I'm this close...

beed84

... to quitting uni. I'm a mature student (30) and currently have a general dislike towards academia, and I'm also finding it difficult to enjoy my course.  Part of me just wants to get a job and do the things I enjoy doing; the other part of me wants to persevere as I know how rewarded I'd feel if I actually got the degree.

Anyone else been in a similar position?  If so, what were you subsequent actions?

  

ThorpyFX

I would say this, it is always better to finish what you start. Unless you are desperately miserable, the reward is worth the effort.

fretmeister

I was a mature student.

Wasn't a fan at the beginning. Loved it by the end, and then the post-grad too.

thumpingrug

I know a guy who quit uni after the first term.  He didn't think he was learning anything that was of use and that he could get more experience by working.  This was 3 years ago.  He's been stuck in a dead end job since.  Other students who stuck with it suddenly saw a massive step up in learning and technical skill in year 2.  During year 3 they went on industry placements and many are now working in top companies as a result of the contacts they made.  

Take a long term view.  

mart

I often talk with people in this situation, and the questions I usually ask are: 

Why did you decide to do the degree in the first place? 

Will you be better off in the short term if you go and get a job?

And what about the medium term?

If you're aiming for a degree just for the satisfaction of getting it, I'd expect you to struggle for motivation. If you're doing it to get better long term career opportunities, then motivation should be easier to find.

It'd be nice to enjoy your course. But if the pay-off is good enough, then maybe it's worth enduring the course even if you can't enjoy it? It does depend on whether the unpleasant aspects of the course will also feature in the career you're aiming for, or if they're just part of the studying.

In any case, it's a big and difficult decision, so good luck with it.

John_P

Many times,  whether studying or at work.   Always stick it out until a course is finished or there is a genuine alternative I would say.

A few questions to mull over...
How long have you got left to go?  
Will it make a tangible difference in your career progression?  
What changed between choosing the course in a subject you (I hope) like?   
Is the problem the subject or the style of the course?   (and does the Uni have support in place?)
Can you work in the field you are thinking of working part time so you don't have to quit Uni (best of both worlds).

beed84

Good advice, guys.  Thanks.

The first year of the course was great.  I enjoyed most of the modules and the tutors are superb.  2nd year has certainly gone up a gear. The modules are just as interesting but much heavier in terms of content and workload, which I guess is understandable.

I know I want to finish the course irrespective of how I feel about it, and I know I'm capable of doing so.  It's more to do with struggling to engage - my head is all over the place at the moment.  The 4 month break and being separated from the people I was originally living with hasn't helped - I'm a routinely person and the change has genuinely been horrible. 

I'm not certain whether or not I'll work in field I'm studying in (English Language & Linguistics); however, any degree is surely a good degree.  I'd like to think it'd help with any career I choose to pursue. Something I still don't know!

Anyway, I've booked a tutorial for tomorrow.  Hopefully that'll be of some help.  

Until then I'm off to sort my head out and watch Coronation Street.

Again, thanks for the advice.  It gives me something to reflect on.  Here you go, all have a well-earned wisdom 

Bogwhoppit

beed84 said:

Anyone else been in a similar position?  If so, what were you subsequent actions?

  

I'm still in the same position. Past 50 and have MAS ( Masters acquisition syndrome) along with GAS. Although my current MA is hard going.

Drew_TNBD

Is it because of all the feminazi's making you feel like a useless piece o' poo-poo because of your testicles?

ICBM

I dropped out of Uni nearly thirty years ago. I had picked the wrong course to start with - Astrophysics, out of what seems now like almost wilful self-destructivity - found it both very hard and boring (a bad combination, I think I could have handled one or the other, but not both), changed to a simpler but duller course (General Physics), still not really interesting, then changed to one (Electrical Engineering) I thought would have some more practical real-world application, but found it came with a compulsory half course of Thatcherite economics ('Business Management') which I detested and didn't see why I needed… I didn't want to run a business, I wanted to be an engineer. I finally just walked away in frustration and got a job - somewhat ironically as a science lab technician, although in a school rather than university.

I'm still not sure if I regret it. Possibly. I failed to finish something I'd started, which is not like me - I did try to make it work for three years, but in the end it just wasn't the right thing for me, largely for reasons of my own making. I have occasionally wondered about going back, but I suspect I'd just find the same problems with myself again and life seems too short. If I did, I think I'd have to try something completely different.

I'm not sure if that's advice to stick with it or not! I think it is - or at least not to make the same mistakes I did.

Grunfeld

beed84 said:

Anyone else been in a similar position?  If so, what were you subsequent actions?

  

I was a mature student with a young family when the money ran out and I nearly had to quit in my final year.  It was desperate.  I was going to have to go back to motorcycle despatch riding just to pay the rent.

Someone found some cash in a hardship fund and I'm so glad they did.  Got my degree; qualified as a physio.  Been a good choice overall. 

Stick at it.

ThorpyFX

That sounds like a great degree to have, certainly one that'll raise your overall wage earning potential

Drew_TNBD

Without university, I'd be dead. Or a serial killer.

mart

beed84 said:

...

I'm not certain whether or not I'll work in field I'm studying in (English Language & Linguistics); however, any degree is surely a good degree.  I'd like to think it'd help with any career I choose to pursue. Something I still don't know!

Anyway, I've booked a tutorial for tomorrow.  Hopefully that'll be of some help.  

...

Chatting with your tutor is a very good idea. Also talk with someone in the careers service to get a clearer idea of what options are open to you now, and what might be open to you if you get that degree.

But no snap decisions, so yes, watching Corrie is a very sensible idea.

Evilmags

Hated chemistry, loved being a student. Did a specialised masters in Austrian Economics this year, loved every minute and got 95% and passed go to write a thesis. I'm 43 but not particularly mature...

thomasross20

Got my 5 year Masters in 2007 (electronics & electrical engineering) and it's opened so many doors. 

However I went on to do PhD-type study and hated the academia side. I quit and it was the best thing I ever did - well... I actually deferred and got an Msc, so got something out of it!

If it'll pay off, stick with it. 

Drew_TNBD

Drew_fx said:

Without university, I'd be dead. Or a serial killer.

People LOL, but I was absolutely being 100% genuine.

Gulliver

I think the biggest problem I had was that by and large most students are cunts...

beed84

Gulliver said:

I think the biggest problem I had was that by and large most students are cunts...

Ahhhh now we're getting to the crux of the matter.

johnnyurq

Drew_fx said:

Drew_fx said:

Without university, I'd be dead. Or a serial killer.

People LOL, but I was absolutely being 100% genuine.

We only have your word for it that you are not the latter. 

Erstwhile mature student here too with a young family and due to being permanently skint (despite part time work), pissed off frequently amd doubted why I bothered.

Only meant to do 1 or 2 years to retrain due to redundancy etc and ended up doing 5 years from foundation to degree, 1 year was away from home for the final degree year.

It sucked majorly and had many points over the 5 years where I was where you are now and near quitting.

Nil desperandum and as others have said at least finish the year you are on and decide what next then.

Plus if a thicko non academic like me can make it with perssitence and hard work anyone can.

Good luck mate and I hope it all gose well.

stickyfiddle

FWIW I came extremely close to walking out of uni a couple of times but stuck it out. I'm glad I stayed, but sometimes still wonder if I'd have been better going elsewhere or at least changing courses. That said, I now have a wife I met at uni, a decent job and a good CV.

How are you performing academically, if you don't mind? Is it just lack of enjoyment, or also struggling with course material?