Am I in Over My Head?

Want some advice?
Do not totally drop out.

First, figure out what class or two you may be able to take to get your AA.
Do this at a community college for cheap & convenience.
ANY degree, doesn't matter the subject.

Something is better than nothing.
And this something pays more and gets you more opportunities and options.

Second, take at least one class at a time until you get your BA or BS.
You are likely close to the end, if it is the timeframe you describe.
Again, do this at a college/university that is inexpensive and convenient. Name is irrelevant.
This will gain you even more money and options.

People mistake often what the market wants.
Especially after they've been told certain things throughout their lives by family and "experts"
Name is nice, but not absolute. (Impressive, but most employers are looking for "doers" or skills, not a nameplate or selling point)
In your field degree is better, but again NOT absolute. (there are many that ignore this)

AA is always better than just a HS diploma or GED.
BS or BA is a step up....but believe it or not, does not guarantee better results.
Same is true with a Masters, even more so.

Yes, lower your cost of living...so move in with your parents. So what, from what I hear other countries like Italy live with theirs until mid-30's
Yes, get a job. Again, something is better than nothing.
If you can get something better without damaging yourself or going out of your comfort zone...go for it.
Figure out if it's "doable", take a shot. You'd be surprised what employers are willing to consider.
The worst they can say is "no", then move on to the next.

The problem is this in the US. (maybe in other countries too...)
People commit themselves to things that impacts them in the long-run, because of what "everyone else" says they "should" do.
Name is important. NO Nice, good "ad" on resume, but nothing more.
Degree in field is definite. NO Better, but not often necessary. Experience/skills take priority.
AA and BA/BS is good to have, in that order. YES, this is often a qualifier. Not guaranteed though. Experience/skills take priority. Don't let it stop you.

SAVE YOUR MONEY.
A community college is no shame...and for the most part, one AA is equal to another...one BS/BA is equal to another.
A local in-state college/university is not as romantic, but it is just as valid.
Do NOT listen to the elitist, or the people who want "better" for you. Do what works, what do the employers/market want???
Name schools are for the established only provide "connections" or an "ad". If you don't have that access, why pay for it?

I will say this, if you stop.
Then like a big truck, it is THAT MUCH harder to start again...and before you know it, time has moved on.
Keep your hand in.
Take at least one class.

This is what I did, paid for it myself, took years. Went to community colleges. Those had programs with bigger schools.
Got an AA, close to the BS.
Don't have ANY school debt, paid for it as I went. Worked as I did, went deeper & deeper into a field that PAID.
Now, still have the AA...but my experience and skills overwhelm any limitations there. (a nice six figure job proves this)
Would it be nice to have the BS/BA?? Yes, employers use that as a wage determinant...and ad to their clients. But not a qualifier, if you have experience.
But I stopped... now it is hell to start again...there is always "another thing" hindering me.

So don't stop.
Take a deep breath.
You're alive. Let go of your pride.
One step at a time.
Take one class at a time, don't stop altogether.
You will rebuild yourself...and get rid of that debt, build your career, build your life...bit by bit.

Education these days is as bad a scam as the morgage situation or credit cards.
People have sold you on a bill of goods. On a idea.
They lied, or exaggerated, or were biased or naive...but you're left with the cost & burden.

But remember this always.
1. Determine what works, what is needed in the market, what employers ACTUALLY want and will work with.
2. In the end, your commitments are your bills. You're stuck with the bag, not the "experts". Do what works for you, do what is good for YOU.

A generic inexpensive hammer is often just as good as the name for your purposes.
Are you building a space shuttle, or just hanging a picture???
Or just a standard construction job??

 

The feds will work with you to manage your loan payments if you have no income. You need to contact them. They have a lot of different repayment options.

If you can, work out the community college thing full-time. Here's the thing to think about: education isn't going to get any cheaper. It's also kind of unrealistic to expect to graduate with zero debt in this day and age if you aren't getting help from your parents, unless you can manage to get a boatload of scholarships or some kind of compensation. Also, at CC, there are student jobs, there are scholarships, and there are stipends for people who work in student government. That's how my cousin paid for 2 years at LBCC here in the Valley.

 

Drop out only if you have an income stream that allows you to pay your bills and have a lifestyle better than student.

I dropped out and never looked back. I don't have an AA, BA, BS, or any thing.

During the recession of the early 90's I was further than my friends who were graduating and looking for jobs because I was already in the field and had real experience. The sooner you're in the field the sooner you are gaining experience than someone fresh out of school. It doesn't mean you can't school and work 40 hours. That's what night classes are for. I know, I took them carrying a full 18 unit load and working 40 hours a week.

 

Nowadays, there are also online classes. Just be prepared to have little to no social life if you work full-time and do school. I spent this last year working 50 hours a week and going to school full-time. I had to be very careful about how I managed my time.

 

Sounds like you're in a similar situation to what I went through a few years ago. You have excellent skills. You also have a frustrating amount of debt.

I left my private university 3 years into my degree. They dissolved my degree path, and it forced me to step back. Moved home to SoCal, worked various full-time temp jobs (bookkeeper, receptionist, personal assistant) while attending evening courses at a community college. The community college accepted a ton of my transfer credits and it only took 15 units of random coursework to complete an AA through their "transfer studies" program. I ended up with an AA in Arts & Sciences. With that degree on my resume I was eligible for a lab assistant position at a pharmaceutical company, which greatly beefed up my resume when it came time for me to apply to the UC system for my BS.

I basically went home and waited for a couple of years. I had thoroughly researched California's grant programs at the time. I knew that when I turned 24, my family's finances no longer factored into my financial aid application. I knew that I would need to have a personal income less than $20k the year that I applied for financial aid on my own, in order to be eligible for complete tuition coverage through the UC Grants-in-Aid program (I didn't realize I would also be given a living stipend). I figured out that I would pay less overall by attending a UC school rather than a CSU school because the UC system had better grants. I also learned that the fact that I had graduated high school with honors from a public high school in the state, and had gotten an AA through the community college system in the state, with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, that I fit into the agreement (at the time) where the UC system was obligated to accept me. But it looked like I had too many units. The UC schools have a unit cap, you must complete your degree before you have completed a certain number of units or you're kicked out. At the time I applied, I had already exceeded the unit cap. The only program I found that was applicable to my interests and didn't have a unit cap was UC Berkeley's College of Natural Resources. I applied, was accepted, got a generous grant offer, and finished my degree there. The College of Natural Resources is very supportive and downright proud of their ability to attract non-traditional students, and I fit into that category. My mish-mosh of transcripts were handled expertly by the academic advising office, though it did take quite a bit of paperwork on my end to make sure courses would transfer appropriately. It was worth it.

I have no idea if what worked for me could possibly work for your situation. I don't know if it's something you even want to consider. But I do recommend that you find a reliable full-time job that allows you to cover your bills, and make yourself a plan for returning to school. In your off-time, start researching your options. Learn about programs, schools, grants, scholarships and find yourself a sure-fire plan to finish. Have an overall goal, make steps here and there, and no matter how things seem to go wrong along the way, it will work out.

 

You may want to approach the job search with a certain mentality. Turn your situation into a positive. You are taking time off school to get valuable work experience in your field. You will find that your plans for exactly how you want to finish your BS are refined as you work, and you will have more motivation when it comes time to take classes again.

 

This is true, my sister...a single mother, with two kids, freshly divorced...and a hideous scholastic history & a GED.
Got in...got grants...there are a variety...some state, some otherwise...different qualifiers...even some for your own situation...available.
Just get a bit...for community college initiation, and ONE class.
You may be suprised at what you can get.
(BTW...she just graduated with honors...with a BS in IT mgmt, Currently a QA dept mgr...10 yrs of sweat, 2 schools, one online...I'm proud of her)

Me, I'm in the exact opposite position, I quote, "make too much"...despite the fact every cent is burnt dealing with my wife's med situation.
And even then, IF I ever get some breathing room at work...I may find some grants for even this situation.

There are options everwhere...but I know you are demoralized...and exhausted.
But at least consider it...puruse the web.

Time's a wastin'
Your previous effort shouldn't be...

 

There are grants everywhere. Not just in CA. Grants in OR, National grants, Federal Grants, Grants for your situation, Grants for what you are, Grants just because, Grants for volunteer work, Grants to continue education. Grants, Grants, Grants.
They are everywhere...for pretty much everything.
You just have to research their existence.
And know their qualifiers.

I used to be Database Manager for CNCS - Corporation for National Community Service. (Americorp too...)
This is the Federal entity that handles all of America's volunteer workers.
And for that volunteer work...they get grant money for school in return. (MILLIONS of people annually)

And you don't even have to "do something" in return for your grant, my sister didn't...she just satisfied the requirements by her situation.
Sometimes it is just filling out the paperwork.

Have you seen the commericial with the spaz guy chattering away with the big question marks all over him?
Spouting off about, money here... money there, free money.
Well, it's true.
You just have to know about it, fill out the paperwork, wait for it to happen.
It's just that so many of us don't have the time, mind or will to remember to invest the energy to figure it out and do it.

Actually, now that we speak...I'm going to start researching for my wife's situation.
Maybe I'll leverage my sister's ability to whip up this stuff. (In return for me teaching her son how to shave, and other guy stuff. )

Think about it.
You'll never regret keeping it going. I promise.
You will regret stopping it. I promise.

I know you're tired and feeling defeated...just think about it.

 

One thing I found was the financial aid and academic advising offices at the community college were exceptionally savvy about finding work-arounds for their students. They pointed me in the right direction so I could succeed.

 

You may need to check with the policy at your school, though. Some universities count your residency status at the time of your application as permanent. I don't know about Oregon, but that is what I have observed in Ohio.