Ask HN: Did you ever consider dropping out? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Did you ever consider dropping out?

8 pointsamjaeger21 comments

Did anyone consider dropping out after finishing their most important classes? I am a junior studying engineering. I'm at a point were I have 11 credits left to graduate, but I only really need 3 of them. I will probably stay in school, but I'm curious if anyone has relevant experiences. Thanks

View on HN

Also consider this in your decision making: Not having a BS makes it harder to get some visas. You never know when you may feel like changing countries.

Will vouch for this. Sure, you can make your way in tech based on your skills without a degree but there will be limits you face if you really want to be adventurous.

I'm currently enjoying an opportunity that involved foreign relocation which was really only possible because of the degree. Literally, I had to fly the original diploma certificate out here with me and present it to immigration officials.

I felt my degree was worth it when it enabled me to get this job about 7 years ago. I feel it's worth has only increased since taking this particular position last spring.

You'd have to be crazy to leave at this point. You're only young once. Enjoy your senior year, smooch some ladies and / or dudes, read some books, join a club. You have a lifetime of toil ahead of you.

"lifetime of toil ahead of you" does not make me feel better about the now (semi-joking).

Unless you're independently wealthy you're going to have that regardless, and software is pretty high up on the easy end of the scale.

Not necessarily - some people find it worth it to take 20-40% of their work hours off (unpaid or not), I would define that as not "toiling". You can live on 60-80% of a 100k+ salary very comfortably.

So much this.

I was in the same spot. I got a job doing consulting and let my degree lapse for a semester or more for a single history paper. The professor accepted my paper and I was able to graduate, but I regret having done it. I was offered a teaching position on the assumption I had graduated. It was embarrassing to explain that I hadn't graduated over something as small as that.

One other thing to consider: Are you a finisher in general? Do you complete the things you say you will? Is dropping out another example of a sequence of things you didn't complete? Don't let it be that latest evidence that you don't finish things.

I do all the time. I work a nice place, doing nice brand new development, with mostly friends from college.

I have had to try to finish school now for a year and half while working full time at this place. It can be hell sometimes. I've wanted to drop out a lot.

But if you think about it there is no reason for me to truly drop out. They're ok with me taking those courses and finishing (since I do what I need to do for them).

In your case, Finish the degree so you have it. The only con that ___MIGHT___ happen (emp. the unlikelihood) is that jobs and opportunities you could have gotten by dropping out will go to someone else. Reality is that those things only come in to your life via social connections which almost always come from knowing someone in college (as in my life, as in the lives of many a famous start up founder, etc.). Realize you should be using college to build those friendships and connections while you finish those courses.

As someone who works full-time while going to school, I'm painfully aware of what I'm missing out when I don't have the option of staying around and talking to someone for a bit and catching up.

My sister considered dropping out at almost the exact same point you are at. She stuck it through and was really happy that she did. You may not end up in engineering forever, but you'll likely want a college degree for whatever you want to accomplish, since you are this far along, finish up getting it and then think about if you want to put it to use or try something else in life.

I dropped out, then took whatever classes interested me from a variety of different community colleges & online schools.

This felt and feels like I am doing it my way, and I am happy for that.

I also have almost no student debt, and work solid jobs at tech companies. However, I have also had lots of side projects keeping me busy and allowing me to show my skills.

If you don't have side projects, skills or a solid resume to make up for the lack of the degree, then I'd say don't quit on the degree.

I dropped out of my senior year of college. Currently a software engineer at a nice company.

I've only been away from school for about a 1.3 years, so it's too early to see if I'll regret the decision. Perhaps I'll return to school in the future, or end up lying dead on the street because of my lack of a bachelor's degree.

If you stay in school, you don't have to worry about regretting the decision to drop out, nor do you have the difficulties involved in potentially returning later on.

At the end of my junior year I was placed on academic probation, and later kicked out of college. At that point I considered quitting school for good, but ultimately begged my way back into school and completed that degree. Now I work at a reputable company making sweet money. Getting a degree was so worth it. Don't quit, just hang in there.

I personally regret not dropping out when I had the chance. The extra debt really wasn't worth it.

It might be harder to get a job without a degree though. HR departments for big companies are pretty keen on college degrees.

Speaking of debt, why don't you Americans spend money studying your degrees in other countries with cheaper education.

I can understand that you want to be in America if you end up accepted in an top university, but what about the rest of the students?

People that I've seen drop out do it in the first year or even more so in the first quarter/semester. Sounds more like you're burnt out. I say dig deep and push through it.

I'd advise people in that position to do the opposite: go to work for a year or a few years, after which you're in a much better position to decide whether you have the drive and/or discipline to finish.

What are your most important classes? My point is that until I finished my degree I didn't know the importance of each subject.

I stopped classes to continue working on a successful business.

Worst case scenario is I go back and finish my last 2 years if I need to

You should get the college degree. Recruiters and HR people care about it and it facilitates the job search process.

I'd put it to the Leary test.

What turned you on?

What tune is worth dropping out?

Good luck.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com