Leaving Uni early, any consequences?

snackjack

Hi, I'm a mature student in my first year at uni. I am a single mum with a six year old son. I am finding the workload a bit over whelming, and I'm struggling a bit to keep up. At the moment I plan on staying, and doing my best to survive the year, but I wondered if it got too much and I quit would it be frowned upon by future employers? Would it make me look like a quitter? Fingers crossed it won't come to that, but it is playing on my mind a bit!
Thanks for any help.
Jackie

Blacksheep1979

I think people would question why you got within a few months of getting a degree and dropped out - unless there's a significant reason for this such as illness it won't look that good. Even if you have a reason they will probably ask why you didn't postpone your finals and sit them a year later etc.

Also jobwise someone with a degree generally looks better than one without a degree - obviously depends on the job though.

ladybirdintheuk

Would a prospective employer need to know you did a degree and quit?

I did uni and quit, and just don't include it, and it hasn't done me any harm.

Having said that, I do think it is worth slogging it out if you can manage it. Are you in a position to get a bit of extra childcare to cover when you're not in lectures, so you can get some work done without disturbance? It might be worth speaking to your student services (or whatever the department is called at your uni) to see what help you can get from them. Or see if you can find another Mum in a similar position to you, and see if you can combine forces (take each others kids for an afternoon a week to have some time to concentrate maybe?)

I have since gone back to uni and stuck it out though (doing a different degree in my home town, when I was that little bit older). Although I've never worked in a job where my degree was really required on the person spec, I'm sure it has given me an advantage over those that didn't have one.

Good luck!

custardy

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

I think people would question why you got within a few months of getting a degree and dropped out - unless there's a significant reason for this such as illness it won't look that good. Even if you have a reason they will probably ask why you didn't postpone your finals and sit them a year later etc.

Also jobwise someone with a degree generally looks better than one without a degree - obviously depends on the job though.

the OP is in the their first year of uni
not their final

Oldernotwiser

Giving up anything is never likely to be looked on favourably and employers may well think that if you can't cope with university, you can't cope with working.

As a mature student, university can be overwhelming but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Does your university have a mature students' society where you could meet others in the same situationfor support?

Wicked_witch

When I took my degree a couple of years ago, there was an option to leave at the end of the first year with a certificate of higher education, or at the end of the second with a diploma in same. I'd ask the uni if this is possible with your course, as then you'd have a qualification at the end of the year and there'd be no reason for future emplyers to know that it wasn't your intention initially!

Blacksheep1979

custardy wrote: »

the OP is in the their first year of uni
not their final

good spot, was a little tired and completely misread that as final....

In that case I'd say it matters less (if you don't need the degree for the job). Plenty of people find further education isn't for them - better to decide now than in another years time when you've paid even more into it.

missyp123

snackjack wrote: »

Hi, I'm a mature student in my first year at uni. I am a single mum with a six year old son. I am finding the workload a bit over whelming, and I'm struggling a bit to keep up. At the moment I plan on staying, and doing my best to survive the year, but I wondered if it got too much and I quit would it be frowned upon by future employers? Would it make me look like a quitter? Fingers crossed it won't come to that, but it is playing on my mind a bit!
Thanks for any help.
Jackie

hi snackjack
I too am in my first year as a mature student, although i have my husband to help with my daughter i too find the work load completley overwhelming.
i really feel that when to comes to my second placement i should be looking forward to it...hands on experience is the best...but im dreading the long hours woth study and family on top.:o
i knew it would be hard but its trying to juggle the house, the money, the relationship...as well as beng able to sit and write more than 10 lines of work:(

I have talked to my fellow cohorts and they have felt the same in our first few months but i sometimes just feel as if im the only one who seriously thinks im not made out for it.

However to am going to get through this year if it kills me....i have to give myself that. after all allot can happen untill september

now im off to get the little one to sleep and will be resoting to the pro plus to keep me awake long enough to try and catch up my course work that i have been putting off!

i hope you find the right step to take, i just posted as i didnt want you to feel like you were alone. xxx

snackjack

Hi everyone, Thanks for all the replies.
Hi Missyp, Thanks very much for your reply. Gonna try and finish this year. It is overwhelming and the worst is thinking I am the only one finding it hard to do assignments in time. I feel I never have enough time to be a mum and a student and a slightly obsessive cleaner! I have to relax slightly about the cleaning and chill about keeping little fella occupied all the time. It takes a bit of getting used to, all this juggling but we will, eventually!! Its not just us mature ones that are finding it hard I'm sure. Good luck with your course Missyp!
Jackie

lightisfading

(my comma key isn't working so apologies for any dodgy grammar!)

I dropped out of university early too. Not a lot to add to the discussion however I did recently get the chance to ask my company's HR department during some 1:1 CV/interview training and both trainers (council HR people) said that they wouldn't look on it badly as long as I was open and honest about it - for me it was due to financial/personal reasons (struggling with depression and debt).

In interviews I usually do say it wasn't due to poor grades (I was getting 80% type marks) but due to personal reasons. I think the problem comes if you look like you're hiding something.

At the end of the day uni really isn't for everyone and there are a myriad of reasons why someone would need to drop out.

missyp123

snackjack wrote: »

slightly obsessive cleaner!Jackie

yes! i am not alone:j
i really can not sit and work if things are not how they should be!
i remember when i did my access course and was horrified that my tutor said you have to learn to not worry about cleaning and let the vac stay in the cupboard for weeks!!! no way, i even have to clean my vac ...even though i can see where she is coming from.

lets jsut count down one step at a time.
and good luck to you too:)