Explaining on a CV that I left University without a qualification

[ChocolatChip]

A lot of you may have seen my recent little 'crisis' on Body and Soul the other day. And during this time I have done a lot of thinking and communicating with my family, trying to understand exactly why I feel the way I do.
And my unhappiness began 2 years ago when I began studying at university. Although I have just completed 2nd year, I am not failing and this year will have either got a high percentage 2:2 or just scraped at 2:1. But at this moment in time, I do not wish to go back and I am really struggling emotionally on how I will cope on returning.
I have struggled with a lot of the work, and have found that university is simply not for me. Despite being top of my class at college. I used to be able to find the positive side, and I was so happy to be going to the university of my choice and a degree that I thought I was crazy about. But I quickly realised by Christmas of the first year that I was not enjoying it and was really beginning to despite every part of university life.
I thought that maybe it was just a phase (sp?) and that it would get better. I even gave up a job I loved to concentrate on my studies. But here I am, almost a year and a half later, feeling exactly the same.
I have not made my decision 100% yet. However I have 5 months before I return. I have decided to test the job market and have seen several jobs I would like to apply for. However some of the things I have learnt on my degree will come of use in these positions.
How do I explain to them on my CV that I passed 1st and 2nd year, that university is not suitable for me and show that I have good experience that will be of use to them. Without them thinking I am a complete failure.
Thanks!

[ChocolatChip]

'despise every part of university life' Sorry if there anymore spelling mistakes!

[andy-hughes]

You could advise that you are taking a break fromyour studies - you don;t need to go into the details on your CV.

If you are callled for an interview, then a prosepctive employer is interested enough in you to meet you for a face-to-face conversation, that's the time to discuss your uni situation.

It's always possible to put a positive slant on these things - remember, they will only ever know what you choose to tell them, which gives you a large measure of control, something which you probably feel is absent from your life at tht moment.

Education is never wasted, so if you do decide to leave university, take away the knowledge and experience you have gained and turn them to your future life, and put aside the bad feelings.

The hard part is acknowledging that university is simply not for you - copntraryu to the government's current obsession, not everyone wants to go, or is indeed suited to university life, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with discovering that, and acting on it.

The sad thing would be if you remained for the wrong reasons - to please others or to avoid being seen as a 'failure'. It is your life, you control it, and the opinions of anyone else are just that - opinions.

You know what you are, and what you are not - so be positive, and move forward with your life in a way that makes you happy.

Remember, no-one will be waiting at the end of the line with a gold medal because you 'stuck it out' - life is about choices, good and bad.

Rejoice in the next stage of your life - everything is waiting out there for you to go and take hold of it.

Good luck!

[ChocolatChip]

Thanks Andy, your answer was wonderful and greatly apprieciated. I thought University would be hard work, but I've literally found it hell from start, to well, now!
But I wanted to ask you how I should explain that on the CV? Do I literally just say that I've completed the first 2 years and I am taking a break?
Also, won't that cause an issue as they might think I'm ready to leave at any time?

[ChocolatChip]

'greatly appreciated' I promise my spelling is not normally this poor!

[Gavmacp]

A student once asked a very successful CEO what advice would he give them. The CEO advice was to give up University as (at that time) most CEO's had never been to University.
Knowing what you want and being brave to make the decisions is not failure!

[Old_Geezer]

If you can take a break and return then fine. That's no problem. But think carefully about leaving if they say you can not come back to finish later. You have already invested 2 years into this, do you feel so bad that you really couldn't face one last push to get it over with ? It's a personal decision in that case. What is really best for you from your point of view ?

From my own experience I realised the MBA I was on some years ago wasn't really for me, but I finished it for personal satisfaction; never really used it. But it is no use making yourself miserable if it is that bad. Take the option of happiness in life instead.

You say you have 5 months. Time enough to investigate your options. Decide which way you really wish to jump. Just don't leave it until the last minute.

[andy-hughes]

Hi ChocolateChip.

Your CV is a two page qualficiations / employment history, so just put the date you started - month and year, and the date you finished - month and year.

It doesn;t need any explanation on the CV - they will bring it up in interview if they are interested, and that's the time to have your prepared answer about re-assessing your life goals, and deciding that the world of work would be more rewarding ... and all that sorta thing!

[David H]

The most important thing to do regardless of the ultimate decision is to tell the staff there and then they can advise you about storing your first two years results. Normally a passed year is incubated almost indefinitely (unless the subject is time related like law when some expire after a few years) so if you do leave after year two you've guaranteed the freezing of the degree and timescale. Then if you ever want to go back and do the third year you just let them know and carry on, I've heard of people doing it years later so taking time out is allowed but you have to arrange it officially.

[ChocolatChip]

Thanks Old_Geezer,
I am absolutely miserable at the moment, I feel like an absolute failure and cry most days over feeling that having an average level degree will make me suffer in the long term.
I am taking this 5 months to look for a job, if i do manage to find one, then I will keep it quiet until I should be returning to university and then make my final decision over whether I shall leave university for the job and vice versa.
If I do not find a job in this 5 months, then I will continue on with the degree.
I also wanted to say that I'm not going to leave my degree for a job where I will have no career prospects. I am looking for a long term, successful career opportunity. And would not throw away 2 years worth of work lightly!

[carolegif]

It sounds to me that you are depressed. Why not just take a year out and then see how you feel. It is a difficult time when you get to this part of your course, so why not go and see a counsellor at Uni and see if they help you.

[shoota]

I had a similar situation with 'A' levels - told all prospective employers I was a doer not a sitting down and writing about it'er......

[Old_Geezer]

An "average" level degree may close some doors for jobs you can just walk into at the start, but if you are prepared to work your way up through an organisation then after a while the level of degree you achieved isn't such a big deal. What you have achieved recently becomes more important than what you started off with after Uni.

[ChocolatChip]

I saw a therapist for some time between years 1 and 2, which helped with some of my issues with anxiety and depression. Although I still carry some of them with me. I have extremely up and down days a lot of the time.
But the way I feel about my course has not changed through help, or through my 'ups and downs'.

I have contacted the counsellors at my university, but need to register with a GP surgery (recently moved out of the catchment area for my last surgery) first.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh and yes, carole has good advice to consider there. See if you can tackle your present low point as a priority.

[ChocolatChip]

But then Old_Geezer, wouldn't that be the same as someone who didn't do a degree? If I work from the bottom up?

[Old_Geezer]

Having a degree of some sort will open doors not having one will not, at least at the start. It indicates an ability to learn and apply knowledge. It may allwo you to start from a "higher" position in the company than otherwise.

But a degree is not a key to the easy career route forevermore. At some point we all have to join the rat race and progress based on what we do there.

Of course if someone thinks they can become more impressive to prospective employers in three years of work than they would have achieved gaining a qualification then that is an option for them: but they'd be doing very well to achieve that.

[cathfromsaron]

i do sympathise, but why no defer NOT leave and transfer to another course in future!

explained on CV as 'gap year'!

cath x

[ChocolatChip]

Thanks for all your advice.
Cathfromsaron, I am not sure if it is the course or university in general that I do not enjoy.
There would be no point in transferring to another university/course if I simply do not enjoy or cannot get on at university.

[bednobs]

hi CC. I don't want to be mean (and i hope i'm not) but i think you are kidding yourself that university is making you unhappy, or that your unhappines started 2 years ago when you started uni. If you look back at your posts, even in 2007 you were having similar thoughts regarding college, and from what you say it seems like you've been feeling like this for even longer than that. I think that perhaps sometimes life in general is too much for you, not necessarily what you are doing in it.
having said that, i firmly believe that uni is not for everyone, and you know yourself best

[joko]

you could write 'experience of xxxxx'
or 2 years study on xxxx completed