As i now have endless time on my hands after dropping out of university, i have compiled a list on the worst things about being a drop out:
5) Moving back in with your parents
Whilst i was at uni, i (mistakenly) thought i missed living at home. Looking After Myself was not something that i was equipped to do having never even managed a successful use of a washing machine or a nutritious meal (unless pot noodles are healthy?). However in the few short weeks of living on my own i took for granted not having to pick after myself immediately, worrying about waking up the dog when i stumble through the door drunk and stupid o clock in the morning or only having to make one cup of tea. Moving in with your parents and reverting back into their routine is guaranteed to make you feel like a child again, and not in a good way.
4) Being unemployable
With the risk of sounding incredibly arrogant, I've always imagined myself as an intelligent person (A* A B at A level woohooo). However, the eight rejection letters from jobs i received in my first fortnight of being at home clearly proved me wrong. Without a degree you have made getting a Proper Job a million times harder, and will be lucky to make it to an interview stage. Cue begging my part time job to be put back on the rota so at least I dont have to resort to going on the dole.
3) Farewell friends
Going to a grammar school, you are given no other option than to go to uni and get a good career. So when i found myself sitting on my bed in shock when i ran back home, thinking 'what have i done!?' I realised that not only had i left behind my education, i had left behind my friends. Or rather, they had left me behind. When everyone is doing the same thing, swapping stories about their pervy lecturers or annoying housemates, you become quite boring if you are a drop out.
2) Admitting failure
This was very close to being number one on the list. I cannot describe how awful (and tedious) it feels to have to confess to your family/friends/family friends/ teachers/ employers/ people you used to see at liquid that you have failed at university and are now back living with your parents.
1) The dreaded question
If there are any fellow drop-outs reading this you will know exactly what question i mean. Usually spoken by the family/friends/family friends/ teachers/ employers/ people mentioned above in number four.
Drum roll please... 'So what are you doing with your life?'. The reason i hate this question so much is not the condescending tone its spoken in, the sympathetic head tilt accompanying it or even the sheer frequency it is uttered. I hate it so much because i do not have an answer. I have absolutely no idea what i want to do with my life. I cant even decide whether to have toast or cereal for breakfast!
The main reason i dropped out of university (other than having two housemates who didnt speak english or hating my course) is that it felt ridiculous to be paying nine grand a year for something i didnt know if i wanted to do. People will argue that its better to have a degree and not know what to do with your life than to be a drop out and not know what to do with your life, but i am not so sure. Doing something which makes you unhappy just because its what is expected of you seems silly to me!
If there is anyone reading this who is unsure about whether to continue at university, i will brutally honest with you. I have no commitments, i dont have to worry about meeting deadlines and im definitely not staying up til five in the morning writing essays! Dropping out is the best thing i ever did. I was miserable whilst i was at uni and despite floating around whilst i figure out what i really want, its quite nice to feel free.
