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Thinking about dropping out of university

Hello all!

I’m currently in first year studying animation and visual effects, and I’m currently having second thoughts. There are several reasons for this; I don’t find art enjoyable anymore, partially because of my deteriorating mental health. I also worry a lot about my future career; it’d most likely be difficult to get a job once I finished uni. Instead I’m considering finishing the year so that I have a level 4 and something to fall back on, then take an access course and study medicine to become a psychiatrist. Although I’m not sure if I’d go through with that plan (I might just stay in university and do the 3 years), I’m wondering if it’s even a good idea just in case I do decide to drop out.

Reply 1

AimeeUni33

Hi, I did a similar course called concept art, and it really burnt me out after my foundation year, so I took a gap year and now I feel more ready to get back into university again after taking a break. I suggest taking a gap year before considering dropping out. :smile:

Reply 2

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

Original post

by phoenixtheblaze

Hello all!
I’m currently in first year studying animation and visual effects, and I’m currently having second thoughts. There are several reasons for this; I don’t find art enjoyable anymore, partially because of my deteriorating mental health. I also worry a lot about my future career; it’d most likely be difficult to get a job once I finished uni. Instead I’m considering finishing the year so that I have a level 4 and something to fall back on, then take an access course and study medicine to become a psychiatrist. Although I’m not sure if I’d go through with that plan (I might just stay in university and do the 3 years), I’m wondering if it’s even a good idea just in case I do decide to drop out.

You need to separate two different issues, and make the right decisions about each of them separately.

First off if your mental health and progressing with this course. Engage with your uni and ask them, you will have tutors and lecturers you can ask about your talent, development, options, taking a year out etc, and welfare teams you can talk to about MH support, either to keep you on the course, or to help identify and specific issues.

Entirely separate from that are career options. Frankly, if you are worried about options with your current degree, then your alternative doesn't make sense, because the chance of an Access course leading to medicine leading to psychiatry are vanishingly small in comparison. There are many, many ways you can take any creative degree, and you don't need to start that route immediately - you may graduate, earn some money in an admin role, or something not directly using your degree, but you continue developing your creativity, your portfolio, finding your niche and can get/create the creative role 5 or 10 years later.

(edited 11 months ago)

Reply 3

stilllearning123

Original post

by phoenixtheblaze

Hello all!
I’m currently in first year studying animation and visual effects, and I’m currently having second thoughts. There are several reasons for this; I don’t find art enjoyable anymore, partially because of my deteriorating mental health. I also worry a lot about my future career; it’d most likely be difficult to get a job once I finished uni. Instead I’m considering finishing the year so that I have a level 4 and something to fall back on, then take an access course and study medicine to become a psychiatrist. Although I’m not sure if I’d go through with that plan (I might just stay in university and do the 3 years), I’m wondering if it’s even a good idea just in case I do decide to drop out.

To be frank, and I don't want an argument, there is almost 0% chance that you ever manage to get onto any kind of medicine course. I don't know how you came to the conclusion that an art degree that you haven't even finished would get you into medicine, but it is an incorrect one.
Best of luck with your future.

Reply 4

University of Bath

Official Rep

Original post

by phoenixtheblaze

Hello all!
I’m currently in first year studying animation and visual effects, and I’m currently having second thoughts. There are several reasons for this; I don’t find art enjoyable anymore, partially because of my deteriorating mental health. I also worry a lot about my future career; it’d most likely be difficult to get a job once I finished uni. Instead I’m considering finishing the year so that I have a level 4 and something to fall back on, then take an access course and study medicine to become a psychiatrist. Although I’m not sure if I’d go through with that plan (I might just stay in university and do the 3 years), I’m wondering if it’s even a good idea just in case I do decide to drop out.

Hi there,

I'm really sorry to hear you're going through this. Please rest assured that its not uncommon to have difficulties with your mental health and have doubts about your course choice at uni, so you are absolutely not alone.

I would caution against making any big decisions until you've managed to get some support for your mental health. Your uni will probably have a wellbeing team - I would either reach out to them or arrange a meeting with your personal tutor so they can support you with this, this is exactly the kind of thing they're there for.

You clearly have a creative flair - if you are certain you are not finding your current degree enjoyable at all and this is not just a spillover from your general low mood, then there are other options available - you could take a break from your studies for a few months, you could take a gap year to give yourself a break, then either see if you can return, or if you like apply for a new course in the main cycle after your gap year.

I would also say that there will be lots of career paths open to you with an art-based degree. You could of course go onto work for an animation company such as Aardman, or if not then you could do something related such as visual marketing, copywriting, working for a magazine or newspaper, book editing/arranging, web designing, games art/design, or something to do with graphic design or working in television. You don't necessarily have to do something that directly relates to your degree if you don't want to.

I hope this helps, best of luck and keep strong because you have plenty of options 🙂

Holly
University of Bath

Reply 5

hallamstudents

Official Rep

Original post

by phoenixtheblaze

Hello all!
I’m currently in first year studying animation and visual effects, and I’m currently having second thoughts. There are several reasons for this; I don’t find art enjoyable anymore, partially because of my deteriorating mental health. I also worry a lot about my future career; it’d most likely be difficult to get a job once I finished uni. Instead I’m considering finishing the year so that I have a level 4 and something to fall back on, then take an access course and study medicine to become a psychiatrist. Although I’m not sure if I’d go through with that plan (I might just stay in university and do the 3 years), I’m wondering if it’s even a good idea just in case I do decide to drop out.

Hi there,

Uni can be a tricky time and it can be hard sometimes when you don't enjoy your course as much as you thought you were going to.

I would recommend talking to your uni about this. If you have an academic/employability advisor, they are usually good people to talk to about things like this as they are used to people feeling this way and will know how to support you. If not, talk to the careers team at your uni as they will have the best advice as they will know what options you might have after you finish the year.

I would always say that your mental health is extremely important so if you feel like the best thing for you to do is to drop out, this sounds like it will be a good idea. Again, I suggest talking to your uni about this as they will also be able to help you with this and see if there is anything they can do to make your uni experience better.

Have a look into other courses too that you might like as you may want to transfer courses? This is always an option and there may be some that you can transfer into second year if you would prefer to do this so it is worth having a look.

I hope some of this helps,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador 🙂