5 Signs You Should Drop Out Of College + 7 Reasons To Stay Anyway

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Nobody wants to drop out of college. We all just want to get that degree, be proud of ourselves, and get a fantastic job. 

However, sometimes the college degree we are going for is really not meant for us. Sadly we only know for sure after starting that route. 

And even then we sometimes miss the signs that tell us that we should drop out of college or change our degree. 

As a student myself, I get that feeling. In the pursuit of building an online business and freedom, I’ve realized I really don’t want to become a lawyer with a 9-to-5. 

I might enjoy my law studies to some degree. Still, there are multiple signs that I definitely do not feel passionate about it. 

Yet, I still decided to continue my studies and get that degree. 

Below I’ll share the signs I have noticed that make one consider dropping out and why you’d still want to continue. 

I hope this gives you some clarity with your own struggles. Feel free to comment down below to share them with your fellow Felicity Seekers. 

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1. You don’t have a favorite subject

The degree you are working towards most likely consists of various subjects. 

In my example, this is criminal-, civil-, and public law, and each of them is divided into various subjects of their own. 

Remember how people always asked what your favorite subject in school was? 

If they’d ask that about your college studies, would you have an answer for them? 

I’ve noticed my friends from uni always talking about how much they like criminal law more than civil law. Or how this lecture is much more interesting than that. 

And every time I find myself thinking: They are all the same to me. 

I am not particularly excited about any of them. Sure, I might have a short phase when the stuff we talk about in civil law is more exciting than the criminal law. 

But generally speaking, they are all about equally as exciting – or should I say equally not thrilling – to me. 

2. The lectures/subjects you like most are the least related to your main degree

Another thing that struck me very suddenly was the realization that all the lectures that fascinated me and in which my mind didn’t start to wander, were only in small parts related to law. 

They were mostly about economics, politics, or social rights-relevant events, and barely mentioned specific laws. 

And funny enough it even happened a few times that while I was fascinatedly following the lecture the professor suddenly said: “I know this is a digression from our main topic but don’t worry, we’re going back to it soon.” 

And my only thought was NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

If that happens to you as well, you should ask yourself if that is a sign that you should switch majors or drop out of college altogether.

After all, it is quite telling, isn’t it? 

3. You are not eager to spend your free time with anything related to your major

If you are interested in something or even passionate about it, you often spend more time with it than strictly necessary. 

Universities give you the chance to do so. They often offer some out of curriculum lectures for interested students on various topics. 

While a few friends of mine actually considered going to some of them, I couldn’t have felt less inclined to do so. 

I have absolutely no desire to spend my free time with something that doesn’t interest me in the least. 

This could also be a sign to consider whether you should drop out of college or change majors. 

Read also: 15 Ways To Spend Your Time Wisely

4. You have no profound questions to ask about the subject

Another telltale sign that you are passionate or at least interested in a topic is the number of questions you can ask about it. 

Your mind automatically comes up with tons of questions that very often are even more profound than the material you need to study. 

You don’t care because it could be relevant for an exam, you want to know the answer because you are merely curious about it. 

In my law lectures, I’ve often noticed a few students that participate a lot, asking profound questions. 

Questions that make me think: “Who cares?!?!”

And even the professors sometimes tell them to stay behind after class to discuss the question, because most students won’t be interested in it. 

Read also: 15 Life-Changing Questions You Should Ask Yourself

5. You don’t envy adults with the degree you are going for

Another huge sign that your major might not be for you is the people you look up to. 

Are there any adults who have the profession you are working towards that you admire? Adults that make you think: “I want a job like that!” 

During the first few semesters, I did admire some lawyers, judges, and professors. 

But as I got into personal development and entrepreneurship, the vision for my life changed. 

That’s why nowadays I don’t envy any lawyer for their job. None of my current idols work a typical 9-to-5. And neither do I want to. 

If you can’t see yourself in any job that you can work in after getting your degree, it is a sign you might want to drop out of college or change majors. 

Read also: 9 Reasons Why You Should Start Your Own Business

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Why You Should Still Finish Your College Degree

Now, I am aware this sounded all gloomy so far. And you might ask yourself: If all these signs clearly point towards dropping out of college, why are you still studying law?!

Well, there are a couple of reasons one might want to finish their degree. 

1. You Have No Alternative Yet

I think one of the most obvious reasons would be that you don’t have an alternative yet. 

If you don’t know what would make you happier, what you’d be more passionate about, there is no use in dropping out. 

I know many people believe in the idea of soul searching and maybe spend a year abroad to figure out what they want to do with their life. 

But personally, I think you’d really need to feel called to do that to bring forth any result. 

I know for me this whole waiting-for-an-idea-to-strike game wouldn’t work. So I might as well continue my studies until I figure something out. 

Also, that way you don’t have to explain yourself to friends and family, who keep asking you if you already know what to do in life. 

2. Your Alternative Is A Work In Progress

The second reason to not drop out of college and instead finish your degree is that your alternative is a work in progress. 

That’s my case currently. 

I might not want to work a 9-to-5, but my business is not yet at a point to provide me with a full income. 

Until it can do that, I am not going to throw my Plan B away. I might as well end up earning good money in a law profession instead of less money in a job without a law degree until my business succeeds.

Although I fully expect my business to provide me with a full income before I get my degree, so Plan B most likely won’t come to fruition. 

3. You Value The Feeling of Safety A Degree (Seems To) Provide

We’ve always been taught that finishing school and getting a degree is the safest thing to do to secure a good income. 

Although we are proven time and time again, that many people with a reasonable degree are earning low wages or don’t even find a job, it can be hard to shake that degree=security belief. 

If you value security a lot in your life and feel like a degree would provide you with that security, there is no shame in continuing your studies. 

4. You Value The Feeling Of Significance A Degree Provides

A degree can also make you feel significant. Not only because our society always seems to praise people with degrees or doctor titles. 

If academics have always been an essential part of your life, you might want a degree to feel accomplished and proud of yourself. 

I don’t think significance should be your only reason to continue with college or uni. Still, it can be an additional reason that supports your decision. 

5. The Degree Could Still Be Of Use To You

Sure, you might not feel particularly interested in your major, nor do you want to have a typical profession that requires that degree, but who is to say you can’t need it in some way later on in life. 

I might not want to become a lawyer, judge, or attorney, but law is everywhere today. 

It has already benefitted me in many ways, and it will continue in the future after I get the degree. 

6. You Are Almost Finished Anyway

One reason that’s always very convincing for me is your progress. 

I would hate dropping out of college after 6 out of 8 semesters. 

If there already went so much effort, sweat, and tears into my studies, I wouldn’t want to throw it all away just because I don’t feel like hustling for a year or so longer. 

But then again, you need enough of a reason to want that degree. If you really have no use for it practically or emotionally, why waste one more year of your limited time? 

7. It’s not torturing you

And lastly, you should also consider how exactly you feel towards your studies. 

Are you just annoyed and uninterested, or is each day at uni draining you of your energy? You don’ even want to get out of bed anymore and go to any lectures. 

For me its the former. Sure, I don’t feel passionate about law. But I do find it interesting, and at times I enjoy it. 

It really is not much of a hardship for me to finish that degree. There are many more compelling reasons to do so than to drop out of college. 

If you can say the same, you might want to stick to your major as well.