Anybody else depressed with life after college?

IndianSummer

an hour back i finished attending what was the last class of my MBA course. I feel numb.

Thorns2010

Fuck college, what a waste of money. But yet, you can't get a good job without a college education. What to do, what to do?

I dropped out of college after 2 and a half years of me hating it the whole time, and getting a good number of F's along the way.

I'm not stupid or anything, I just found the whole process a complete waste of my time, and genreals are just an excuse for them to get more money out of me!!!

I then went back to a 'trade' school, and did get an AAS degree. Assiocaties Of Apliled Sciences in Sound Engineering. That was a fucking waste of time and money as well.

So here I sit living at home with my parents/well dad since mom died 3 months ago, and in a crappy retail job for a company that is run like shit.

Man, if I wasn't already suicidal this path of my life would make me!!

nuffingman

I'm depressed after leaving college. I left 34 years ago!

3inputchick

Go to grad school silly! Perfect excuse to not really get a job for another 4 years and still look productive!
YAY

Jason P

Graduating college was like have a 1,000 pound weight taken off of my shoulders. The constant pressure of exams and studying 24/7 was tough for four straight years. I was an engineering major and knowing that a one-question exam in thermodynamics controls 20% of your overall grade is maddening.

With my job, at least I can leave the pressure at work and go home and relax at the end of the day. Plus, I’m getting paid money instead of paying money (which is nice). My whole outlook on life changed after getting my degree. I lost 40 pounds and all the angst in my life disappeared.

Of course as they say, different strokes for different folks. Good luck in finding a good job and paying your loans off.

markymark550

I wasn't depressed so much as I was stressed out about not finding a job other than the part-time job that I was already working at. Being on my own with just a lower paying part-time job doesn't pay all the bills and my savings were running out. Everywhere I applied/interviewed with for 4 months didn't pan out so I was getting kind of desperate. Thankfully, the place of my part-time job had an entry level position in my field and they offered me the job.

given2fly78

pjoasisrule wrote:

I graduated college about a year ago and I still have yet to find a career, I am struggling to pay my bills, and becoming very pessimistic about the the world.

It took me almost 4 years after graduating w/ my bachelors to get really comfortable. I think that's typical. Figure, you have a lot of competition out there! Don't get down, it's not just you!

I had a BS in Business, minor in Spanish, did an internship in London and an internship throughout my senior year so I was pretty well prepared. Got a job with the company I was interning for and one day I went to go to work and POOF! They had gone bankrupt, doors locked and they had told nobody. I spend 8 months on unepmployment. Got a new job w/ a non-profit (yeah....non-profit means NOBODY makes money LOL!) and a few months later I left because my dad had a brain aneurysm. Things led to other things and finally it was go back and get my masters or wait and find out if I got this other job (I got the job) which led me to where I am now.

But it takes time, being (yes) depressed, I realized that going through the bad made me really appreciate what I have now. And trust me, with the way the economy is now, I'm a bit worried!

My little sis just graduated with her 4 year and she realized she needs to get her Masters. She can't get a job in her field without it. She's waitressing. After 4 years of college.

So, it's not just you!

know1

Life got a lot better for me after college. I didn't have to work so hard (full-time job plus full load of classes) and I actually had at least a little money and didn't have to retire to my single rented room and eat ramen noodles or peanut butter every night. I also bought a car that was only a few years old as opposed to one that was almost 20 years old and had rusted through the floorboard.

eyedclaar

pjoasisrule wrote:

I graduated college about a year ago and I still have yet to find a career, I am struggling to pay my bills, and becoming very pessimistic about the the world.

Interesting. I have a career and don't struggle to pay my bills and yet I too am very pessimistic about the world.

weenie

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. I have tons of great experience working for big companies and I can't find a job either (unless I want to work for $17 an hour). Things out there are much worse than the government and the media will concede. It's a really tough time for America and the middle class. I feel your pain and wish you luck. If I were your age, I wouldn't be NEARLY as worried as I am now, so thank your lucky stars that you're young. Most companies will hire a young person over an older person any day.

pink1969

Just graduated from nursing school in May and I've put my resume out to all the area hospitals and I haven't gotten one single call back!! So much for the f**kin' nursing shortage!!

PJSerf

I graduated college 5 years ago with a Bachelors' in Accounting and MIS. Couldn't find a decent job, ended up taking an accounting position with a small investment firm for relatively low pay. Stuck it out for 3 years, and have now spent the last 2 years working for a Wall Street firm and love it.

Those 3 years right out of school were very depressing but I made the best of it and am now well on my way towards a successful career.

saveuplife

pjoasisrule wrote:

I graduated college about a year ago and I still have yet to find a career, I am struggling to pay my bills, and becoming very pessimistic about the the world.

Simply put yes. Very very depressed. I did have a job. But, I felt like Peter from Office Space. So, I quit after one year and went to grad school. Although I don't necessarily think I chose the best subject, I'm glad I did this. I realized right after college that I wanted to be a full time student. If you feel the same, get a Ph.D. Only problem is lack of money for a while. But, I'm past that now and pretty happy.

libragirl

I'm sorry, I know so many people who graduated and are having trouble finding jobs are in serious debt. I work with this girl who recently graduated with an english/journalism degree and she's not even working in our area. Plus she travels from very far away.

CityMouse

pjoasisrule wrote:

I graduated college about a year ago and I still have yet to find a career, I am struggling to pay my bills, and becoming very pessimistic about the the world.

it happens to everyone. hang in there, it will probably get better in a couple years (I don't know why, everyone just seems to come out of it). then you can go to grad school and have the same problem all over again!

Pauk

I'v just graduated with a BSc in Microbiology. My plan is to keep doing work experience in Immunology til some job will take me. It isn't ideal, but I sure as hell don't want to get into Microbiology (my coursemate got a job as a quality control guy in a butter factory...).

Riot_Mac

I graduated with my masters four years ago and still feel depressed at times. College was such a good time... I miss it. After college I landed an job and I am now on my second job. It pays well, but I don't like it at all. I am in the process of interviewing for another one, but I think I will eventually dislike this one too. It seems I work for a year and then want out. I get super bored and I just don't like what I am doing anymore. I am currently working for a commercial printer doing sys. admin. stuff for the prepress department. It pays pretty well, I was able to buy a house and car, but I still feel depressed. I just don't like working 40 hours a week every week. I get a whole 10 days vacation! I keep waiting to get used to it, but I don't think it will ever happen. I just don't like working. Maybe I haven't found the right company... the printing industry sucks.

I did some teaching at a junior college while I was getting my Masters and enjoyed it. I would eventually like to go back to it, but it is hard to get a full time gig at a junior college.

mdigenakis

pjoasisrule wrote:

I graduated college about a year ago and I still have yet to find a career, I am struggling to pay my bills, and becoming very pessimistic about the the world.

Your me two years ago. I spent late 2006 and early 2007 looking for a teaching position. I didn't get a job until August 2007. You'll find something, it might take a while or maybe monday. Relax and just keep looking. Good luck.

xscorcho

i feel free since graduating college.. i moved around three times including two different countries and to the west coast.... i love the freedom.... although i haven't made much money and am poor... i still love it!

sponger

Yeah, I'd say my post-college life has not added up to quite what I was expecting while I was slaving over my undergraduate accounting degree.

Accounting is such a dry, boring, and almost dehumanizing subject. It really is the study of how to serve the rich and keep them rich. There is no other reason to major in accounting other than for the prospect of becoming the man's bitch and being monetarily rewarded for our sacrifices.

With exception to tax preparation, I'd say that PJSerf is living the dream. He is working for a Wall St firm, which is what everyone who studies the subjects of finance and accounting wants to eventually end up doing.

But, I'd say my line of work isn't half bad. I work for a large money management firm, but not in a Wall St. type capacity. And what I do is hardly anything that will eventually make me rich.

What keeps in that cubicle is the fact that 90% of my work is done in microsoft excel, which is a program that I have wet dreams about. Also, every so often I get to go out and visit clients, which adds some variety into the mix.

Again, that is not what I had in mind when I was slaving away over vomit-inducing textbooks. I was chomping at the bit to do some big multi-million dollar SOX audit at some big corporation, but things don't always work out that way.