How do you tell your parents you don't want to go to college?

Question

i do want to go to college, but not right when i graduate, i want to take a year or two jus to explore, find out who I am and what i really want. My parents just want to get me through college. How do I tell them that isn't what I want?

Answer 1

Most people that don't go to college straight after high-school don't go at all. Also who plans on paying for your exploring? Oh and why can't you find out who you are at college?

Answer 2

Tell them just that.  Tell them that you will get a job.

Answer 3

dont...lol they will find out eventually.

Answer 4

you say i dont want to go to college

Answer 5

You have responsibility over you're life now.  Go and explore the world if you want, but prepared to face it alone as you won't get support from your parents from the looks of it.  Basically you have to take your life into your own hands.

Answer 6

That is gonna cause a big fight... at least it has here. Like you I wanted to take this  coming year off (though I've been goin for 3 already but I still don't know what I wanna do for real) but my parents blew up ..... so i am taking random classes AGAIN. I hate fighting with them so i just gave in even though I am legally allowed to do what I want I can't afford it. Make sure you have money and are willing to go away from your parents and can take the cold shoulder... then just tell them. But it's more than likely if you don't go now you might not make it back to school for several more years or maybe even not at all.  

Answer 7

I'm with you there man, It's understandable. We've been in college all our lives, why not take a break? Just tell them

Answer 8

"i do want to go to college, but not right when i graduate, i want to take a year or two just to explore, find out who I am and what i really want."

Answer 9

You are sooooo SMART in my opinion ~ tell them that you feel it is important that you spend some time out of the house to explore yourself as an adult so you would like to take at least 1/2 a year off and see what the world has to offer.

Offer to get a job and get a small inexpensive 6 month lease apartment so you can experience bills, struggles etc. Tell them after 5 months you would like to sit w/ them to discuss how you feel at this time and then go from there.

I also, think you should state that you just want to make sure you don't make a mistake in choosing a career.

Me personally I wanted out of the small town I lived in so much that I chose Fashion Design and it was the 2nd worse decision of my life but because I didn't know myself (I lived a very shelter life) so my head wasn't in school it was on making friends and figuring out how to survive.  Needless to say my brain was foggy through most of my college days ;~(

Another thing to think about is when you do decide to go to college choose something that you can switch careers if you find yourself not enjoying what you actually chose ~ for instance anything in Business is a good option because your job options vary so much or Science/Biology, Engineering or even Nursing gives you more room to play if you get bored later in life w/ your career.

Also, take those personality test to see what may fit you ~ also your birthday gives you an indication of jobs that best suit you.  

The book is called Relationships ~ Birthdays it is Huge and either yellow or red in the horoscope section which I don't believe in horoscopes but this particular book really gives you insight of your personalities as well as others  

Answer 10

i would say Mom and dad college is to hard for me i think i would go back to it later when im ready

Answer 11

Just tell them, but know that they can change their minds the same way you can and they might just decide not to pay for it after the year or two.  You never know what could come up, especially if you have other siblings.

I don't think it's a bad idea though.  It might actually work out better that way.  It's your decision.

Answer 12

That's a very sensible idea. I dropped out of college because it just wasn't the right choice for me at the time. I waited two years and went back, and did completely different subjects because I was more mature and could make more informed choices. I am proud of the fact that I finished college because I wanted to, not because my parents made me. Assure them that you will use the time well, try out some possible careers, try volunteering, etc. As long as you don't intend to spend a year slacking off then they should respect your decision.

Answer 13

Sit them down and tell them just that. I know you may be a little scared of their reaction but honesty is the best policy. For motivation, think about sitting through classes in college that you seriously don't want to be in right now. Good luck!

Answer 14

It's more common in Britain I think. Talk  about taking a gap year. Do all the enrollment stuff, make sure your parents can see that you have a plan and deadlines and things. Make sure they know there is a reason for what you want to do and it's not just laziness. Maybe you could do some informational interviews in that time to help you decide what you want to do.

Also if you go to school because they make you, before you find your passion, you won't study as hard or do as well. Look up the costs associated with switching majors.

Answer 15

just tell them you would like to take a year off to work and figure some things out... as long as you stay active and still have a goal in view it shouldnt be too much of a problem.

Answer 16

If your parents are offering to pay you should take them up on it. They may not pay if you want to 'find yourself' first. College can be fun too. Take a few blow off classes, like art etc and find a college in a town you can do what you love to do in. just party...

Good luck with you.

Answer 17

well they arent going to believe that you want to just take two years off.

cause once you leave your not gonna wanna go back..

your gonna get a good job, maybe not. but your gonna like working and making money and your gonna like that better than school..

you should just go to college and study abroad.. like take semesters in different places like france n spain. you can go to college and explore! :]  

Answer 18

Mom Dad '' i know that you want me to go to college but it is my choice so i ain't going'' thanx for being such a good listner!

Answer 19

you should really take more time to consider whether you want to take a year off. sometimes people will get lazy and decide not to go back to school-thats probably what your parents would fear most. you've been in school for almost your whole life and you dont realize how long a year actually is-what will you be doing that whole year to find who you are.

you shoulds till apply to schools-college is also a time to find who you are.

best of luck!

Answer 20

kinda the way u just told us in that little blurb...

also the more u wait, the more they'll impose their college hopes onto u. so let'em kno sooner than later.

im still not sure what it means to "find urself"...cant u do that in college?

good luck

Answer 21

jus bunk coll, ur parents wil b informed later, den u say tat.

Answer 22

You just tell them: "Mom, Dad... I don't want to go to college right away. I want to spend a year figuring out what I want to do."

If they don't like that explain you don't want to become trapped on a path towards a life you don't want.

If they still don't like that, tell them to shove it because it's your life, and you're the one who's going to have to live with the consequences.

Answer 23

You don't your going to college and thats that!!!, you can do your exploring after your paying your own bills, after your finished with college and have your own hard earned money to burn.

Your going to college, Oh your going alright !!!

Answer 24

Tell then what you rather do with YOUR life....ps: Make sure you have a JOB!

Answer 25

it's your choice. but if you aren't gonna live by their rules, then they might kick you out. that's what my parents would do.

Answer 26

Mabey you should take the basics of college then after that take some time to think about what you want to do, YOU SHOULD GO AFTER so all of the info is still fresh in your head.

Answer 27

there is no easy answer... but when you do tell them reassure them you will try hard to be successful at everything you do in the future

Answer 28

You could tell them that college just doesn't really fit the criteria for what you want to do with your life

Answer 29

"Mom, Dad, I don't want to go to college"

Hey, that was easy!

Answer 30

tell them you would really appreciate it if they could try to understand what you want and that its suppose to be your choice and you are planning to attend but just not at the moment