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If you are near completing college (e.g. this is your sixth semester) I'd tough it out. Even if that means switching majors to one of those "bullshit social sciences". The piece of paper still matters, true most of all in the corporate world, but not just there. You are far better off having a line on your resume that lists a college and omits a GPA than having no education on your resume at all. If you're almost at the finish line there's no point in walking away now.

On the other hand, if this is near the beginning of your college career, maybe it is a good idea to take some time off. It doesn't cost you anything to get a leave of absence versus just quitting. It doesn't obligate you to go back, but it leaves the door open. Use the time to find out if you are bullshitting yourself about willing to do some real learning so long as its on your terms. Find out what the job market is like. Figure out what it means to be responsible for your own schedule, with your ability to live (or at least live decently) on the line instead of just a bad grade. You'll either go back to school more motivated or you'll find that you are thriving without a college degree. In the latter case, if you ultimately do find you need the paper, there are increasing opportunities to do so for working adults (though life can make that really tough if e.g. you have kids).

For what it is worth, I took a semester off after doing really poorly and worked as a programmer during the first dotcom bubble, then returned to finish my degree. Best of luck.




If you're almost at the finish line there's no point in walking away now.

Even if you consider the sunk costs! I mean, suppose you are to graduate this summer. Write off the sunk costs (everything before now) and look forward; for the price of three months, you can get a college degree. That's a pretty hard offer to turn down.




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