I'm struggling to get by college, and life overall, any help?

Question

My life situation is becoming overwhelming. Bills, schoolwork, and family pressure are building into this mamouth amount of work. Everything is going to crumble soon if I don't do something quick. My grades are suffering and I work two jobs which aren't bringing in enough money. I have over $1,800 in monthly bills, pay for tuition out of my own loans, and have no-where to go if things fall apart. My family is struggling themselves and have little to offer, especially if I fail. Did anyone else find any secrets to getting through college? Is dropping out really that detrimental to ones career? help!

Answer 1

I would say that you need to decide what is at the root of the problems and solve that first; then the other things will fall into place. I would guess that the schoolwork problems are a consequence of the other issues, not the cause, and I'm wondering if you bills are so high because of some kind of family responsibility?

As to dropping out, it isn't detrimental if you go back once the problems are resolved, but definitely is if you stay out of school, where you will constantly run into ceilings as to what you will be permitted to do. I dropped out twice, and it hasn't hurt me at all, but that is because once the problems were resolved I went back and got not one, but four college degrees.

Answer 2

I'm really sorry that you have so much on your plate.

Let's start with those monthly bills. Is there any place you can cut back? Anything you can live without?

If your grades are suffering, perhaps you are taking too many hours while working two jobs. Instead of quitting completely, could you cut back on the number of hours you take at school until you get caught up on some of those bills so you don't have so much pressure to work all of the time? You really want to be able to get good grades in school/ pass your classes, or you are wasting your tuition money.

I, too, worked two jobs when I was in college. I was able to live at home, though, so that helped. But other than a roof over my head and some free meals, my parents didn't give me any money to pay for school. Can you live at home, if you aren't already? Are you eligible for grants or scholarships?

Hang in there! Don't give up completely! I do think a college career is important as far as it opens up doors for you, but if you have to cut back a bit and delay your graduation a year or two, that's not the end of the world.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I'm just kicking out some options here. Only you can resolve your own life situation, and none of these are guarenteed, I'm just tossing stuff out to give you options.

First off, take 30 min to an hour, get in your car, and get away from people and give yourself a few minutes to think. Go to a park and walk. Whatever. Don't stress about the PROBLEMS, consider SOLUTIONS. And solutions to one thing at a time. Don't tackle everything at once... solve easy stuff first to get it off your chest, then work on things that are going to be needed to be solved soon... then only lastly worry about the rest of the stuff.

If you haven't already, take some time to talk to your schools financial aid office, and let them know your situation. They may be able to help. At most schools they often help with general financial advice as well which it sounds like you want.

FAFSA, if you haven't, do it.

I don't know how you have 1800 in monthly bills, but if that's not including your school bills, then there are definetly things in your life you can trim out. If it doesn't involve shelter/food/school/vehicle... and reasonable of each of those... it should be trimmed. Don't impulse buy whatever you do.

No dropping out isn't generally detrimental, as long as you go back one day no one later will care when you got the degree, just that you got it. Unless you're at some high end ivy league school and wanting a highly selective career. Basically, 99.95% of the time it won't matter.

Have you considered doing part time college, and not just dropping out? Sometimes you can still take enough credit hours where you're part time at the school, that you're still considered full time student for insurance purposes (I did this, my school called me part time at 12, but my insurance considered that full time still, so I got best of both worlds).
Either way it'd free up more time for your jobs and life, and while it'll take longer to get out of school, you don't cease your education and you pace out the costs as well.

If you don't want to drop, and don't want to do part time school, then at least consider putting yourself on a '5 year' plan not the traditional 4 year one. Again, spreads the cost out over an extra period of time.

Family preasure either speak to your family if you can, or if not, try speaking to one of your schools counselors or your religious denominations elder (priest if catholic, rabbi if jewish, etc)... someone who can help you and is trained to do so.