Uni; who's dropped out or thinking of dropping out?

Flare

Flare

Flare

Soldato
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I'm only in my first year and 2nd semester of uni but I have pretty much decided that it just isn't for me and that I want to do other things. It's not like i have always been a lazy student or something, I enjoyed college and was really looking forward to uni and my course but since starting i really haven't been enjoying my course/classes barrrr only a couple. This combined with quite a few problems at home; my (step) dad (but he was my dad) died last year, my mum has since had a lot of problems, including my 19 year old step brother who she just can't cope/ live with any more so this morning he has moved back to his mum's in America. I was thinking about dropping outbefore the whole thing with my step brother anyway but now that it has happened I want to be at home and there for my mum more because she will now be on her own looking after a relatively big house, 2 big mental dogs, my snakes and her job which invovles spending a lot of time not at home.

So who else has done it/ is thinking about it and what are your reasons? Also, would you drop out/ defer if you were me?
 
Consider a different course? Or is it "uni" that is not appealing you? :) I appreciate the problems at home, but I think it prudent to say you shouldn't let those affect your education choices.
 
I'd echo the above. Is it the university experience or the course that's really turning you off? If you're thinking you want to change track, then why not move closer to your Mum and start a different course at the same time? Plenty of people live at home and go to university.
 
If you don't enjoy your course, don't try and plough through. I did this and it didn't work. Instead of quitting in my first year I stuck with it and ended up dropping out further down the line.

Have a long sit down and think about what you'd like to do though.

Edit: I mean quitting and changing course not quitting university all together
 
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I've dropped out twice. Most recently just last week.
First time I had depression and the course and lecturers where an actual joke. I started skiving and could never recover. When I burst out laughing at my own presentation at the realisation how stupid it all was I basically walked out the door then.
Most recent has been a longer struggle. Depression cured from the first time, this course again was crap. It was the cause of the depression and I seriously struggled to do the work. Lecturers seemed uncaring when asking for help and to talk about things and in the end I just gave in and couldnt take anymore pretending that everything was ok and will work out. I already failed 3rd year due to depression and was in the middle of resitting when I failed 1st semester again.
I had to get out of there for my own health.
 
My brother dropped out of Uni twice with various personal problems. The first time he was there for three days, the second for a year. After a few years working and sorting himself out he tried again having decided what he actually wanted to do and why he wanted to be there. He ended up with a first in human geography, and now has a job he enjoys.

Obviously your situation is your own, and you have to come to your own decision as to what's right for you. I suspect you'll find more answers away from a computer geeks web forum though.
 
Speak to your mum and find out what she wants she might not want you to give up Uni to 'look after her'. Think long and hard about the reasons you want to quit is it the course, the lifestyle, the distance from home and family or any of about a billion other reasons. I dropped out of University the first time round, I realised the course really wasn't for me but I wasted a year resiting exams I new I would fail as I didn't have the motivation to succeed. I've since been back to uni had a fantastic time graduated with a good degree in subject I kind of enjoyed and now 7 or so years later I'm reasonably succeffull and kind of upwardly mobile!

If you do drop out ensure it is for the right reasons and that you have a plan and make sure it is the best decision for you as this could effect the rest of your life.
 
Thanks for the in put guys, it really is appreciated. :)
I would say it is the course and also possibly the fact that I have not gone in to halls but went straight in to a house share with a mate (who has now moved back home) and two randomers meaning i most likely haven't met as many people as i would have done in halls (this wasn't my choice).
I did quite fancy changing to photography purely because i enjoy it but the University of Manchester don't do it, i'd have to have a proper look in to other course. I could live at home and go to uni (it's only a 45 min train journey) but i don't think i'd want to do that.

ash_scotland88 said:
I've dropped out twice. Most recently just last week.
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I hope you're doing a bit better now mate!
 
I am leaving now. Today is my last day. Done three years and still on my first year (long story) Its not for me and I have secured an apprenticeship. If I didn't have the apprenticeship I wouldn't be leaving so abruptly.

I decided this year that Uni just wasn't for me. Before I was doing a course that didn't really interest me but now even being on a course that I should enjoy I just can't get over how rubbish lectures are as a method of teaching so I decided to get out.

To OP my father died several years ago but this year my sister also went to uni so my mum is home alone for the first time in years. I haven't really factored in looking after her as she can look after herself but I will be staying at home whilst I do my apprenticeship.
In your position I would defer a year. Many Unis wont have a problem with you doing this for personal problems, although you may have to wade through the wonderful bureaucratic system that is university. Leaving may be a bad idea if you ever want to go back to uni as fees will be going up so that is something to think about.
 
What's most important is to think what career you want to go into.

Once you've answered that question, you can ask yourself how you can get into that career. If you can get into that career through different means, and those means appeal to you more than a university route, then you're golden.
 
I've contemplated it but seeing as I'm nearing the end of 2nd year there doesn't seem to be much point.

Basically not enjoying my course but the main thing is falling out with my housemate (only 4 of us) about a week after signing a new contract for next year. We haven't talked in about a month and a half, not great, and I'm not really enjoying myself at the moment :(
 
a1ex2001 said:
Speak to your mum and find out what she wants she might not want you to give up Uni to 'look after her'. Think long and hard about the reasons you want to quit is it the course, the lifestyle, the distance from home and family or any of about a billion other reasons. I dropped out of University the first time round, I realised the course really wasn't for me but I wasted a year resiting exams I new I would fail as I didn't have the motivation to succeed. I've since been back to uni had a fantastic time graduated with a good degree in subject I kind of enjoyed and now 7 or so years later I'm reasonably succeffull and kind of upwardly mobile!

If you do drop out ensure it is for the right reasons and that you have a plan and make sure it is the best decision for you as this could effect the rest of your life.
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I may have worded it wrong but i won't actually be looking after her as such, i'll just be living at home and doing my share of stuff. Motivation has been a massive problem with me, i have had serious problems revising, doing work andgoing to lectures i don't enjoy. I might see someone at counselling and speak to my 'academic advisor' to see what they recommend. If i do decide i want to leave, i will just defer and not completely drop out.
 
Zid_ said:
What's most important is to think what career you want to go into.

Once you've answered that question, you can ask yourself how you can get into that career. If you can get into that career through different means, and those means appeal to you more than a university route, then you're golden.
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That's the thing, i have never know what i want to do. I have always just studied what i enjoy and get the most out of which makes things difficult. I am currently studying German and Business & Management which i was really looking forward to because i was born in Germany and really want to get a more in depth understanding of the language and i have always loved business (my dad had his own business) hence my choice. But as for a specific career... :confused::confused::confused::(

StewartMG said:
I've contemplated it but seeing as I'm nearing the end of 2nd year there doesn't seem to be much point.

Basically not enjoying my course but the main thing is falling out with my housemate (only 4 of us) about a week after signing a new contract for next year. We haven't talked in about a month and a half, not great, and I'm not really enjoying myself at the moment :(
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My girlfriend dropped out just before she stared her 3rd year but this was because she hated her uni, course and her uni had ballsed something up meaning she would have to do a year again or something. I know what it's like not getting on with house mates, i want to kill one of mine!
 
Flare said:
That's the thing, i have never know what i want to do. I have always just studied what i enjoy and get the most out of which makes things difficult. I am currently studying German and Business & Management which i was really looking forward to because i was born in Germany and really want to get a more in depth understanding of the language and i have always loved business (my dad had his own business) hence my choice. But as for a specific career... :confused::confused::confused::(
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Not an uncommon situation.

With German you're fortunate in that if a job required German fluency, you can simply prove this quite easily and wouldn't need a necessary qualification. Business & Management I'm sure there will be other certifications you can achieve

I'd say start having a look at job adverts, see what tickles your fancy
 
Flare said:
I'm only in my first year and 2nd semester of uni but I have pretty much decided that it just isn't for me and that I want to do other things. It's not like i have always been a lazy student or something, I enjoyed college and was really looking forward to uni and my course but since starting i really haven't been enjoying my course/classes barrrr only a couple. This combined with quite a few problems at home; my (step) dad (but he was my dad) died last year, my mum has since had a lot of problems, including my 19 year old step brother who she just can't cope/ live with any more so this morning he has moved back to his mum's in America. I was thinking about dropping outbefore the whole thing with my step brother anyway but now that it has happened I want to be at home and there for my mum more because she will now be on her own looking after a relatively big house, 2 big mental dogs, my snakes and her job which invovles spending a lot of time not at home.

So who else has done it/ is thinking about it and what are your reasons? Also, would you drop out/ defer if you were me?
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I would strongly suggest some long-term planning and forward thinking.

If you don't like your course then think what you would like and what career you'd want to follow, then make the relevant change. If you do like your course (or if you'd like another course) the don't quit because of personal/other issues. No employer cares about the problems you had back in the time when you dropped out of uni, they'll just see you as a failure and hard to committ/work under pressure.

Get rid of the snakes and the dogs so that your mother doesn't have to deal with them and can focus on her work, suggest she downsizes house to a 2bed house/flat that is easier to manage (and keep some money on the side) and try to call/visit as often as possible. You going back home, aside a short and temporary comfort is not going to help anyone or do your future any good.
 
Im just about to graduate, and I have never ever thought about dropping out. I want to do another bloody degree and have another awesome 3 years! But the debt would be obscene. I'm not sure why people say "Lectures suck and the lecturers don't help etc!". University is 90% self learning, the lectures/lecturers give you the resources you need, and you get off your fat ass and research it and do it. This isn't school where you are spoon fed. What about your friends etc?? Won't you miss them?

Uni just isn't for some people.
 
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