Uni Help - DC hates course - what to do?

[ComfortablyGlum]

DC started an undergraduate course in a fairly specialised art discipline in Sept. They feel they were completely ‘misold’ as the course is proving to be horrendous. No teaching as such, they are just given modules to complete with a work sheet for ‘guidance’. Furthermore these modules are NOTHING to do with the art subject in question.

D.C. feels that the course has been ‘padded out’ and the quality of ‘teaching’ is non existenent.

They have researched and found another course at a different uni which they feel is far more suitable (in a different art subject, even more specialised to the point of being the only one of its kind in the world). They have spoken in-depth to the course leader who was so enthusiastic about the subject that my usually shy child became uncharacteristicly animated!

The course leader looked into getting DC admitted immediately but as it’s subject to a portfolio interview, they felt the process would be too long and that they should apply for the Sept 2019 intake. They have well beyond the UCAS points needed and DC is very happy to do this.

The advice we need is what they should do between now and then?

Should they stay at the current uni and stick out the year? Apparently they have DC’s funding already so they will get paid whether they stay or go.

Would it be wiser to drop out now and find a job / travel for the next 10 months?

There are pros and cons for both so if anyone can help us with advice, we’d be grateful!

Was just speaking to a friend about this last night. Her DD isn't overly happy with her course or friends/uni in general. She's also got options to transfer to another uni and similar course next year. At the moment, she's going to stick at the course for this year and then transfer.

DC? More than one? Travel is an option but quite expensive and would they go together? Another friend of my DD is having problems getting a job, even in retail they want previous experience that she hasn't got! Hopefully, she'll find a Christmas job as lots of places hire extra people.

My hesitation about a year out is that it's long if they don't have a plan. Friends at home may be in uni or busy working so they could feel a bit aimless ...

Can any credits be transferred from Uni 1 to Uni 2? If not Id take the chance to earn some money, travel etc.

I'd get them to speak with someone higher up at their current uni and explain their dissatisfaction with the current course, teaching (or lack thereof) provided, etc. See if they can get part of the course tuition refunded or see if credits are transferable.

Then I'd advise them to try and get a job/volunteer in a field related to what they want to study. (If it's a fine art based course then an art gallery, auction house, museum etc, if it's conservation type course then museum, cathedral, specialist shop,etc, if it's a computer graphics type course then something in a relevant industry) . That way they'll learn a bit about the work in the real world, have something good experience wise on their cv, etc. They could maybe try and get something outside the UK if they want travel.

I know someone this happened to (also arts subject.) They dropped out asap, to save money and went home to work locally and earn and save before restarting the following year.
It's scandalous how students are being ripped off with high fees and next to no teaching. the teachers too, uin unis are now at breaking point. Many don;t have tenure, and are hired on an hourly rate with unrealistically low preparation time accounted for. So where is the money going? It's not invested in the courses or the staff.

DD dropped out of uni at this stage - she hated the course and also hated the appalling accommodation she’d been allocated (since demolished). She came home, got a job, earned some money, had a good think about what she really wanted to do, had a couple of great holidays and a nice slow run at reapplication to a very different course and university.

And lived happily ever after...

Well at least she had an excellent university experience and came out with a very good degree. So dropping out early on really worked well for her.

Sorry DC referred to Darling Child not children! Only one of my kids involved in this dilemma!

Yes I’m fuming with the uni they are at now - I feel we were really mislead with everything about it. DC is still living at home whilst attending so there is no issue with accommodation. As a family, we still provide everything (food, laundry, phone, driving lessons etc) so their only outgoing is the train fare. The new course will mean they have to move into halls though.

I’m encouraging them to put together an email to the dean explaining the short comings and pitiful ‘teaching’ of the course but long term, they have definitely decided to leave this discipline anyway. Not sure if stirring up a hornets nest is worth it especially if they decide to stay and see the year out?

Interesting some of you have mentioned it won’t be that easy to just leave and get a job. That was my concern - they are a very introverted character and won’t shine at an interview so it will be very tough I think. This is why we are slightly more leaning towards them sticking out the rest of the year at the current uni. Some credits maybe possible to transfer, we’ll look into that.

Thanks for all your advice so far!

I wish I had dropped out of my art related course the moment I started having doubts, as it was I stuck it out until second year at which point my mental health deteriorated to the point I couldn't continue, they didn't check where I was or contact me until after exams at which point they'd already taken all the fees. I now owe £28k for only two full terms of teaching. Very very expensive mistake, I envy my roommate who quit in the first term so only owed one terms fees and her rent for the year.

Leaving now and getting a say a bar job for a year will be great for her, lived experience is everything as an artist, a job will give her money to explore with her practice in her free time. With Christmas coming up it would be a good time to get retail work and build some experience, they sometimes keep on good temp staff.

The good news, silkpyjamas, is that you don’t owe the money. If you don’t have a well paid job, you are never going to pay it back. If you earn under £25,000 you will never pay any of it back! It’s s graduate tax. Not a bank loan.

I'd leave. Sometimes it's better to bite the bullet than stick out something when it's completely wrong. It's worth trying to get a job of some type or do some volunteering. It may well give your child some confidence socially. It sounds like they'd get more out of studying online or on their own than anything they're getting from the university they're at atm.

I can see the whole "getting your money's worth" side of it, the uni will be paid so yohr DC might as well stay and get whatever they can from it.

That being said, is thay what they want? My brother was totally miserable at uni, and ended up leaving for the sake of his mental health. There's no point in your DC staying if they don't like the course and don't feel like there is anything to gain. Life experience would be better, and I know personally thay I wish I had worked or travelled before uni.