Help me, utter despair...
Discussion
Bit of a cry for advice this Im afraid. I'm pretty sure I'm about to fail my 2nd year of Uni, again. I'm really, really pissed off. I was let onto a course that I dont think I ever should have been let on, that was never what it was described as. Failed the 2nd year. Did a years placement then tried again, now I'm gonna fail it again. Theres no hope of me ever graduating, and now I'm nearly 23 with 4 years of wasted time behind me and about 18 grand owed to the government. I feel like I was pushed into it by teachers, advisors, parents, because I was told I'd be a failure if I didnt go to Uni. And lo, I'm not cut out for it, never was, and its been a huge waste of time and money. I've never felt worse. Dont suggest that it was my decision, and I should have known better. I'm sorry, but when you are 18 you do what you are told, I certainly didnt know what was best for me then, I dont think I do now.
I'm taking my referral work in tomorrow, I've done the best I can but its still pretty dismal.
Really dont know what to do. I'm so pissed off about wasting my time when I'm not an academic type person at all. And doubly annoying is the fact that I do so well and been model employee in all the jobs I've had, and it makes me wonder where I could be now.
I want to explode
I'm taking my referral work in tomorrow, I've done the best I can but its still pretty dismal.
Really dont know what to do. I'm so pissed off about wasting my time when I'm not an academic type person at all. And doubly annoying is the fact that I do so well and been model employee in all the jobs I've had, and it makes me wonder where I could be now.
I want to explode
Do you know what you want to do?
Is the career what you want to do - and do you need a degree to get there?
There are nearly always alternative ways of going about it - personally, in your position, I'd probably drop-out, it's obvious that the course doesn't suit you - talk to your advisors and see if you can change onto another (better) course, or if you can go back to the comp you worked with on placement for a trainee job etc?
Best of luck!
Is the career what you want to do - and do you need a degree to get there?
There are nearly always alternative ways of going about it - personally, in your position, I'd probably drop-out, it's obvious that the course doesn't suit you - talk to your advisors and see if you can change onto another (better) course, or if you can go back to the comp you worked with on placement for a trainee job etc?
Best of luck!
snotrag said:
I want to explode
Cant offer you the best of advice re: uni, but1) Are you sure you are doing as badly as you suspect? Would a lot of hard work not pull you through, if only by the skin of your teeth?
2) Even without uni, and big debts, its possible to make it and make it well in this life.
Dont dispair - unless you literally do explode, you do have a future and can make of it what you will.
I failed my uni through complete apathy, but for mostly the same reasons as you - totally the wrong course, poor advice from careers adviser as to which course I needed and an inability to transfer to the course I should have been put on.
Question is - other than the course itself, have you enjoyed uni? I think that even though I didn't come away with any qualifications, it still taught me a hell of a lot about life and on reflection I wouldn't have missed it for the world, even if leaving early did feel utterly s
t at the time.
Question is - other than the course itself, have you enjoyed uni? I think that even though I didn't come away with any qualifications, it still taught me a hell of a lot about life and on reflection I wouldn't have missed it for the world, even if leaving early did feel utterly s
t at the time.No1. Dont explode, you'll make a dreadful mess, and someone will have to clean it up.
No2. Do you know what you do want to do? If so do you need a degree to do it, and can you face the study?
No 3. If not can you go and get a job doing what you want to do? If so, go and do it.
No4. You're now 23. Feel free to piss of your parents and go do what you are happy with.
No 5. Don't look on it as wasted time, you've tried it, it didnt work. Pick yourself up and get on with it.
No2. Do you know what you do want to do? If so do you need a degree to do it, and can you face the study?
No 3. If not can you go and get a job doing what you want to do? If so, go and do it.
No4. You're now 23. Feel free to piss of your parents and go do what you are happy with.
No 5. Don't look on it as wasted time, you've tried it, it didnt work. Pick yourself up and get on with it.
snotrag said:
I'm not an academic type person at all. And doubly annoying is the fact that I do so well and been model employee in all the jobs I've had, and it makes me wonder where I could be now.
If this is the case then I think you'll be OK in the long run. I quit uni in my second year (combination of spending too much time with a girl and having no interest in the course) and by the time you've spent a year or two working I think your references will speak louder than your qualifications. Depends on what career you're aiming for of course, ie whether a degree is required. I'm in IT and I can't say that not having a degree has been a barrier but maybe I've just been lucky.If you present well at interview, and have previous happy employers behind you who will give you a reference, things will work themselves out.
"Original Poster
3,889 posts
23 months"
Hmmmmmm - Could have spent that time doing some work?!
Im only kidding chap. In reality, if you fail then get onto a course you can do or want to do, or leave and get a job. I know people who were in the same year as me and are still at Uni trying to finish their third year - I finished 6years ago! There has to be a point where you just admit its not for you and go and do something you enjoy and which makes you happy.
3,889 posts
23 months"
Hmmmmmm - Could have spent that time doing some work?!
Im only kidding chap. In reality, if you fail then get onto a course you can do or want to do, or leave and get a job. I know people who were in the same year as me and are still at Uni trying to finish their third year - I finished 6years ago! There has to be a point where you just admit its not for you and go and do something you enjoy and which makes you happy.
Chill out chap 
First off 23 is still very young, alot of grads I see are getting there frist job at 26. And if it's nto for you at least you've established that.
The money thing, well I assume it's on student loans....so at least the interest will be low. £18k is a lump but over say 15 years it should be a small monthly amount to pay off. And look on the brightside some elderly relative is bound to fall off their perch at some point and leave you a wedge!
What's your line of work? Can you get a job quickly? Are there any vocational qualifications you can do to replace the degree.
The best thing is unlike an old fart like me, you have TIME lots of it to get things turned around
First off 23 is still very young, alot of grads I see are getting there frist job at 26. And if it's nto for you at least you've established that.
The money thing, well I assume it's on student loans....so at least the interest will be low. £18k is a lump but over say 15 years it should be a small monthly amount to pay off. And look on the brightside some elderly relative is bound to fall off their perch at some point and leave you a wedge!
What's your line of work? Can you get a job quickly? Are there any vocational qualifications you can do to replace the degree.
The best thing is unlike an old fart like me, you have TIME lots of it to get things turned around
Sympathies.
Blairs statement about 50% of children into University was one of the most damaging he ever made. It infers that there is something wrong or something inferior with vocational trades which is of course utter bks.
We used to educate children who were not academically minded with vocational skills, shame the equality myth ruined that.
Blairs statement about 50% of children into University was one of the most damaging he ever made. It infers that there is something wrong or something inferior with vocational trades which is of course utter b
ks.We used to educate children who were not academically minded with vocational skills, shame the equality myth ruined that.
I know you said you didnt want to hear it but.... you DID out yourself in the position you are in.
Sooner you accept this the better because then it lessens the feeling of helplessness and powerlessness.
Secondly, have you thought about changing degrees ?
Thirdly have you spoken with your tutors about your issues ?
Fourthly, the situation is as it is, in reality you can only worry about what may be and not what is, so (easy to say i know) dont worry about it, but instead think about what could come next. The world is your oyster.
Sooner you accept this the better because then it lessens the feeling of helplessness and powerlessness.
Secondly, have you thought about changing degrees ?
Thirdly have you spoken with your tutors about your issues ?
Fourthly, the situation is as it is, in reality you can only worry about what may be and not what is, so (easy to say i know) dont worry about it, but instead think about what could come next. The world is your oyster.
.Sorry to hear how it's going Simon, I know how it feels to be doing a course that you're not really into and struggled through it, but if it's not for you and there's no way you'll be able to pass it the only thing you can do is cut your losses.
I wonder about where I could be by now if I'd have done a trade, probably earning shed loads of money with an alright car and a house, but money isn't everything. Just think about the good things you've got from going to uni and that you won't have to pay your loan back til you're earning a decent amount and even then it's a pittence a week.
I wonder about where I could be by now if I'd have done a trade, probably earning shed loads of money with an alright car and a house, but money isn't everything. Just think about the good things you've got from going to uni and that you won't have to pay your loan back til you're earning a decent amount and even then it's a pittence a week.
claypigeon60 said:
snotrag said:
I'm not an academic type person at all. And doubly annoying is the fact that I do so well and been model employee in all the jobs I've had, and it makes me wonder where I could be now.
If this is the case then I think you'll be OK in the long run. I quit uni in my second year (combination of spending too much time with a girl and having no interest in the course) and by the time you've spent a year or two working I think your references will speak louder than your qualifications. Depends on what career you're aiming for of course, ie whether a degree is required. I'm in IT and I can't say that not having a degree has been a barrier but maybe I've just been lucky.If you present well at interview, and have previous happy employers behind you who will give you a reference, things will work themselves out.
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