Dropped out of Uni due to stress. What do I put in a CV

CFrog

Having gained some really good grades at A Level (2A / 1B) my son went to University at 18. Although he found the first year a challenge, the combination of 'girlfriend issues' and his second year's coursework proved to be too much and he dropped out due to stress at the end of the 2nd year.

Since then however, he's been able to get things back on track. He lives away from home and fully supports himself; he's had continuous employment over the last 4 years and has been able to prove himself as a committed, motivated employee and is now in a position as a Manager in a Restaurant.

My question is over his time he spent at University and whether to record this in his CV or not; he's 'damned if you do and damned if you don't'. If he records the 2 years he spent at University in the CV then prospective employers will ask 'why didn't you finish the course?'; if he leaves it out then employers would spot the gap and ask 'what have you done for these 2 years?'. I know honesty is the best policy but having been on the receiving end of 100's of CVs I've not seen this situation recorded and wonder what approach should be taken.

Does anyone have any thoughts / experience on what he should do and how this time should be presented in a CV. TIA.

lincroft1710

After 2 years he decided the course was not what he wanted/would not lead to the career he really wanted etc

Les79

Does it matter like? At 18ish most people have little to no employment to speak of and so, for all intents and purposes, they could well have just spent 2 years sitting around in their boxer shorts in their parent's basement playing WoW.


Put it, don't put it, probably doesn't make much of a difference if he has 4+ years of employment and a managerial position to speak of.

Owain_Moneysaver

If he has 2 out of 3 years study he might want to consider checking with the OU if that can be credit transferred towards a degree or diploma with them.

diggingdude

Would he not be entitled to a certificate of higher education if he passed his first year? I wouldn't worry plenty of people leave uni

[Deleted User]

A lot of universities will credit you wil a certification of higher education if one year of study is completed and a diploma if two is completed so speak to them.

OU is another option if he wants to recommence in the future.

snowqueen555

He is not able to transfer those years into a similar discipline he might want to do, as some of my friends have done that? And as already mentioned, the first 1 or two should give you a qualification equivalent of a diploma, if he is able to get a certificate that would be great, and worth enquiring about.

Brynsam

If he's not actively job hunting, then not an immediate worry. Given another year or so of steady, responsible employment, potential employers aren't going to be that interest, so words to the effect of 'university experience was not for me' should suffice.

zagubov

It might be possible to transfer it to a sub-degree HE qual and that's well worth doing if possible.

While he was at uni, was he in employment as well?

Some jobs will not respect, or be downright suspicious of years apparently spent NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) at least partly as a gap could include a prison term.

It's quite respectable to mention time spent on an unfinished degree and to explain that it wasn't the correct path for you.

I've been doing that for thirty years and nobody's batted an eyelid about it.

Mrs_Soup

Definitely check if he is entitled to a lesser award as he then has something to show for it. Many employers in time will put it down to a year out or something I suspect. Did he have any part time work at that time as he could then put something like part time work/study on his CV?

System

The gap on his CV would ring alarm bells for me. Best be honest. He started the course, gave it his best shot but realised that it wasn't it his true calling. Withdrew before anymore money was invested and worked on an alternative direction he knew would suit much better. Positive spin.