Dropping out of uni altogether? (1 Viewer)

[ShadowLighte]

As we're in the second half of the semester, it's a time where final major assessment deadlines are due and exams loom just ahead. Basically, a time of stress.

I don't know how common this is, but I'm finding it very difficult to cope and it may be due to a number of reasons that are interrelated. For starters, I'm a first year so I still haven't really adapted to the routine of things and am still dealing with the expectations I had of uni which are almost the opposite of what was expected. I am also dealing with anxiety which isn't uncommon nowadays but is a pain in the ass to deal with, especially during times of stress and doesn't help with my lack of sleep. I'm not doing well in my units and I no longer like my course.

In short, I want out. However, I don't know what to do. It feels so wrong to go backwards to tafe and not go ahead with uni since I've already made it this far. People go to tafe to get into uni, not the other way around. Since Year 10 I wanted to drop out but my parents told me not to be ridiculous because I wasn't failing and said I could make it as far to uni and I have but now that I'm here I don't really want to stay. It feels like such a waste though. I could have dropped out in year 10 and not go through everything and waste all this money

What's worse is that I have no work experience or any skills that I could use to get into a trade or get a job or anything like that. I'm not even sure what trade I want to go into or anything. It's just that the amount of times I have told myself since high school that I'd rather have 9+ hour days of work and come home free of stress than to go to school/ uni and come home and stress the hell out, is too damn high. Like, I'd rather be physically tired than be mentally stressed out because I can't cope with high levels of stress and have to tendency to break down.

I don't know what to do at this point. First year should be a piece of cake. Just imagining what it's going to be like in the future, if I end up suffering through this course and end up not wanting to use it and then going to tafe or doing some other degree.

 

[BLIT2014]

Maybe try and finish this semester, and you can always take a year/semester of next year to work/reevaluate life.

University is meant to be harder then highschool, as it is the next "level".

I don't know about you,but it often takes me a year to get into a habit/routine, and you'll still be owing HECs on your subjects for this semester, so it might be wise to finish?

 

[isildurrrr1]

finish the semester, sort your shit out for a semester/year and go back into it.

 

[RenegadeMx]

u have summer holidays for 3-4months u can reassess ur options by the time uni starts up again

 

[ShadowLighte]

I am intending on finishing this sem because I may as well scrape at least one pass . I don't think holidays actually help that much if it's between semesters because I get used to being free of deadlines for months at a time before going back to a rigorous routine. I was also planning on doing a unit during summer school too.

I don't know even know what to do during that time off as I'm already reassessing things but can't decide on what to do.

 

[BLIT2014]

Maybe try talking to one of the student advisors?

 

[anomalousdecay]

Well firstly, do you still like what you are studying? Do you see your future in that direction? It sounds like you might need a complete career path change.

Do you remember why you wanted to go into this particular field? Do you still agree with your decision almost a year ago.

Also think about it. You could end up working for hours on end once you graduate in a field you specialised in (that is if you finish uni), which most likely is something you would like to do. Just make sure you enjoy the work and where you end up. But I guess if you like something else and can make decent money in that field, then you may as well go ahead with that and maybe start working now.

It's up to you. It's a bit vague what is happening, but you know best what you want to do.

 

[Squar3root]

Since Year 10 I wanted to drop out but my parents told me not to be ridiculous because I wasn't failing and said I could make it as far to uni and I have but now that I'm here I don't really want to stay. It feels like such a waste though.

imo I think education is important but if you find no value in it and you have career path you would like that doesn't need tertiary education then you should do that instead

 

[Blue Suede]

I would very strongly encourage you to talk to someone. Your uni is bound to have a counselling/psychological assistance team who are there to support students, especially when it comes to mental health and study. They may be able to help you with some techniques to manage your anxiety while you look to finish this semester.

Most universities also have a careers team where you could speak to someone about your career goals and how to best achieve them. Alternately, they can talk to you about what your career options will be if you decide to withdraw from university, and what are some other paths you could consider taking instead.

You will also likely have a course advisor who would be able to tell you what the workload and such is like in further years. Maybe it's not a matter of the course being difficult, but another mode of study, like only studying part-time would be better for you.

 

[thuvarahanjeg]

As we're in the second half of the semester, it's a time where final major assessment deadlines are due and exams loom just ahead. Basically, a time of stress.

I don't know how common this is, but I'm finding it very difficult to cope and it may be due to a number of reasons that are interrelated. For starters, I'm a first year so I still haven't really adapted to the routine of things and am still dealing with the expectations I had of uni which are almost the opposite of what was expected. I am also dealing with anxiety which isn't uncommon nowadays but is a pain in the ass to deal with, especially during times of stress and doesn't help with my lack of sleep. I'm not doing well in my units and I no longer like my course.

In short, I want out. However, I don't know what to do. It feels so wrong to go backwards to tafe and not go ahead with uni since I've already made it this far. People go to tafe to get into uni, not the other way around. Since Year 10 I wanted to drop out but my parents told me not to be ridiculous because I wasn't failing and said I could make it as far to uni and I have but now that I'm here I don't really want to stay. It feels like such a waste though. I could have dropped out in year 10 and not go through everything and waste all this money

What's worse is that I have no work experience or any skills that I could use to get into a trade or get a job or anything like that. I'm not even sure what trade I want to go into or anything. It's just that the amount of times I have told myself since high school that I'd rather have 9+ hour days of work and come home free of stress than to go to school/ uni and come home and stress the hell out, is too damn high. Like, I'd rather be physically tired than be mentally stressed out because I can't cope with high levels of stress and have to tendency to break down.

I don't know what to do at this point. First year should be a piece of cake. Just imagining what it's going to be like in the future, if I end up suffering through this course and end up not wanting to use it and then going to tafe or doing some other degree.

if i was you just try finishing this semester and see where you are. If your nor happy with your degree maybe look for another one you can transfer in or best if you take a gap semester or year to cool things down and see if you want to continue or not. Talk to your parents/relatives about this and seek advice at your uni as there is always someone to help you out.

 

[Loudvicuna]

You sound a lot like me. I'm not going to uni because I would be in the exact situation as you are now, instead I'm getting an electrical apprenticeship post HSC.

As long as you genuinely want to quit uni for valid reasons and not pure laziness then you should follow through.

My advice is to stay in for the rest of the semester whilst finding something worthwhile to do. Find a mentor, apprenticeship, job, start your own business, whatever. As soon as you have something, you should drop out. You will also notice a lot of opposition from your family & friends, but unless they are in a position in life that you would like to emulate, you should take their advice with a grain of salt. Don't seek validation, its better to drop out one year in then realise you fucked up 20 years down the line, just have a goal and follow through. School isn't a necessity, although make sure its the path you want to follow.

 

[nerdasdasd]

As we're in the second half of the semester, it's a time where final major assessment deadlines are due and exams loom just ahead. Basically, a time of stress.

I don't know how common this is, but I'm finding it very difficult to cope and it may be due to a number of reasons that are interrelated. For starters, I'm a first year so I still haven't really adapted to the routine of things and am still dealing with the expectations I had of uni which are almost the opposite of what was expected. I am also dealing with anxiety which isn't uncommon nowadays but is a pain in the ass to deal with, especially during times of stress and doesn't help with my lack of sleep. I'm not doing well in my units and I no longer like my course.

In short, I want out. However, I don't know what to do. It feels so wrong to go backwards to tafe and not go ahead with uni since I've already made it this far. People go to tafe to get into uni, not the other way around. Since Year 10 I wanted to drop out but my parents told me not to be ridiculous because I wasn't failing and said I could make it as far to uni and I have but now that I'm here I don't really want to stay. It feels like such a waste though. I could have dropped out in year 10 and not go through everything and waste all this money

What's worse is that I have no work experience or any skills that I could use to get into a trade or get a job or anything like that. I'm not even sure what trade I want to go into or anything. It's just that the amount of times I have told myself since high school that I'd rather have 9+ hour days of work and come home free of stress than to go to school/ uni and come home and stress the hell out, is too damn high. Like, I'd rather be physically tired than be mentally stressed out because I can't cope with high levels of stress and have to tendency to break down.

I don't know what to do at this point. First year should be a piece of cake. Just imagining what it's going to be like in the future, if I end up suffering through this course and end up not wanting to use it and then going to tafe or doing some other degree.

Have you seen a counsellor which can help you manage your stress? That's the first thing I'd do.

Even if you drop uni and do full time work or whatever... you will still encounter really stressful days and periods in life.

 

[obviouslyme]

LOL whoever said 'first year should be a piece of cake' is trolling. Hell, I actually thought that HSC was the hardest level in education because of all the emphasis and pressure towards the ATAR but damn i was so stupid to think like that.

Don't worry, you are not alone into thinking Uni is hard. It is hard. And I think you should continue because it will easier to get into a good career with a University degree. You can also consider working part time once you have adjusted to the uni life and have good time management.

Cheers