Considering dropping out of college after my first year

TheBiz

Long story short, I thought I was going into a course I wanted to do (business), it wasn't. I did however enjoy one module Business Information Systems.
I failed 3 exams because I was planning on dropping out (but my parents hated the idea) and so i stayed put but had little to no interest in other modules, so I did not put much/any effort into the continuous assessment and as a result I have to repeat. Despite doing quite well in the exams.

I enjoy the field of IS, IT, software development, my main aspiration is to work for myself/own my own company in the future and that is what I am ultimately working towards.

I may very well go back to college in a couple of years, but between now and then I want to develop my programming skill set, learn simple stuff like web development, html, working on app development, working towards my certs in both programming and BIS, I want to apply for jobs (contractual stuff, projects not so much indefinite work) work towards areas such as blockchain, AI, do some of the simpler stuff too so I can progress from my part time job into full time 'tech work', I want to work to raise capital and learn about the market, see an area I could improve and work alongside my job to build a business from it.

I'm kind of treating as a skill more so than a college education, work and learn rather than theoretical knowledge, do some work for free of charge (update websites etc) just to have on my cv/portfolio and so I can learn as I go.
I see software development more as a skill, like how a carpenter or plumber knows his craft.. (if that makes sense), I also want to get involved more with night classes, part time, or maybe diploma.. I might work towards a degree in software dev or CS in the future just so I can get into post grad and learn more about a specific niche.

But at the moment I hate college, I've enjoyed a year of going out and partying but ultimately it left me feeling like a waster, I just want to do something productive and I don't feel like I am learning (with the exception of IS) in college.

I might take a year work on all I've mentioned and reapply to the cao (aged 21) for CS, Software dev or BIS depending on which side I enjoy more as I progress through and work part time in the field I want while also being in college, the year out (part time job + what work I get through programming) could be put towards my college degree since the first year would be out of my pocket.

I also have the option of transferring to an IT college for BIS second year (previously arranged) but I am unsure.

Any advice on the whole situation? Everything's a bit up in the air at the moment.

Tom Dunne

The first thing that strikes me is your brutal honesty. And this honesty is with yourself, a very, very important trait. That's a good start.

You are clear on what you want to do, but you feel like you are in a course that is just not doing it for you - it happens all the time, don't sweat it.

I'm going to cut to the chase here, in today's IT job market, whether you like it or not, you need a Level 8 honours degree. Unless you have 10+ industry experience, you will be working in menial, dead-end technology jobs that may put you off the IT industry for life. I've spoken to many employers on the merits of Level 7 vs. Level 8 and while not set in stone, the general consensus is to go for the Level 8. Not having either is a non-runner in terms of getting your foot in the door.

But all is not lost - you know what you want to do, you know what skill set you want to develop.

So why not transfer over to a pure Computer Science/Software Development course? It sounds like it is the right thing to do - you will be studying the subjects you enjoy, with less of the fluffy stuff. And I can say with certainty, if you get your Level 8, the jobs market is very healthy for such graduates and looks to continue that way for a long time.