Wrong College Course

LegacyUser

Ok here’s my story, quite frankly am puzzled and totally depressed about it. Completed the leaving cert back in 2002, got more points than I ever hoped and got offered the my dream course, the one I had my eyes on since the first career guidance we got the book (2nd year I suppose). Due to various things last September, I decided to defer for a year, worked a bit and went to America. A fulfilling experience that I do not regret. For whatever reason during the year, I changed my mind. Convinced myself I hated Dublin, that I could do a similar course elsewhere, save a good bit of money on living expenses etc. Cancelled the deferral and applied for another course through the CAO. I suppose even then I knew I was doing something stupid

So now I find myself 4 weeks into the wrong course, not quite knowing what do to do. Quite simply impossible to discuss it to the point that I fear weekends, sets off a shouting match between me/my mum/my dad/my sister (who actually finds the whole thing hilarious). According to them, “I’m just being lazy”, “will never do anything with my life if I drop out”…

smiaras

This post has been deleted.

logic

If you don't like it, drop it. Trust me, at least you have the option, when I was in college I didn't have the points to do what I wanted. Ended up doing something else. Hated it but done anyway. Now Im working in the area I originally wanted and
love it but I could be much further ahead if I had of done it in
college...

sunbeam

If you're really certain the course is not for you then I'd say drop it. Take it from one who didn't-it would be much easier to cut your losses now than carry on regardless and try to change track later.

If you're just uncertain I'd suggest you have a chat with one of the student counsellors at your college-they deal with students in your situation all the time. Actually this might be a good idea even if you're fairly sure you want to leave the course, especially if you would consider transferring to a different course in the same college.

Cake Fiend

If you're only four weeks into the course, there's a good chance you might be able to switch to another course as sunbeam mentioned. Whatever you want to do, make sure you talk to your dean/yearhead/whatever they call them these days, and/or a student counsellor before you make a decision you might later regret.

Oriel

Don't be scared to drop the course. There's no point in doing something you don't like; in anything - job, uni - if things concern your long term interest, then do what you want to do, whatever interests you. That's the main thing.

Up here in the north, we get a loan instead of a grant. So after a year of university, if you still don't like the course, you're maybe £3000 (€4500) debt either way. And that's going to take a while to pay that back, nevermind a 4/5 year course. I'm going to be coming out of Uni £16,000-£20,000 in debt - that could be as much as €30,000...
And then you start at the bottom of the wage scale...Yay! :-|

...oh, and add interest to that.

Do what interests you. Something that you can see yourself doing in 10/20 years time.
But then again, how many people can put their hands up and say that they ended up doing what they planned to do since school?

Sinecure.

hedgetrimmer

I know personally, and know of a load more, people who switched courses more than once in 1st year - and even in their final year. The colleges are quite understanding about this in general - they are aware that nobody can really make a fully informed decision in school without having experienced what the topic they choose on the CAO is really about.

The best thing you can do is talk to one of your professors after a lecture, tell him/her about your uncertainties. They'll talk to you about your options and direct you to various other people who can help.

The vital thing is ACT NOW. before you caught up in exams.

Good luck

Imposter

I'd have to agree with the others here. I changed course after second year and had to go back to first year in my new course but it was the best decision I ever made.

The quicker you act the better the possibility of changing this year. Otherwise the best thing you could do would be to drop out start working and apply through CAO for next year. That way you'll make some cash that can be used against the fees.

If you continue with the course you don't want to do you'll possibly end up repeating loads of exams - ruining your summers as a result -, run quite a high risk of failing the year and generally make yourself miserable.

The best person to talk to if the set-up exists in your college is your tutor. Failing that there should be some student body that can help with this type of thing.

Try and sit your parents down and discuss it seriously as well. If your sister keeps making a joke of it then try and do this when she's not there. I'm sure your parents will understand if you show them that you really have thought about it.

bandraoi

if you're doing science, engineering or medicine you're usually able to interchange them till the end of first year provided you have the points originally required - talk to the Dean or year head.

p.pete

From the initial post I didn't quite grasp whether you are in the wrong course or the wrong city? I got the impression you switched to the same type of thing but a different location?

No shame in dropping out but try have something lined up first - otherwise your just going to get more crap from the folk around you about laziness and lack of direction and the whole thing gets depressing.

If you are happy with the college but can see something else that might suit you better then go for it. It is a lot easier from inside the system then from the outside.

ferdi

off topic/

whats going on here??!! started college a few weeks back, its sh!te!! best years of your life my arse

LegacyUser

I was in the same position as yourself a couple of years ago. I hated the course i was in- even though the college itself was good i suppose. Everyone said it would be stupid for me to drop out, but i did. 8 Months later i started another course in another college. Flew through the course, thoroughly enjoyed it. Best decision i ever made was to quit the first course

Thats just MY experience. I'm just saying, leaving one course isnt the end of the world, but it can seem it at the time, even though it may be the right choice.

Good luck in whatever you decide

Lennoxschips

I'm three years into a course I hate, and if I could go back to the first four weeks of the first year to change courses then I'd do it in a flash!

embraer170

whats going on here??!! started college a few weeks back, its sh!te!! best years of your life my arse

I'm actually kinda thinking the same, not to the point of dropping out or anything but if I think of the fun life I had 24 months ago.

p

Just so you know, if you defer the year now, then go into another course next year (or decide you wanna try that course again) you probably will fin dyou won't have to pay the full amount of fees (4000) but you have to do that pretty much now.

I'd say at the very least defer for a year and it'll give you time to think about it. Maybe you could go do a PLC or cert or similar for a year in an area and that'd help you decide.

Basically, defer & you'll have all the itme in the world to see what you're at.

From my own POV, I spent two years in a course that I enjoyed but wasn't quite right, transferred to another and am very glad I changed, and graduating this year.

Good luck,

- Kevin