Picked the wrong course

LegacyUser

I'm in my final year of 4 year course, and in the last few months I've come to the horrible conclusion that I picked the wrong one.

When I was in secondary school all I wanted to do was something art related. I wanted to go to art college and even began working on a portfolio. My parents were not at all impressed and had a big talk with me about The Future and how useless art degrees are and how it would be impossible for me to do one as I'd have to move away from home to go to a college, and that they would not support me at all and I didn't have enough savings to move out with zero financial help from my parents. Between them and the careers counsellor at my school I was told it would be a waste of time and money to do what I wanted as I was quite a good student and it was assumed I would get 500+ points in my Leaving.

So I made my parents happy, got my 500+ points and did a course which was only slightly art-related and local. First year was easy and I thought I might actually like the course but from second year on I was miserable. The course focuses more on technical stuff, theory, things which I have absolutely zero interest in. I made it through the first three years but I'm now in my final year and faced with a load of work to do and I absolutely hate every aspect of the course. I lie awake at night worrying about the projects because no matter how much work I put in, it's all automatic and the lecturers can tell. The course, in addition to being of no interest to me, is pretty much useless in terms of getting a job- the college doesn't help with work placements, it's a saturated market, etc.

I can't confide in my parents because they've supported me throughout the years (I have a job and a grant that cover all my own college/other expenses, but they've allowed me to live at home rent-free) and if I dropped out at this late stage it would be like I'd wasted 3 years of my life and their money. My mother constantly refers to my leaving cert results, how I'll be the first of my family to earn a degree, how proud she is that I've never had to repeat an exam or a subject or anything like that. I can't let her down like this. Not to mention that if I do somehow stick it out and get the degree, I don't want to work in this field- but she's expecting me to be able to walk into a wonderful well-paying job after college.

In addition to this, quite a few of my friends ended up going to art college and it makes me so jealous seeing how happy and satisfied they are.

I just don't know what to do, if I'd realised how wrong this course was for me in the first or second year I could have done something about it, but I feel trapped now. I haven't told a single person how I feel because I've put so much energy into pretending I was happy with what I was doing, like all my friends are with their courses. If anyone has been in a similar situation I'd really appreciate some advice. I know life doesn't begin and end with college but this is dominating my thoughts and stressing me out so much- since september I've lost a lot of weight and I can't sleep. When/If I finish in June I'll be almost 22. Have I really screwed up my life?

JCB

Damn it I had just typed out a huge reply but it timed out on me grrrr...

To summarise:
1) You really are very young, so don't worry about screwing up your life. Even if you did another degree which lasted 4 years you'd only be 26. 66-26=40years so please don't think so far ahead.

2) I think you should finish the degree and not because of your parents or the three years you've 'wasted' doing it.
The reason to finish it is becuase of post-graduate conversion diplomas/masters which are only 1to2 years long and to the same standard as a degree. These are only available to graduates, regardless of what your degree is and are available in so many areas from teaching, to business, to art or arts etc...

3)I'd ask you to stop the anxiety and contact your careers office to learn more about the opportunities ahead for you. You appear to have great ability, so don't hate life or yourself. You'll feel much better with a plan in front of you - a new course in an area you like - to help you get through these tough few months. It will be worth it.

WildIrishRose

hey, well its really late and i should be sleeping. Was just about to put the laptop away untill i seen your post.
I'm in my final year and i get my degree in about 6 mths. However I do like my course and the industry i am getting myself into, but i have decided to really reconsider my options. This is my fourth year in college also, I have only told one other person ( my mam ) about this..... just incase i dont do what i intend to. Luckly for me my parents have been very supportive and my mam knew what i was going to tell her even before i said it. It is a total career change..... but at least i have my degree. I'm still very young and i have it to fall back on if my other option doesnt work out. Please discuss this with your parents and do look into the other career paths as regards to Lecturing etc. Don't live to regrett something else you want to do and think you would be really good at and much more content.
Good Luck

The Sweeper

You sound like me. I would have loved to go to NCAD and even my art teacher lamented me not going - I got an A in Art in my leaving, but my mom thought art school was only for aspiring painters and didn't understand about the inroads into the immense fields of design and the number of industries design is used in and so on and so forth. She just went "Sure you're not good enough to be a painter" and that was that, off to Journalism school I went to capitalise on my other strength, English.

1) Get your degree.
2) Start looking into MA courses in something you'd love to do.
3) Relax. You're 22.

I started a four year journalism course at the age of 17, left it three months into my fourth year, (that made me unpopular I can tell you). Then I took an 18 month sabbatical and worked, returned to college and finished the degree (so six years instead of four), then never used the degree - in other words the only time I ever worked as a journalist per se was on my university work placement. My mistake then at the age of 23 was then deciding not to build on the foundation my degree gave me, or get a further qualification in something I actually DID want to do.

Instead I went from rubbish, vaguely-degree-related job to even more rubbish, vaguely-degree-related job. I went through public relations, event management, marketing, conference organising and editing. None of them do anything for me. I even spent a while in project management, and that bored and frustrated me too.

These days I'm the admissions officer at the local hospital here in rural Australia in the mornings, and an editing transcriber in the afternoons. If you asked me when I was 21 "Where do you see yourself in 10 years?" I wouldn't have pegged where I am now for a second!!

10 years on I still pine for art college now and again, and resort to cookery and cultivating edible plants to stem my creative urges.

You're 22. You have your entire life ahead of you. What you're doing now - trust me - it won't be a big deal in 10 years. Don't let notions of "owing people" for supporting you or "doing what's right" or any of that - don't let those notions screw things up for you. Try to think logically and practically.

Suck it up and finish the degree, but then look at doing something you'd LOVE to do. If you're not sure what you'd love to do, look at doing a job, or some work experience even, in a field you THINK you'd like to get into.

Seriously though - you have to see this as the huge opportunity it is, not just the end of life as you know it.

the dee

Hi OP. I'm kind of in the same situation as you too. I did a BA and MA in Philosophy - almost completely useless in traditional professional fields. I did enjoy my BA course but didn't like the MA at all. I considered dropping out but my mum had paid 5k+ for me in college fees and I didn't want to let her down (I'm her wonder child!) So I stuck with it. I don't want to work in my field at all any more. I'm pursuing other options in the field of animal care / welfare which I'm really enjoying.

Basically, I take the attitude that you can change career paths at any time, have a go at what you really love. If it doesn't work out remember that once you have a degree you have it for life. You will always be qualified in that field and it will always stand to you.

Stick with it and finish the course - there's only a few months left I assume. Then follow your dream as far as it will take you. You'll always have your degree to fall back on. You only live once.

dellas1979

First of all you are 21.

Second of all, at least you know what you want to do.

Thats half the battle there.

Ok. So, finish your current L8 degree (you be finished by May?).

If not, you may withdraw at this stage and get half your registration fees back (I presume you have not paid tuition fees).

In order to get into Art college, you need to apply to the CAO for 1st year by Feb 1st. Go to cao.ie. You cannot apply as a mature student as you do not qualify. You also need to get a porfolio ready. You can do this in the meantime.

As you have completed 3 years at this stage of a L8 degree (and half year 4), you will need to pay tuition fees if you go do another L8 degree. i.e As youve done 3 years already, you will need to pay roughly 2,260 per year (for 3 years and possibly half tuition fees for year 4 if you pull out now. If you finish year 4 you will pay all 4 years) plus registration fee (tuition fee and reg fee will depend on if its a Uni, IT etc).

So please be prepared for this. You will not be entitled to another grant. In a nutshell, and as bad as it sounds, youve had your chance and free fees at college so they will make you pay.

But money aside, I think its great that you know what you want to do, and I think that regardless of what your parents think, you should go for it.

Overheal

I fully agree with the idea of going to your career counsellor - nothing gets you better situated in the head again then to look around the next corner. In this case: find a position suitable for your qualifications that you would enjoy.

niceoneted

My advice is to finish off the degree and look at it as a means to an end. I didn't finish a course off when I left school - mind you it was only a cert but when I went back to college at night I was surprised how it would have helped me to progress quicker. I have subsequently done some night courses including a degree but I have never done what I truely wanted to. Last year I promised myself I was going back to college and was looking at the prospect of giving up a well paid job to do a 4 year undergrad full time course. When I approached the college it turned out there was a part time conversion course I could do as I already had a degree even though its unrelated.
All going well I'll be starting that course soon and will be qualified 2 yrs earlier and also have the prospect of full time wages while I study as its a part time course.
I know it's hard to see the benefit of what your doing at the moment but it could well stand to you when you go on to do what you truely want to. It's just a matter of trying to focus a bit of energy to get it completed. It's only another few months.
Best of luck and keep the chin up.

sunnyjim

Hey OP, I dropped out after 3 years doing a teaching course for second level. My parents had encouraged me to do it, because they didn't like my alternative plans (join an army)....

Now I'm doing an ordinary degree in something I really like.

My parents say I'm a different person now, and I believe them. It's like a weight off my shoulders. No stress, no mystery illnesses, no anxiousness about college. They regret the constant pushing now. I'm not holding a grudge, sure it's all life experience...

Good luck with your decision

Requiem4adream

OP:

I did 3 years of BBLS (Business & Legal) in UCD and, for a variety of reasons, dropped out before attempting my final year. I deferred 2 years in between due to medical reasons, which meant all my friends had left. Unlike you I quite liked the course but, quite like you, the prospect of a final year with massive workload without my friends filled me with dread so i just quit.

Hindsight is 20-20 but would i go back and finish the course? Yes.

If i'm you would i finish the course? Maybe but probably no.

I say maybe for a good reason. The difference between us is i liked my course, liked the career and had everything in my favour to complete it (other than the way i felt).

However, if i'm you at 21 or 22 doing a course i've no interest in i would probably quit irrespective of how long it has taken me to come to this point.

Start a new course in september 2008, you'll be 22 still a young age for college, 3 or 4 year degree etc. Personally i think people are in too much of a rush in life to get x, y and z done. Like "i must get a degree by 22" or "i must be earning 50k a year by 28" etc. Dont pressure yourself or let anyone pressure you into doing things the "standard" way. I just turned 25 in november and i intend to go back to college and i've no problem at all with doing so.

Your physical and mental health should always take priority over everything you do in life. DO NOT put yourself through another year just because it's the perceived correct thing to do. If you simply cant face it, dont do it. Life is too short to be unhappy for that length of time.

rainbowtrout

There is no rush to get out in the world and start working, you'll be working long enough. Do finish the degree, even if you never use it, it will give you the opportunity to apply for Postgraduate courses that would otherwise be unavailable to you. You only have 6 months to go at this stage so it's pointless packing it in now.

You are only 22, plenty of people that did my course in college (teaching) didn't want to be teachers when they left so they did a postgrad/did another degree worked or went travelling for a year or two before making a decision. One of my friends worked and travelled for a couple of years and went back to do physiotherapy (what he originally wanted but didn't get the points the first time around), he graduated last summer at the age of 29 and couldn't be happier, had he gone teaching just fo the ske of using the degree he got he would be miserable now.


years ago people felt they had to stick with the career choice they made at an early age and some had no choice. Not so now, you're only young, can you really see yourself doing a job in the field you are currently in for the next 40 years. better to spend another year or two or four in college doing something you like than to be miserable for the rest of your life doing something you don't like.

Electric

I feel your pain! When I did my BA I really loved the course so I figured that a postgrad in the same area would be something I would enjoy. Only I hate it! Hate it hate it hate it! But my job paid for it so I can't withdraw from the course cos I would have to pay back the fees plus penalties and then I get barred from their training scheme.

So my plan is to stick it out and do the course that I really wanted to do but didn't cos it didn't suit my job. So now I'm not even half way through a 2 year course. A harsh lesson but you can be damned sure that I won't settle for second best again!!!

My advice to you is finish the course even if it's only a half assed effort. It will mean that you can go on and do postgrad in the area that you really love. Also having a degree will mean that you can secure a reasonably well paid job (while you generate the necessary funds to pay for postgrad or get your portfolio together). And remember just because your degree would be in X doesn't mean you have to work in that field. A friend of mine works in a bank but her degree is in chemistry.

Talk to career guidance and your tutors and explain the situation to them and see what they say.

I know plenty of people have said that it will be over in May and it's probably not what you want to hear but May is not that far away. Use the time productively. Research the kind of course you really want to do, start putting your portfolio together. Get yourself ready so that in May when this course is over you're ready to move on straight away.

Good luck with whatever you decide

dlofnep

I only started going to college when I was 23. Don't worry about it! You're still young.

You could look into lecturing? Surely there is a market for that?

whatsgoinon

OP, I feel your pain, my advice though is to stick it out. I spent 5 years at uni in Ireland, HATED the first year place, but finished out the year and reapplied to do something I was more interested in. The 'rents weren't too impressed at having to shell out for fees, but at the end of the day I was much happier doing that. When i finished uni, I got a job straight away but after a year decided to hit the road, spent 3 years working and travelling round the place, along with paying the parents back the tuition fees i owed them. And guess where I am now!! back in uni at the grand old age of 28, loving it, cos I know now this is what I really want to do.

I suppose it's harder for you living with your parents, but as you are only 22, you have plenty of time to decide what you want to do. I have buddies in France and Spain that do 2/3 degrees.

Finish out the course, get a job and move out. You will learn so much more that way

Einstein

22? i wish i was 22 again!

Sounds kinda clichéd I suppose, but you have nothin to worry about. I was in the same career for 8 years and i bailed for something I wanted to do.

Ok i can imagine that doing 4 years of college, the last thing you want to do is 4 years more...but have no fear. I was 27 before I realised what I even REALLY wanted to do!

You haven't ruined your life, if anything look at it this way. You have si much time to do whatever you want AND you'll have a degree already!

win win me says!

Rattlehead_ie

I agree with all the others here.
Stick it out, coming from my own experience I gave up after 2 years of doing my course and once I had done that things went very bad. I had looked back on my last 2 years as a complete waste of time, my time, my money, my parents money and it even effected the relationship I was in, very depressed etc. My advice is please please STICK with it, get your little bit of paper at the end of your course and you can at least say that it wasn't a waste, you have something that is valued and could be in the future very useful too you.

Finish your course and start looking for another course in something you like (arty) whatever. As one of the previous posters said, your only young and if you start a 3 / 4 year course you will only be 25 / 26 and still have loads of time to enjoy. Even take a year out and travel between you finishing this course and starting one that you would like.

rs

Finish it! You've come way too far to drop out now.

Many people don't end up working directly in the area they studied in college. That's really not the point. There is no 'wrong course'. College is an experience (good or bad) and getting a degree proves you can see something through from start to finish.

When I interview people for jobs, I really don't care what their degree is in. (I've even interviewed a guy with a with degree in Rocket Science from MIT, ffs). I care what they actually know in relation to the job. That's all. I don't care if they have a degree in basket weaving, or they don't have a degree at all. What they know is what's important.

However, when I see a CV that shows me someone has dropped out, I am always ask about it because my initial thought is "this person is not reliable when put under pressure" and that person will have to go to some lengths to convince me otherwise.

Not everything you do in work is something you will enjoy. That's why it's called 'work'. Proving that you can finish a degree in something you don't particularly like is a great display of character.

Suck it up, finish the course and then work towards what you really want to do!

AngryBadger

There's an assumption that your degree will always be relevant to what you wind up doing. This isn't necessarily true.

For most employers in most jobs, (generally exceptions being highly specialised or technical positions), the fact that you will have a degree, and a good academic record is more important than the degree itself.

Furthermore, most people find their initial undergrad course to be far more restricting then they originally thought. There's always postgrad to consider, I'm not sure how it works out for the artistic types, but I'm sure there must be courses you could consider doing as a postgraduate which might give you the kind of creative inspiration you crave?

In short, you're barely out of the blocks, and having a degree with a solid academic record puts you ahead of the pack, and allows you to make your own decisions about where you'd like to go from here.

I've been in this position, and I'm jsut trying to point out that whatever the specific title of your degree is, it does not dictate you, or what you do in the years to come.

eve

I was unhappy in my 3rd year of a 4 year course but I stayed put and finished it with a good mark and I enjoy the college related job I have now. My boyfriend did a degree and a masters in English (level 9) and is now doing a level 5 course in something that has no relevance to what he did in college. These things have a way of working themselved out. There is no disadvantage for you in finishing the degree at this stage. After that you need to decide what you really want to do-be it further study, a job relevant to what you would like to do, travelling for a while, etc. Y

You just need to do it because you want to do it, not because it's something that someone else wants you to do.

I know it can be hard doing a course you don't like but take it one day at a time, one assignment at a time. It's only another few months when you have your whole life

BKtje

I quit college at 20, went back again at 22 after workign for a year. I'll be finished my degree when im 26/27.

Life is long enough that you shouldn't worry about waisting(whether its wasted or not is another matter) 3 years if thats what you decided to do. Important thing is to be happy with yourself and what you do, everything else comes second.
I came very close to dropping out again this year but decided to stick it out for the reason outlined above (ie once you have a degree a lot more options open up for you).

Even if your answers are automatic (for yoour projects/asignments) does it really matter? Does it matter if you scrape a pass? Is it better to have no degree or a scraped pass degree on which you can hopefully build on to do something you would enjoy more?

Only you can really answer these questions. Go speak to your colleges student advisor (or similar) if you haven't already, speaking from personal experience, they can be a great great help if you let them.

kermitdfrog

1) You really are very young, so don't worry about screwing up your life. Even if you did another degree which lasted 4 years you'd only be 26. 66-26=40years so please don't think so far ahead.

2) I think you should finish the degree and not because of your parents or the three years you've 'wasted' doing it.
The reason to finish it is becuase of post-graduate conversion diplomas/masters which are only 1to2 years long and to the same standard as a degree. These are only available to graduates, regardless of what your degree is and are available in so many areas from teaching, to business, to art or arts etc...

Couldn't agree more. Speaking from experience, I was in the exact same situation as you. Don't bother blaming your parents or getting angry now, it'll only make you bitter, but don't be afraid to stand up to them and say that you've done what they wanted, despite your own wishes, and they have to respect your wishes from now on. They may not support you but that can be gotten around by working during a break between courses (take a year or two our, you're still young) or working part time, whatever it takes. But don't let the past three years have been for nothing. Finishing what you started won't tie you into that field (most people I know ended up in coplete different areas to their qualifications), and while it may not be exactly what you wanted it will be of use. Stay focused, it's only a few more months, get it out of the way, then do what YOU want. And do it, don't just think about it.

Fajitas!

OP, have you considered doing a one year fetac course in Art & Design?

It'll give you a portfolio to apply to art colleges from, and you'll experience the start of art college - giving you a fair idea of whether you like it or not.

spinandscribble

finish your degree, you only have a few months left and it WILL stand to you. your parents will shut their mouths once they realise you have that to fall back on.
then you have two choices.
1. rush to get a portfolio together in your free time, apply this year so that you can start next year, do a part time job next year and maybe take out a stuident loan.
2. find a job for the next two years, get your head sorted, save money then apply as a mature student at 23.

PeakOutput

right didnt read all the replies but its not a difficult decision.

either

put your heart and soul into your final exams and do well and then apply to do a masters in art

OR

put your heart and soul into your final exams and then go back and do a degree in art(if your course is somewhat to do with art you might be able to get into a two year degree or something)

also what job you get really has very little to do with what degree you have for example you would walk into a job in insurace with your art related degree. look at recruitment websites and most of the jobs ask for some form of 3rd level education the companies dont care what its in(in general)

finally im 22 and just after going back to college so ill be 26 when i graduate. iworked for a year and as danny dyer said in human traffic "im just not ready to be that miserable" so went back to college. your 22 you can do whatever the **** you want. sure you regret picking the course you did. you will also regret leaving it 5 months before finishing. when those 5 months are up make sure you never have a regret again. it will be tough obviously as doing another degree will cost and so will a masters but if you want it enough you wont mind the effort

good luck

edit; spin and scribble is someone with a degree eligible for mature student status?( either way fees will apply)

estar

its only the begining of your career its not too late

in fact its too early to be thinking those thoughts

its easy to see what might have been

instead see what might be in the future

finish your degree, its important to be consistant

then get a job and work for a year or two

have some fun, save some money and then do a conversion masters
or some courses at NCAD

if you do an initial few courses at NCAD - you can prepare a portfolio
part time you can easily pursue your chosen career

stop stressing. go and see the careers advice section of your college
and explain your dilemma they will help you find a suitable conversion course

very few famous artists or writers followed an exact through college course

many developed their skills in spite of not having such resources available

case in point a famous post modernist artist who worked a lot in kk and
whose name escapes me but who worked in the bank for twenty years
and was entirely self taught

Kevster

I feel that I must reply to this because I was in exactly the same situation:

I started a BSc in Computer Science at DIT way back in 2000 at the age of 17 and, after 2nd year, I began to dislike it. When I was then in the final [fourth] year, I wanted out. I quit the course with about 5 months left and am now in the 3rd year of a course which I absolutely love in IT Carlow.

It is not too late at all to leave your course but I would suggest speaking candidly to your course head about what is happening. Regarding your parents, you'll better have a talk with them too. Don't worry about fees at the moment.

Take care,
Kevin

ztoical

Hey OP, I really feel for your situation. I was very lucky in that my parents supported me 100% in whatever I wanted to do and had no issues with me going to art school. My mum was forced into medical school by her parents because she had the brains for it as a result she has vowed never to force my brother or I to do something we don't want [we ended up doing Film and animation respectively] My cousins aren't so lucky they didn't get any choice their parents went through the forums for them and picked their courses.

I do agree with other posters that you should finish your degree mainly cus it will be easier to get into another course with a finished degree. I use to teach on the animation course in ballyfermot college and we'd get people of all ages applying to the course and also from all backgrounds. We had a girl who had done her degree in biology cus thats what her parents wanted and the minute she finished the degree turned around and said right I've done what you wanted me to do now I'm going to do what I want.

Colleges like ballyfermot are great as they offer 1 year portfilio courses that will help you find what area of art you want to study and gear a portfilio for it. And don't worry about age my first year in college I was the youngest in the class, there were a few a year or two older then a massive jump to people in the their late 20's and early 30's who made up the majority of the class.

I finished my animation degree and after a year working felt I wanted to do another course so I got a second degree in illustration. I going to go get a masters in either illustration or printmaking round about when I'm 30 odd. Never to old for school

Do you know what kind of art you want to do? You don't need to rush and do a college degree for some things. Lots of places offer internships that you don't need to have training for. The last animated film I worked on a very high number of the people working on it had never been to school, they had rung an animation studio up and got some grunt work and quickly picked up the ropes and most of these guys were late 30's now and had been working full time in the industry for years as a result. The studio also had some interns that started on the film just scanning and photocopying artwork and by the end of the production they were doing some aniamtion work in flash for FXs on the film. I do alot of works in comics and alot of people doing small press comics just self publish everything and sell online or at comic cons. Harvey Pekar who wrote american splendor worked a boring day job and came home in the evening and wrote comics - nothing stopping you from being creative regarless of what your day job it. There are lots of short course you can take - week long printmaking classes, weekend pottery, evening classes in web design. Post up a thread in the art forums.

I understand the issue with getting a job after college and trying to explain to parents how different job markets work. It is very hard to explain how art and art related jobs work to people who don't work in that industry. I do alot of freelance and contract based work and for ages my mum would tell people I was unemployed.

Jeapy

hating life wrote: »

My parents were not at all impressed and had a big talk with me about The Future and how useless art degrees are and how it would be impossible for me to do one as I'd have to move away from home to go to a college, and that they would not support me at all and I didn't have enough savings to move out with zero financial help from my parents.

So I made my parents happy, got my 500+ points and did a course which was only slightly art-related and local.

I can't confide in my parents because they've supported me throughout the years (I have a job and a grant that cover all my own college/other expenses, but they've allowed me to live at home rent-free) and if I dropped out at this late stage it would be like I'd wasted 3 years of my life and their money. My mother constantly refers to my leaving cert results, how I'll be the first of my family to earn a degree, how proud she is that I've never had to repeat an exam or a subject or anything like that. I can't let her down like this.

I think you should go ahead and finish your degree for yourself, and yourself alone. There's about 6 months left- you've got this far, you can do it. And from now on, do what YOU want, listen to your own heart and don't just do something so as not to let someone else down, its your life. Good luck OP, I hope everything works out for you, whatever you decide to do.

The Hacker

Op - not sure about your course (I'm in 4th (and final) year of my degree course too), Have some exams next week but apart from that, the 2nd semester doesn't start until the 28th January and finishes around the end of April. That's roughly only 12 weeks! You could blink and it'll be over. Please post back here in May when you're finished and I'll do the same Good luck!

LegacyUser

I think its important to do whatever YOU want to do, and not let yourself be pushed into a course by your parents. Finish the course for yourself, not your parents sake.

My Ma was always very controlling and tried to push me into college, when I didn't want to go. I got full marks in the Leaving and went straight into manual labour on construction sites because its what I wanted to do -work with my hands. Go back and do arts if you want, forget about "The Future". If you're doing what you love, you will always find a way to make a living out of it.

Monkey61

You have to finish your course! If anything, it will prove to your parents that you are a responsible hard worker and will definitely be a good bargaining tool when you are trying to win them over to your new career goals.
I stuck through four years of a degree that I didn't enjoy (English and Drama) and now I have just dropped out of an English MA that I wasn't enjoying at all.
I am going to take the rest of the year off to work and finish my novel, because this is what I really want to do. But then in September I'm going to start an Open Univeristy degree in Maths because I love it and I want something else to fall back on. Probably won't get that degree finished til I'm 28/29 but it's something I really want to do and regret not doing sooner.
So it's never too late to do what you love!

LegacyUser

Hello everyone, I've been reading through the replies and I really appreciate them.

I'm going to stick it out and try and finish. I'm hoping come February things will ease up because at the moment I'm stuck doing an elective project that I'm finding close to impossible but hopefully once it's handed up I'll be able to at least sleep at night. I've made it my new years resolution to put in the extra work it'll take to pass everything so at least it'll be less of a worry. From here to June isn't that much time in terms of college days (though I don't like thinking about things that way because it makes me panic about the work I have to do!)

I know I don't want to do a masters relating to my course (because I don't like it) but I think I'll just concentrate on getting through the rest of the year, going travelling with my friends in the Summer, and revisiting my options after that...

It's hard not to be unhappy with the course because out of the few remaining students in my class, everyone is pretty miserable. Almost 50% of the students who started in first year have dropped out since then. The atmosphere when I go in for classes is just bleak. The lecturers emphasise the importance of independent work, relevant work experience, etc which just makes me feel like I'm doomed to fail no matter what I do... I'm a big worrier really and have a tendency to blow things out of proportion in my mind, sorry.

Thanks for all the advice.