DS'S uni doubts and attitude - is this typical?

motherofstudents

Oh dear. I'm not sure I can help much but I know quite a few students who have changed course successfully. I think it sounds like he is not sure what he wants to do - accounting to psychology is quite a jump. I think if he has been used to dropping out he probably thinks he doesn't need to commit to anything and that can be a problem.

As for his attitude at home, just lay down the rules and stick to them. I'm sure he will improve when he realises you are serious. My kids have always been hard workers although one studied hard all the time, the other worked better closer to deadlines. As long as they get there in the end it doesn't matter.

Maybe there is someone at uni he can talk to about his options. I think if he finds a course he really wants to do, he will start to behave more responsibly. As it is now, he can mess about as he doesn't see any consequences.

Tish_P

When I ask what he'd like to switch too he says he doesn't know, maybe psychology. I said that's probably a lot of writing too and he said he wouldn't mind because he finds it interesting.

Not interesting enough to be sure it's what he wants to do though!
Switching degrees is not unusual, but it's not always easy - he will have to convince the course director that he is good enough and will work hard. The most important question is is he actually interested in psychology? Does he read books about it? Has he sat in on some lectures or asked friends doing that degree for a look at their reading lists? If he goes to see the course director and (s)he asks him to name a psychologist will he have an answer?

A lot of students flounder a bit in their first year and then buck up later so don't fret yourself to death, but if he's serious about changing courses he has some serious thinking and studying to do. Hope it all goes well for him!

Dunroamin

I'd suggest he makes an appointment to see a Careers Adviser at university and prepare for the fact that, if he fails this year, he may well not have the qualifications to get on another course that doesn't feature Accounting.

Lilith1980

You can tell your son from me that Psychology will NOT be easy lol!

I am doing a Psychology Conversion Masters - obviously it's higher level than a degree but I would imagine the sort of information you are learning is similar, just that they expect the work to be of a higher standard. It's a conversion in that you can study it part time for 2 years (or 1 year full-time) and is for people who have an undergraduate degree in another subject and want to gain a qualification in Psychology.

Lots of essays and lots of statistics, which isn't my strong point, but if it's a subject that takes your interest then that will carry you through. So I guess he needs to be sure that he is drawn to psychology because it interests him and not because he thinks there will be less written work to do.

Anselm

dandy-candy wrote: »

DS started uni last September doing accountancy. He was a late starter (20) and said he wanted to go because he didn't want to later regret not going, and all his mates loved it.

Change the degree programme and that could be me you're talking about. Even though I've been doing my course for approx. 20 weeks, I still think "have I made the right decision" "is it really worth it" etc.

dandy-candy wrote: »

Now he's there he's saying he doesn't think he likes the subject and might change. He only has 8 hours of class a week, whereas his mates get loads more and tons of work to do in the evenings.

I'm doing law with criminology and thinking about it, I think I have around 16 hours a week (could be more I'm doing it off the top of my head) To be honest, I think psychology would be as demanding as accountancy, and I know they write a lot of essays as well - So it wont be the magic pill he's looking for.

dandy-candy wrote: »

He's blowing all his money boozing and barely eating, cba to get a job for his time off so is overdrawn already, moans that his mates don't come out enough because they say they want to work.

To be honest, if he's not had a job before, then £1000+ in one go is like Christmas times a million. Maybe work out a budget with him so he's not in dire financial straights?

dandy-candy wrote: »

He had to do a written piece to be handed in before Xmas break which he did on the very last 2 days and says he didn't think he'd have to write essays in Accountancy and that seems to be a big reason for wanting to change subject.
When I ask what he'd like to switch too he says he doesn't know, maybe psychology. I said that's probably a lot of writing too and he said he wouldn't mind because he finds it interesting. I suggested he get some books and read up, but no he can't be bothered..

I think the written piece example is reasonably normal! I handed my first piece in late and I still have two pieces. I think both myself and your son need some help with time management how about you suggest that he sees his tutor if he's finding it difficult to get it in on time - that's what i'll be doing because I don't want to fail my degree through being lazy. Not cut out for law - sure. But not lazy.
I have an interest in law, but that doesn't mean I don't find it dry and tedious at times - what happens if his interest wanes and he goes back to square one?

dandy-candy wrote: »

He's driving me nuts and won't let me finish a sentence or help around the house cos he's "an adult now" and "I can't tell him what to do"

To be honest, I think that's just plain rude.

I hope I don't come across as having a go at you or your son, I just wanted to give my advice, because I can see parallels.

I think the key word with university is stick-ability.

pimento

I am the mother of a student vampire. He seems to spend all his time boozing and gaming and not a lot of time studying but he assures me that he will come out with a 2-1 this summer.

We shall see.

quinechinoise

dandy-candy wrote: »

Now he's there he's saying he doesn't think he likes the subject and might change. He only has 8 hours of class a week, whereas his mates get loads more and tons of work to do in the evenings. He's blowing all his money boozing and barely eating, cba to get a job for his time off so is overdrawn already, moans that his mates don't come out enough because they say they want to work.
He had to do a written piece to be handed in before Xmas break which he did on the very last 2 days

I think he's signed up to the wrong major. Accountancy clearly doesn't suit him and he's finding lots of ways to avoid studying it. He needs to investigate his options asap: find out how much credit he can transfer to another course/uni and work out what he'd actually like to study. It is miserable being stuck on the wrong major - or even saddled with a minor that you dislike. A minor, he could drop (or even part of a double/triple major) but if he doesn't change his sole major then he might end up failing or scraping a pass with a "combined studies" degree.

Trust your instincts. I think he does need some help - hopefully he'll accept it from you. And discourage him from switching to a random subject. If he is truly attracted to psychology, that's great. You don't want to be in this situation next year!! Another thing to consider... is it tertiary education in itself that's disappointed him? I'm not sure you should go to uni just in case "[you might] later regret not going". It's not the end of the world if the right decision is to cease all studies and get a job/career instead.