The right decision?

LegacyUser

This isn't a bad sort of personal issue, in the sense that I'm not seriously anxious or depressed or anything. Still, some advice or opinions would be appreciated.

When choosing a college course (4 years in lenght), I was faced with the same decision that many people are confronted with - I had a reasonable expectation of high points, so the majority of courses were open to me. In the end, I whittled it down to 2 choices - the first was the vocational type (based on my best subject in secondary), the second made sense in a practical way.

I chose the second, and am nearing the completion of my degree. While I have attained good results along the way, anticipate a higher than average mark in finals and could probably make my way in the resulting profession, I somehow get the feeling that a life of unfulfillment (with not a little regret for not pursuing my "vocational" course!) might await.

Seemingly, the options are for me to go and and take the course to qualify as a practitioner (1 year), or to go back and do another undergraduate degree (3 years), which would necessitate further study (PGDE, or Masters etc.).

So I'm just looking for opinions - is it impractical (am I mad) to tear it all up and start again with a new undergrad? Would a slightly dry, but well paying working life be preferable to accumulating student debt and being viewed as a "perpetual student"?

angelxx

You shouldn't be concerned at being viewed as a "perpetual student" If you feel at this early stage you will be unhappy in your chosen profession I would do something you know you'll enjoy. It's only a few years out of the rest of your life.

thefeatheredcat

What made you suddenly think the course you've chosen is not what you want/unfulfilling? Is it just an itch you need to scratch or something more?

If you're very close to completing this current degree (as in this is your final year), imo finish it! It will stand to you anyway as a degree alone, regardless of what occupation you actually take up. You may find in the future that the degree alone opens up doors and you may also in the future feel very differently as the degree you're working on could be just a building block/foundation/sideline towards what you really want and may prove useful in other career opportunities.

Can you talk to college career advisor/parents or even someone working in that profession and prospective profession for a bit of guidance? I think speaking with someone from the profession of the current degree and prospective would be most insightful and you may find they didn't start with that or did and then pursued a whole other direction.

In any case, should you finish the degree, you can still start again with another unrelated degree in something else. And then, if you wanted could still do the 1 year of the first. the original degree can always be something that you can fall back on, if needs be and pay the bills while you pursue the other degree or something else in life.

However, if you really truly and seriously believe that what you're studying is of absolute no use to you whatsoever, you may be better off dropping it. But I would be cautious and not take the decision lightly without sound advice and guidance from a well rounded source.

Don't worry about being seen as a 'perpetual student', many people go through the same thing, chop and change and start over or continuing studying the one subject from a variety of angles.