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RANT WARNING:...Is anyone else having second thoughts about their degree

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
edited March 27 in Work & Study
well i am. I've just started a BA Sociology at birmingham uni and im hating it. I just dont see the point, its a subject in such turmoil, no one agrees on anything.

He said, she said, but this is disputed by, which is contested by....ARRRGHHH! FUCK OFF!

Whats the point?

i desparately dont want to sit in an office for the rest of my life, or do some other research based pursuit only for someone to come along with some grandiose theoretical challenge and knock it down and what have we achieved; NOTHING!.

its like kids with Lego.

I would love to have gone to Med School but i fucked about too much in school and the first year of college.

Thats something i'd love to do. I'd even consider redoing A Levels for it.
Post edited by JustV on

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I just saw uni as an easy version of a job, I didnt like my course, but it was easy and only took me about 10-15 hours a week to do.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    A subject with no consensus is the most interesting subject to study.

    Loads of room for study.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Only as long as its well managed, other wise it will just be like then threads on here when the mods are away.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    lukesh posts spring to mind, more contradictions than the bible!


    i cant see why someone would go to uni just to avoid working, im going to learn, not needing full time work is just a bonus:p
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I very much hope your not comparing my posts to that of Lukesh.

    You went to uni to work? What a curious concept.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    A subject with no consensus is the most interesting subject to study.

    oh undoubtedly. I mean philosophy i find extremely interesting, and that is an area with perhaps the least academic consencus!

    I guess what im after is instant gratification; 'I did something worthwhile today' or 'i helped do that today'. Y'know, something like that.

    Its a simple and fairly restricted mode of thinking but one that i cannot deny that i subscribe to. I think its a compulsion rather than a decision.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Become a bricky then, or a sparky.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Become a bricky then, or a sparky.

    yeah guess so, just dont think i'd enjoy it much or be particularly good at it.

    I always wanted to do something in the medical profession... oh well i'll work it out at some point.
    :D
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Then build hospitals.
  • littlemissylittlemissy Posts: 9,972 Supreme Poster
    Originally posted by Kermit
    A subject with no consensus is the most interesting subject to study.

    I used to be the opposite. I loved maths because there was only one right answer.

    But in relation to the thread ... I think alot of people do have second thoughts. Over half of my friends from uni are not doing the degree they originally started. Look at all your options. Are you doing any outside courses?

    Give it a bit of a chance, you've not been there long too :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Then build hospitals.

    smartarse :yeees:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I've just started my second year, and I'm seriously considering leaving. I've been looking at what I could do if I left, and I'd want to train to become an un-qualified teacher for further education, and then maybe train later to become a qualified teacher. But I'm not sure whether to leave and do something I want without a degree, or stick with it, even though I hate it and it's too hard, just to get a degree.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I've just started my second year too and I am also seriously considering leaving. I have considered my options though and I'm just not sure what else I want to do. I don't think changing course would help because at the end of the day I am doing the subject I most want to do. I did the wrong A-levels to do the other thing I am keen on doing which is working with animals in some form or other. I feel really stuck because I do want this degree and I don't want to leave now without anything, especially not after I got good marks last year. I'm just not sure it's worth what i'm going through right now though.
    I really don't know, I'm so confused about the whole thing. I don't want to leave but I don't want to stay. I'm such a nightmare.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    and im in the kinda-second-year-boat as well, being older than everyone else.

    i think we all need to get together and have a damn good cry...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by xapis
    I did the wrong A-levels to do the other thing I am keen on doing which is working with animals in some form or other.

    Isn't there any other way you can work with animals without doing a degree?

    I know exactly how you feel about being confused, I just don't know what is the right thing to do.

    Is there anyone who felt this way when they were in the second year? What did you do and do you regret it?
    Originally posted by Martin_Bashir
    i think we all need to get together and have a damn good cry...

    I think so too :crying:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I have a theory but....well fuck it im going to tell ou anyway :D

    i think that we might just be one of the last generations who are the output of a school system which, for the last 10-20 years has been hell bent on keeping students in academia (incentives, grants, the tories changing all the Polytechnics into Unis...).

    Now, it seems that government is starting to realise that not everyone wants this academic life, with these proposed reforms of the state education system.

    I wonder how many have had their choices and opportunities restricted by the current system that disproportionalatly favours academic study. :confused:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Im probably jumping into this a little late but what the heck.

    Ive got the case of second year blues, all the work is literally piled in front on me and im struggling with the course. Im doing Sociology and dont want to do aynthing research related or office work when ive finished. Im going to do more training and hopefully do something within teaching or health profesions. Did you know that if you do sociology Martin that you can in some cases do accelerated courses in some health proffesions eg occupational therapy as it is classed as a science subject at some uni's. Im hating my degree right now but I know I can always go on to achieve what I really want when ive finished and still have a degree to fall back on so to speak.
    Im hoping the year settles down soon though!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by RepeatToFade
    Is there anyone who felt this way when they were in the second year? What did you do and do you regret it?

    yup. i changed courses 4 weeks into the start of my second year, which meant starting again from scratch.

    but generally i think everyone hates the start of their second year. especially for us, cause our second year marks counted towards our final degree classification, so it was like a lot of pressure all of a sudden, and then after 4 months off. it's never a fun time.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by kaffrin
    yup. i changed courses 4 weeks into the start of my second year, which meant starting again from scratch.

    but generally i think everyone hates the start of their second year. especially for us, cause our second year marks counted towards our final degree classification, so it was like a lot of pressure all of a sudden, and then after 4 months off. it's never a fun time.

    i like my 2nd year it sactualy challenging and the work may be laods but ive a reason to work for it, if that makes any sense :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I did social sciences at university which imcluded a lot of sociology modules. I left in my second year, not because of the course but for more personal reasons.

    Anyway, I am currently doing a degree with the Open University and I do sociology. I love it because I can see it in action everywhere I look. Perhaps your course is too theory based? Anyway, I agree there are a lot of areas and a lot of theorists, but you don't have to remember them all to get good grades in the subject. I think the diversity of the subject is great... you can pick and choose so many areas to study!

    I work for the NHS, albeit in administration but my degree certainly helps (particulalry bits about social policy, welfare and exclusion) and I know fine well that it would give me a step up if I ever choose to go into the healthcare side of the profession.

    Have you ever thought about being a nurse? You don't need grades as high as you would to be a doctor. In actual fact there are many courses where you don't even need A-Levels, but if you can show some experience (working in a nursing home for example) then you can be accepted. Just an idea.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I'm worried that if I go to uni I won't get along because I'm not a big drinker and because I tend not to open up all that well. Also worried that it'll be snobbish and full of rich kids....

    I may join a debate society or something.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Originally posted by BumbleBee

    Have you ever thought about being a nurse? You don't need grades as high as you would to be a doctor. In actual fact there are many courses where you don't even need A-Levels, but if you can show some experience (working in a nursing home for example) then you can be accepted. Just an idea.
    :yes:
    Ive just been accepted on a nursing course, and I dont have any A levels or care work experience. I just needed my 5 O levels.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    hehe i know! == how can experts on the same issue disagree. but Kermit is right as ever, there is lots of room for your own suggestions, if you have any that is :D

    if you hate it, pass the first year and see what you can do in terms of changing course. second learn to skimread everything so you have more time to socialise. umm otherwise, get the help you need from the tutors and knuckle down. get a job too, this gets you into more social circles.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I am doing exactly the same course as u at Birmingham! when i started it does seem a bit pointless....but i think its a nice course because apart from essays there isnt to much other work! it gives u a degree and u could find fault in any degree unless ur doing something which u purely love! I am thinkin of doing law conversion at mo! its such a flexible course so give it a chance before changing or giving up.
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