Is this degree a waste of my time?

Hey, so I'm attempting to apply to uni for September but suffer with anxiety and depression so having a tough time committing to something as it all seems a bit pointless and I'm terrified of making a mistake.

I like nature and animals and have found a course which is BSc Agriculture which seems quite interesting and varied (has economics and finance modules etc.). Its offered at some decent unis as well (Reading, Nottingham, Newcastle) but it just feels rubbish and a bit of a joke degree so i dont know what to do.

I dont really have any academic interests, nor do i have any particular careers in mind, so i really don't have a clue what to study. I don't really want to do something thats not going to get me anywhere in the long run, and i dont have a farm/want to work as a farm hand. I honestly have no idea what to do and feel due to my grades i should be doing something considered more academic like chemistry, but dont know if ill enjoy it.

I know I dont have to rush into anything but I've already had a gap year and am no closer to discovering a passion or figuring out what i want to do.

Help please..

Reply 1

queenoftheiceni

Hey,
I'm gonna preface this with the fact that I know absolutely nothing about Agricultire degrees but I am applying to study Liberal Arts so I know a bit about the 'useless' degrees dilemma. I'm personally torn between a nice respectable History degree at a good uni or a Liberal Arts degree that no one has ever heard of and sounds like a joke about pointless courses. However, Liberal Arts is what has really caught my attention and the course content is something I'd genuinely be interested in spending three years of my life doing. Agriculture is big business and there are plenty of roles within agriculture innovation that wouldn't require you to work on a farm. Chemistry is a respectable degree but it's a lot of pressure to put yourself under for a degree you don't know you've got any interest in. I also suffer from anxiety and it means I overthink all of my decisions but sometimes you've just got to pick a course of action and stick to it because it's better than doing nothing. I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to do with a Liberal Arts degree, if indeed I do take one, but hopefully it'll show me some options I haven't thought of before and bring me closer to deciding what I want to do with my life and, if it doesn't, I guess I'll just have to try again! Maybe agriculture could do the same thing for you?
Good luck with whatever you do next,
Izzy

Original post by Anonymous

Reply 2

Sabz152

Don't really know much about agriculture either but if u have the grades and you did chemistry and enjoyed it then why not chemistry? It could lead to a comfortable job and livelihood. If you have anxiety problems then you might start regretting doing agriculture if it doesn't give u the best of jobs. Chemistry is respectable and u have stated that u want something that will take u far in the long run. Do some research and if u seriously feel that agriculture is for u and brings in some job prospects than go with ur heart.

Original post by Anonymous

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

The trouble is i don't really have the desire to pursue any particular subject to degree level. I have no real academic passions/interests and part of me thinks i want to go to uni just to have a degree, and also for the experience (my home life is very lonely and quiet) neither of which are good reasons. I got bloody good A Levels (3A*) in sciences/maths so realistically could apply anywhere and just feel like getting a mediocre degree from a mediocre uni is a waste of that. On the other hand i don't know what id do instead and don't feel smart enough for a tough degree (anxiety related probably).
Its a tough one..

Reply 4

doodle_333

Original post by Anonymous

Personally I think you should go for a degree which is more in line with your academic ability. There are plenty of graduate programs which don't ask for specific degrees and so would accept agriculture but they're generally not the most competitive schemes. If you want more options I would choose something which will be more highly respected. If you're worried about pressure then choose a russel group rather than Oxbridge and that should help - with 3A* you should be more than capable of a 2.1 russel group degree in STEM. You will probably end up with a better paid and more exciting job.

Reply 5

Mr Moon Man

If you like animals then maybe you could do veterinary medicine?

Reply 6

chikane

If you are not sure why not take a year out then decide instead of wasting it on a degree you are not sure of.

Reply 7

Anonymous #1

Dont know what stem degree i'd do though. this is my whole issue. I don't want to do something i hate..none of my a levels were particularly enjoyable i was just good at them.
I also don't want to be a vet having done work experience at practices. I want a life rather than a vocation that requires my whole commitment (that and cutting animals up isn't really my thing)

Reply 8

~Tara~

I think anxiety and depression makes it harder to make any decision.

The thing about likes and dislikes is that they change over time as we grow and change ourselves. So there are aspects of our job we hate when we're young that we want and thrive on later. It's not realistic that you'll love what you do all the time and uni is about learning what you like

When I was younger I made mistakes over degree choice. I started a health and social care degree but my mental health couldn't cope. I tried maths, economics, English language because I was good at them or wanted job with lots of money. I did enjoy them but I enjoy learning in general. But I had no passion for them. Until I discovered counselling and then I picked psych degree. I left high school in 2003 and it took me ten years to discover what I wanted to do with my life. I'm now a qualified therapist and in second yr of bsc hoping to ride the academics all the way through to PhD level. Not everything has to be right now. Not least because it now costs £54000 to get 3 year degree if you're from low income background

Reply 9

Nirvana1989-1994

I think you've been listening to the 'STEM or die' people, too much.

Reply 10

username2137363

Original post by chikane

If you are not sure why not take a year out then decide instead of wasting it on a degree you are not sure of.

I agree on this - during the gap year, they can get some experience working, do some overseas volunteering etc. and just work on perhaps healing from their issues with help. It could give them more perspective and give them a better idea of what to do.

You said you like nature and animals - there are internships/volunteering programmes which are abroad that focus on nature and animal conservation, perhaps that's something that would be interesting to do. You could also do some volunteering in those fields, ie. perhaps work at an animal shelter or so. :smile:

Reply 11

Anonymous #1

I've had a gap year...I left year 13 in 2015. It didn't really help tbh if anything I'm more confused and reluctant to go

Reply 12

Len Goodman

Zoology would be a far better bet than agriculture if you're interested in animals. Or go for something general like biology and then specialise in something along the lines of ecology or marine biology at Masters level.

Reply 13

Roxy1331

Original post by Anonymous

If you got 3 A*s at A levels, why would you not be smart enough for a tough degree?

Reply 14

Anonymous #1

I started a biology degree and found it absolutely awful so dropped out. Thinking back it was probably my least favourite A level so dont know why i thought it was a good idea.
I definitely don't want to do biology again, and zoology is pretty much a biology degree minus a few plant modules.
It has also made me really doubt my ability as i found it really over my head...and everyone seems to say biology is by far the easiest science so thats not encouraging. Another thing with my anxiety is its made my memory really bad and unpredictable. I didn't suffer from it whilst at school but i think if i did A levels again now i wouldn't do anywhere near as well :/

Reply 15

Anonymous #1

Original post by Len Goodman

Biology was my least favourite subject..i soldiered through it towards the end of A2. Also ive been recommended by someone who's studies zoology not to do it because the job prospects are grim