I am going to a college as a network specialist major. I had a passion for technology prior to completing my first year. But ever since I started college that passion for learning more about computers has collapsed into a big heap. In high school I would spend my free time networking, creating something out of electrical components, working on my car, and so forth. But now that this kind of thing has been “academicized” (turned into academic work) for lack of better terms, I struggle to find reason to go forth, and fantasize of living in the back woods of PA looking in a cabin with a dog and a truck, which is my end goal. But everyone around me pressure me to complete the next three years of college, which does not appeal to me. All of my relatives are overly supportive of going to college for the next 4 years. The first year was paid off in full. So I don’t owe anything to the bank. But starting next year, and continuing into the next three years when I am done I will owe 90,000 to the bank, thats 30000 dollars a year. What on earth do I do!?
That seems like a lot of time and money for “network specialist”.
Not sure if pun intended…lol.
Anyways yes, there is a lot of theory behind working with electronics, circuits, and dealing with networks and computer security (most of which I’m not too familiar with, but this is true for a lot of fields), and you might find out that you’re no longer interested, or that you are interested in something else. Have you considered changing majors?
IT seems to me that you have two issues:
- You're no longer passionate about your major. OK, so why not find something else that captures your imagination? There are lots of fields related to computers; why not dabble a little over the summer and find a different facet of the material you love? It's certainly not unusual to find that what you loved at 16 no longer has the same appeal a year or two or three later. And any subject is going to become more "nuts and bolts' oriented once you really dive into it. Switch your focus within computers, or look at culinary arts or glassblowing or something else. There's an awful lot to learn out there!
- Finances. How on earth are you going from no debt to $30K per year? And why is this only now an issue? Didn't you see it on the horizon a year ago?
If you were my son or daughter, I think I would suggest looking to transfer to a school without such a heavy price tag, particularly since you seem so worried about that debt. (I’m with you on it; it would terrify me. The house we live in cost $132K when we bought it, and it came with a 30 year mortgage.)
First, you talk about wanting to live off in the woods of PA: what will you do for a living? You’ve gotta get a paycheck somehow…
Second, just because your first passion doesn’t pan out in school doesn’t mean that you should throw the baby out with the bath water, if you will. A university is a great place to explore other options and find what you DO what to major in. It’s quite common for students to change their major once or twice in their 4 years.
Thirdly, do NOT go $90K into debt for your undergrad. That is absolutely ridiculous and there are few (if any) jobs that you can obtain with just a bachelors that will pay those student loan bills when you graduate. I usually recommend staying under $30K in total for a bachelors degree. $90K will cost you $1,100/mo after you graduate, which is more than a lot of people’s rent/mortgage. DO NOT set yourself up for failure. Either get more in aid or go to another school.
I don’t understand how someone who’s end goal is to live in the woods with a cabin and a truck and a dog wants to be a network specialist, which is sort of the definition of being plugged in.
In any case, though, I agree that you need to consider transferring somewhere less expensive. $90,000 is too much for any degree, much less one you no longer want.
Secondly, let’s explore. You said you love the actual physical work of network specialists’ employment, just not the theory. But…that’s okay, and actually pretty common. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t slog through it so that you can be what you want to be (although it might). The academic study of something is usually quite different from what you actually do - many psychology majors might find research methods and statistics boring, because they won’t or will only barely use it if they do go into counseling or human services careers. So maybe the theory behind networking is boring but you still need the information as a foundation to do the work you want to do. I think you should talk to someone in the field about how theoretical it actually is.
But even if you decide you no longer want to major in it…there are other majors. I think you should figure out what else you might want to major in. I mean, if you like the outdoors, maybe forestry, geology, or environmental science is key for you.
Transfer out.