Should I quit University?

Question

I don't know whether or not to quit University. I'm doing a degree in History and Politics which I used to find interesting but now more or less hate.
I'm a first year. Last term was fine; my modules weren't easy but they were enjoyable. This term is hell.
Two of my modules are fine; the other two are awful. Journal review after review after review; I CAN'T DO IT and the course content bores me to tears. I find them so difficult. I can do essays no problem and I'm not stupid; I got A*AA (History, Biology, English) at A Level.

I feel like I'm ready to quit. A lot of my friends have gone on to training apprenticeships and the ones that have gone to University seem to be doing fine, no trouble at all.
Should I stick it out or just give up?

Answer 1

Stick it out. I cannot even remember the number of times I've felt this way. I'm in my third year (of four) at an American university known for its heavy workloads. The first year is never the best, it's just a time to explore your desires. I took classes in Cognitive Science, Psychology, Biology, Chemistry, Anthropology, History, Political Science, Economics, English, Latin, Spanish... and that's not all. University should be a journey to find what you are both good at and enjoy (or at least can do for a living without hating yourself). I'm only slightly aware of the structure of British universities (where I'm assuming you are based on "A Level") and I know they're more constrictive than their American counterparts, but you must stick to it no matter what, just find a situation that works for yourself- switch course paths if you must. You should go to a library and peruse the materials in a variety of subjects for a while.



I finally settled on History and Chemistry and Architecture programs. Sometimes I feel like a buffet, but I know I'm following things that are engaging and fulfilling whilst still offering me plenty of options come graduation. I was extremely discouraged my first year, I didn't think of dropping out, rather I wanted to transfer to another university and start over, but I stuck to it and I'm more than happy with my decision two years later.

If you ever need a chat, just drop me a line, mkay?



best of luck,

Matt

Answer 2

Stick to it. it will be over before you know it.

Answer 3

It sounds like this is a very difficult term for you. Before quitting, explore with your faculty advisor or student counseling office what other options are available for you. This is a big step. You will want to be well informed in the choices you make before your final decision. Clearly you are not stupid with such excellent grades in History, Biology and English. Perhaps it's the subject matter with all those journal reviews that's getting to you. Good luck!

Answer 4

OK I understand this - last year I got 10A*s and 2As at GCSE but now this year in A Levels I feel like I'm failing and my subjects don't seem as interesting anymore (Biology seems AWFUL now). However, I have to remember to stick it out - I've asked to drop Biology a thousand times and my teachers always make me continue with it, since they say nothing's impossible, which is true if you really think about it. There really isn't such a word as 'can't'. The course content may seem unbelievably boring (like Biology does right now) BUT if you really keep revising it, eventually you will start to enjoy it. That concept sounds weird but it's true. I used to despise Politics but I decided to take it for AS Level alongside my GCSEs (don't ask why because I have no idea!) and now I love it so much that I want to apply for a degree in it.



And OMG you got A*AA in those impossibly hard subjects at A Level! If you can do that, then you can certainly do this - now you only have to focus on one degree rather than spread your workload over three very different subjects. If you can get those grades at A Level you really need to be completing a degree, because it would be such a waste of talent if you didn't - our country needs people like you!



I know it's annoying (believe me A Levels annoy me all the time), but sit this one out and trust me you'll be SO glad you did when your job prospects are exceedingly high since you have amazing A Level grades and an amazing degree. This will be worth it and things WILL improve, just wait and see! University is a laugh and since you've started you should definitely finish - quitting will subconciously damage your self-esteem otherwise! If you can do what you did at A Level, you can obviously do this, so don't panic!!!



Best of wishes :)

Answer 5

I'm a uni student so I understand your frustration, I've felt the same way myself at times. Have you talked it through with your personal tutor just to get a different perspective & maybe see if you can't iron out any issues? I'm also a parent of teenagers so my parental advice would be to have a chat with your folks too. I'd hate it if one of my two were trying to make this kind of decision unsupported & your parents may be able to help you out. I wouldn't do anything rash at the moment. Jobs & apprenticeships aren't that easy to get at the moment so it may be unwise to quit uni if you don't have anything to go to. If you quit now with no job or apprenticeship to go to you may well find yourself regretting it in a few months. Have you also considered changing courses? Talk it through with your tutor, there may be other options than just quitting. Good luck, I hope you get it sorted.

Answer 6

finish the year and see about switching majors or transfer to another school. but whatever you do at least finish the year so you can use those courses as electives in case you ever want to go back

Answer 7

Since you were doing well in other things than the new courses you hate, a less drastic option would be to try just dropping those evil courses. Since you were doing well in other courses, my advice is very specific. Drop those courses officially, and then, after you drop them, talk to a counselor about what you should be taking.

Answer 8

Politics and History is a good course for jobs later, but if you're completely uninterested in it - you need to consider whether it's worth doing for its own sake. Have a look at what modules you can take over the rest of the course, it might be that you're going through a bad patch at the moment because you don't like the modules you're doing right now, but you might go on to do something you find fascinating. If you want to change to another course at the same uni now, it's not too late as you're only in your first year, and you've only lost 1 year if you change which is nothing, people retake years all the time.But you should work out what you'd like to do soon, so you can get the wheels turning. I started doing Biology and Changed to Arabic and haven't looked back. And a friend of mine failed his first year in Politics 4 TIMES and then changed to physics and nailed it, so just to show it's different strokes for different folks.



Wouldn't jack in doing a degree altogether though, it's well worth having.

Answer 9

No.But if you really don't like it try something else so yes.But if you like it and you think it came to an end since you know what you want and now it;s boring, then I would tell you continue and search and develop also improve and go to another level inside you.Use what you know in life and don't have a problem.I mean history it's so good, you learn anthropology by your own conclusion.Write down what you think and your preferences and then decide

Answer 10

Don't quit! just change career! study something you see yourself having a career in!!

Answer 11

Stick it out. Talk to a counselor. Change your major.

Answer 12

Quit immediately. You're taking up space in uni that could be used by someone eager to be there.

Answer 13

if you want to waste youre future then go on.