Dropping out of College, failed exams.

LegacyUser

I'm 19, and first year college student. I got my first semester results back, I failed 2 of my 6 exams, and now I'm debating dropping out, there are two main reasons I haven't dropped out.

1 - Friends and girls. I have a good group of friends in my accommodation and I few girls who I am interested in/are interested in me.
2 - In first semester, I really enjoyed one aspect of my course, now in second semester I enjoy the follow on to what I enjoyed in the first semester. (Granted the lecturer isn't as entertaining, but the subject material is interesting and the direction that the lectures are taking the material is very interesting).

I find the IT side of business interesting, but I failed two maths/numerical based subjects (the only two, maths and accounting) there is talk of Data Analytics and it sounds interesting, that interests me but that is notoriously maths based.

I am smart, I'm not going to potter around the topic, I got 425 in my Leaving studying the day/night before each exam. I am creative and analytical thinking at my core. But if something does not interest me I can't engage in it, whatsoever. I just cannot bring myself to do it.

The course itself is different to my preconceptions. I imagined it being far more creative, and more geared towards essay writing as described by my teachers, but it's online tests, multiple choice and route learning in all sections except the one I find interesting Information systems with an emphasis on Business (well, the two subsections I have studied)

I don't know what to do.
I don't two sections in particular from the topics of my course.
I was 5 points short of the direct degree I'm interested in (but didn't put down as I didn't think I would like it)
I have the option to move from the Uni to a tech college and study the topic I like (but it could be taught differently.) But I would need to pass my repeats to move into second year of that course.
I don't particularly want to leave my friends here.
I have considered partaking in a higher apprenticeship in England. In particular in an area related to IT.


My end goal is to be self employed, making a substantial living doing what I enjoy. Which could possibly be in business analytics, software development and design, and/or a related business IT field.. Luckily for me I enjoy challenges.
Any help on the matter?

Sorry about the long post.

Turtle_

Every college I know of has some sort of free maths grinds system. You passed 4/6 exams in your first semester - that's good going. Go find out about it. It's a small hurdle that you're obviously well able to get over.

Y'know, I kinda blame teachers for your sort of predicament. I remember a similar feeling because I'd been led to believe I'd only be doing subjects I enjoyed and was good at etc. The reality is that 99.9% of students will be not so keen on some aspect of their course. Most will have subjects they actively dislike now and then, but it's worth it in the bigger picture.

You seem to quite like the course. That's half the battle. So you failed two exams? Big deal. Out of 130 in my first year class, over 90 failed at least one exam in semester one. You're getting used to a lot.

The other thing is that with almost everything, there is a certain amount of stuff that you just have to learn off. Especially with accountancy, it's an arbitrary (but consistently applied) set of rules. You just have to learn to figure out what type of transaction it is, which accounts are affected, and whether they're sploci or sofp accounts. Then apply the rules. Broadly speaking, if it's an account that ends up in the sploci it's going to be either income or expenses. So you credit income to increase it, and debit expenses to increase it. If it's an asset, liability or equity, it goes into the sofp. Dr assets to increase, cr liability and equity to increase. The trick is repetition, you just have to do it over and over until it clicks. That's all.

You're doing okay. Stick with it for now. Put the head down and get your summer exams and pass the repeats. You'll be fine.

skankkuvhima

dropoutfail wrote:

I got 425 in my Leaving studying the day/night before each exam.

If this is how you approached the university exams then I would start there. Leaving cert smart not equal to university smart.

dropoutfail wrote:

I am creative and analytical thinking at my core. But if something does not interest me I can't engage in it, whatsoever. I just cannot bring myself to do it.

Well then that's unfortunate. This is a feature of every course, there will always be aspects that don't interest you however you still have to study them.

dropoutfail wrote:

The course itself is different to my preconceptions. I imagined it being far more creative

First year (and in my experience second year) is really about getting students to understand the basics of their chosen discipline. Creativity comes afterwards. I would guess that in your later years in that course (once you have mastered the basics) there would be greater opportunity for creative outlets.

Sometimes in the adult world you have to knuckle down and do things you don't like. You don't get to say that you can't bring yourself to do them, you just get on with it and get it done.

You're in college now. If you drop out after one semester and two failed exams now, you'll always look back and wonder why you didn't give it a decent shot. A decent shot includes studying those parts of our courses that we don't particularly like. This is what university is about.

I had parts of my degrees that bored me senseless, things I had little to no interest in. I took them in hand because they're part of a greater picture.

Don't abandon your degree because parts of your course aren't to your taste, there are very few people completely enamoured with every aspect of their courses, but they don't quit at the first hurdle.

Knuckle down, think of the bigger picture of your future and just get the work done like everyone else has to.

Rubberchikken

All courses contain bits that may not always be as interesting as other parts. But tbh thats the way almost everything in life is and college can teach that in its own way.

Remaining in college because you dont want to leave your friends is a little understandable. But if you want to continue with this course you'll have to study all the components of the course not just the one that interest you

LegacyUser

I understand where you all are coming from but you're zeroing in on one section.

I only find 1 section of my course interesting.

The others are tolerable and I've passed with no real work being put in all but 2 of the other 5 exams. Which goes to show maths and accounting are not my strong subjects.

I know you go to college to get a job in the future, but as someone who hopes to be self employed that is just a bonus, I'm looking for opportunities, for areas of study that really interest me, where I go to the lectures out of interest not for my attendance grade.

I like the IT side, I like the nature of that work. I like what the lectures say about it individually, they are not just following a philosophy taught by the rest of the college, they don't believe in learning simply to pass exams and get a job. They want to inspire, and that interests me.

I am failing because I am not interested. Lack of work too but the lack of work boils down to a lack of interest, not just in one module but 80% of the course thus far.
I would have been gone a long time ago if the 2 sections I enjoy (IT related to business) were not there.

Ursus Horribilis

Sorry OP but in your post you're coming across to me like one of these generation snowflake people that are being talked about now. You've hit a bump in the road and instead of knuckling down and getting through it, you're throwing your hands up in the air because you don't like it. I chuckled when you mentioned in your post that you enjoy challenges. What's this if not a challenge?

They don't just hand out degrees willy nilly in colleges. Most people who've been to college will tell you that there were modules on their course that they struggled with or hated. It comes with the territory I'm afraid. You might discover, even if you change courses, that this other one will have parts in it you dislike. You can't just go looking for another option any time you encounter something you don't like. The same principle will apply when you start working. Even people who are happy with their jobs go through spells where they wish they were anywhere other than at work.

Ursus Horribilis

Ive just seen your update. So why are you even going to college if you have these plans? It indeed, what did you expect from this course? Or any course for that matter. You seem to want to pick and choose what you're taught, all based on what's of interest to you.

See, I don't think this is simply a case of picking the wrong course. You've got unrealistic expectations and a bit of an "I know better" attitude.

Katgurl

This is going to sound harsh but you need to get over yourself. Get some grinds and pass the exams you failed. Every aspect of the degree might not set you alight but it's important to see things through regardless. Soft skills are also important in the working world and these include an ability to overcome challenges.

Who is paying for your education btw? Parents? Taxpayers?

Seriously, you are there now; don't leave without your degree.

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SarahMollie

itsmeimposting wrote: »

I understand where you all are coming from but you're zeroing in on one section.

I only find 1 section of my course interesting.

The others are tolerable and I've passed with no real work being put in all but 2 of the other 5 exams. Which goes to show maths and accounting are not my strong subjects.

I know you go to college to get a job in the future, but as someone who hopes to be self employed that is just a bonus, I'm looking for opportunities, for areas of study that really interest me, where I go to the lectures out of interest not for my attendance grade.

I like the IT side, I like the nature of that work. I like what the lectures say about it individually, they are not just following a philosophy taught by the rest of the college, they don't believe in learning simply to pass exams and get a job. They want to inspire, and that interests me.

I am failing because I am not interested. Lack of work too but the lack of work boils down to a lack of interest, not just in one module but 80% of the course thus far.
I would have been gone a long time ago if the 2 sections I enjoy (IT related to business) were not there.

How do you hope to be self employed though? As of right now, all you have to your name is a reasonable yet unspectacular leaving cert. Who is going to engage your services? You've no real qualifications, no experience and no professional reputation. Thats not self employed, thats unemployed.

Most people who are self employed worked for someone else at the start of their career to learn the ropes and get experience. Then, once they have something to offer potential clients, they go out on their own.

From what you've said, you need a reality check. The reality is that most people have degrees if not masters these days, so without either you're going to be at a disadvantage. If you can repeat those exams and move course then cool, knuckle down and do that, but don't kid yourself that dropping out is anything other than shortsighted.

I think you need to examine your expectations around university. Not all aspects of any course are going to thrill or entertain you. Most probably won't. Either stick with it or don't, but if you don't you need a realistic alternative, and some vague notion about ultimately wanting to be self employed is not it.

People can always site the one example of someone who came from the school of hard knocks and made it big, but the reality is that most entrepreneurs started as part of a bigger company first.

artemis268

Ursus Horribilis wrote: »

Sorry OP but in your post you're coming across to me like one of these generation snowflake people that are being talked about now. You've hit a bump in the road and instead of knuckling down and getting through it, you're throwing your hands up in the air because you don't like it. I chuckled when you mentioned in your post that you enjoy challenges. What's this if not a challenge?

They don't just hand out degrees willy nilly in colleges. Most people who've been to college will tell you that there were modules on their course that they struggled with or hated. It comes with the territory I'm afraid. You might discover, even if you change courses, that this other one will have parts in it you dislike. You can't just go looking for another option any time you encounter something you don't like. The same principle will apply when you start working. Even people who are happy with their jobs go through spells where they wish they were anywhere other than at work.

And you just sound like one of these Generation Crusties where you are all talk and condescension but no substance.

Op is going through a rough patch and soul searching and all you do is chuckle and Name call him a demeaning label such as snowflake?

To OP: I've been where you at and trust me, you will find a way. My advice, don't drop out. The job market will prove unforgiving to you about that if you did. Gather yourself together, think about what you want to do in life (maybe that's not the right course or uni for you or maybe not) Talk to your college career counselor, your mentors in life and other college graduates, look online then make a plan and execute it.