r/CollegeDropouts

I am 22 m and Idk if uni is for me I retook 2nd yr as I failed 3 modules and now I’ve failed 2 modules again. I am studying engineering and idk if I should carry on or not. I can try and get an apprenticeship but that would take time and my family members would want me to carry on the degree but the retake is on the same week as my sister wedding. I am also not sure how my family members will take it as the rest of my family has either got a degree or studying to get a degree. If anyone has any advice I’ll really appreciate it.

Long story short, I dropped out of university in my second year. I then did a Level 3 in Early Years Education- I quickly realised that childcare is such a toxic work culture in addition to the low pay and back-breaking work. But, I got my qualification and developed my CV, and used my qualification to work abroad several years ago.

I now work in further education at a college. It is THE MOST cushy job I've ever had. I got promoted after a month; can wfh during the holidays; have been encouraged by my managers to leave work 1-2 hours early on several occasions; no one checks on my work (my managers don't even know what my job is!); I get 6 weeks holiday a year; and the whole college have had two pay rises in the past year- and that is before my annual increment and promotion.

I honestly feel so happy. Dropping out of uni was the best thing I ever did. I'm limited with applying to certain jobs that require a degree as mandatory, but there are so many other jobs out there that value equivalent experience, which I now have.

For anyone interested in the specifics of how I got the job, I left childcare to work as an Assistant Employment Advisor. The job was basically minimum wage and part time, but I used it to develop my CV. I then got a Job Coach role at my current employer- my colleague left after a month, so I applied for and got the promotion into his role. It took me several years to get here, but it is such a relief to feel comfortable in a job like I do now.

Good luck:)

I have recently dropped out of my university. I studied for 2 years. Now I'm building a career in tech. I'm not making much. But I'm almost there. Anyway, what I'm concerned about is, many say a degree is important, it opens a lot of doors. I even saw a post here that one guy said most of the white collar jobs are gatekept by a bachelor's degree. I'm genuinely scared at this moment. My goal is to go abroad. I'm also thinking about going to Germany with an Ausbildung visa as this doesn’t require a bachelor's degree. Now I need some suggestions about what I can do next. Since I have taken the step and now there is no going back from this. Worst of all? My family has no clue. They think I will graduate next year. But honestly I didn’t like what I was studying at all. Give me some suggestions please.

Im currently starting my second year cse in tier 2 college and i feel its not my thing and i cant do this anymore.computer isnt my thing and i wanna drop from this college what will i say to my parents they already paid much.

Hello all M23 here.

I never was much of a typical learner, school bored me to death. Junior year of highschool I ended up paying someone to do my classes for the year while I worked. The orthodox way of schooling in America, in my opinion, definitely isn’t for everyone. We live in a time where innovation, creativity, and hard work is able to take anyone to great lengths.

But there is a caveat, during school I learned there are easy and hard ways to do things. But more importantly, there are wrong and right ways to do things. You could apply this to everything, having the right mindset, being open to learning, and having a great deal of discipline and motivation is really what pays off. I would say my main take away from schooling was to value the lessons that will contribute to any career.

To help anyone who is reading this that may relate, here is a little more background on myself and my situation. I always believed in the work smarter not harder rule and I cheated my way through highschool and some of college. I never truly valued school, because I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life. So I winged school and ultimately ended up dropping out because I didn’t want to waste a penny more for something I still wasn’t even sure about.

Something I always valued was a true, genuine, and strong core. There is lessons anywhere and everywhere, you just gotta find them. Mistakes and lessons are how I’ve grown as a person. Currently I am a construction estimator making six figures. I know life isn’t about money, but I just want people to know that you could still make money and be happy without a college degree. I myself am still struggling with things, but just know college isn’t your make or break.

MY BEST FRIEND NEEDS HELP.

This has nothing to do with me, I'm a computer science student, my friend (19M) from school took a drop year after 12th (2025) and wrote NEET 2026 and Re-neet. In his Re-neet he scored 268/720 which is AIR 7,28,672. Not enough to get into government medical college, of course there are n number of private institutions and management seats but it's not possible for him financially.

His family is probably telling him to take another drop year, completely and irresponsibly ignoring the financial situation in their house (he's the oldest son, has a younger brother to feed too) Also he's lowkey considering it too while being aware of all the consequences ONLY because he isn't good at anything else. He's extremely passionate about his career, but the circumstances are such.

**Context** : A large part of why he didn't score well is because he lives in an abusive household with no where to go, it's unfathomably painful, he doesn't have a personal phone, the father has access to everything on his laptop, I am his only friend and we haven't had a conversation in 7months, he somehow sent a textfile explaining the whole thing today, and I can't even reply to it right now. I'm so proud of him for merely staying alive in such a circumstance.

OPTIONS IN HAND :

1. STAY : Take one more uncertain drop year. The hardest one, unimaginable (Brings chills down my spine when I think of my friend having stay at home for one more year)

2. PIVOT : It's July now, do I urge him to try and get admitted into a degree college? Preferably the college I am studying in, so he can get a basic degree 3-year degree and get out of the hellhole first and then we'll somehow figure out life, he has me, I won't let him die. ( I know he isn't very passionate and good at anything else, but can pull it off. Remember the goal is to stay alive first)

Please suggest : 3 year Degree options like mine that cost about a lakh a year, 3 lakhs for 3 years and done. He'll get to move out to banglore in 2029 and come be with my family (ya we're here to do anything if he if builds up some confidence), if he does BCA, job would be a cakewalk too, we has connections.

3. EITHER WAY : Let's he takes a huge risk and decides drop out, hoping it will be his last uncertain year, if things don't go his way NEET 2027, What should he consider doing, what should he pivot to?

Help us decide which option to choose and why you think it's best, help us understand the pros and cons of either of these paths.

If not anything, Tips about staying sane in an abusive household, making money, moving out.

I'm a girl who is starting preparation for ssc chsl mts and other exams as I have taken admission in a bachelor's degree this year so I won't be eligible for ssc CGL. I failed to score well and get into govt medical clg in NEET ug exam . So after taking 2drops I'm out of it I don't want to do that anymore. But my parents are pressuring me to do bhms which is homeopathy course but I don't want to do that I have no interest in that. I'm 20 + and want to study and get financially independent. My parents are not letting me go to hostel for studies and forcing me to stay in house and study here. But the environment at my house is too toxic and daily they say things to me again and again and also I can't study at a stretch they just keep calling me for one or other work. I don't want to stay in this house. I want to go to hostel for my mental peace and to study properly. I am planning to run away from my house and stay on my own by getting a small job and doing my preparation staying away from here. What should I do ? Give me some suggestions.

Hello Reddit. I never thought I would be posting on here, but I am at a point in my life where it feels like there is no other way forward. It feels like I have one path in front of me, and I don't know if I can—or if I have the mental capacity—to continue down it.

My current circumstances are that I have failed the second year of my extended programme. I am currently redoing it, but I honestly don't know if I can make it through this year.

I told my mother that I wanted to quit, but she said no because, if I leave, I could be academically excluded and my highest qualification would then be my NSC (my high school qualification).

Right now, I feel very fragile, and I'm not sure if I can complete this year. I have already failed one of my four modules.

What I have been thinking about is possibly taking a break from university or dropping out and doing A-levels instead, and then applying to a university abroad. I could stay at home during that time and hopefully recover mentally. I know A-levels aren't a walk in the park, but I feel like they could give me the opportunity to strengthen my academic foundation and then apply to universities overseas with an additional qualification rather than just having my NSC.

My mother, father, and most of the people I have spoken to so far are against this idea.

The biggest issue is, of course, money.

I would have to fund my A-level studies, and I'm not even sure whether I would need to do them for one year or two years. I think it would probably be two years. I have also considered homeschooling or distance learning, as I think being able to stay at home and recover while studying might be better for me mentally.

I've been dealing with a lot of mental strain, and university has been extremely difficult for me. Part of me feels that doing A-levels in a different environment could give me a fresh start and possibly help me recover, although I honestly don't know if that's true.

I am a South African student and I am interested in studying in Germany in the future. I am hoping someone here might be able to give me some honest advice.

Is doing A-levels a realistic option for someone in my situation? Would it actually improve my chances of applying to universities in Germany or elsewhere abroad? Would it be better for me to take this route, or should I force myself to continue with university this year, knowing how mentally fragile I currently feel?

I am not trying to find an "easy" way out. I know A-levels would be difficult, and I know studying abroad would come with its own challenges. I just want to know if there is another possible path for me.

I feel like everyone is telling me that I have to push through this one path, and I'm scared that I simply don't have the mental capacity to do it.

I would really appreciate advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation, especially South Africans who have gone through the A-level route or have applied to universities in Germany or elsewhere overseas.

I just want to know if there is another way forward.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some advice because I honestly feel completely lost at the moment.

When I was 18, I dropped out of college. At the time, I was dealing with a really difficult situation at home and a lot of personal issues, and I just wasn’t in the right place mentally to continue with education.

I’m now 22 and I’ve finally started thinking seriously about my future. I want to go back into education and eventually do a science-related degree, but because I don’t have A Levels, I would need to do an Access to Higher Education Diploma in Science first.

The thing I’m struggling with the most is feeling like I’ve wasted the last four years of my life. While people my age have graduated, built careers, made friends, and moved forward, I feel like I’ve been stuck. I don’t really have much of a social life and have like 1 or 2 friends, and most days feel like I just go to work and come home.

Because of everything that’s happened, I’ve become really depressed and I constantly feel like I have nothing to show for my life so far. Sometimes I genuinely feel like I’m a waste of space and that I’ve fallen too far behind everyone else.

Recently, I’ve been trying to figure out what direction I want my life to go in. I actually applied to join the Army because I wanted to do something meaningful and build a future for myself, but I was rejected due to my mental health history. That rejection hit me quite hard because it felt like yet another door closing and made me question what I’m capable of.

Now I’m looking at going back into education, but I’m terrified. I feel like I’m going to be judged for my age. Starting college at 22 feels so old compared to everyone else, and the thought of eventually starting university when other people my age might already be graduating makes me feel embarrassed.
I know logically that 22 probably isn’t old, but it feels like I’ve missed the normal path everyone else follows and that I’ll stand out for all the wrong reasons.

My biggest worry about going back to education is that I’ve missed out on so much knowledge. Everyone else going to university will have done A Levels and have years of knowledge behind them, whereas I haven’t studied properly in years. I’m scared I’ll be completely out of my depth and spend the whole time trying to catch up.

Has anyone here gone from an Access to Higher Education course to university? Did you feel prepared enough?

Has anyone gone back into education in their 20s after dropping out or having a difficult few years? Did you feel behind everyone else, and did it get better?

Do mature students actually feel accepted at college and university, or did you feel out of place at first?

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has been in a similar position. Right now, it feels like I’ve wasted my chance, but I’m hoping maybe I’m looking at things more negatively than they actually are.

Thank you. :)

I'm really confused and need honest advice because I have to make a decision very soon.

I completed the first year of my degree, and my second semester result is still pending. I don't want to continue in my current college because I'm genuinely unhappy there and can't imagine spending two more years in that environment. My parents are supportive and are willing to let me choose whatever I think is best, but I feel completely stuck.

My second option is transferring to another private college where I can continue the same course without losing a year. However, the college has high fees, I have doubts about its quality, and I would also have to live with a relative. Staying there would be difficult because of family issues, lack of privacy, and an environment I'm not comfortable with.

The third option is changing both my college and my course, but that would most likely mean losing an entire academic year, which I really don't want.

So I'm stuck between

• Continuing in a college where I'm unhappy

• Transferring to another college that I'm unsure about and living in an uncomfortable environment.

• Changing my course and accepting a one-year delay.

If you were in my position, what would you do and why? Please give practical advice instead of just saying "follow your heart." I'm feeling extremely overwhelmed and need help making a rational decision.

Please upvote if you can't answer so more people can see this. I genuinely need advice

I’m 22, an international student, and I genuinely feel like I’ve ruined my future.

I used to attend a very prestigious university that is internationally respected and considered one of the best in the country. My grades fell apart, I had to leave, and after trying to rebuild my academic record somewhere else, I still wasn’t able to go back.

Now I may have to continue at a university that is much less known and not respected in the same way. I know people say university prestige doesn’t define your life, but it feels like I went from having an incredible opportunity to ending up somewhere nobody has heard of. It might even take me two more years to graduate.

My parents have already been through so much, and they have still supported me through everything. They are genuinely good people who sacrificed so much for me, and I feel like I wasted all of it.

I feel ashamed, stupid, lazy, and scared that I’ll never amount to anything. I just want to do right by my parents and become successful, but I genuinely don’t know how to get out of this mess anymore.

I’m looking for advice from anyone who has genuinely felt like a failure before, not just someone who had one bad semester or a temporary setback, but someone who truly ruined their education, career, or future.

Were you ever able to turn your life around? Please any and all advice will be greatly appreciated, I just need to do right by my parents.

I’m an undergraduate in my third semester. But im repeating units from my first semester. I’m on my second and allegedly final chance now. I don’t have any excuse for not putting the work in. I don’t know what to do at this point because I really do want to continue my tertiary studies at a nice university that can help me with my industry.

There was never an issue with my course, field or units. It was never that they were hard. I was simply undisciplined enough to do the simplest of tasks, however I know not to repeat my mistakes believe it or not. Any advice? What can I practically do in this situation, or what do you guys recommend? I haven’t told anyone of this situation

So i did bca from a ridiculous college. Can’t even fathom the level of non sense. The ceiling was chipping in class literally. The students , the faculty, Everything.
That broke me inside. And i lost all motivation to study or do anything. So i coasted around all those three years, tried different things, never went deep in actual cs or coding.
Then i thought a lot and ended up joining an mca at a private decent uni.
Now i feel I’ve made a big mistake in my life. I can understand nothing at all. And I’ve realised coding is not for me.
I should’ve just done something in liberal arts, humanities, or media.
What do i even do? I just don’t understand.
I have only last two days if i want to cancel the admission. But the problem is, i have no other plan at all and i don’t know what I’ll do. If i quit this right now, I’ll be sitting at home and take a gap year. All good colleges have closed this time now.

Can anyone please give me some advice?

Long story short:

I grew as an artistic kid of some sorts ..always find me scibbling something in my notebook during class but sadly i had to abandon this for academic success and along the way i still had some experiemces with artsy stuff

Now i am studying mechanical engineering ..which is a very practical thing ..and i am not saying it is bad it just that something that i adjust myself into truly liking it ... on the contrary whenever i do something artistic like Guitar, writing poems, singing, filming, photography, graphic design.

I always feel like its true to me on a core level

For example i consider myself to be pretty sensetive to criticism -tho i take it well- however when i get it on my art i feel a burn to be better and always feel confident to do something that striles people in the heart and feel a hidden power inside my poems for example..when i dove into graphic design i poured my heart into it but stopped to reasons one of them being college ...

Now everytime i look at the path i am going which is engineering i find myself just being in it for money while trying to recompose myself and mold it into what i possibly would like in this major

So i am torn between doubling down on what i want or just get the degree and focus on it being my money making machine .. i tried to walk the middle path but to no avail it feel like lying to myself .. its like i am watching my dream version of me being this very expressive artist for the sale of "said engineer who earns money and owns a nice car and some expensive house ...etc"

Around 30 minutes ago I graduated from middle school, but non from my classmates were free to go hand out together. Now I’m, left alone, with some money I got from my parents with no idea what to do. Anyone have any ideas?

i’m a 23 year old female cosmetology student at a community college in alabama, and i hate it. on top of not particularly clicking with my classmates, & having a terrible instructor, i also just don’t have a huge passion for it (at least not anymore). outside of cosmetology, i have NO CLUE what careers interest me. i have a high school diploma, a few community college courses, and a fairly wide variety of work experience under my belt, but i don’t really have passion for any other career options. i also am not a huge fan of school, so minimal schooling would be ideal for me. does anyone have ideas about what careers i could pursue that would just give me financial security? i’d be willing to get an associates or bachelors degree if they could be completed online. my main life goal is to get out of small town alabama, i’m really eyeing chicago, so i just need a career that can help me make that dream come true. TIA!!!!!

Hello,well recently I purchased a online batch of PW (YAKEEN 2.O) I am consern that I should move to city and rent a room and be there or remain at my home ,my home is in a a remote area.

I am so confused ,out financial condition is not so good it can be said below average,I am so confused what should I do.

And thus opting general B.SC from local college matters???

Myquals: I have recently completed my 12th boards from cbse and nothing else I haven't appeared for CUET.

Last year it's form where in March so I expect this year also but I missed it because it over in Jan only.