Ask HN: I'm sick of college, any recommendation?

2 points by burnedouthacker 17 years ago | 10 comments

Okay, to put things in perspective, I'm a 23yo Computer Science student, dropped out from college last year after been studying for three years; the reason: got fed up with all the innecesary work that had to be done... spent to much time caring for grades, knowing I could be doing something with much more value, incompetent proffesors "teaching" things that they didn't even understand, those proffesors being in the positon of assigning me a grade... Some proffesors gave me an F even I knew so much more than they did; actually in regard this "proffesor" situation, I went to talk with the computer science chairman who acknowledged the situation, but it took so much time to get each of faulty the proffesors fired, and they were to much.

This year, I started attending college again (different one), and have two more years pending to get that paper that says "I'm an engineer".Sadly, even though it's a different school, situation is starting to look like a deja-vu, and I'm actually starting to see with despise, and aversion the whole "university experience", and could almost state like an axiom in my reality that "college sucks".

I'm pretty confused... should I endure this sick pain, product of tolerating this crap,just in order to get my degree?(I only want it for the supposed doors that it opens). Should I just take as many subjects as I can, so I can finish with this painful experience the fastest I can, without any consideration of the grades I get? How important are the grades in getting those "doors" open, or getting into a Ph.D program? Can't I get into a Ph.D program just by demonstrating my competence, and not having to comply with the "system"(and subsequently wasting my time)? Can just my work (research publications,conferences, open source hacks, books I've written) get me into a research program, without having the degree?

Sidenotes that could help understand more my context: I'm poor, I have to work in order to provide myself, and pay for school tuition. I do research in artificial intelligence.

SwellJoe 17 years ago |

How important are the grades in getting those "doors" open, or getting into a Ph.D program?

I don't know what doors you refer to. I've never had a problem getting a job, and I never attended a university (I went to a handful of community colleges for various fun topics, but never got a degree...but having a degree from a good university would certainly help me if I wanted to work at Google or Microsoft or similar). A Ph.D program? Why would you want to go the Ph.D route if you hate academia? This doesn't even make a little bit of sense to me.

Can't I get into a Ph.D program just by demonstrating my competence, and not having to comply with the "system"(and subsequently wasting my time)?

I'm still not getting this. It's sounding like your dream in life is to be a Ph.D working in academia for all of your days. And, yet, you've stated that you hate college. This doesn't make sense.

Why do you want to get into a Ph.D program? I'm not saying you shouldn't do a Ph.D, I'm just having a real hard time wrapping my head around the idea of someone who hates college seemingly dreaming of being in college for 6 to 8 years to obtain a Ph.D.

I think you've gotta do some soul-searching here. What is it you want out of life? If a life of research and academia and publishing is what you want, then yes, you need to go to college. You need to go to college for many more years. That is the price of admission to that life. But, given that that life is kinda just continuing the college experience (only you answer to deans and the board of directors and students rather than answering to professors), I don't see how that could possibly be your real goal.

So, what is your real goal? You tell us that, and we (being a pretty diverse set of hackers and nerds) can probably lend you reasonably good advice on how to get there.

artlogic 17 years ago |

My suggestion to you is simple: if you want to do artificial intelligence research then do it. Make a website. Self-publish. Promote yourself. If you are truly brilliant (as you seem to think you are) then you will be noticed. There are always positions for hard working brilliant people.

It's also worth saying that the majority of groundbreaking research being done these days is being done in the private sector. These people care less about degrees than results. Prove you can produce and you won't find it difficult to obtain employment.

While you research you can work just about anywhere - you don't need access to much to do research - a library, a computer, a notebook. Being poor is actually a good thing for research - money causes distraction. Most grad students are dirt poor.

As a side note, I think we're all a bit confused by your story. What is the "crap" you are tolerating? If you really know all of it already, shouldn't it all be easy? I think that perhaps some of the issues you are experiencing may have something to do with poor communication more than anything else. Most professors are willing to work with you on a more challenging project if the given project is elementary and boring to you.

JabavuAdams 17 years ago |

Stick it out, if it's only 2 years.

Don't take refuge in the "I'm smarter than all of them, they just don't understand me" excuse. Take what is offered, and learn what you can, where you can.

It may not seem like it now, but 2 years is a really, really, short time in your life.

If you're bored, spend more time on interesting projects, but also spend enough time on your coursework to get decent (though maybe not top) grades.

I started University 3 years early (skipped 3 grades). I failed out in my last year. Generally, I really liked my uni experience, but I regret not finishing.

I've never had a problem getting a job. However, the lack of a degree has been an obstacle in getting US work permits for some sweet companies.

You know how older people will tell you that the years pass quicker and quicker? It's true. One or two years is just a minuscule amount of time in your life. Don't fail to do something because you're impatient, and it'll "take a year". In ten years, it still won't be done, and you'll have "wasted" at least a year in between doing other things.

icey 17 years ago |

Life is tough, you're going to have to do things that are boring when you get a job as well. Might as well learn how to deal with it now.

That being said, I'm not entirely convinced this isn't a troll. If you're not trolling, I'd recommend spell checking your post; especially the parts where you talk about knowing more than your "proffesors".

ejs 17 years ago |

Why would you possibly think a PhD is a good idea if you find your current situation full of unnecessary work? Do you think a PhD program is going to be some huge difference (hint: it's not)

And depending on where you live (US?) just having an engineering degree doesn't let you call yourself "an engineer"... you need a PE for that (add more years).

tokenadult 17 years ago |

Some proffesors gave me an F even I knew so much more than they did

How can you be sure that you knew much more than your professors knew? What kind of communication did you have with those professors before you received a grade of F?

burnedouthacker 17 years ago | |

Sorry, by not be giving more details... It's just that it would take so much time to describe the whole situation. Chairman asked me the same, I just gave punctual facts, and proved them. Chairman acknowledged situation, and fired some of the proffesors.

ejs 17 years ago | | |

Wow I would love to know what school "fired" professors because some failing student was complaining...

Got a link to back that up?

tjic 17 years ago | | |

This entire story smells fishy. And by that, I mostly mean that the poster sounds very immature and conflicted about what it is he wants, and unclear on how the world works.

radu_floricica 17 years ago |

I know very well how you feel. I cannot give concrete advice, since I'm in a different part of the world and the context doesn't apply, but it sounds all too familiar.

What I can say is that a job and a PhD are completely different paths. Both have advantages and satisfactions, but they require different things. If you want a job, grades most likely don't matter. This I can safely say about any free market economy, especially in this field. But for a PhD... at least where I'm from, what matters most is having your personal professor guiding you. Whatever he says goes.