fall.

*cough* ties suck *cough*

[Harrison]

Re: opinions on college situation

hahaha yeah yeah, thats not me though. Im not going there to conform with all the rich snobs. Im going there because they offer an excellent education. Tech is an awesome school as well. My whole family went to tech, and im breaking the tradition and going to UVa. The thing about that though, is no one else in my family GOT INTO UVa. Plus, its closer to home.

[MrCoffee]

Re: opinions on college situation

cc will make GE classes 'easier' but it will NOT help his GPA. once you transfer your credits from cc to a university you'll get the credits but you did not take the courses there so you will not get the letter grades. basically you will transfer in with the classes and your current GPA. if you go back to the same school it'll be what you left it with, if you pick a new school it will zero out. however you will have GE credits.

going to cc was a mistake on my part. it put me a year behind, I got a pointless associates degree, and I missed out on 2 years of pure university fun. But it does help alot of people.

If you can get though classes for you major, then you should be able to take GE classes no problem. they're the basic stuff you've been doing all through out school.

honestly man, and I'm not your daddy so I hate to sound like one, but it just sounds like you need to get your act straight.

[whiteshark]

Re: opinions on college situation

Given that you get good grades in your major courses, finishing school would be your best option. Like others have said, even if you don't use the degree you're way better off having one. That said if you're getting A's and B's in your major courses and not doing so hot in others it's definitely not too late to get out of college ok. For one, on resumes you can put your major gpa, which sounds like it should currently be above a 3. Also if you start trying in your GE classes and pull those grades up you can show employers that your gpa has drastically improved the last few years of college. If you've only got 36 hours you've still got about 3 years of college left. Thats plenty of time to pull the grades up.

[HokieBird]

Re: opinions on college situation

MrCoffee makes a good point about the GPA not transfering. I didn't think about that. But if going to CC or working in the real world 9-5 for a year or so gets you to pull it together then it's worth it.

hahaha yeah yeah, thats not me though. Im not going there to conform with all the rich snobs. Im going there because they offer an excellent education. Tech is an awesome school as well. My whole family went to tech, and im breaking the tradition and going to UVa. The thing about that though, is no one else in my family GOT INTO UVa. Plus, its closer to home.

Just messing with you man. UVA is an excellent school. My sister recently finished law school there and my brother in-law is still there wrapping up med school. They are also both Tech alumni so they catch a lot of crap.

[josh98bird]

Re: opinions on college situation

stay in school... Im headin into my junior year as well. I had to set this semester out because of failing too many classes (all being GE's). I took the semester off to work out everything that would make it easier for me for school. Like i am working 40 hours a week and this way i can take some time off for school. From my experience, I take 1 or 2 classes for my major and one or 2 or 3 GE classes. Maybe you need to take less classes. Or if you want... visit some classes you plan on taking next semester and see if you think it would be hard or not... you should just be able to walk in right?

[that90spunk]

Re: opinions on college situation

well there are so many options to choose from. I am currently majoring in business administration as well. Im at a community college and im taking my courses online (so i can work part time as well). I would stick with the degree because its good to have whether you use it or not. But on to automotive. . .
good technicians are allways going to be in demand. If you are really passionate about automotive maybe look into a part time job doing tires, or getting your feet wet to see how well you like the work enviroment. and make your decision based on your experience.

good luck !

[02PewterBird]

Re: opinions on college situation

I think whether the GPA transfers varies from school to school. My GPA from my CC classes did transfer to my four year university. I don't think the classes themselves are on my transcript, but my GPA and units are both on there.

I could see it being a problem if you're something like an engineering major, but community college didn't put me behind at all. I actually started taking classes my senior year of high school and with a couple summer classes transferred as a Junior a year after I graduated from HS.

[josh98bird]

Re: opinions on college situation

get the buisness degree... and then when you get that goin... go ahead and get into some car work... this way maybe you can be open to more jobs vehicle wise. You would be a better business man in the car world with a degree in business.