Going back to Uni advice (Applying from 2nd year)

lazymoezy

Hi,

I will try to make this as quick as possible as I have a tendency to write too much!

Basically, I dropped out of university last year, I was in my 2nd year. I dropped out due to various factors leading to concentration levels falling which ment I was not prepared for the end of year exams at all. I had a lot going on last year and decided to drop out just before the exams.

However, now that I have got a bit of money (from working) and my current situation is much better than last years, I was considering going back to the same university and carrying on from 2nd year. What I dont want to do is re-do 1st year, which I completed and passed. I say this because other universities have said I would need to do this, whereas, the university I went before said I could apply for 2nd year but I am not sure if I will get in.

I was told by the Uni that I can still apply for next year via UCAS and apply to start from 2nd year but I thought I'll get some of your views as well as seeing if anyone else has been on a similar boat and what the outcome has been.

By the way, I was on a Business Management course, I presume it wont be a honours degree any more, as I have taken a year out?

Looking forward to your replies,

MoE

Lokolo

I don't think you need to need to go through UCAS if you are going back to the same university. Who did you talk to last time at uni? I would talk to admissions and see what they say.

lazymoezy

I literally come off the phone to admissions and that was the exact same thing the guy on the phone thought until his 'colleague told him that I would still need to go through UCAS.

Would my chances by any better than those who are applying for second year from other universities or worse by the fact that I 'dropped' out which may not look good.

At this moment in my life, everything is going very well and have never had more hunger and desire to go uni than now but I how do I translate that to the Uni and everything these days is done by going through 'systems'.

Thanks for the reply Lokolo. Much appreciated.

MoE

lazymoezy

By the way loving your saving techniques (that or either you print money ). That's a lot saved compared to other students who I know! Would love to know how you do it.

Lokolo

lazymoezy wrote: »

By the way loving your saving techniques (that or either you print money ). That's a lot saved compared to other students who I know! Would love to know how you do it.

Rich grandparents and budget. (I also am working this year on placement so that helps)

Back to you. I know a lot of people on here defer for years due to illness, stress etc. but a lot of these have doctor notes, so it makes it easier for them to get back in.

I find it slightly worrying you have to go through UCAS all again!

You could try phoning other universities you are interested in, say you completed the 1st year and dropped out of second year because of stress or whatever and was thinking of transferring university and if they would take you from second year or not.

Obviously it would have to be similar, if not, exact same course. But I suspect they will less likely let you in as second year at a different university as the course structure would be completely different.

Good luck!

andyman2303

I'm in a pretty much identical situation to you.

I dropped out in Feb 2009 halfway through Year 2 due to a number of factors. After 6 months in an office, I realised it wasn't the life for me and contacted my old University to find out about returning.

They said that it was fine for me to return as I hadn't 'left'; I 'suspended' my studies, and after telling them I planned to come back it was fine by them. All I have to do is complete my finance forms (halfway through them at the moment with my parents) and it's all hunky dory.

Did you say that you might return to studying when you initially left? If so, I can't imagine you'd have to go through UCAS again, as the University are the ones who decide whether to take you back or not, not UCAS.

Also, why do you say that it would not be an hons degree anymore? You've worried me!!

Lokolo

andyman2303 wrote: »

I'm in a pretty much identical situation to you.

I dropped out in Feb 2009 halfway through Year 2 due to a number of factors. After 6 months in an office, I realised it wasn't the life for me and contacted my old University to find out about returning.

They said that it was fine for me to return as I hadn't 'left'; I 'suspended' my studies, and after telling them I planned to come back it was fine by them. All I have to do is complete my finance forms (halfway through them at the moment with my parents) and it's all hunky dory.

Did you say that you might return to studying when you initially left? If so, I can't imagine you'd have to go through UCAS again, as the University are the ones who decide whether to take you back or not, not UCAS.

Also, why do you say that it would not be an hons degree anymore? You've worried me!!

That is what I would have expected.

Oldernotwiser

I've certainly had students who were told that they needed to apply through UCAS to go into the second year, so I think that this is correct.

You definitely don't want to have to redo the first year as you'll have to self fund for it but it might be worth phoning some other universities to see if they'll let you in at this stage as a back up.

MrsManda

Unfortunately I think whether you have to apply via UCAS or direct to the university is highly dependent on your course, university and how you left.
Did you inform your university, personal tutor etc... that you were having problems and would like to suspend your studies or did you just leave?
If you went through the proper channels and spoke to your course/year/personal tutor about it I'd contact them and ask if they would accept you to redo the second year and continue your studies.
If you didn't then it is likely that UCAS is the only way to do it but I would still contact the admissions tutor for your course to explain the situation and get feedback on the likelihood of you being allowed back and what the best thing to do in terms of filling out your application.

Good luck with your application and I hope it goes well for you

mandyc

I work in University admin. Never, never just drop out - as said previously, suspend your studies. In this way you stay on the university's "books" and your place will still be there for you to return to the following September.

If you decide you want to transfer to another University you can still do this through the UCAS system but you will still have your original place if all else fails.

Alternatively, you might decide that University is not for you but there is nothing lost you just inform your University that you will not be returning and they will give the place to someone else.