University Regrets?

[PinkPolarBear1]

What are people’s opinions on university? I’m currently in university (1st year) and wouldn’t say I’m infatuated with my course . Although, my parents did not force me to go university I do feel as if I got on the education conveyed belt and just went with it, especially since I got ABB at a level, pretty good grades opening me up to Russell groups.
I’m currently having a huge wobble, wondering if vocational training is a better route forward for me as I struggle with reading and studying my course content. I know most people don’t do a job they love but would vocational training be more productive?

Well, it depends on what your course is and what kind of job you want to do to an extent. What are those?

My one piece of advice would be to explore suspending your course - whatever your university calls that - so you press pause for a year and then you haven't walked away irrevocably if you change your mind.

The answer really depends. What’s the reason for your wobble? Are you. It enjoying your course? Not enjoying the uni experience? Is the sole issue future employability? Are you ‘infatuated’ with anything?

I loved uni. I had a fabulous time, found everything really easy and got a 2.1 in Law. I didn’t (and don’t) particularly care about Law, but was (correctly) advised that it was a solid undergrad degree that opened a lot of doors/provided the opportunity to do a whole range of things. I then immediately did a Masters in something that actually interested me. My current career is tangential to my degrees. I 100% wouldn’t have got my ‘in’ without them, but they have very little to do with my day to day work.

I’m personally inclined to think that university is what you make of it. It can be an amazing experience and isn’t just about what job you get at the end of it. However, I appreciate that this isn’t everyone’s view.

When I went to uni it was a means to an end. I didn’t particularly enjoy it at all but didn’t see an alternative. The point was to get the degree. Seems now the emphasis is on the uni experience.
My DD is now at Durham and while she’s passionate about her subject is disappointed in the university experience. She finds her fellow students not inspiring and also has a philosophical distaste for this need for a degree. She’s involved in loads of things outside her course, is very busy, but is not impressed. Nothing especially about Durham - she’d probably feel the same about any uni (she actually loves the city itself).
A vocational route requires investigation. My understanding is they are like hens teeth, depending on the subject. My DD knows that her field will require a masters. Do your research.

It very much depends on the field, for degrees that aren't vocational (law, dentistry, medicine, etc) they tend to me flexible with what careers you go into. Something like history, or English can allow you to go into consulting, marketing, even finance. Degrees give you all sort of skills and if you do love and have genuine interest for your subject, the opportunity to gain more subject specific knowledge in that area as well.

It's important to get work experience, internships as many as you can do across various fields (if you are unsure of what you want to do), also networking. Look at opportunities within your university e.g academic rep, academic roles, leadership roles in societies, networking events, advocacy etc. Also engage with the careers service, they help massively even if you don't have a clear set career with helping you find opportunities, preparing for interviews, helping you with applications.

University is meant to be hard and it is, but you can get better at studying. There's loads of study tools and advice on YouTube etc, your academic/personal tutor will have ways to help you. Going to office hours and discussing what you find difficult with seminar tutors and lecturers is also good to get help on. Your university also likely through the library has study skill help, because there are ways to get better at reading, understanding content, scheduling your time better to go back over content, etc. If its a matter of not being willing to do the work, while vocational training is different, if you can't be disciplined, its not going to get the work done for you.
There are loads of things you can do to improve and depending on your subject, (ask and use the services your university have to help you).

Plus often after semester 1 and going into y2 you may have lots more optional modules and control over what sort of things you look into.

What subject do you do actually? As it does make quite a difference.

Finish the course. I never liked studying and felt that uni was like going to school

Just a little post Christmas wobble - keep on going, perfectly normal.

You'll get more and more used to being away, more and more confident, friends will become good friends - don't worry.

Get stuck into your studies, make sure you're doing well...speak to tutors/peers if necessary

Then winter will turn into spring, there might be a love affair, then outdoors and summer freedom and adventure.

Unless you've got any major plans/ambitions/talents elsewhere, stick with uni while you work something out...

I would stick with it for now. I studied law and i hated my first year. I found the content boring. I loved it in my second year as the course became more interesting.

I fear we have been down this road with op before. However op, if you studied Law at A level (or others who took psychology, sociology, poltics etc and followed up with a degree of essentially the same subject) there will be a large element of revision and back to first principles in the first year to cover those students who did not and are coming at it afresh, which may be dull and feel like a waste of time to you. However the benefit is that you should have time and head space to read beyond the first year modules and develop your understanding or even just live a bit. If you intend to become a lawyer there will be a long road ahead after graduation and the more you can get out of student life now the better.

Uni is not for everyone

Just because you’re smart it doesn’t mean you should go to Uni

In years gone by Uni was only for the smart and the privileged. Most people didn’t go

After 1997 it opened up and now it’s just a huge business

• high interest student loans
• charging for Uni courses
• student accommodation as a property sector is now a massive investment for corporates
• it’s widely “expected” that kids will go to Uni

It’s no longer education, it’s a business. You are being milked for money

and good luck getting a decent, relevant job afterwards. Some will, the majority won’t. Meanwhile the massive student debt keeps accruing and keeps you down.

OP, you have not let us know which course you are doing, but I would strongly advise that you look into internships/job placements during the summer vacation.
As far as vocational training is concerned, do you know what you want to do? Is vocational training available, and could you get a place? Perhaps the way forward is to apply, and give up uni if you are accepted. Don’t just give up your university course with nothing else in place.

It depends what vocational course you mean? Apprenticeships are quite tricky to get onto usually. Other vocational courses, well that depends which one.