Soon ill graduate and the question of life after that truly scares me. I almost want to give up and go join the army. My GPA is only 1.68. But in truth i think my courses are bull, ive passed and been commended on every state test ive ever taken and as a sopomore on my PSAT i recieved 1400. I dont know why but it seems like college isnt my best option... Ive considered the marines... Help?
2006-09-20 15:25:18 · 27 answers · asked by Kristian Ruth 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Quit, give up, start drinking, and hope you win the lottery. You can live at home until that happens, and milk off your parents.
:-D Just kidding obviously, first don't get hung up on GPA and your SAT scores. Not everyone was made (or even cares) to go to Harvard or Yale.
You can still be a success. I have two college degrees, and work for a major telecommunications company. I work in a building complex of 10,000 people, and can say I have met ALL kinds, and I mean all kinds.
We have people who are genius, people who barely made it through high school, people who used to sale cars, people who were tops in their school, and went on to get an MBA from another top school.
My point is there is no such thing as normal, and stop worrying about chases your buddy who has a high GPA, and is going to Yale. Almost anyone can get into a Jr. College. From here the classes are smaller, easier, and will give you time to find out what you really want to do in life.
I was kicked out of a good college for skipping classes and getting into trouble. I ended up at the local Jr. College, where I worked hard to get back in line, and transfered to a close four year school for a degree. I got a decent job now, and make ok money.
Overall point is you can do it. Some of the dumbest people I know have multiple college degrees, and some of the smartest people I know never finished college (ala Bill Gates).
But please don't join the Army. That is just like you are asking for it and cashing in, or have a death wish. If you want to do the military, I would suggest you go to Jr. College first, and then apply to the Air Force as an officer. You would be on the fast track to a decent position in the miliatry, and be safe from being on the front lines.
Just remember there is no such thing as normal, and you are only running this race of life agaisnt youself. So take your time, and figure out what you want to really do. Don't rush into joining the military.
2006-09-20 15:35:34 · answer #1 · answered by simmsdanjen 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Why do you think college isn't your best option? In truth, college is COMPLETELY different from High School. So many people told me so on many different occasions but I didn't believe it until I tried it for myself. I'm a non-traditional student. Meaning, I didn't start college immediately after H.S. If you really are set against it, maybe the military really is best for you. However, instead of the Army or the Marines, I would probably choose the Navy or the Air Force, but then, that's just me. Your future doesn't seem bleak, just scary. The whole reason I didn't start college immediately after H.S. was b/c I didn't know what I wanted to do for a living. I still don't. That's the great thing about college. While you're taking your core classes you can think about what you want to do in life and explore different areas of interest to see if that's what you really want to do.
2006-09-20 15:35:03 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Apply yourself a bit more. Sounds like you just admitted you can do better from that score of 1400 so work at getting ahead. I do not think that the service is a bad idea if that is what you want but I did not think your reasons were good enough. Cause you give up? Really ,not a good reason to join the service.There is nothing the human mind is not capable of. I know some of us have to work harder but you can do it in whatever you decide. Get through school and think of college or apprenticeship somewhere . If the service is what is in your heart to do then go join.
2006-09-20 15:35:05 · answer #3 · answered by The_answer_person 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You sound a lot like me in high school--I was a National Merit Scholar, but I barely passed my senior year.
If you really don't know what you want to do, the military may be a good option. Join the Navy (and don't become a corpsman!!), and get the chance to travel a bit. Being in the military means you don't have to worry about rent, electricity, or even food, so you have more money to have fun with, and you can always use the GI bill when you get out to go to school. That beats a dead-end job where you're barely able to get money for gas to go to work.
If you don't know what you want to do, and you know you're not going to take college seriously, don't go. Otherwise, you'll just waste your money. But go with your gut feeling on this--it's something only you can really decide.
2006-09-20 15:50:00 · answer #4 · answered by trailerparkmedic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had some pretty bad grades in high school and considered joining the millitary after I graduated and I'm really glad I didn't. I didn't like high school at all, but I've been doing very well in college. I graduated from HS with a 2.1 gpa, but I had good SAT scores. I decided to go to community college to see if college was right for me, and it turns it was. College is a whole different ball game and SAT scores are usually a good indication of how well you will do in college. I'm finishing up at community college this semester and transfering to a university in the spring. I have a few friends that are kicking themselves for not going to college now that they realize that it take a college degree to find a decent career in today's competitive marketplace. Whatever you choose, good luck to you.
2006-09-20 15:37:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the military may be the best place for you. But you must understand what you will be, to the Marines. If you join, you will be sent to either Afghanistan or Iraq and the Marines will use you as a professional bullet catcher. There is a very good chance that you will be killed in the war. But I still say to you go talk to a recruiter, let him explain what the Marines can do for you. I also say good for you for even thinking about joining, this country needs more young people who are willing to fight for it!
2006-09-20 16:05:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have two sons. i would NEVER encourage them to join the military. my husband is military. you might get money for college and all that. but you must serve for 4yrs, and even then you are NOT done. it's 4 years "active duty" which means you are stationed somewhere (right now that means you will probably be in Iraq...especially if you go into the army or marines), and then you would be 4 year "in-active duty". basically all that means is, if within that 4 yrs OUT of the military they decide they need you (and at the moment it's just about that way), they can call you back into active duty status for that 4 yrs. so basically your @ss belongs to the military for 8yrs, not 4.
just worry about graduation right now. after that...get a job and think seriously about WHAT you want to do! don't take everything a military recruter says too seriously...they are SELLING a lifestyle remember. it's their JOB to suck ppl into the service.
don't want to do a heavy college..start SMALL, go to a community college for your 2 yr degree, once you get the basics out of the way, you'll know what you want to do. the first two years of college are just your basic courses anyways. don't let the "big campus" or the "real world" scare ya too bad. just like everything else once you get in there and work at it, it all seems simple enough.
college is something you can change...take this class this time or drop it and take another..it's flexible. the military is not flexible. you do what they tell you to do, when they tell you to do it, period!
if you not ready for that kind of commitment, i'd think twice about it. and if your THIS undesided about your future don't think the military is the easy way out. it is in fact the HARD way!
the marines is the hardest out there, you really need to do some thinking..and some research!
EDIT:
i don't know why ppl keep saying the AF are off the "front line". my husband is a Cop in the AF, he works security for every other branch of service, he ecorts convoys, guards military planes, and hops cargo planes to help secure areas to pick up rangers and navy seals....uh convoys get bombed, so to do military planes and picking up rangers and navy seals...well those guys ALWAYS have someone shooting at them, so just HOW are AF troops NOT in danger??? you ppl need to get a life. not everyone in the AF is damn desk jockey!
2006-09-20 15:45:06 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You never know, you may soar in college! It isn't the same environment as in mandatory school, you get what you put into it.
My father and exhusband were (excuse me, are) Marines and no one could ever fault you for that. However, this is a very unstable time we are in so think long and hard about the probabilities of being slamdunked through training and then being shipped off straight into a bloody mess.
I would strongly urge you to sign up for a class at a community college. It is affordable AND pick something you are interested in first time out, don't worry about any kind of degree yet. Just go get a taste of it. Don't rule out vo-tech schools either.
Good luck
2006-09-20 15:31:23 · answer #8 · answered by mickeyg1958 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Going to the marines is a good choice but nevertheless try college as it may help better than you think. Another retreat if you try the marines perhaps you can do college in there. Don't worry about the SAT test as they are only gonnal be history now. So do make a good choice and be sucessful.
2006-09-20 15:35:20 · answer #9 · answered by JoJoBa 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Its your future, you need to think long and hard on what you want out of it..You really need to go further with your education if you plan on having a descent life..A high school education doesn't go far these days..NO JOKING...Only a collage education can give you some kind of hope..if not you will be working your azz of just to pay the bills..Do you want to have to worry about do you pay the bills or do you buy grocerys?Do you want to work your azz off in a factory just to get by in life..The marines doesnt even gaurantee a desent living..I didnt graduate high school and i wish to god someone would of forced me too...You dont have to attend a collage you can do it one line (a real collage)..go to a trade school..just dont stop with your education..OMG its so important
2006-09-20 15:35:25 · answer #10 · answered by bllnickie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋