Arghhh!! started a degree which isn't what i expected it to be.. help!!

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Briefly, I had applied to do a degree and unfortunatly didn't get accepted onto that programme, however the Uni offered me an alternative which I accepted.

Unfortunatly, I've started the alternative degree programme and to be totally honest I'm not enjoying it at all. The content isn't what I expected it to be.

I'm a week and a half into the course and am in the process of wondering what I can do. I'm reluctant to give up my place at the uni yet feel I can't continue on this course of study.

I have spoken to the course leader who was very reluctant of assist me or offer solutions.

I need help and advice especially from students who have maybe transferred course or discontinued the course of study for whatever reason, but was able to resume study a year later at the same uni just on a different degree programe.

thanks in advance

dmg24

Which course is it? In what way is it not what you expect? x

pinkshoes

The first thing to do is not to panic or worry about it. If the person you spoke to wasn't very helpful, is there someone else you can go and talk to? Maybe try the student union or welfare officer?

At this early stage, they can often transfer you onto another course, so stop drinking beer, and start doing as much research as possible!! Another option is to pass this year, then transfer onto another course next year. OR... drop out, take gap year (earn ££££) then re-apply. I took a gap year inbetween my 2nd and 3rd year (as well as one after school!) because i wasn't sure if I wanted to continue as I was having a hard time, and it was a fantastic year!

Another friend quit our course in the 3rd week of the 1st year and transferred onto a completely different course straight away (she had to do alot of catching up, but that wasn't so bad!), and I have another friend who did Chinese, decided it was not for her after 1.5 terms, then completed the year and switched to English for the 2nd year (started back in 1st year).

the_devil_made_me_do_it

dmg24 wrote: »

Which course is it? In what way is it not what you expect? x

Apologies but don't really feel comfortable in posting course details, no offence.

Hmm, I just expected a different course content altogether. I did agree to the course blindly I suppose without fully researching it. Even the tutors at my previous college were unsure of the course content, but were fairly convinced it would be something that would suit me (so obviously they had the same thoughts that I did as to what the course would entail).

Really I just need to know what the possible options are I guess, and thought that a forum such as this would be detatched enough to offer un-biased advice and help

misskool

without knowing what course you wanted to do and what you have switched into it would be hard to offer advice really.

If you switched from something that would have been pure maths or pure physics to an applied maths or engineering maths course then other options such as astronomy could be suggested.

We're not being particularly nosy just that maybe you haven't considered all the other alternative options available to you.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

pinkshoes wrote: »

The first thing to do is not to panic or worry about it. If the person you spoke to wasn't very helpful, is there someone else you can go and talk to? Maybe try the student union or welfare officer?

At this early stage, they can often transfer you onto another course, so stop drinking beer, and start doing as much research as possible!! Another option is to pass this year, then transfer onto another course next year. OR... drop out, take gap year (earn ££££) then re-apply. I took a gap year inbetween my 2nd and 3rd year (as well as one after school!) because i wasn't sure if I wanted to continue as I was having a hard time, and it was a fantastic year!

Another friend quit our course in the 3rd week of the 1st year and transferred onto a completely different course straight away (she had to do alot of catching up, but that wasn't so bad!), and I have another friend who did Chinese, decided it was not for her after 1.5 terms, then completed the year and switched to English for the 2nd year (started back in 1st year).

Lol not lucky enough to have drank any beer I'm a mature student & I'm not in my 20s (although I wish I was sometimes).

I was hoping to maybe transfer onto another programme or even suspend and return to another degree programme next October. I don't really want to take a gap year, got too much commitment unfortunatly. I was seriously hoping to just complete a degree and was really looking forward to starting the course.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

misskool wrote: »

without knowing what course you wanted to do and what you have switched into it would be hard to offer advice really.

If you switched from something that would have been pure maths or pure physics to an applied maths or engineering maths course then other options such as astronomy could be suggested.

We're not being particularly nosy just that maybe you haven't considered all the other alternative options available to you.

Oh I know you ain't being nosey, I'm just concerned about who could be reading this forum if you get what I mean.

I will say its a BA hons degree.

As for considering options, I don't know what options there are. As i said, the course leader wasn't forth coming with advice. I got the impression he wasn't best pleased.

dmg24

None taken, but as misskool has said, it is difficult to give advice on a vague situation.

Do you have a pastoral tutor? Perhaps you could speak to them?

Is your current course anything like your originally planned course? Could I ask why you did not get on to this course?

It could just be that the course has not really started to get going yet?

Without knowing specifics, it may be that you will experience the same thing on another course, and that it is a case of getting used to the different learning style compared to school?

dmg24

Put another way, what would you like to happen?

melancholly

i know some undergrad courses start with some very dull stuff, just to make sure all the basics are covered as people all come in with different backgrounds. once the first few weeks are out of the way things can improve.

if you go through the course handbook (and also ask for copies of the syllabus for the 2nd and 3rd years), have a look and see if semester 2 (or terms 2 and 3) have topics that you might enjoy more.

one thing to check out is what the situation with loans may be if you drop out and re-start next year (i don't know but someone else will!). if you want to transfer, then that will depend on the course you want to transfer to - they may have quotas but you could ask and find out if it's an option, then at least you'll know whether it really is an option. i think transferring will depend on each university - different departments within the same university have different entry criteria, so general advice for all situations is hard to give.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

The tutor situation is a bizarre one. It seems that the personal tutor I was assigned has left the insitution, a fact I only just found out today when i asked about his availability at the reception desk. There dosen't seem to be anyone who has replaced him as far as I'm aware.

The course I originally applied for is quite a lot different to the degree I've started, it was a vocational programme. As for why I was un-sucessfull on gaining entry on my original degree programme I am unaware of. My interview ect was quite some time ago.

The subject matter of the new course, even considering 2nd and 3rd year, is not of interest to me, especially studying it. I may have looked at it on a lesiure basis, but I cannot see myself studying it and excelling in it when I really have no interest.

I appreciate that it's difficult to advise me when certain aspects I'm keeping from "the public" so to speak, but I am interested in knowing whether other people have either transferred or suspended studies till the new intake in October and re-started studies on a new course. I'm actually hoping to join a combined hons degree considering options like Psychology, History, Theology, Philosophy and Sociology. Obviously I'm aware that I wouldn't do more than combine 3 of these, but would ask advice before commiting myself.

I'm still waiting for my finance to be varified and confirmed.