Thinking of dropping out or taking a semester off

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I keep getting in trouble with the authorities at my community college, I don't feel like I'm getting much out of my classes, and I kind of just don't care.

I want to take a semester off, or maybe even drop out, but I need to find a really genuinely good back up plan first for that to even be a viable option.

What should I do?

Go out and get a job. Take time to evaluate if school is right for you.

You can always go back.

You can ask for a leave of absence from your school and in the meantime, work or go explore the world like backpacking.

Just wondering, why aren't you enjoying your classes? Is it the professors, the material, or something else?

College isn't for everyone, but once you leave, you'll have a difficult time going back.

What you really need to do is decide why you do or do not want to go.

Also, you're not doing yourself any favors by going to community college. Bigger, more prestigious universities (even the state school) have entirely different standards.

Personally, I regret going to community college and feel that I should have gone to at least state college from the start. When I transferred, the enormous gulf in standards was quite apparent.

you will regret it when you are older, trust me on this.

how are your grades?

I flunked out of my first community college...=/
Second one I am doing very well at as it is very small.
However I left and started working...basicly waisted a lot of time at a pointless job.
Then moved to another city to restart which didn't workout so now I am back home because I couldn't find a job down there. So now I am going back to school.....

My advice? Stick it out, try hard and finish up this darn school.

School sucks, people in school usually suck, teachers often have alter motives for teaching...

but....the climate we live in today a degree is required for most jobs...though I am sure you know that.

If you decide to quit....ups, usps, fed ex, or any other kind of postal service always have good wages if you can get a job with them.

Otherwise, fast food or walmart type work is what your likely looking at....which isn't so bad but definately not what most people want to do. Obviously wal-mart type job is better if you want to advance but also way less layed back then a fast food job.

Again...my opinion...stick it out, raise your grades, get loans and go to a four year that you find you like...

I have decided on my career based on what I have done since a kid, I'm far from accomplishing it but it's there and that's a little bit of security.

So maybe deciding on your path based on something aplicable to what you've done since a kid might be the tiny bit of edge you need.

Keep your stick on the ice.

I attended the University of Oregon for 2 and a half years from 08 to a month ago. I am taking the year off to work and re-adjust my mindset and just ground myself before continuing my education since I am in no condition to keep going to school right now. I dont think its a bad thing, many people take a break or two in college to refocus and/or reevaluate the direction the direction they want their life to go...but you should definatley try to finish your education sometime, dont just drop out if you have started!

First: I'm not familiar with the organizational stuff at US universities.

Are you allowed to take a vacational semester?
Can you decrease the number of lectures you attend?

I suggest to finish your bachelor first before you think of new goals for yourself.

If you're struggling w/ your course work, and can't find motivation, then yes, drop out. You're likely not getting anything out of your courses and therefore are wasting money.

However, as someone else said before, a backup plan is needed. If you can manage to find some full time work, I highly suggest taking it (it would likely be a very blue collar profession, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with those, the lifeblood of any good economy).

At worst, you make some money and might feel more motivated to do well in school. I know full time employment has made me look back on college and say "I could've gotten a 3.5+ GPA easily had I given 1/2 the effort to school as I do to work").

And of course, don't listen to people who say you need college to live a good life. It's not like you can't eventually go back.

I have one (HOPEFULLY) more year left at university-it's taken me a while, but at times I would go to my advisor and say something along the lines of ,"I hate this,I want to go to Aotearoa (New Zealand) and dissolve into the trees and never come back"...she would convince time and again to at least stick the semester out.My family values education very seriously,and more importantly I would feel unsatisfied if I dropped out,because I would like I was giving up or quitting.I feel like I have to at least finish college...then the wind will take me where it wants! I don't want to give up on anything in life,and I refuse to give up in college.