One reason some companies want to see a college degree is for the exact reason you're not finishing it - because for many people, working four years without rew

One reason some companies want to see a college degree is for the exact reason you're not finishing it - because for many people, working four years without reward is to hard to get motivated for. They want the kind of people who will spend four years to get a reward at the end. I am also puzzled by you dropping out halfway through a semester and failing multiple classes. Why were you taking more than one class if such a thing were a possibility? You made two mistakes, not one. First, you heavily overburdened yourself with many classes. Then you did not drop one or some but all of them half-way. Sometimes schools will let you retake a course, and go from an F to the new grade. So all may not be lost in that respect. It ultimately doesn't matter anyhow, a 3.0 GPA and diploma trumps a 2.0 dropout. If I was you, I would, if I could commit myself to finishing a class, and really start out aiming for an A in the class, take one class a semester. For myself, due to business outside of class and/or a very hard class I sometimes let that slip to A-, then B+ etc. Start small (one class a semester - maybe at night or on the weekend), aim high and make an effort (try for an A). If circumstances show an A- is more likely, slowly settle on that. If needed, slowly back into a B+. Your big mistake was wildly overburdening yourself, then dramatically throwing in the towel on everything. Then having remorse and dread in revisiting school, whereas you may be able to retake those classes and turn an F into an A, and even if you can't you are better finishing school any how. You have to chop this down to what can be managed - one class a semester. Then aim high. If you get 100 every test (or 95) it will motivate you. You will also have the time to learn the subject - algorithms, databases, complexity theory - well. I don't think you'll break that wall you talk about until you go back and finish. Some outliers can, but most can not. You have to change how you approach it. Don't sign up for 3 classes then drop all of them. Sign up for one, and aim high. If circumstances force a B, fine, you did the best you could. Also try to avoid hardcore math and science classes for your first class back. Do a required easy course like 20th century American literature to get back in the swing of things.