Dropping out of University!!!

Hello, I kind of need advice. I am unsure whether I should drop out of university, I am studying Chemistry at Imperial College London but I hate it so much. I have already taken a gap year so I would be really behind and I am unsuer of what to do...

Reply 1

McGinger

20

Why do you want to drop out - because you dont like the degree subject, or you don't like Imperial, or you dont like London?

And what would you do instead - any ideas?

Reply 2

DrTom_Butler

5

Original post by Anonymous

Hello, I kind of need advice. I am unsure whether I should drop out of university, I am studying Chemistry at Imperial College London but I hate it so much. I have already taken a gap year so I would be really behind and I am unsuer of what to do...

Hi there,

First thing I would speak to your personal tutor and also those in the student support network at the University. You definitely won't be the first person who feels this way and they will have some helpful advice for you.

Are you first year or further into your degree?
What aspects of it are you not enjoying?
What could you do to change this/what needs to change?

These are important questions as you need to figure out exactly what you're looking for in a degree as you could maybe restart on another programme.

Don't worry about a gap year making you "behind". It doesnt. Who are you comparing yourself to? Ultimately getting the right degree is the important thing. For some it takes a little longer

Reply 3

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by McGinger

Why do you want to drop out - because you dont like the degree subject, or you don't like Imperial, or you dont like London?
And what would you do instead - any ideas?

I am not enjoying the content of the degree, I love London and I don't mind the university, I have made good friends so it's not anything to do with the social aspect and the only thing keeping me at Chemistry is the idea of being done in two years and not moving back to my boring old place back home. I think I would like to study economics and management but I fear that I won't get into a good university again if I drop out of imperial because it wont look good on my UCAS records

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by DrTom_Butler

Hi there,
First thing I would speak to your personal tutor and also those in the student support network at the University. You definitely won't be the first person who feels this way and they will have some helpful advice for you.
Are you first year or further into your degree?
What aspects of it are you not enjoying?
What could you do to change this/what needs to change?
These are important questions as you need to figure out exactly what you're looking for in a degree as you could maybe restart on another programme.
Don't worry about a gap year making you "behind". It doesnt. Who are you comparing yourself to? Ultimately getting the right degree is the important thing. For some it takes a little longer

I have spoken to my tutor but they haven't been much help, they have just advised me to withdraw. Yes, I have completed first year, and I am not enjoying the content, I like physical chemistry once I understand it but organic and inorganic i don't like, it is such a pain to learn and I feel like I need to put so so so many hours in to just understand it. I have already had to defer my first year exams to the late summer assessment period becuase I was not ready and I fear than year 2 and 3 will be even more difficult and I won't manage, I also don't like the long lab hours. I have been thinking over this over the whole summer and I can't make my mind up on it

Reply 5

DrTom_Butler

5

Original post by Anonymous

I am not enjoying the content of the degree, I love London and I don't mind the university, I have made good friends so it's not anything to do with the social aspect and the only thing keeping me at Chemistry is the idea of being done in two years and not moving back to my boring old place back home. I think I would like to study economics and management but I fear that I won't get into a good university again if I drop out of imperial because it wont look good on my UCAS records

How many universities look at UCAS records? Sometimes you have to try something before you really understand it's not for you. If your passion is economics then look to transfer onto this course at imperial. Or I'd start emailing other admission tutors at other unis and ask about available places.

Reply 6

DrTom_Butler

5

Original post by Anonymous

I have spoken to my tutor but they haven't been much help, they have just advised me to withdraw. Yes, I have completed first year, and I am not enjoying the content, I like physical chemistry once I understand it but organic and inorganic i don't like, it is such a pain to learn and I feel like I need to put so so so many hours in to just understand it. I have already had to defer my first year exams to the late summer assessment period becuase I was not ready and I fear than year 2 and 3 will be even more difficult and I won't manage, I also don't like the long lab hours. I have been thinking over this over the whole summer and I can't make my mind up on it

I wouldn't make a decision until you have explored your options. Uni is expensive so whatever you decide you need to make sure you have all the information about what any change will mean.

Reply 7

Reszit

3

Original post by Anonymous

I have spoken to my tutor but they haven't been much help, they have just advised me to withdraw. Yes, I have completed first year, and I am not enjoying the content, I like physical chemistry once I understand it but organic and inorganic i don't like, it is such a pain to learn and I feel like I need to put so so so many hours in to just understand it. I have already had to defer my first year exams to the late summer assessment period becuase I was not ready and I fear than year 2 and 3 will be even more difficult and I won't manage, I also don't like the long lab hours. I have been thinking over this over the whole summer and I can't make my mind up on it

If you're happy being a bum and working some dead end customer service role for the rest of your life sure go ahead. Nowadays it's hard to even get a job in Tesco.

Reply 8

ABBAForever2015

12

Drop out if you hate it, because it would be better than failing out. Many university graduates are struggling to get a job as employers no longer see bachelor’s degrees as some kind of talent or blessing. It would be better for you to get a few years more of work experience which would better your CV and give you an edge over university students of your age.

Reply 9

martin7

20

Original post by Anonymous

I am not enjoying the content of the degree, I love London and I don't mind the university, I have made good friends so it's not anything to do with the social aspect and the only thing keeping me at Chemistry is the idea of being done in two years and not moving back to my boring old place back home. I think I would like to study economics and management but I fear that I won't get into a good university again if I drop out of imperial because it wont look good on my UCAS records

You'll need to declare your studies at Imperial if/when you apply for a new course through Ucas, so whichever university you apply to next will know.

But people leave courses for all sorts of different reasons, and universities are not going to hold it against you if you drop out because you've decided you want to study something different.

Do you have a competitive set of A-level (or equivalent) grades for an economics and management course? It might be worth looking to see if there's anything still available in clearing; or alternatively take a year out (and get a job to earn some money) and apply through Ucas for 2025 admission.

Original post by Anonymous

Hello, I kind of need advice. I am unsure whether I should drop out of university, I am studying Chemistry at Imperial College London but I hate it so much. I have already taken a gap year so I would be really behind and I am unsuer of what to do...

Hi there,

I also agree with what has been said and I think you should talk to your personal tutor at uni and ask them what they think and explain to them how you are feeling. They will be able to talk to you about what you can do and how you can help solve this problem and whether this would be dropping out of uni or if they can offer you any other help. They are the best people to speak too as they will have the best knowledge of the uni and course etc and you can speak to them about how you are feeling.

It doesn't matter that you have already done a gap year, you can still drop out and start again at another university if you are unhappy. Your happiness is the most important thing so if you feel like you can't carry on where you are, it is important to consider all of your options to make sure you are protecting your mental health.

As you are in first year, you could drop out as you would still be able to get the funding needed to start again at another university and do another course. Usually, you can get funding for four years so another course would still be within this if you wanted to go to another uni.

Talk. to your family and friends about it as they know you the best and will want what is best for you too. There is no shame in dropping out though if you think this is the best thing for you and you can look into other universities at other courses, or look at other courses at the uni your are at now and see if there is anything else you think you would enjoy more as if there is it is worth doing this.

I hope some of this helps,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador.

Original post by Anonymous

Hello, I kind of need advice. I am unsure whether I should drop out of university, I am studying Chemistry at Imperial College London but I hate it so much. I have already taken a gap year so I would be really behind and I am unsuer of what to do...

Hi 👋,

I totally agree with what has been already said, I would say try not to rush into a decision, speak to advisors at your university about your options and consider what you would do instead of Chemistry.

I would speak to your friends and family as they will be able to support you the best as they know how to support you the best.

Please don't worry about feeling behind everyone is on their own journey of which they all take place at different paces.

I hope this helps,

Matt
Wrexham Uni Reps

Dropping out of University!!!

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