Playing Poker instead of being a Freshman

I have found that I play poker way too often instead of doing normal freshman activities in college. I've missed out on few parties and beer/pizza nights, but my academic work is slipping. I've especially been doing my papers late at night and into the morning the night before they are due (but im sure lots of kids do this!) I'm tired in class the next day, and I feel terrible. And I've missed my 8a.m. class twice when I can only miss it 3 times before I lose a grade. (By the way, im not gambling and on tilt and losing, I'm doing it by the book and making money [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]. I'm still at the .5/1 4 tabling, I havent moved to NL to make up money or anything.) I just like doing this instead of working at the library or something boring. Should I cut back on poker a lot, or is there another way to do this, ie, a schedule that I can set up? I enjoy poker, but I don't want to miss out on something that I would have while im playing. I truly hope that this is not an addiction, but if it is somebody point it out.


edit: I'd like to point out that I have no thought of dropping out of college to play poker, the title of the post can be misleading.

[4_2_it]

[ QUOTE ]
I have found that I play poker way too often instead of doing normal freshman activities in college. I've missed out on few parties and beer/pizza nights,

[/ QUOTE ]

Huge mistake. Enjoy college. If you are lucky, it will be the best 5 or 6 years of your life. Chase girls, party, join a frat and live! Poker will there when you are done

[ QUOTE ]
but my academic work is slipping. I've especially been doing my papers late at night and into the morning the night before they are due (but im sure lots of kids do this!) I'm tired in class the next day, and I feel terrible. And I've missed my 8a.m. class twice when I can only miss it 3 times before I lose a grade.

[/ QUOTE ]

This behavior must stop. Nut up. You don't want to get expelled and work delivering snacks to a 7/11 during the day and playing $0.01/$0.02 limit at night.


[ QUOTE ]
(By the way, im not gambling and on tilt and losing, I'm doing it by the book and making money [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]. I'm still at the .5/1 4 tabling, I havent moved to NL to make up money or anything.) I just like doing this instead of working at the library or something boring.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good for you. I wish you continued success.

[ QUOTE ]
Should I cut back on poker a lot, or is there another way to do this, ie, a schedule that I can set up? I enjoy poker, but I don't want to miss out on something that I would have while im playing. I truly hope that this is not an addiction, but if it is somebody point it out.

[/ QUOTE ]

You might not be addicted, but if you have to post this on a poker forum I think you may need to scale back your playing to a set number of hours per week.

Nicely Put!

[Supersetoy]

I didn't start playing (online) until I was a sophomore, but this was 4 years ago at this point.

Here's how I swung it though for most of college: Have paper/programming assignment/powerpoint presentation up in the forefront. Have two tables (2 cash, 2 SnGs, 1 MTT 1 SnG, etc.) in back.

If I was really trying to focus on my school work I'd cut back to one table, or just have one table of the highest limit available going (just watching).

As far as hanging out and meeting people in college, play poker BEFORE and AFTER you go out (if drunk, I'd recommend staying at the lower limits). Maybe take some of your college buddies and enter NL live tournarments or live cash games (we've got 18+ card rooms here in WA).

I wouldn't trade poker for the fun I had in college though. Poker was about 10-15% of the fun I had in college.

[dan123]

It sounds like you enjoy poker more than school work. I suggest you drop out and turn pro.

[Goodnews]

you are one to make snide remarks for sure.

[KaneKungFu123]

if your drop out you can play poker and go to parties!

[Chris Daddy Cool]

[ QUOTE ]
if your drop out you can play poker and go to parties!

[/ QUOTE ]

[Dan Mezick]

If you win you are disciplined. If you are disciplined you can schedule poker into your weekly routine.

Do that, and stick to the schedule you actually define. Because you are a winner and disciplined, right??

[pzhon]

If you neglect your education to play poker, you will regret it. It could be that your classes are worthless, and you won't need your grades for anything later, but it is much more likely that you are making a huge mistake.

[ QUOTE ]
I'm still at the .5/1 4 tabling, I havent moved to NL to make up money or anything.

[/ QUOTE ]
How much are you making doing that, $8/hour, or $16k/year at 2000 hours/year? That's not a good trade for the time you have in college.

For an exercise, calculate your tuition per term. Calculate how much time you have in class. Divide the former by the latter to see how much you are paying per hour of class time. At my schools, this ranged from $30/hour to $120/hour. Don't skip class to play poker.

I suggest that you put a cap on the amount of time you allow yourself to play poker each week. Ten hours is plenty.

On the other hand, part of the college experience for most people is learning what happens if you fail. Poker is one way to do that.