Uni- Drop or not to drop?

[kissyfur]

Im in the middle of a very very hard degree and am struggling very much. I know I can do it as im certainly not thick, but sometimes my heart is just not in it. Im fighting with the decision of whether to quit or not. On one hand I would be losing something that would take me to great places, on the other its making me miserable and my health is suffereing. Has anyone been in a similar situation, can you offer any advice or let me know what you did? x

[k@tie]

how far are you through ? how long do you have left ? what are you studying ? i trained to become a nurse and it was very hard at times ..i even wanted to quit near to the end! however after sticking at it i qualified and worked my way up quickly and earned good money ..my degree enabled me to buy my own house and car..but recently i have become unhappy in my career choice and want to do something different! so you never can tell how things will work out..it all depends if you think its worth the hard work in the long run x

[flipflop104]

Well I know it sounds a rather simplistic was of doing things but I always say toss a coin (just once) and do whatever the coin says, except don't, well not immediately. If you say to yourself, "I'll do it out of the best of three throws of the coin" then you know that whatever came up was not the decision you *really* wanted and then that answers the question for you without yuo having to do the best of three throws.

[ChuffingHell]

How far through are you?

if you've done 2 of 3 years, I would say you might as well see it through - the costs you've incurred should give you something degree ed always looks good on a CV), even if you don't plan to follow it through as a career.

if you've only done one year and/or you're happy to write off the costs you've incurred, you may well want to give it up.

Although I guess the next question is do you have something else in mind. If not, why not finish the degree while you frmulate a plan?

[Alixw]

Hi kissyfur - i was in exactly the same situation as you a few weeks back. I was in my first year of a psychology degree while working full time - i was doing it of an evening. I managed to do the exams and i've passed them all. However, i've just withdrawn from the course now as i feel like i really couldn't cope. It was only the first year and was only going to get harder and harder. i was constantly tired and really wasn't enjoying doing it. I never had enough time to do enough of the work required to do well in the course. in the end i made the decision to end the course. I just felt like it wasn't worth doing it if at was making me feel like this. I felt like i couldnt enjoy myself when i went out as i felt guilty about not putting enough time in with reading etc. I am so much happier now and know that i've done the right thing. A degree isn't everything in life. None of my friends have one and we all have quite good jobs (we're all 20 or 21 years old) My advise to you is to do what makes you happy - it especially isn't worth it if it's making ill as well!!

Good luck in whatever you decide to do - Alix

[kissyfur]

Im studying a 4 year course in speech and language therapy. In 2 years in and am just scraping through. Im under alot of pressure from my parents, and dont want to dissopoint them. Im not naturally gifted in science so have to work 10 times harder to understand the modules. My dream is to emmigrate as i have spent alot of time travelling and have fell in love with NZ. The degree is worldy acknowledge which would stand me in good stead of getting residency. But its getting dwon so much, at the same time I dont want to give up my dream of getting out of england x

[Lore]

Hi kissyfur, I'm currently in a similar situation, I've been doing some further training at college and although I could sail through it, my heart just isn't in it.
When I started, I started with good intentions and have done a large percentage of the work, but right now, I'm caught in two minds about the whole thing. I've even questioned whether or not to stay in education.

There are so many reasons to continue and so many reasons to quit. - The main one being pregnant!

I too don't know what to do, the only two things that have stopped me from dropping out so far is the support from my fiance and the thought of being a failure!

Do I carry on, get it done and over with, even if I don't work in education for a while.. maybe I just need a break, having been in the same place for 9 years or Do I stop it all now, make it easy on myself, no more stress and no more pressure?

It's a really tough decision to make but I really feel that no matter how much advice you take from others, only you have the answer.

I have until December to finish, but the reality is, my baby's due in the first week of November so time is running out.
I think the only thing for me to do is to pull my finger out and get it done, otherwise I'll be joining the course again in a year or two in the hope to complete something I once started.

[steviep165]

dont drop out kissyfur!!
i first went to uni straight after my a-levels, didnt take any time out just ploughed straight into it. by the end of the first year i absolutely hated it. i was thoroughly sick of education and wanted to get away from it. so i dropped out.
i took some time out and worked for 13 years then went back to uni and sailed through the degree, to find that because of my age at graduation (34) it was practically useless.
stick it through, and invite us all to NZ.
good luck.xxxxx.

[ChuffingHell]

So you're at the half way point? Well I guess one question is can you (or your parents, dependant on your situation) cope with writing off the money spent over the last 2 years?

The next, as you say, is your emmigration ambitions. To start another course in something you might enjoy more now would cost you time and more money. However, are you confident you'll pass at the end of it all?

is it possible to swap onto the 2nd year of another course which would give you the same emmigration potential? that way you would only lose one year. I know people who have done year one in history and moved into year 2 of soemthing completely different like politics. Although that perhaps doesn't apply to all courses.

As to disappointing your parents, talk to them about how you're feeling. You're the one that has to live your life. Explain it and they would probably understand.

[Octavius]

Is it the amount of work or the subject matter that you are struggling with? If it is the subject matter then perhaps you are not cut out for a career in speech therapy - perhaps you could enquire about a transition to another course. Your uni will have counsellors that will be able to help you as well.

If you did drop out, would you have a contingency plan?

[kissyfur]

Its the sheer ammount of work, you have no idea. On average students are in lectures about 8 hours a week, we are in for 6 a day. Like I said I am more than capable, its just neverending. As for the money situation, the NHS fund our course so there are no tuition fees ad I dont have a loan out as I support myself through working part time at weekends. I love the fact that I help these people so much, its very rewarding. In my heart of hearts I really want to get through this, but I feel I lack support and understanding. Im an incredibly strong person, but I really feel like this is starting to break me x

[pingping]

Dear kissyfur, as someone who works for a university as a student adviser, I would encourage you to talk to the support services provided by the uni (such as student counsellor, your personal tutor, student's union) as they may be able to offer some advice or assitance.

Have you thought about the other alternatives available to you such as transferring from one degree to another? Often this can be the answer as you can stay at uni and get a degree, but shift the topic of study to something which you find more fulfilling.

Another alternative is to find out whether you can take a year out from your studies to work or travel (some uni's allow this, others don't) and this might help you to decide where you see your strengths/interests lie.

Hope this helps, and I'm happy to offer more advice.

[kissyfur]

Thankyou to all, your advice has been very helpful and I am very grateful. Its sometimes had to admit you are struggling, guess its easier to write it than to say it x