Thoughts about taking time off from school

Alright so lately I have been really contemplating on what I want to do with my life. I currently am going to school to get a degree in Accounting. As of lately, I am undecided as to if I really want to do this as a career. I am 21 years old and am thinking to take some time off and apply at different jobs to see what field I find enjoyable. Do you think this is a good thing to do or should I stay in school and just finish? I want to take some classes in the health field to see if that comes easy to me. Also, I am worried about getting older and still being in school when all my friends are already graduating. I understand that college should not be rushed and be done at one's own pace. In my opinion, as long as an individual graduates, he or she is fine but according to my parents, students should graduate asap (the recommended 4 years). And since they are paying for most of it, I sorta have to abide by their rules. Please give me your feedback, it will be appreciated.
P.S. I am extremely confused

 

It's kind of pointless to waste money on classes that won't be relevant to what you want to do in life. If you think you can take time off and then come back, then take time off and figure out what you really want to do before you go back.

 

I'd probably only take 1 year off and try to explore as much as possible.

 

Well if you have time why not join the Military. Assuming you have a decent number of College credits you can join and be a decent rank. Maybe it will help you decide what you want to do the rest of your life. Just a thought.

 

If you complete a bachelor's degree, then you won't be eligible for most financial aid to complete a second bachelor's degree.

It makes sense to take a break and think about what you want to do with your life. Your parents might not like your decision, but that is why it is called YOUR life and not your parents' life.

Just don't spend the semester or year in your parents basement. The job market is tough--feel it out first and make sure you can get a job doing something that can support you (rent, utilities, student loan payments, food, etc.).

 

First thing is dont take a break especially since your getting your BS right now... Cuz i have seen one to many times were people say that and never come back... or they do but 10 years later.... how long do u have left to finish accounting??? And if u finish dosent mean u never go back to school Hell u can always go back.... And the last thing is the misconception about the age thing in school... Bro DONT NOT WORRY ABOUT AGE... at least for me that was the worst thing and always worrying about people who have finished before me... worry about the task at hand and thats finishing and nothing else ... Im supposed to be 2 years into pharmacy school but Im not... slacked off and now im kinda paying for it... Im 24 btw... My vote is that i would stay and finish.... GET ER DONE lol

 

At one point (back in the day) I was "forced" to take a semester off.. (the freshman found the game room, and no one took attendance). Parents made me get a full time job.. Was working at a hotel making close to $20 an hour plus tips..
Made a lot of friends there (older than me), and every single one would have kicked me out the door themselves to get back and finish my degree..
They knew first hand how enticing it was to make decent money without a degree, but all wished they had finished up themselves..and not gotten caught up in the perceived $$..

Finishing up was the best thing I could have done, and the best advice anyone could have given a (then) younger and inexperienced kid..

I also have 2 VERY good friends, 1 is 2 classes away from a BS (left and never went back) and the other is a year away from his BS (dropped out to "find himself" now working a $12 an hour job..) Both wish they just stayed in, finished up, and gotten their degree..

 

From my experience, I took a one year break. The best decision I could have done. For me, I was just burnt out. A lot of people didn't think I would go back to school but I did. I think you have to decide what you want for yourself like what others said. However, if you need the time to be motivated then do it. I probably wasted a good quarter messing up my grades because I didn't take the brake that I needed. I had to struggle to get my grades back up.

I understand what you mean when you say you don't want to finish your degree later than your friends. I have a friend who is still getting his BS and he is going on his 9th year and another friend who is just one quarter away from completing his BS and he is close to 10 years. Yes, college is expensive but if you are going to class and messing up then you're just wasting money.

Remember, this is going to be your carreer for the next 30 years. Make sure it's something you enjoy. I do understand a lot of people that take a brake and never come back. That is something you have determine on your own and what kind of person you are.

I'm trying to convince myself to go back to get a Masters. It's hard, don't get me wrong, but ultimately you have to decide if you are that type person that will go back like you said you will.

Best of luck in your decision.

 

ive been going to school since 2004, started out as a accounting/finance major and hated it. then switched to GIS and hated it even more. So i took a year off and started working at a hotel and discovered that i really enjoy this field. Now im a Hospitality tourism management major and have 33 hours till i graduate. Im working for a great company that helps with college but its not enough to pay bills. So i work two jobs for a year save up money and then go to school for a year. This way i dont have to take out loans, or ask for money. It feels rewarding knowing im paying for my own education while still maintaining my bills. Ill have my degree one day and everything im doing now will be totally worth it. Plus the company i work for likes that i work 40 hours a week night audit, plus 30-40 hours delivering pizza to pay for my college. they see im goal orientated and i have been told that as soon as i have the degree they are gunna bump me up into my GM training so ill have my own hotel with in a year of graduating.

to sum all that up i guess im saying find something that you will enjoy for the next 25-30 years and go for it. Biggest thing is, if you take a year off make sure you go back after that year. It gets harder and harder every year you sit out



just my .02 so take it or leave it. good luck

 

My brother took a year off from school. I dont think he did it just for a break it ended up being that way because of a job. But after the contract ran out from that job he went back to accounting. He likes that kind of stuff and you may not. Its all about personal preference. I think it would be good to take a year off and see if you would like to persue something else.

 

How far from graduation could you be at 21? I can't reproduce the stat, but I read somewhere once that a really high % of people who "took a little time off" never went back and finished their degree.

I have two accounting degrees. You can do just about anything you want with them (in the business field, anyway). You're certainly not wasting your time. Not to mention the job market isn't the greatest right now. If you leave school, you're going to get a crap job (if you can find one at all) and you'll be stuck with it until at least the beginning of the next semester. You have a MUCH better chance getting a good job w/ a degree.... especially if you go on to get your MAcc and pass the CPA.

So I can't speak from experience b/c I went straight through from HS to BS to Masters, but from what I've heard I would certainly advise NOT taking time off. Especially so close to the end.

 

i took a quarter off because of the same reasons as you, though it gave me enough time to decide what I want to do, it was tough getting back in to the swing of things. Idk if they offer it at your school, talk to some counselors, we have a class that is specifically for this reason. I am currently in it. You take some tests and do some researching, it has definitely helped me out.

my best advice, talk to a counselor there at your school, tell them your situation, and go from there.

 

Seriously think about the military, there are plenty of great jobs that you can choose from and you can also still take classes for free. I'm deployed right now and still taking college classes online. I didn't know what I wanted to do after high school, but I did know i didn't want to work some lame ass 9-5 job. I'm an X-ray tech in the Army there are so many different things to do and see a bunch of cool places. Just my .02

 

I took a "short break" in 1974. Just going back now!

 

I would say instead of taking a break just slow down and maybe take 2 classes instead. Are you done with your Gen-ed classes? Pick a general degree that can be applied to many different fields. Its good you are looking for different jobs in your field. Thats what I did. I worked full time and went to school full time through college to gain work experience. This builds your resume (which is the most important way to get your foot in the door). So many of my friends worked BS jobs through college waiting tables or working retail because "they had to focus on school" and now they can't get a job anywhere because they don't have experience in their field. They all made good grades compared to my "average" grades however. Most employers don't give a shit what your grades were in college, they care that you have a college degree on your resume in a credible field like (math, history, business, engineering, communications) not like Art or some other BS degree. They also care about your work experience.

My parents always told me that they didn't care how much I worked as long as I finished my bachelors degree and took classes every semester. It took me 5.5 years to finish my bachelors in business while working and I'm glad I did. Having that practical work experience and the college degree has put me leaps and bounds ahead of many of my college peers who didn't work. I ended up buying my first house before I finished college because I was making a decent living. 1.5 years later after graduating college I'm making almost double of what I was making before.

If I can give you one piece of advice. Learn everything you can about every job you do and use that job and experience as a building block on your resume. Set goals for yourself both long term and short term and ask yourself "how can this job get me to the next goal I want to reach?"

 

IMO I would stay in school, if you need a break slow down your hours and get a job in the field you are studying. Just don't stop all together, you will regret it later, just get it over with.

 

maybe slow down your pace, but stick with school...a "break" can easily turn into never. I am struggling to go back myself after my so called "break" which lasted 5 years, lol. Just sayin...

 

I feel you, and have had the same thoughts ever since graduating HS. In the end I decided to get an internship last summer to get a feel for what I would be doing. That experience was a much needed look into my future and reminded me why I was in school. Last year I worked way harder as a result and took a lot more out of my classes. I am still planning on taking a break after I graduate, but until then I think the best thing I can do is finish up as fast as possible while I am still motivated and then spend some time enjoying my post-graduation freedom as long as the job market sucks.

If you aren't sure about accounting I really think the best thing you can do is find any internship you can. You will learn a lot about the job and yourself. Mine last year was a full time volunteer job which at the time it really hurt, but they have taken me back now and are paying me to make up for it. Moreover they chose me over 120 applicants who were WAY more qualified simply because they knew me. That kind of security feels really good.

Best of luck!

 

How far along are you? Im 28 and back in school after some time in the service. IMO, id tell you to stick with it if the end is in sight. If youre truly disillusioned or unsure, give the service a try, or look at federal service. (USAJOBS.com) Best advice I can offer is do what you think is best for you, be happy with what you do in life because its too damn short.

 

Go through with it... even if that is not what you want to do, get the degree. Accounting can open lots of doors in life. I was pulled out of College for an Iraq trip, and luckily found the motivation to finsih when I returned. Just hard charge it man.