Thinking of dropping out of University

dillo2k10

Hi Guys,

I'm in first year studying Finance & Economics with a Minor in Geography. I am loving the Finance and Economics Part but I HATE Geography. But that's not even the main problem.

I want to become a teacher, and I didn't realize that my course was part of the Quota for business degrees, as on the Quota list they just called the degree "Finance" while it's actually Finance and Economics. The problem with this is that I will need an average result of at least 78% and I will have to do a masters to get into the teacher training course.

I won't get that high a result especially with Geography and I simply can't afford to do a masters since the post grad grant has been taken away. It will cost me about 5000 for the post grad fees and then 6000 for the PDE (teacher training) as well as living costs for the extra years.

I can go back next year and only pay half fees (I don't know if I will still get the Maintenance grant or not) and do arts with Business and Economics (or similar) and this will allow me direct entry to the PDE with a lower average result. However, I will then only be qualified to teach 2 subjects where before I was qualified to teach 4. This will mean that it will be much harder to find a job once I graduate.

I really don't know what to do, anyone any advice? What would you do in this situation?

tootyflutty

What I suggest is go to the academic advisory office or maybe the welfare and education officer in the union. Both even!
No persons opinion is going suit you exactly, and you shouldn't decide on what people think is best. Do what is best for you. Get some academic and grant advice and make an informed decision that is best for you

spagboll

You really need some hardcore advice on this issue, I agree with the previous post but talk to other people too as college career depts are typically useless from my experience

Also if your going into a solid career like teaching the banks would probably give you a loan for the masters

Seren_

Academic advisory are the people to talk to. Also the access office if you're registered with them.

Bobsammy

Get yourself down to the academic advisory office tomorrow, they're full of good advice! As for the points for the PGDE like anything they change year on year. Do you know if you apply during your final year it'll be the previous years results your offer would be based on so in a 3 year degree you could apply on the strength of your second year results? Also Trinity have a different system where it isn't solely results based so that could be an option? Don't make any rash decisions before thinking about all your options!

dillo2k10

Thanks everyone, Ill go to the academic advisory office. Iv also been looking at the posibility of doing it in the UK. They have the loan system and it should be much easier to get in, they will actually give my a few thousand because of a shortage of economic teachers in the UK.

banquo

+1 Million. You can email them at academic.advisory@nuim.ie or call them at (01) 708 3368 to make an appointment. But you can almost always just drop in, except between 1-2pm. They're on the First Floor of Education House, North Campus, or building 45 on this map.

kob29

What about doing an undergrad teaching degree that has business and another subject and bypassing the need to do a postgrad at all. Try St. Patricks in Thurles for two.

dillo2k10

kob29 wrote: »

What about doing an undergrad teaching degree that has business and another subject and bypassing the need to do a postgrad at all. Try St. Patricks in Thurles for two.

That could be an option. For now though I'm going to do some research into the UK training programs for the PGDE.

The only problem is trying to find if my degree is eligible for any of their subjects.

Seren_

I'm sure the economics portion of your degree should allow you teach it? Maybe email the GTTR (UK teaching council) and ask about it, I'm sure they will be able to tell you

dillo2k10

Your Text Here wrote: »

I'm sure the economics portion of your degree should allow you teach it? Maybe email the GTTR (UK teaching council) and ask about it, I'm sure they will be able to tell you

I sure will, Thanks

DB21

Also from experience I can tell you this (not to discourage you though); you have to be certain 100% teaching is what you want to do, and more importantly that you are the right type of person.

freeze4real

why do you need a minimum of 78%. is it for teaching ?

AFAIK after completing your bsc degree in finance you will have to do a teaching programme which takes a year before you are qualified to teach.

And by the way you are stuck with geography for 3 years or till when/ if you decide to drop out.

I as well do finance and economics an=long with business as a 3rd subject and i nearly killed myself as i couldn't drop business but a private word with your course coordinator could allow an exemption for you in 2nd year.

plus get 60% in all subjects.

My advice is stick to finance and economics talk to your course coordinator.

dont drop out as its a pain in the short run medium run and long run, this economics here.

In the long run you loose your grant.

2. you might change your career plans so you might want to be a teacher now, tomorrow you might want to be a risk analyst.

dillo2k10

DB21 wrote: »

Also from experience I can tell you this (not to discourage you though); you have to be certain 100% teaching is what you want to do, and more importantly that you are the right type of person.

I am 100% that I want to do teaching, it's what I have always wanted to do, even since I was in Primary school.

freeze4real wrote: »

why do you need a minimum of 78%. is it for teaching ?

AFAIK after completing your bsc degree in finance you will have to do a teaching programme which takes a year before you are qualified to teach.

And by the way you are stuck with geography for 3 years or till when/ if you decide to drop out.

I as well do finance and economics an=long with business as a 3rd subject and i nearly killed myself as i couldn't drop business but a private word with your course coordinator could allow an exemption for you in 2nd year.

plus get 60% in all subjects.

My advice is stick to finance and economics talk to your course coordinator.

dont drop out as its a pain in the short run medium run and long run, this economics here.

In the long run you loose your grant.

2. you might change your career plans so you might want to be a teacher now, tomorrow you might want to be a risk analyst.

I need a minimum of 78% to get 51 points for entry into the PGDE. Then I need to do a masters to get the extra points required. People are admitted onto the teaching course based on points. Because the degree is considered business related then it falls into a quota and a max of 10% of intake can be from these courses and so these are much harder to get into.

I also can't imagine my course coordinator making an exception.

freeze4real

Your course coordinator might make an exception.

That's because it might be a few in the class who are in the same position. By a few I mean let's say less than 10.

There are some modules in fin/econ which am not meant to be doing but I am as I spoke to my course coordinator.

It might be to early now to do so but it's worth a try.

unclejunior

tbh i think you're foolish to drop out of college when you have no clear plan. my advice is to hang on and finish the year so that you will at least have one year under your belt. so if you ever decide to return to college you wont have to start from scratch! plus ecomomics and finance is quite a good area of study and people with this training are in demand. tbh i dont see the logic in dropping out from economics and finance to study economics and business? if your so certain about economics then why dont you major in economics?

you have a very pessimistic outlook and perhaps you fail to see the opportunities before you. perhaps your right, maybe this career may not be suited for you afterall?

CaoimH_in

unclejunior wrote: »

tbh i think you're foolish to drop out of college when you have no clear plan. my advice is to hang on and finish the year so that you will at least have one year under your belt. so if you ever decide to return to college you wont have to start from scratch! plus ecomomics and finance is quite a good area of study and people with this training are in demand. tbh i dont see the logic in dropping out from economics and finance to study economics and business? if your so certain about economics then why dont you major in economics?

you have a very pessimistic outlook and perhaps you fail to see the opportunities before you. perhaps your right, maybe this career may not be suited for you afterall?

S/he wants to avoid paying fees/paying the some of the fee for each year, silly. No point in staying in a course you don't like and it won't help you pay bills.

dillo2k10

unclejunior wrote: »

tbh i think you're foolish to drop out of college when you have no clear plan. my advice is to hang on and finish the year so that you will at least have one year under your belt. so if you ever decide to return to college you wont have to start from scratch! plus ecomomics and finance is quite a good area of study and people with this training are in demand. tbh i dont see the logic in dropping out from economics and finance to study economics and business? if your so certain about economics then why dont you major in economics?

you have a very pessimistic outlook and perhaps you fail to see the opportunities before you. perhaps your right, maybe this career may not be suited for you afterall?

Did you even read the first post?

CaoimH_in wrote: »

S/he

He