Ask HN: Has any of you dropped out college because of failing grades?

4 points by 226_ebro_treaty 3 years ago | 6 comments

I myself did. I've always found it puzzling that the English Language doesn't have a special word to distinguish those who drop out to work/pursue another path, and those who drop out because of poor academic performance. Please, news outlets, don't compare me to Steve Jobs.

I'm looking to go back to school, but I still don't know what I want to pursue. I'm looking for inspirational stories about people who went back to College after their first time didn't work out due to bad grades.

asimpleusecase 3 years ago |

I lost the will to continue and grades were bad. I had about 1.5 semesters left. I worked for several years and then felt I needed to finish (math major , minor CS) only I had to change schools. The new one did not recognize any of my “prerequisite” courses from the old school. So instead of needing to take a hand full of classes I had to take an extra year worth of filler classes. I was going at night part time so this took years to do. I finally finished and within a short time I was promoted and my salary was doubled. Be young that many other doors opened much more easily. I had not been thinking that the lack of a degree was a big hinderance, and I’m in no way suggesting that lack of a degree makes you less skilful. It just appears that having the degree meant more to others than I expected. What I found on this journey is I was a lot more focused the second time around. Compared to work, school was easy and actually enjoyable.YMMV

226_ebro_treaty 3 years ago | |

>I worked for several years

What jobs did you do during those years before going back to school?

Thx for sharing your story!

cc101 3 years ago |

I dropped out of Stanford in my senior year because I couldn't continue to ignore the negative effect that severe ADHD had on my classwork. While I did come back and graduate a few years later, my PhD ambitions were in ruins. While I spent over two decades working my way up to a junior research position, I never overcame my lack of graduate education. Perhaps I would have done better to re-asses my goals and select a new career, but my drive to overcome my feeling of failure by attaining my original goal got in the way of choosing a better course. You are right to give new thought to where you want your career to go.

226_ebro_treaty 3 years ago | |

Could explain what you mean by:

>I never overcame my lack of graduate education.

Seems like you've achieved your goal _anyway_ of being in Academia, even if it's taken you longer?

cc101 3 years ago | | |

I was seriously lacking in the knowledge I needed to get any further than an entry-level researcher. I feel that I could have done wonderful things if I knew more about my subject. You can only take basic knowledge, ambition, and imagination so far.

throwawaysalome 3 years ago |

special word to distinguish those who drop out to work

We say those students are "on leave." Gates and Zuckerberg often commend Harvard for its flexible leave policy. Given Harvard's overambitious undergrads, the bureaucratic overhead of granting a hiatus is a small price for the glory-by-association of a potential Microsoft or Facebook. Come to Harvard. Even if you don't graduate, you'll be rich and famous!