How do you decide if a course is not for you?

[DrowningEveryDay]

Uni

Change course - large data is hard, very few bioinformatics people and it can be quite lonely unless you find a team so there's critical mass for support etc

What's your goal for a job after your studies finish?

I did an MSc. in Computer Science having had waivers applied because of a generally strong academic background. I passed, but it was the hardest thing I have ever done, I hated it, and never want to work in the field. I was in a class with people who were naturally good at the subject, but I had to work my backside off for every single mark, so it wasn’t great for my ego! That said, I’m pleased I got it, I lost a stone and a half because if the stress, and the MSc. looks impressive on a CV. If you haven’t committed the cash yet, get out and do something you want to do, or that will lead to a job you want to do.

What might be right for one person might not be right for another, so only you can decide what to do about it, even of course if it helps in a way to read about others having given up studying, just as well as it might help to read about people having pulled through should you decide to continue.

Here are some good articles about taking a degree or not:
Northeastern university lining out what makes it worth the effort (and what doesn't).
TopTenReasons why you might want to study for a masters degree in computer science.
SevenWorstReasons to do a masters degree.

What you could do now is to look into what it would require of you to work through all the obstacles, working through the obstacles one by one for yourself, sort of brainstorming about them. The other option - to get out - is easier and you already know what is required of you should you decide to do that, probably just a phone call. Take a good look at the upcoming courses and figure out what it is you need to know beforehand, how much effort you'd estimate you would have to put into the course(s) and whether it's realistic that you might be able to do it should you decide to go all in. If you come to the conclusion that there are some vital skills missing (such as matrix algebra, or basic statistics skills re linear regression) you can take a good look at whether it's possible to postpone the course and fill the gap by studying what is required. Now, after a couple of hours or days work, you'll have a notepad filled out with all that you think is needed to actually succeed. You might also want to make a few notes on what will happen if you drop out, what's in it for you then. Now you might also want to discuss it with your school, to get their input and a second opinion and perhaps some insight you haven't thought of, so you feel your decision is well thought through. Also consider what the ultimate benefit would be for you, should you pull through. It might be increased job security, interesting jobs in the next upcoming 40 years, a good salary, or what not. Now it's time to weigh the odds, to do what is required in order to succeed, or to get out and go back to doing whatever it was you did before you enrolled into this program. After a week or so, you've gone through all of this, talked to the right people and may finally make that decision knowing that you've really thought it through and are now making the right decision - for you.

Hope this could be of some help to you!

Oh just quit. There's no prize for forcing yourself along a path once you realise it's wrong. It's just a waste of time and money. Quit, it's not a big deal.

What job do you want?
Is thus necessary to get said job?
Who do you know that has taken this course and achieved the above?
What was your original motivation for this course?

As long as you don't regret your decision in a few years time, thinking that you wish you had chosen otherwise (whatever you are now about to decide).