reality slaps a young man in the face... pretty hard

[flomarilius]

Whats up guys,

I am not here to cry or complain just let things out of my system and possibly ask for advice from some of you older gents who are more wise than I am. As you all see I really am a big UK fan and I bleed blue. One little problem, I'm all the way in South FL and Kentucky is well... rather north and out of state tuition is just <--- like his crazy eyes. The problem is I kinda have school paid for if I say in florida but my heart isn't content here and I just really want to start a new life somewhere else and at least leave the old one behind for four years you know? This might sound like teenage drama but I really am lost and confused at this point... Is it right for me to ask my parents to go 20 large in the hole for one year and then pray that I get a full ride my 2nd? It'll really hurt to say no to UK after all this time....

Guys what would you do setting all material values aside?

Hate to bother yall with this and thanks,


A very troubled Omar

[eclark53520]

Personally if your parents are already going to pay for college, i would appreciate what they are offering and take it. Asking for more would be a bad idea and if my child did that to me, they would now be footing the entire bill...

If you want more than they offer, you foot the difference.

[SilverUberXeno]

I know the feeling, honestly. I've got a free ride here in NY thanks to m academics, but my heart just isn't in it. I skip class FREQUENTLY. I still do plenty well enough, but I just don't care.

I'm going to move to Florida, most likely. How long does it take to be a "resident" and be eligible for resident tuition? I don't really mind waiting. There's very little you learn in college you can't learn from a library... and libraries cost a lot less. I understand the formality of a "degree" in the business world, but honestly it comes down to whether or not you know, or whether or not you can accomplish, something.

Do you mean KU?

It comes down to what it's worth to you, I think. Eventually you'd pay those loans off, but it could take a while, and hinder you a lot. But if it's worth it, there's no question here. Do what you gotta do. Living a life you don't enjoy is a waste.

[Rockford35]

You should see if some of your classes would transfer to another degree at UK. If so, you're halfway home.

Apply for government assisstance. You'll probably have more forgiven if it's out of state schooling.

If you're just going to mail it in staying in FL, follow your heart. Win or lose, it'll always be the "right" choice.

R35

[Wi-Golfer]

Originally Posted by SilverUberXeno

I understand the formality of a "degree" in the business world, but honestly it comes down to whether or not you know, or whether or not you can accomplish, something.

You may be surprised just how valuable that degree can actually be. Plenty of companies require one if you want to progress upwards through the ranks. The part that sucks about it is the degree often times doesn't even have to be related to anything with your job, it simply shows an apptitude & willingness to learn.

[flomarilius]

the thing they throw at me the guilt trip and I can't do that to them... It's not about footing the difference because they haven't put a penny into my education so really why shouldn't I tell them to pay for UK in some instances. Oh and I think you can't attempt to get florida rates because your coming here on the basis to recieve and education.

[TheWOAT]

Why dont you just take out some student loans for the 1st year...

[SilverUberXeno]

Flom- I'd be moving there for good. Would that change things?

[5iron]

Originally Posted by SilverUberXeno

I know the feeling, honestly. I've got a free ride here in NY thanks to m academics, but my heart just isn't in it. I skip class FREQUENTLY. I still do plenty well enough, but I just don't care.

I'm going to move to Florida, most likely. How long does it take to be a "resident" and be eligible for resident tuition? I don't really mind waiting. There's very little you learn in college you can't learn from a library... and libraries cost a lot less. I understand the formality of a "degree" in the business world, but honestly it comes down to whether or not you know, or whether or not you can accomplish, something.

Do you mean KU?

It comes down to what it's worth to you, I think. Eventually you'd pay those loans off, but it could take a while, and hinder you a lot. But if it's worth it, there's no question here. Do what you gotta do. Living a life you don't enjoy is a waste.

KU is Kansas and UK is Kentucky, i think. Sorry i couldnt give advice though, i hope all goes well Flomarilius.

[lamebums]

Originally Posted by flomarilius

Whats up guys,

I am not here to cry or complain just let things out of my system and possibly ask for advice from some of you older gents who are more wise than I am. As you all see I really am a big UK fan and I bleed blue. One little problem, I'm all the way in South FL and Kentucky is well... rather north and out of state tuition is just <--- like his crazy eyes. The problem is I kinda have school paid for if I say in florida but my heart isn't content here and I just really want to start a new life somewhere else and at least leave the old one behind for four years you know? This might sound like teenage drama but I really am lost and confused at this point... Is it right for me to ask my parents to go 20 large in the hole for one year and then pray that I get a full ride my 2nd? It'll really hurt to say no to UK after all this time....

Guys what would you do setting all material values aside?

Hate to bother yall with this and thanks,


A very troubled Omar

I live in Kentucky. Trust me--stay in Florida. The damn Democrat governor, Steve Beshear, is cooking the books on education. He's trying to cut 12% of all state funds for colleges, as well as 15% cut to scholarship programs so he can drum up fear and support for his gambling agenda, so he can pander to their special interest's. As a result tuition will hit the roof.

The weather, the crappy, muddy and snowy winters, in the spring and fall when you go from A/C to heat in the space of a few hours... and the allergies.

Do yourself a favor--stay in Florida.

[Eracer]

As long as you are going to a quality school, the name on the varsity letter jacket doesn't matter one iota. What matters is that you dedicate yourself to doing the best you can for the next four years. You're going to have fun no matter what college you attend. It's the nature of the college experience. Focus on what's important - your education. Your success or failure depends almost entirely on how much effort you put into it. It has very little to do with anything else. You can tell yourself, "I'm going to college, and I've got an opportunity to better myself." Or, you can tell yourself, "I'm not going to the school I wanted to attend, and that sucks."

Trust me - taking responsibility, and making it happen for yourself is the best thing you can do. Don't worry about where you are. Worry about where your life is leading.

[eclark53520]

Originally Posted by SilverUberXeno

...I understand the formality of a "degree" in the business world, but honestly it comes down to whether or not you know, or whether or not you can accomplish, something.
...

And if you cant accomplish gradutating college what is a potential employer gonig to think about your "Accomplishments"?

Originally Posted by flomarilius

... the thing they throw at me the guilt trip and I can't do that to them... It's not about footing the difference because they haven't put a penny into my education so really why shouldn't I tell them to pay for UK in some instances. Oh and I think you can't attempt to get florida rates because your coming here on the basis to recieve and education.

You should have guilt asking them to throw down 20k EXTRA...JUST FOR THE FIRST YEAR! You are damn lucky they are offering to not only help with college expenses but pay for tuition completely. I worked 3 jobs and put myself through college, and i am glad i did. Having my money on the line that i worked very hard for made me make sure i was getting the most out of my college that i possibly could.

Originally Posted by Eracer

Trust me - taking responsibility, and making it happen for yourself is the best thing you can do. Don't worry about where you are. Worry about where your life is leading.

Exactly, your parents arn't always going to be there to help you out, start taking some REAL responsibility for your own edjucation.

I am not trying to be an ass here or come off like i did more than you so i am better than you. I think its great that parents are able to put their children through college and help them out with stuff, but like the title of your thread said how reality has slapped you hard, obviously it hasn't slapped you hard enough.

[limpalong]

The three to four years required to get a degree are but a moment in time, when compared to an entire lifetime. That's so easy for someone aged, like me, to say... more difficult for one living in a difficult situation.

Get the degree!! That is the all important issue! If you stick it out... if you accomplish the degree under difficult conditions... you will never forget that you stuck to it! There will be difficult times ahead in life. Seems we all hit chuckholes along the road. Jobs can present you with a trying supervisor. Marriages can present you with challenging times. Experiences you gain along the way will only better prepare you for life's circumstances over which you may have no control.

Good luck, whatever decision you do make!

[SilverUberXeno]

Graduating college is not an "accomplishment" in itself- the purpose of college is knowledge, or rather it SHOULD be. College is NOT necessary in gaining knowledge. I'm proof of this- in one of the classes I skip regularly, I just got a 112 on the test.

Knowledge, for the most part, is in books. That's my discrepancy with college. They make you pay out the ass for books AND "lecture". Guess what? Most of my lectures paraphrase the book. I'd rather not waste my money AND my time, so I don't bother.

I'm a man of principle here too... my tuition is currently about 200$ a semester thanks to scholarships. But sitting in the room listening to a guy sputter, though he is sputtering correctly, is a waste when I've already got 400 pages of everything he's going to say. And I didn't need to enroll in his class to get that book. Civilians can buy textbooks.

So in closing, a degree is a piece of paper declaring that you know x-information. But it's ENTIRELY possible to have all of that x-information without having a degree. However, I sympathize with employers about having some "proof"; but it'd be nice if an interview actually touched on why someone was being hired... for example

Employer: "Tell me about the relationship between matter and energy" seems more important than "what degree have you got?"

[eclark53520]

College is not an accomplishment? Wow...


ANYWAY, ok, so i can read and gain ALL the knowledge i received from college. Just the knowledge specific to my feild, yeah, probably. In college however i got the chance to work on equipment and software that costed hundereds of thousands of dollars, to buy that myself and get the same experience i would have had to spend ten times what i spent in tuition and books to get that.

Also, the experience i got working with my classmates on real world projects with real world comopanies is priceless and i would NEVER have had those oppurtunities if i hadnt have attended college.

There are lots of people out there making lots of money without degree's, but the odds are much better if you have one. Everyone i went to college with is currently employed in their field of study, i cannot say that about all the people i know that did NOT go to college.

I dont care if you do or do not go to college, however, you can not say that college is worthless. That statement is mindless.