Avantika Vaishnav
Sounds like a nightmare, right? Well we’re here to tell you it’s a lot more common than you’d think. There are plenty of options available to you if you decide to make a change, and hopefully these tips and advice will make it a much less scary and stressful process.
Don’t panic
Deciding that you hate your course or university after already spending a considerable amount of time there isn’t the best place to find yourself in. But try not to panic. You’re certainly not the first person to find yourself in this situation, and you won’t be the last. This one issue isn’t going to define the rest of your life, and you’ll still be able to achieve all your goals, even if it takes you a bit longer to get there.
If you really hate university, don’t feel like you have to keep going. Society places pressure on young people get get a degree, but you can absolutely be successful and happy without a one, especially if you’re saved years of upset and suffering by doing something you really don’t enjoy.
Just take a deep breath and start thinking about what exactly it is you want to do for your career. And if you don’t have a clue? That’s absolutely fine as well, there’s no harm in taking some time out to figure it all out.
Talk to someone
Don’t keep your worries and concerns bottled up, you’ll feel so much better if you talk it through with someone. Try and figure out exactly what you’re feeling – what do you hate about university? Is it the course you’re doing? Or the particular university that you’re studying at? Is university as a whole just not for you?
Once you’ve pinpointed the specific problem, it’ll be much easier to figure out what to do next. They might be able to suggest a solution or option that you hadn’t considered before, helping you figure out your next move.
Remember there are loads of options
Most people in this situation feel like they have no option but to stick their degree out until the bitter end, when in fact the opposite couldn’t be more true.
Make sure to use the resources available to you – consult the internet, social media or university careers advisors and tutors. You don’t want to make a decision and then realise at a later date there was something else would have suited you better, so make sure you’re as informed as you can be.
There are countless options available. If you’re not a fan of your particular degree subject, you could look into transferring to another one. If it’s in a very similar subject this is often super easy and can even be done mid-term, without having to go back and complete modules. Think switching from English Literature to English Language. But even if you want to swap to a completely different course, it’s often still possible. Just bear in mind this might involve starting from scratch next year.
If it’s the university itself you find yourself disliking, then it’s often easy enough to transfer to a different institution. If this isn’t an option, you can always drop out and reapply to a different university next year. This handy webpage explains everything you need to know.
You could also take a gap year too, if you need some time to think about what you want to do next, or get involved in other exciting experiences. You could always use the free time to travel, or get a job.
Do what’s right for you
Don’t make your decision on what to do next based on what you think you should do, either. You have to make sure that this is the right choice for you, and not what your family or friends think you should be doing.
Whether you want to change course, university or get a job or apprenticeship, if you can do it, then do it. If you’re happy you’re far more likely to go on to become successful and fulfil your goals.
Don’t stick something out if it’s making you unhappy. Find something you love and start to feel positive about the next chapter of your life.
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