University woes

[Pulse]

Like many of you I made it to uni in September and I was absolutely thrilled that I had made it this far, seeing as I am the first person in my family to actually attend a university (parents took the medical route, hence medical college).

Now however I'm having extreme doubts over my course choice and it's worrying me severely; I'm struggling to see the relevance in the modules I'm doing in relation to the career I have in mind 4 years down the line and recently I've gotten into such a state that I've been skipping certain lectures and tutorials. This isn't due to laziness in the slightest; it's due to the fact that I'm not enjoying the content of what I'm studying and the fact that this experience has perhaps confirmed my own suspicions that maybe I am ultimately completely burnt out of an educational lifestyle.

It's not as if me feeling like this has just suddenly sprung up, I've had certain doubts since freshers week. Whilst I absolutely love the social side to uni life, and have made many friends since arriving, it's not the reason I'm here. I'm seriously considering talking to the folks about dropping out before/during Christmas and starting the big wide world of work. The idea of earning money right now as opposed to running into even further debt studying something I'm not really passionate about is mighty tempting.

I realise this is a massive 'BAAAAAAWWWWWWWWW' rant on my behalf, but I really need to get some insight into my current situation. Has anyone else here been in or are in the boat as I am currently? What were your experiences of leaving school and heading straight into the world of work?

 

[Solaris]

Tell us what you're studying...

 

[Dekstar]

Often your modules in the first year are to make sure you know what you're meant to know, and all the hard stuff that's relevant comes in next year. I'm doing creative writing and I'm studying the History and Development of the English language, for instance.

Talk to your course leader and ask them about the future.

 

[Pulse]

Tell us what you're studying...

Joint Honours Multimedia Computing & Music Technology BSc

Often your modules in the first year are to make sure you know what you're meant to know, and all the hard stuff that's relevant comes in next year. I'm doing creative writing and I'm studying the History and Development of the English language, for instance.

Talk to your course leader and ask them about the future.

Indeed, I've noticed that Javascript, PHP etc. all come in the second year but my first year modules are all business and maths related which while I can see some correlation, it really isn't what I want to be studying. Since I'm pretty demotivated at the moment the chances of me passing my exams in January will be pretty bleak too, hence my current predicament.

 

[kupocake]

If I could go back two years and quit my course (English Language and Literature), I would do it. I absolutely despise University and am nosediving to a worthless degree classification in my final year. But I'm not you, and I can't possibly tell you what the right path is. Main point of difference is that two years ago I actually liked my course and wouldn't be posting about how I wanted out. I am in a similar situation, in that I'm the first in my family to go (extended family too) and the expectations you ride on probably suck a little... but my parents wouldn't be too bothered if I gave up even now, so long as I found another way to do reasonably well for myself. After all, i'm the third and final child, and the other two are happy enough without being Uni educated.

 

[Dekstar]

I guess Pulse, it's just a question of 'do you have the balls to stick it out like a man?'

 

[Pulse]

If I could go back two years and quit my course (English Language and Literature), I would do it. I absolutely despise University and am nosediving to a worthless degree classification in my final year. But I'm not you, and I can't possibly tell you what the right path is. Main point of difference is that two years ago I actually liked my course and wouldn't be posting about how I wanted out. I am in a similar situation, in that I'm the first in my family to go (extended family too) and the expectations you ride on probably suck a little... but my parents wouldn't be too bothered if I gave up even now, so long as I found another way to do reasonably well for myself. After all, i'm the third and final child, and the other two are happy enough without being Uni educated.

I sympathise that you're in a much tougher situation, my parents also said to me that they wouldn't be that bothered if I was to drop out, as they didn't want me studying something I wasn't enjoying. The guilt factor is still there though; I really wouldn't want to disappoint them or the rest of my family by just throwing away a degree like that, but as my situation is now I'd much rather be back at home, finding a job and making my own money.

I guess Pulse, it's just a question of 'do you have the balls to stick it out like a man?'

Sticking it out wouldn't be a problem, but I can guarantee you there'd be no reward for the sake of just seeing it through.

 

[staticprimer]

I wouldn't worry too much. I didn't have any clue what I wanted my major to be until near the end of my second year, and once I had my major I had no idea what I was going to do with it until the end of my third. If you stick with it, chances are you will come across a subject you hadn't considered before.

 

[Evo]

Pulse - best thing you can do is to go see your course leader, sit down and have a chat, talk about the issues you have with the course, let them know how you feel and hopefully they can provide some guidance.

And talk to your folks too

 

[DreamThrall]

It is entirely common, at least in the US, for students to change their majors once, twice, or even more before they settle on their final major. If you aren't enjoying what you're doing, by all means, find something do you enjoy. Don't just stick with it for the sake of sticking with it.

 

[Dynasty]

Personally im doing a slightly less complicated course : Human Geography..*cough*

To be honest my first year was kinda weird with module choices. I did 2 sociology modules for god sake..i came to study geography not why people are who they are. WTF.

Believe me, the modules ARE related in one way or another, you just cant see it yet.

Wait till your second year. Thats the advice all the lecturers are sure to give. You owe it to yourself. If into your second year it still seems crap, theres no shame in dropping out or even changing course.

Your first year counts for nothing. No grades go toward your final mark. Enjoy yourself and work as best you can so you can get into the next year.

 

[Pulse]

Pulse - best thing you can do is to go see your course leader, sit down and have a chat, talk about the issues you have with the course, let them know how you feel and hopefully they can provide some guidance.

And talk to your folks too

Will make an appointment with the student advisor tomorrow and see what can be done, also had a lengthy rant and chat with the folks on the phone and they've eased my mind a little bit. Will definitely see about perhaps changing courses, as it is the only deterrent in my university life so far.

Thanks to all of you for lifting some of the weight of my shoulders, has been pretty frustrating these past couple of weeks. Will definitely see what can be changed though.

 

[Phobie]

Ugh, I just started uni in London and I know how you feel. I figure I'll press on and keep at it, but so far it is suck.

I hope you feel better.

 

[Evo]

Will make an appointment with the student advisor tomorrow and see what can be done, also had a lengthy rant and chat with the folks on the phone and they've eased my mind a little bit. Will definitely see about perhaps changing courses, as it is the only deterrent in my university life so far.

Thanks to all of you for lifting some of the weight of my shoulders, has been pretty frustrating these past couple of weeks. Will definitely see what can be changed though.

Yeah good idea man

Just saw that my Uni is now offering e-counseling :O

 

[Shift]

Well I too started this year also and I missed loads of stuff in the first couple of weeks because the content was boring, but I eventually started reading the stuff myself and I figured it was rather interesting. See I am currently Computing, although I did it in college and hated so I wanted to avoid it, but it was the only thing left for me to do here in Manchester Uni.

Some aspects, like the actually programming, software engineering and the mathmatics of the computing are really interesting, and other are not, but I figure Ill stick with it first year as best I can, try and pass, and then in second year specialise in something more interesting and not as broad a topic, like software engineering, or Artifical Inteligence.

However, I do know if I obtain a degree in this field, it offers great job prospects in the future, however I have a band and we are looking to go full time with it anyway after uni, so this degree is really just used as a fallback option, if dont work in the world of music.

 

[Cormeh]

The problem with education like this is you're not always going to get courses that you like.

Not that I went to Uni, but I did go to college and had to resit maths modules, plus all of the crappy engineering shit I never, ever, ever, ever use like fluid mechanics.

I'm sure you'll pull through, but I wouldn't advise wasting your current opportunity. It'll seem like a rosier place to be if you left - grass always greener and all that stuff.

 

[Krynn72]

I <3 my school. I spent a year and a half at a community college, bouncing around between degrees because I kept finding myself wholly uninterested in what I was learning. Then I decided to try 3D Animation, moved thousands of miles away to a new school, and almost 2 years later am still interested in every lecture, and have never missed a single day of class or lab.

I think im one of the lucky few who actually ****ing love their education and job. GO ME!


And yeah, Cormeh is right. Every curriculum is going to have "General Education" classes as theyre called here, which basically have nothing to do with what you want to be doing, but you're still required to take them. You probably wont like them if you look at it that way, but if you look at it the way your school/government see it, you'll see that they make you do them so that you'll come out with a good all-around education, as well as a specialized education.

 

[repiV]

I <3 my school. I spent a year and a half at a community college, bouncing around between degrees because I kept finding myself wholly uninterested in what I was learning. Then I decided to try 3D Animation, moved thousands of miles away to a new school, and almost 2 years later am still interested in every lecture, and have never missed a single day of class or lab.

I think im one of the lucky few who actually ****ing love their education and job. GO ME!


And yeah, Cormeh is right. Every curriculum is going to have "General Education" classes as theyre called here, which basically have nothing to do with what you want to be doing, but you're still required to take them. You probably wont like them if you look at it that way, but if you look at it the way your school/government see it, you'll see that they make you do them so that you'll come out with a good all-around education, as well as a specialized education.

We have pretty much the complete opposite system in the UK.
A bachelors degree is three years, and you spend all of those three years studying a single subject in detail. Unless you're doing some kind of joint degree, of course. In any case, we don't have any such thing as majors or minors - you apply for a specific course at a specific university, and you get accepted for that specific course before you even start.

But, back to Pulse's dilemma...

I've never been a believer in the value of a university education outside of very specific careers, so I'd be inclined to advise you to dump it if you don't see where it's leading you.
Working life has its own issues though, and maybe you'd like the chance to escape from that world for a while longer. Plus, the one situation which makes a degree very valuable is if you're planning to emigrate or work abroad. Many countries stipulate that you must hold a degree to obtain a work permit, and it will look good on any visa application.

 

[Pulse]

I'm striving towards the idea of taking a year out and then returning here to study another course that I'd perhaps find more enjoyable. The most frustrating and upsetting aspect of my situation at the moment is I fear that if I drop out now, I'll end up in a piss-poor job and will regret dropping out. A few of my other friends seemed to have landed adequate jobs for the time being with just A levels under their belts, so perhaps it's worth me taking a year out, starting at the bottom of the corporate ladder and seeing where it takes me...

Another factor is that I could just as easily teach myself Flash, Dreamweaver, Cubase etc. at home without the need to be paying ?3000+ a year to be locked up in an institution where I don't enjoy half the modules I'm taking!

Gah, I need some sleep.

 

[repiV]

I'm striving towards the idea of taking a year out and then returning here to study another course that I'd perhaps find more enjoyable. The most frustrating and upsetting aspect of my situation at the moment is I fear that if I drop out now, I'll end up in a piss-poor job and will regret dropping out. A few of my other friends seemed to have landed adequate jobs for the time being with just A levels under their belts, so perhaps it's worth me taking a year out, starting at the bottom of the corporate ladder and seeing where it takes me...

Another factor is that I could just as easily teach myself Flash, Dreamweaver, Cubase etc. at home without the need to be paying ?3000+ a year to be locked up in an institution where I don't enjoy half the modules I'm taking!

Gah, I need some sleep.

Speaking purely from a commercial point of view here, having a degree will make absolutely no difference to your career and you would still have to start at the bottom of the corporate ladder. In fact, if you present it in the right way, not having a degree can be advantageous - you're an ambitious, driven person who wants to get on in the real world rather than spend three years studying something irrelevant to your actual job responsibilities. Some employers won't want you because you don't have a degree, but you probably wouldn't want to work for such a narrow-minded organisation anyway. And the degree becomes increasingly irrelevant the more experience you build.
Three years of work experience in your chosen field is infinitely more valuable than a degree could ever be.
Now if you want to be a programmer or something, I have no idea how the degree would or would not benefit you. If you're going into business, the truth is it means jack shit.

 

[Pulse]

Speaking purely from a commercial point of view here, having a degree will make absolutely no difference to your career and you would still have to start at the bottom of the corporate ladder. In fact, if you present it in the right way, not having a degree can be advantageous - you're an ambitious, driven person who wants to get on in the real world rather than spend three years studying something irrelevant to your actual job responsibilities. Some employers won't want you because you don't have a degree, but you probably wouldn't want to work for such a narrow-minded organisation anyway. And the degree becomes increasingly irrelevant the more experience you build.
Three years of work experience in your chosen field is infinitely more valuable than a degree could ever be.
Now if you want to be a programmer or something, I have no idea how the degree would or would not benefit you. If you're going into business, the truth is it means jack shit.

That has been crossing my mind the most, the experience factor. As you said, I've given university a chance and decided it isn't for me as I'm finding the course uninteresting, irrelevant and a time sink; yet it seems that now if I do leave uni, I'll be dubbed a 'drop-out' and will be unemployable due to the fact that some employers may perceive me as someone who won't commit to anything. Obviously I'm being quit negative in my outlook of this whole scenario, but I'm expressing my fears.

Programming is definitely not what I had in mind when applying for this course, yet I have struggled through it for the past 2 months or so to try and relate it to my overall degree in some way, but obviously that's not happening hence this thread. I achieved a B in Business Studies at A level, scoring top marks in some of the hardest papers towards the end of Sixth form- surely that, combined with some previous work experience I've had over the years would be enough to start me on the road to somewhere half decent?

 

[repiV]

That has been crossing my mind the most, the experience factor. As you said, I've given university a chance and decided it isn't for me as I'm finding the course uninteresting, irrelevant and a time sink; yet it seems that now if I do leave uni, I'll be dubbed a 'drop-out' and will be unemployable due to the fact that some employers may perceive me as someone who won't commit to anything. Obviously I'm being quit negative in my outlook of this whole scenario, but I'm expressing my fears.

I'd say that being dubbed a drop-out is a valid concern, but it's one you could circumvent. You can present to potential employers that you came to the conclusion it was pointless for you to continue the degree and it made personal and economic sense to start pursuing your career goals instead. You will impress them if you present the reasons for your decision wisely.
You could also just leave the degree out of your CV altogether and pretend you never went. Or downplay it using the aforementioned reasons to move onto another subject if the subject of uni comes up in the interview.

Programming is definitely not what I had in mind when applying for this course, yet I have struggled through it for the past 2 months or so to try and relate it to my overall degree in some way, but obviously that's not happening hence this thread. I achieved a B in Business Studies at A level, scoring top marks in some of the hardest papers towards the end of Sixth form- surely that, combined with some previous work experience I've had over the years would be enough to start me on the road to somewhere half decent?

You'll find it extremely difficult to get your foot on the corporate ladder, but that wouldn't change even if you had the degree. It's just the nature of the beast.
I was given a great opportunity in recruitment consultancy with 3 GCSEs, 3 A-Levels and no real work experience besides crappy temp jobs. It didn't really work out because they expected the earth from me and didn't have the resources to train me very well (they let me get on with it from pretty much day one and expected me to bring in 20 grand a month from month two...20 grand a month is quite an achievement for even an experienced consultant). But the point is these opportunities are available if you really want them, and once you're in the degree don't matter a shit. It's the track record you create for yourself that counts.
On reflection, I'd say one of the most important things in your early career is making sure your CV has some stability. I've found it impossible to get back into recruitment because I've since changed jobs a lot through no fault of my own and no matter what you say, it always leaves them suspicious...

 

[jimbo118]

We have pretty much the complete opposite system in the UK.
A bachelors degree is three years, and you spend all of those three years studying a single subject in detail. Unless you're doing some kind of joint degree, of course. In any case, we don't have any such thing as majors or minors - you apply for a specific course at a specific university, and you get accepted for that specific course before you even start.

I'm in UCD here in Dublin and i am under the American model, they introduced it in our college a few years ago for all first years onwards, so semesterisation etc, it caused quite a debate. So i'm doing a joint major BA degree. I honestly cannot wait to finish my degree next year because i could not spend more time studying what i am, i just want to attain my degree and move on.

On the other hand i'm pretty stressed sometimes about what i will do once i finish, part of me wants to start something new(college-wise i mean) but by that time i will be 23 approaching 24, so another 3 to 4 years? :\

I also don't really know what kind of field of employment i can get into with my current course and eventual degree, its a good 'basic' degree as everyone loves to remind me, people always seem to say pursue a job in teaching but i dont know about that.

I need to talk to the guidance counsellor in college :|

 

[Pulse]

Had a discussion with the folks again today and we agreed that it would be best for me to stick it out until Christmas to see if I change my mind and if after then I'm still not happy I'll have the new year to find a job or decide what I want to do instead with my life. That's taken a lot of the pressure off my mind for the time being, so I'll give my all for these modules and see where they take me.

Anyway, cheers to all of you for the advice/pointers. Also wish luck to those who may be in a similar situation to me, which surprised me as I didn't think it would be all that common, given how Uni life is greatly preached about.

 

[Doppelgofer]

well i'm in my third year of uni and regretting the entire thing. my advice, get out while you still can

 

[Shift]

Well strangely, me and my mate were having this conversation just now, and we came to the conclusion that we both hate the course we are doing. Essentially, all we wanna do in life is write music or do something in music, so we are thinking of dropping out now before we pay the first batch of tuition fees, and enrolling on a music technology course, so we can learn about everything there is to know on recording, mixing etc.

Since also we can persue our band full time, as the stuff we do for that will ultimately be done for the course too. Not to mention we avoid the huge amount of debt after the course, and we enjoy it too. So its a win win situation on our part. Only problem is, once I tell my parents on what im planning, they will probably disown me :'(

 

[Asknoone]

It really shouldn't matter what the hell they think. It's your future, not theirs.

 

[Shift]

Exactly, just my parents NEVER respect any of my decisions and are incredibly childish on this circumstances (well my mum is, my dad eventually respects the decision). But at the end of day, they do what they like lol.

 

[Pulse]

See I'm somewhat lucky in that sense, as my folks have told me they will support whichever decision I make, it's just up to me to make the right one. Also Shift I'd definitely recommend music technology somewhere, that side of my course so far has been excellent; studio practise, mixing, mastering, studying of recording hardware/software such as cubase, logic etc. it's all really interesting stuff.

 

[Druckles]

University isn't the perfect option. There is no perfect option. It all depends on the type of person you are. If you could benefit from going to university, you can learn alot. If you don't think you could hash it, then don't go, but try and go into work.

A degree, some people say, is often over-stated. It's not a guarantee for a job, but it does mean you're more likely to get a better job when you leave.

It also does depend on what you enjoy. Computing based jobs will benefit greatly from university because, while experience is necessary, there's an awful lot you can learn which you might not otherwise learn, and it creates a whole new way of understanding.

I personally decided to mix the two, and have a gap year with the Year In Industry. It's a great scheme where you get a job for a year, getting a year's experience, then you go off to university (often with some form of scholarship), learn of the f'shizzle, and voila. You have experience and a degree at the end. And it's so much more attractive to future employers.

 

[ComradeBadger]

Do a real course!