Options after dropping out of sixth form

Hello, I'm in year 12 and am struggling to cope with sixth form. I do Biology, Chemistry, and Sociology but I only enjoy Sociology and regret my other subject choices. My sixth form has said it's too late to change subjects and I increasingly want to drop out of sixth form due to the workload and exams.

If you dropped out of sixth form, what did you do next? How was it? Do you think it was a good decision? Thank you for your response in advance.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 1

curry0234

Original post by Songbird19

I left sixth form in Yr12 easter, a long time ago. I worked for a bit then did a part time level 3 NVQ and continued to work during and after. Suited me much better than A levels. Never wanted to go to uni much - although it would probably have given me a much higher income and more job choices if I had but I know that I wouldn’t have ever finished a degree even if I had started. Ive got enough brain power but really don’t enjoy studying and don’t have the self discipline needed for decent grades. I’m mid forties and still only on just above minimum wage. Have a house (with a mortgage) and kids and make a great lifestyle for us but it’s very much on a limited budget. Dropping out was right for me but definitely wouldn’t be good for everyone. I know I would never have finished with good grades.
There’s a lot of adult education/vocational courses/apprenticeships and access courses if you don't complete A levels and later decide you do want to go to uni or train in a different career - although later in life, you may end up having to make compromises or sacrifices to achieve that, as living situations and finances can make it harder than doing it now. Talk to your parents and teachers or head of sixth form. Don’t make a rash decision.

Thank you so much for your response. Similarly, I don't really enjoy studying and I feel like the jump in work and studying from GCSEs to A-levels is something I hadn't expected. (I knew that it would happen but actually experiencing it now is different.) I don't have an ideal career and am not sure about going to university.

I've talked to my parents and they want me to at least complete my A-levels. I haven't talked to my teachers but I will try to. I will keep your advice in mind.

Reply 2

BigFriendlyKid

Original post by curry0234

Thank you so much for your response. Similarly, I don't really enjoy studying and I feel like the jump in work and studying from GCSEs to A-levels is something I hadn't expected. (I knew that it would happen but actually experiencing it now is different.) I don't have an ideal career and am not sure about going to university.
I've talked to my parents and they want me to at least complete my A-levels. I haven't talked to my teachers but I will try to. I will keep your advice in mind.

im only in the same year as you so i cant give proper advice about what to do but if you do drop out of sixth form make sure to have a back-up plan. i presume youre already in the process of making one and thats good since anything can happen.

Reply 3

liveloveleyla

What about if you retake year 12?

I was in a similar situation and even though the journey to uni wouldve been longer, i still regret not dropping out of year 12 and going to a different sixth form to do btec health and social care with alevel psychology. Im in year 13 rn and i hate alevels. Ive hated them in year 12 and i hate them now. I only enjoy alevel psychology. Alevel religious studies is okay but its just content heavy and i have to sit 2 papers that are 3 hours long????? But oh my god i HATE alevel geography, i absolutely hate it. Im alright with the 20 marks but the subject overall.............. i absolutely hate it and i hate that i have to sit my geography papers the day before my psychology papers. Like i absolutely hate it. It makes me regret not dropping out and just doing alevel psychology + btec hsc. Every single day i have this regret and it kills me. Like i didnt even need to do alevel geography or religious study, I applied for childrens nursing.......NURSING!!!!!! I hate myself so much for not dropping out.

Alevels are tough, and honestly there is no worser feeling than you being in year 13 and only liking alevel sociology and disliking bio and chem. My friends do bio and chem and they are NOT enjoying themselves.

You could wait till year 12 finishes and then apply to a different sixth form. Or you could drop out and maybe find like a job or do your theory and then go sixth form and do alevel sociology and 2 different subjects? Either way there is no point in continuing with your alevels in year 13 if you know you dont like them. Year 13 is a tough and crucial year and ik you wouldve probably heard that already but year 13 can actually DRAIN YOU. Now imagine going through that with subjects you regret picking, it can kill your motivation to study and you will procrastinate alot (This is happening to me rn with my geography revision for my mock - it is honestly the worst feeling ever).

Please prioritize your health and wellbeing!!!

Reply 4

Songbird19

Original post by curry0234

Thank you so much for your response. Similarly, I don't really enjoy studying and I feel like the jump in work and studying from GCSEs to A-levels is something I hadn't expected. (I knew that it would happen but actually experiencing it now is different.) I don't have an ideal career and am not sure about going to university.
I've talked to my parents and they want me to at least complete my A-levels. I haven't talked to my teachers but I will try to. I will keep your advice in mind.

Perhaps having an idea of what you would do instead would be really useful for you and your parents? It may be concerning to them that without a plan you will procrastinate at home, becoming bored, isolated and unhappy. Perhaps look online at your local colleges and their courses and think about BTECs or T levels or NVQs etc. What careers, subjects or skills appeal? Not necessarily ones that you would commit to working in for 40 years but perhaps something that leads to a job or further training that might interest you for the next 5-10 years. You don’t need to have a life plan - just some kind of progress plan for the next few years. One step at a time!