I've chosen the wrong course, what do I do?

I have made quite a few mistakes and we're only Six weeks in to the first year.

one: Living in halls, huge mistake. and already I have decided to move out and commute from my mothers house

two: I chose 2 fields. Journalism and creative writing. the Journalism is great, the creative writing is awful! I just dont understand it, I am not enjoying it and I am lagging behind because I have already missed so many classes due to this. I asked about changing to full field but the class is already way over filled so there is no chance

three: I dont like the University. I am beginning to wish I had stayed closer to home and with the people I already know and am comfortable with.

I just dont know what to do, I dont know what my options are.

What happens if I transfer?

Do I have to inform my LEA and student finance? Will my loan be affected and how so?

Will I get another loan if I pack it all in and start again in September 2007, new school - new course - fresh start?

I am not keen on starting all over again, I'm already 23 and will graduate at 26, graduating at 27 will really upset me and my parents. But I know if I keep going with this course I am just going to fail. I've already missed so many classes and have fallen behind already

Reply 1

Badassbabe

Hi, I know how you feel! I don't feel happy with my course or university at all (Anthropology at Sussex) and I feel really down about it. :frown:

Don't worry about your age at graduation too much; I'm 3 years older than you so will be 29 or 30 when I finish my degree!!
The best advice I can give you is talk to someone at your university (like a tutor or student advisor) and get them to explain what all of your options are. I'm in the process of doing that and it looks like I might start another degree next year.
With the financial situation, I think that the LEA funding gives you the opportunity to start another degree if your first attempt does not work out. But please double check that!
Just hang in there, if you have decided that university is the life for you then I'm sure you'll find what you really want to do :smile:

PM if you fancy a chat about this x

Reply 2

Greenmile

Hi
Please don't talk anymore about age as it is making me depressed!!!!!! I am much older than you so you've got nothing to worry about.

You will get funding for the length of your course plus 1 year. So if you drop out now, you will still get funding for the length of your new course. If you need to repeat any further years, you would still get the loan, but no grants or fee loan.

How your money is affected depends on how you were assessed. If you were entitled to any grants, chances are you will have to pay some of it back. Your loans and grants are calculated from the date of withdrawal, so once withdrawn, you will get new notifications showing your entitlement for the period attended. It is unlikely that you would be asked to pay any of the loan back even if you are overpaid. (unless you get a job and after April you are earning more than £15k).

You could stick it out for the year, and still transfer or reapply for next year (obviously if you are going to reapply you need to do so before 15th January). Another uni may even accept you into the 2nd year if you successfully complete year 1 of your current course.

I'm sure your parents will understand if you explain to them how unhappy you are. And to be honest, one more year will fly by (they get quicker as you get older!)

If you do decide to leave you must inform your LEA straight away in writing (or CO1 form), as it is a condition of your loan that you inform them of any changes straight away. Still receiving the money if you are no longer entitled to it could be seen as trying to defraud the system, and you don't want that!

Whatever you decide to do, good luck with it. But it is better to withdraw now than continue with a degree that you may not pass because you don't like a large element of it. At least if you withdraw this year you will still get funding for a new course.

Reply 3

Myco

Hi, I hated my first year too. It was all very confusing when compared to the Access course at college and I didn't really know anyone.

I'm doing Microbiology, and the biochemistry and genetics components were really difficult and I hated them.

When I went for my induction to the second year the professor told us that if we really wanted to change course then now was the time to let them know, so just hang in there!

Reply 4

adm111

Don't panic is the first thing. This has happened to many students in the past and the university you are at will have dealt with it many times before.

The first you need to do is tell someone. This could be your tutor, student services or the undergrad office. Whomever you speak to, they should be able to advise the steps you must take to change course.

Do that first and follow the advice they give you. It won't be a problem for your LEA or university. You shouldn't lose funding so don't worry.

Happy Xmas

Reply 5

FloraJayne

i have kind of the same problem.
i have chosen to take a degree in social work and have been given a conditional offer to my uni of choice. but now i think i have made the wrong choice!

i'm interested in creative writing and would consider taking a degree in it. however im not totally sure! its now too late to reapply through ucas and i dont know how i go about changing my option. i still want to go to the same uni, but on a different course.
would they let me change the course i have chosen do you think?

i would find out off them but i'm worried that they either won't let me swap courses or will then reject me from the social work degree as i am not commited enough! help!

Reply 6

Mav

As far as I am aware once you have an offer it cannot be withdrawn so I wouldn't worry too much about losing your offer.

What you have to remember is the area you choose to go into is going to be (possibly) for the rest of your working life. I did a whole year of a nursing diploma before I realised I was kidding myself.. I loved the study aspect but hated the ward work.. (not ideal in nursing..) so dropped out.. spent another year getting an idea of what I really wanted to do, and am due to start LLB Law at Nottingham in September. The amount of money you spend on this degree is too much if you are not sure.. I am 28 now and will be 31 when I graduate but at least I know its what I really really want to do.

If I was you, keep your offer but do talk to them about the possibility of swaping courses, then take some time, perhaps do some work experience in whatever it is you think you want to do eventually..

Hope this helps..

Reply 7

southern

I have a similar problem. I realised I had chosen the wrong course in mid July. I called the Uni to inform I wanted to study one of their other courses. They agreed to swap me over without going through UCAS but informed me I needed to inform Student Finance once I had enrolled. Now Ive gone to enrol and the Uni havent put me on the course I wanted and im worried im stck in a course I dont want.

I thought I made them aware in good time, even before clearing had started and they even told me this was fine. The problem I have now is the course I want to study is very popular and because of this oversight on the universities part, im concerned ive no chance of getting on the course. I'm 28 yo now so I really dont want to delay starting my degree for a year.