I'm unhappy in college.

LegacyUser

I'm a lad in my first year in college. I went into what I thought was the degree I wanted. Now I'd beg to differ.

I failed 2 exams (of 5 at Christmas).. I've more exams coming up for summer. I haven't been doing the continuous assessment or going to lectures because I've lost interest in my course.

The only reason I'm still here is because I have friends here (well, sometimes I'm not too sure)
and my parents have paid a lot of money, if I drop out I won't be able to go back again.

I feel like I'm just winding to a halt. But the real reason I'm still here is I don't know what else I would do..

I did well in Leaving Cert, I didn't study but I came out with 400+..

I find it impossible to do anything if I don't see a reason to do it. I can't just 'knuckle down'.. yes I could look at it like I have to pass these modules to do what I want, but I don't know if that is what I want.
As of now I can't see anything I'd like to do.. I'm still in college because there's nothing else for me. I don't want to just end up living with my parents.

I posted something similar before. I got the 'generation snowflake' response. But I want to clarify.
I do know how to work, if I get interested in something I go hell for leather at it. I become very determined. If I am not interested I can do it, and get through with it but this is not the same scenario.
I don't particularly want to stay in my chosen course. But theres nothing else out there that interests me.
I enjoy music and fashion.. I enjoy singing and writing songs, I also enjoy looking into the streetwear and high fashion cultures.. but a degree in either of those areas seems so flimsy.. I can't see myself being interested enough to pursue that as a career.

My degree at the minute is business..

I don't know what to do.

Permabear

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silverharp

If you did a good LC and put up with the absurdities of that you should be able to fly through a business degree and as the poster above said its handy enough because whatever you end up doing in life you cant get away from budgeting, managing people etc. You could transfer to another degree but you might end up in the same situation again.
At the moment your only value to the market is as unskilled labour so unless you have another plan sitting at home trying to find yourself isn't an option. You will never have as much free time again as you will have in college, use it, join a band , look to try get into some interesting internship for the summer even if its unpaid

redbel05

You need to talk to someone at your college. As soon as possible... I don't know what college you go to, but I went to ucd and remember them having a lot of supports in place for just your situation. A quick google finds a pdf leaflet from ucd that would be applicable to you (I assume that most colleges have similar supports in place anyway).

https://www.google.ie/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.ucd.ie/t4cms/Don%27t_drop_out_until_you_drop_in%2520Document.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjBiL6R4o_TAhWEYZoKHX33B8EQFggiMAA&usg=AFQjCNEMTT1mx62bRAYxvZsuNuY3icz3Fw&sig2=pjoPsdrGAxURfoCHaUnOBA

The most important thing is to not ignore your situation by doing nothing, until you get into a mess at the end of the semester by having zero continuous assessment, zero lectures attended and not showing up to exams (I had friends who did this).
Generally speaking, colleges are OK with people who change their mind in courses, or who for personal reasons (including depression, anxiety or stress) are finding it difficult to complete their course work, so long as you bring it to their attention asap. What they are not OK with is people who make no effort and then complain after the fact when things go badly for them.

miezekatze

I was in a very similar situation when I was your age. Finished school and was pressured into making a decision about my future very quickly (thinking back, I should have travelled/worked for a year instead).

I absolutely hated my course and found it hard to be motivated. I ended up dropping out after a year as I couldn't face another few years of that. I'm glad I did. I worked in a factory for a few months then, did shift work to build up some savings, and then did another course after I'd made up my mind. I did very well in my course and have been working in that area ever since. I don't *love* what I do now either, but I like it better than what my first choice would have resulted in and I'm fine with it.

Lots of people don't get it right the first time around. Think about what else you can do temporarily while you make up your mind though.

Thebe

Was in a very similar situation when I was your age. I stuck with it and finished the year, passed exams then got a decent job during the summer. I didn't go back to finish it because it was a fairly well paying job.

I went back to college several years later but I was glad that I stuck with the course and left on my own terms not because I failed the year. I think you should get as much advice as possible, you might be able to transfer into something else but if you fail or abandon ship your options are more limited. Summer is nearly here, get stuck in, pass and you have the summer to plan your next move.

Good luck whatever you do, it is not an easy decision to make. Mind yourself.

LegacyUser

I've realised that I'm better off persevering with my chosen degree, getting through these exams and my repeats. Passing second year, put in a lot more effort (as we all will) and basically not making the same mistakes as I did in first year.

I have one main issue. I didn't do most of my continuous assessment for one of my modules (stats) and it's worth 30% of my overall grade.. basically means I need to do exceptionally well to pass with the possible 2 or 3% I did get from my CA. I haven't worked it out but it already sounds like a tall order and that I will likely repeat that exam along with my other 2.

So should I bother with it? Should I focus on my other exams and cut my losses to ensure I don't fail more trying to bring that grade up?
Or should I still try to pass that exam as well despite how unlikely that is.

3 repeats does not sound ideal, but it's likely..

I know that I enjoy and engage with the IT side of my course and that I want to specialise in it in my 3rd and final year, so as I see it I should just keep going, passing exams and try to come out with the best degree I can possibly get.

Jedi_Archivist

OP- reading your post bought strong feelings of deja vu for me. Like you, i just went to college after my leaving because it was the done thing and hated my course, a business degree as well. Couldn't have put less effort in if i tried. But, as other posters have said, once you have that piece of paper no one can take it away from you. So i ended up sticking with my course and graduating with a pass degree. I reasoned that at least i had something to show for the time spend in college.

I worked for 18 months then and grew up, got to know what direction i wanted my life to take. So i went back to college as a mature student and now i work in a job i love, for a very comfortable salary. But i still use skills i picked up in my original degree today, and have capitalized on them in interviews.

So don't despair just yet OP, you're still young and life has a way of panning out for the best.

Thebe

studentsoiam2 wrote: »

I've realised that I'm better off persevering with my chosen degree, getting through these exams and my repeats. Passing second year, put in a lot more effort (as we all will) and basically not making the same mistakes as I did in first year.

I have one main issue. I didn't do most of my continuous assessment for one of my modules (stats) and it's worth 30% of my overall grade.. basically means I need to do exceptionally well to pass with the possible 2 or 3% I did get from my CA. I haven't worked it out but it already sounds like a tall order and that I will likely repeat that exam along with my other 2.

So should I bother with it? Should I focus on my other exams and cut my losses to ensure I don't fail more trying to bring that grade up?
Or should I still try to pass that exam as well despite how unlikely that is.

3 repeats does not sound ideal, but it's likely..

I know that I enjoy and engage with the IT side of my course and that I want to specialise in it in my 3rd and final year, so as I see it I should just keep going, passing exams and try to come out with the best degree I can possibly get.

Talk to your student advisor or whoever is available for advice because different colleges will have different options available. Do this asap if you can, I think you are doing the right thing. Good luck.

eoins23456

studentsoiam2 wrote: »

I've realised that I'm better off persevering with my chosen degree, getting through these exams and my repeats. Passing second year, put in a lot more effort (as we all will) and basically not making the same mistakes as I did in first year.

I have one main issue. I didn't do most of my continuous assessment for one of my modules (stats) and it's worth 30% of my overall grade.. basically means I need to do exceptionally well to pass with the possible 2 or 3% I did get from my CA. I haven't worked it out but it already sounds like a tall order and that I will likely repeat that exam along with my other 2.

So should I bother with it? Should I focus on my other exams and cut my losses to ensure I don't fail more trying to bring that grade up?
Or should I still try to pass that exam as well despite how unlikely that is.

3 repeats does not sound ideal, but it's likely..

I know that I enjoy and engage with the IT side of my course and that I want to specialise in it in my 3rd and final year, so as I see it I should just keep going, passing exams and try to come out with the best degree I can possibly get.

I would definitely put some effort into passing the exam first time round as 3 repeats sounds very stressful. Could you talk to your lecturer and see about the possibility of doing the continuous assessment now ? Maybe unlikely both its worth a go. Does your college have a maths/stats learning centre that help you study/cram for the exam ? Even grinds could be an option to get you over the line. Is there a lot of past exam papers for the module ? If so I would look for doable questions that don't differ to much from year to year and get on top of them.

Airyfairy12

These days it's very difficult for graduates to get a job regardless of what your degree is in but its still worth having, its a useful degree to have too as you can use it to get into most jobs and postgrads.
Just because your degree will be in business doesnt mean you'll have to pursue a business related career, lots of postgrads are open to anyone with a bachelor's regardless of the degree subject so you wont be limited.

My advice would be to stick with your degree, youve only got 2 years left and they go by quicker than you think, having a degree will really stand by you more than you realise and in the meantime you should work separately towards your interests and passions, build up as much experience as you can, you dont say what it is about fashion you enjoy? is it creating and producing clothes? do it in your spare time. There are continuous opportunities for aspiring designers and artists in Ireland, have a look at the visual artists Ireland website or keep looking for design and artistic competitions, all of these can be added to your CV which is impressive for any employer and if you do go down the road of a career in fashion either through design, magazines, buying or merchandising it shows youve had an early interest and its something youve been pursuing.

Work in clothing shops part time, you can work your way up in jobs without a degree. I was in a course a few years ago with a girl who dropped out in first year, she was working in New Look at the time as a shop assistant, she worked her way up to manager, then worked her way into visual merchandising, she's now living in London and is a Visual Merchandising Manager of a high fashion company and is often on business trips in all parts of the world. If you have a strong passion for something and the drive to make it happen then you'll always find a way. its very possible to work your way up to higher positions, the business degree will help you get there, it looks good on paper, employers and potential networks will view you more seriously for having it and again working in a fashion related field will look good on your cv if that's where you want your career to go. Nobody starts high up the ladder, you have to start small and work your way up.

If your interest is in magazines, contact a irish owned companies and ask to intern, contact fashion brands and ask to intern, id even chance contacting RTE, TV3, TG4 and ask to volunteer or intern in their clothes department, it can't hurt to ask and all they can say is no. I know someone who finished a year long internship with RTE recently so it's not a long shot. You could contact fashion photographers and ask to assist, they dont have to be well known it just adds to your experience, theres loads of model agencies you could also contact to ask for intern positions or volunteer your time. Id be chancing my arm at anything because you never know where it'll lead

As for singing, this is also something you can work towards in your own time. You can apply to electric picnic, body and soul forbidden fruit, all the festivals as an artist, not only will you get in free but youre building a name for yourself, you can add it to your CV and youre networking with people who have similar interests.

LegacyUser

What interests me about fashion is less about the production side (while it does still interest me), what really interests me is the style side, creating outfits, finding items of clothing, looking at different brands and styles and seeing how I'd wear it within my own sense of style..
I feel uncomfortable about it.. I'm the only guy (and seemingly out of a few girls) who are interested in this..
I watch a lot of channels on mens fashion, and while a large number of them are gay flamboyant men, few are not. Jacobjkeller, GearedTowardsGear,WhosJacov, Sangiev and others.. that's what interests me about fashion but I almost feel too weirded out to wear what I really want, I stick to hoodies and joggers like my friends because its easier.. but I still watch videos on Saint Laurent, lookbooks, reviews to name a few..
I'd like to start a youtube channel in time, I'd like to get involved in posting what I wear on reddit and Instagram.

I just sing in my own time.. I don't really write songs, I just play when I'm asked and in my room.

If college fails I'll probably pursue a career in fashion, maybe as a stylist, maybe working in a boutique or maybe in creating clothes..

Airyfairy12

studentsoiam3 wrote: »

What interests me about fashion is less about the production side (while it does still interest me), what really interests me is the style side, creating outfits, finding items of clothing, looking at different brands and styles and seeing how I'd wear it within my own sense of style..
I feel uncomfortable about it.. I'm the only guy (and seemingly out of a few girls) who are interested in this..
I watch a lot of channels on mens fashion, and while a large number of them are gay flamboyant men, few are not. Jacobjkeller, GearedTowardsGear,WhosJacov, Sangiev and others.. that's what interests me about fashion but I almost feel too weirded out to wear what I really want, I stick to hoodies and joggers like my friends because its easier.. but I still watch videos on Saint Laurent, lookbooks, reviews to name a few..
I'd like to start a youtube channel in time, I'd like to get involved in posting what I wear on reddit and Instagram.

I just sing in my own time.. I don't really write songs, I just play when I'm asked and in my room.

If college fails I'll probably pursue a career in fashion, maybe as a stylist, maybe working in a boutique or maybe in creating clothes..

If its something youre really interested in as a career then building experience, networking with people who are involved in fashion one way or another because you never know what doors that could open, start a blog, instagram, build your experience and cv. upskill, im sure theres short courses in fashion, fashion buying, fashion photography but stick it out at college because youll need your degree. Id seriously be doing the fashion thing on the side while you work through college.

Thebe

studentsoiam3 wrote: »

What interests me about fashion is less about the production side (while it does still interest me), what really interests me is the style side, creating outfits, finding items of clothing, looking at different brands and styles and seeing how I'd wear it within my own sense of style..
I feel uncomfortable about it.. I'm the only guy (and seemingly out of a few girls) who are interested in this..
I watch a lot of channels on mens fashion, and while a large number of them are gay flamboyant men, few are not. Jacobjkeller, GearedTowardsGear,WhosJacov, Sangiev and others.. that's what interests me about fashion but I almost feel too weirded out to wear what I really want, I stick to hoodies and joggers like my friends because its easier.. but I still watch videos on Saint Laurent, lookbooks, reviews to name a few..
I'd like to start a youtube channel in time, I'd like to get involved in posting what I wear on reddit and Instagram.

I just sing in my own time.. I don't really write songs, I just play when I'm asked and in my room.

If college fails I'll probably pursue a career in fashion, maybe as a stylist, maybe working in a boutique or maybe in creating clothes..

Sounds perfectly doable to have your business head on and all these other interests. Life would be pretty boring if we just had our day job and nothing else. There's lots of scope for crossing over these interests and your current study area. Some colleges e.g. UCD have a Fashion and Design society and you will find plenty of business students on it.

muttnjeff

op you have lots of 'maybe' and few 'I Will'. STOP PROCRASTINATING NOW_--Heres the plan.....

step 1-get off the internet and start studying for your exams and repeat if necessary

step 2-exams over put on your glad rags-the ones you like to wear not the 'blend in 'ones and go around to the high street shops looking for summer work-esp in the mens shops or mens departments of places like Top shop etc

step 3-back to college and keep on top of your work while getting involved in the fashion side of college life

Best of luck---no body else will live your life for you-not us -not your parents-not your friends---Its up to YOU!!!

act now.