h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Well, just had another calculus exam yesterday and it seems time to revive this thread. I don't think it likely I will be able to stick around at uni for another year, I just don't get the maths. So any new suggestions on what I can do would be welcome. Something that doesn't require a huge brain or involves a lot of maths.

History of science? Philosophy?

Finish a degree in something, anything.

A half finished degree does not send a great signal, unless you have a good reason why.

sprout

Philosophy is a good choice. Especially since they opened that big philosophy factory in your town.

Xan, if it really isn't working out then you are in the ideal place to look around and find out what other courses are available and see what you find interesting. You should definitely talk to your tutor about your concerns and see if they have any suggestions for alternative courses. Talk to *lots* of people and do it NOW, not after you start dropping out. Other tutors will be more willing to take you on to their courses if you are still sticking with your current course despite finding it difficult as that will demonstrate a level of commitment to them.

I doubt anyone here can tell you what to do/study next, you need to find out for yourself. Are there other students that sound like they are enjoying an interesting course? What other courses are offered by your department, are there any that don't require as much mathematical skill but that still sound interesting to you?

Call your tutor in the morning and arrange to have a one to one chat.


k

How about taking an open unit in maths? If you're not up to speed on the basics then you certainly won't get the hard stuff.

I'd agree with Kelli - even from their own selfish point of view, they don't like students dropping out, and so have an incentive to help you find a better course.

I used to be a Computer Science and AI student. Then it gradually dawned on me that whatever it was I wanted to do, it was not going to be with a computer.

I then had a dilemma: what to do? I didn't want to waste the next few years doing a degree that didn't interest me. My lack of interest would result in me getting a bad grade - worse I think, if you think you may eventually go back to uni, than dropping out.

There is something known as a "false-start" which many students under go. Do not think that dropping out will affect your future chances of returning to university.

The only thing I knew was that I despised the rat-race and that I loved education. My problem was that for all I knew, I might want to be a seamstress!

It is because of this that I dropped out of university. I know now though, that I was hasty in my decision and should have spent much longer exploring the other courses at my uni before leaving.

I have since identified my interests as being particularly suited to philosophy and have returned to university to study it. It's going brilliantly.

I had a few very tough years after leaving. I don't regret this. It's made me who I am and I'm pretty happy with that. Though I could have made things easier for myself if I had explored something that I was entirely ignorant of, that being, for me, philosophy, before dropping out.

I have tried not to specifically advise you here. But I hope the telling of a similar situation helps out.

Yours,

Discus.

I did the false start thingy...

Because of the TV show "The Paper Chase" I thought I might want to be a lawyer... That lasted about half way through my first semester as a pre-law student... I had an anxiety attack and after that I changed my major. I ended up majoring in a hobby (photography).

What Kelli said.

Ben

Had my exam results today. So any new ideas?

Well, what were the results!

No matter... Find a job NOT in your field. The most successful people I went to school with found jobs outside their area of education. The criminal justice major got a job working for a dating service. The radio, television and film major worked for a diaper company. The art history major worked as a regional manager for a restaurant chain. I stuck with my major and suffered through slave wages for 8 years.

Had a talk with some teachers about switching to zoology. Doesn't look likely.

Alright, I'm still open to suggestions. It seems very likely I won't be doing any more university stuff. And my last reason to stay in Ireland is gone now. So any ideas, it doesn't really matter much where in the world now.

From what you've said, it seems like you just need to bugg*r off for a while and figure what you want to do. See if they'll let you interculcate (break your studies for a time) speak to your Uni tutors and your course supervisor, careers advisors, counsellors if needs be and they might let you. If, after time away you realise you don't want to go back, then don't, just don't give up when you've put so much work in. A friend did it and she says it was the best decision she ever made, the time away gave her clarity and focus and all her work wasn't lost

Thing is, I can't continue with the exam results I have even if I wanted to. And I already had a break of several years before starting university.

One word... Plastics!

Yes, but Dustin Hoffman actually was a graduate by then, Count.

Plastics? As in plastic explosives? Details please.