To leave university and get a job?

[tiredeyesyeah]

I'm not feeling it this year. I have too many personal problems and it's really impacting my work and my ability to study.

If I leave, I'll have a Diploma of Education with 56% (which is shit), so realistically why would an employer think I was employable if I couldn't even do well in my second year.

I have a small child who just started school, so I can't just do any job.

I feel as if I'm not learning any useful skills at university. It keeps my mind occupied though because I usually slip in to a depressive state. It has enhanced my writing skills and my ability to think critically, but I don't think employers see this as a plus. These are basic life skills.

If I do drop out- how bad would that look?

How bad is the economy right now? Can I realistically get a job that works around school hours and one that doesn't mean I have to rely on benefits?

Definitely don't leave until you have a job op! Competition is massive at the mo due to job shortages.
I think stick uni out. There's every chance you'll have a better year and come out with a higher grade.
My 2nd year was a low point but in the end came out with a high 2.1.
All the best.

Could you defer a year? I took a year out when I had a baby. Just to give you some breathing room x

To be honest, in my opinion full time work with wraparound is going to be much much harder than Uni ever is unless you're doing something like nursing.

Plus, thousands are being made redundant right now and so they're taking the unqualified roles and it's going to be a bigger to get a job.

Stick at uni, speak to student services about your worries. But keep going with it.

Lots of people aren't hiring cleaners because of the Covid risk and because they don't want to have someone underfoot when they're WFH.

If you're doing a social science degree you will have acquired more than critical thinking and writing skills. You'll be adept at research, analysis, and planning for a start, and those are all really desirable skills. Both my degrees are in the humanities, but one has an overlap with social sciences, and I got my current job based on my ability to do the things I outlined above.

Saying that, I got my job much earlier in the year, in your shoes I would still finish this year and then see how things are in the job market. I can understand how hard it is, but you really don't want to leap out of the frying pan and into the fire. Speak to your personal tutor, they are there to help in situations like this.

If you don’t drop out and complete your degree will it increase your chances of getting a job? Do you have other skills it experience as well?
Normally I would say don’t even consider it but if the degree won’t ultimately help you and you are finding it so difficult maybe look into the job market and see if you have other options.

Finding a job won't be easy with riding unmployment due to Covid. Employers are far more likely to employ a person who has just been made redundant due to Covid that s person who dropped out of Uni. You need the qualification you are studying for to.get a decent job. All jobs that fit with school hours are few and far between apart from teaching or working in a school as s teaching assistant. If you stayed and worked hard you could prove your grades. You have only done one year. Degree courses tend to count grades on second and third years to make up classification of degree. If you are studying Sociology and don't want a job on education you could still apply for lots of graduate only entry jobs. If you can earn a decent wage you could pay a child minder to drop off and collect your child from school. That is what I did when I graduated and became a teacher. If you drop out you will regret it for the rest of your life. Seek support from Student Services.

I'm in my final year. I got 56% in my second year which counts towards 40% of my degree.

@Em8725

Please don’t leave. I finished my second year with an average of 56% and in my last year (after a years leave as I was pregnant in my exams) I went back, with a 9 month old baby, finished it with 68%. I got a 2:1 overall. I got firsts in most of my final year modules including my dissertation. It was hard but I needed to do it. Can you take a year out?

Seeing my baby at my graduation was the best feeling ever. She doesn’t even remember it but I always will. After uni (stem subject) I went on to have another baby and haven’t yet used my degree but it’s there ready for when both kids are in full time school. For now I’m a full time assistant manager in a restaurant, where the manager used to be high up in a very well known company related to my degree, and is still very highly regarded by his colleagues. I know a lot of this is down to luck and pure chance.

I couldn’t find a school time hours job, so now I tag team with DH and work 6 nights a week when he’s finished working. It’s really hard work but I know it’ll give us a better outcome in the end.

Good luck OP, with whatever you decide, please speak to your course tutors about how you’re feeling. Mine were an huge source of help, even allowing me to bring my baby in if I was stuck for childcare or had meetings to go to.

That’s brilliant @Em8725! @tiredeyesyeah stuck at it

Ah op, I could've written most of your post. I'm in my second year and I'm really struggling and have spent an awful lot of time thinking about dropping out.

I think the fact that all of my learning is now home based has had a detrimental effect on me and my motivation levels.
I feel like I'm teaching myself and I have no clue if I'm where I should be. I'm even waking up in the night with a panicky feeling in my stomach about it. It's horrible.

All that's keeping me going right now is the fact that I have 2 important pieces of coursework to complete then I'll have 4 weeks off for Christmas!

I have no advice for you op but I'm wishing you well.
I know that if I dropped out, the initial relief would be short lived and I'd then feel really disappointed with myself.
Good luck op.

The semester is almost over. You've come this far, you'll have the Christmas break soon and then there is only one more semester until you're done. Don't give up now!

Speak to your advisor of studies or personal tutor. There are support services you can access and most universities are taking the current situation into consideration when making final degree awards so that nobody is disadvantaged.

I would speak to your tutor first off, I remember second year being the most challenging, as you don't have the cushion of first year yet you don't have the light at the end of the tunnel as you do in third year; especially at the moment. See what they can do to support you, it sounds different now but I took my 3rd year grades fully as I didn't do that well in first and second year. My degree is absolutely nothing to do with my career, but I have no doubt it has helped me to secure jobs, those transferrable skills you mention should be standard, but having demonstrable experience sets you apart.

You can also explore the opportunity to take a year out instead of dropping out, there should also be a welfare contact in the SU or uni, it's worth exploring all of your options first, you've done amazingly so far to juggle what you have, and although it doesnt feel it, the end is nearly in sight.

You're almost there. Seems a shame to waste the 2 and a bit years you've already done. If leave and you ever want go back to getting a degree you may find avenues of finance cut off...

You have passed enough to gain 2.1 - which is fine, indeed any pass is fine to say you have a degree. Many employers aren't bothered so long as it is a degree. And a degree while dealing with a small child proved you can juggle and multitask.

Many jobs, particularly better paid, say you can only apply with a degree.

This current year is going to be especially difficult to secure a job, given that redundancies are on the increase and at highest levels for years.

With a vaccine on the horizon, I'd say difficulties in finding a job will apply now and through the winter before improving......and this is right when you'll have completed your degree.

What @Daisymaze says is excellent, seek support.