Dropping out of college...what next?

[TiltheEndofTime]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

I write for money so I am speaking from experience. Being a successful writer is just as likely as becoming a rock star. People write because they love to write.

You need something to fall back on and be able to support yourself. If I was young and in your position. I would sign on to apprentice as a plumber or electrician. Great careers that can't be outsourced. You can work for yourself or someone else. You can also make a decent living just picking up jobs from the classifieds or craigslist.

I'm not trying to become the next J.K. Rowling. Okay, maybe just a little, but...one can dream.

[BierceTheFierce]

Originally Posted by andywire

If you're living in the "right state", you won't be making $13/hr.

Man, a lot of you are such pessimists. And this is coming from a cynic! Have you been to Oklahoma recently? It is not unheard of to live in a state with low COL and decent pay. But of course "decent", like almost everything else in this world, is subjective.

[yellowsnow]

Originally Posted by andywire

The problem with this is it's a bit more involving that just "signing on". Those apprenticeships aren't offered in great abundance in this economy. I would suspect many have been frozen for years as well. I do know several apprenticeship programs in various trades that have been frozen for over half a decade. By the time they call someone up, it's often 4 years down the line and they are off doing other things. The reality is those opportunities are pretty darn good, and can pay a decent buck. I'm sure people would be lining up for them, except they aren't there.

A better route may be to start in a non union outfit and work as a helper while learning. Won't make much to start, but you will learn. Any job that is going to pay decent is going to require one to KNOW something and DO something, so it's never bad when you can get paid to learn.

True. Sometimes you have to pull cable.