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

princesslizzie

I hated my course at first. I was just like you but I stuck it out till xmas and it got better. If not can you swap into another course?

Savvy_Sue

Since I know where you are from another thread, do they still do the General Arts degree, and could you transfer onto that? LOTS of options, IIRC

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Since I know where you are from another thread, do they still do the General Arts degree, and could you transfer onto that? LOTS of options, IIRC

Unsure whether they do that degree. Have checked on the website, but it dosen't appear on there, it maybe in the prospectus.

AS for transferring, the course leader wasn't confident that was an option, in fact he didn't have confidence that anything other than his course was an option. :rolleyes:

Savvy_Sue

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

AS for transferring, the course leader wasn't confident that was an option, in fact he didn't have confidence that anything other than his course was an option. :rolleyes:

OK then, think what you'd LIKE to do and go and ask THAT course leader if you can transfer into that. Also it would be worth asking about your original course choice and finding out why you didn't get on to that and whether it's worth reapplying. You say it was a vocational course you wanted to do, maybe they didn't think you had the right experience or fit their usual profile: worth finding out what you'd need to do to remedy that. IF they've had drop-outs, they MIGHT consider you even now, but you need to act fast!

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

OK then, think what you'd LIKE to do and go and ask THAT course leader if you can transfer into that. Also it would be worth asking about your original course choice and finding out why you didn't get on to that and whether it's worth reapplying. You say it was a vocational course you wanted to do, maybe they didn't think you had the right experience or fit their usual profile: worth finding out what you'd need to do to remedy that. IF they've had drop-outs, they MIGHT consider you even now, but you need to act fast!

Thanks for the advice Sue. To be quite honest, I'd gotten my head around not doing the vocational course and even (probably stupidly) discontinued the voluntary experience I was gaining.

I will seek out the course leader(s) of the combined degree programme and question them as to my options.

Wicked_witch

Hi there,

I haven't been in a position of changing my degree, but have had a situation where I withdrew from my course and then had to get permission to rejoin. The person I dealt with was my Head of School within the uni (Education and Training in my case), so this may be an option for you, especially if both degrees are within the same dept (if not, contact both).

I can understand your course leader not wishing to lose a student, but it is very unprofessional of them to have acted in this negative way

Best of luck!

Savvy_Sue

Wicked_witch wrote: »

I can understand your course leader not wishing to lose a student, but it is very unprofessional of them to have acted in this negative way

Hadn't got round to saying this, and couldn't put it any better. The daft thing is that by NOT being cooperative, they are more likely to lose this student, and not just them but possibly the uni overall, so it's very short-sighted and I would think the admin bods would be a bit unhappy about it!

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Thanks for the support Wicked Witch.

I approched one of the vice principles today. I kinda tried to explain my situation to her but she too wasn't particularly forth coming with help/advice & support. She suggested I speak to the vocational department and ask if they had any places available (even though they had turned me down when i applied via UCAS). I didn't even get a chance to explain why I didn't want to go down the vocational degree route anymore and that I'd actually been browsing the Uni website and noted they offered a combined arts degree with a variety of subjects I'm really interested in.

To top it off, the combined degree's criteria I actually fit. They state they accept students from all backgrounds and accept a passed Access course (which I have). I can't see the problem with allowing me to suspend my study and return in Oct 08 (without re-applying via UCAS) to join the combined arts degree.

I really need to get this sorted urgently I am really disappointed and really hoped I'd be able to stay at this Uni as I do like it.

misskool

Have you spoken to someone at the student union (welfare rep or similar), they should be able to advise you about changing courses.

You're only a few weeks into the course and you fit what you want to change into so unless the course is over-subscribed then they have no reason not to change you into it. It is in their interest to swap you to another course instead of you leaving the uni as then you'll be counted as a drop-out statistic which doesn't look good on the guides and tables.

Savvy_Sue

OK, so you don't want to do the course you originally applied for, but you are interested in something else. Get in touch with whoever administers the combined arts degree and see if they'll accept you. Do you really want to withdraw and come back next year, or would you like to see if you can transfer now? Either way, the sooner you clarify your position the better.