Signs You’ve Chosen The Wrong Degree Course

Choosing the right course’s an important part of applying to university. This has to be something you can use in a future career. Something that’s applicable and useful. However, not everyone knows what they want to do in the future when they are 25 years old, let alone at the tender age of 18!

That’s when they make bad choices and choose a degree that’s completely wrong for them. And that’s fine, it happens. But how do you recognise that you’ve made a mistake? There are several signs to watch out for.

Not turning up to lectures

Either you’re skipping lectures, or you just  turn up physically. You don’t actually take in anything that the lecturer says, let alone actually learn anything. Instead, the words that come out of the professor’s mouth blur together and don’t register in your brain.

Additionally, it just doesn’t excite you. It’s true that there’ll be bad teachers every now and then. But if every single class feels like torture and you’re thinking of an escape plan, that’s the first red flag.

Bad grades

The second red flag is when you’re giving it your all, studying hard for the next exam and… you fail anyway. Bad grades can be due to many factors.

You could be stressed out, ill, not getting on well with the professor and so on. But if you’re failing most of your classes then that’s a completely different story. Take time to think whether this course’s really right for you.

No passion

If there isn’t a spark after two years of attending university, there might be a problem. The first year can be full of ups and downs, but, generally, your university course should make you feel excited. It should be a subject you enjoy and actually have passion for.

Passion is the thing that keeps students motivated. It’s what makes them push harder and not give up. If you don’t have passion and you’re mostly bored during your classes, think twice whether the course is your thing.

You were pressured into it

You could be a doctor! A surgeon! A vet! A lawyer! But can you? Can you really be any of those things? Is that what you actually want?

Advice from friends and family may be given with good intent. But if you’ve made a decision based solely on someone else’s advice, then rethink your options. No one knows you better than you do yourself. So, if you want to make a good decision, listen to your instinct and go with the flow.

It is not uncommon for parents to assume they “know what’s best” for their child, but at the end of the day, you’re the one that has to spend three years undergoing the course.

You’re mostly miserable

It’s okay to be a little upset and stressed out. But when you feel like you hate every professor and student in the university, then change your environment.

You shouldn’t be feeling burnt out in your first few months of studies. That’s a sign of something going wrong. Generally, university shouldn’t be a stressful experience if you’ve chosen the right course.

Your passion and motivation are the things that keep you going. And if you don’t have either of those things, then you’re not doing it right.

In the end, you don’t have to attend university right after you graduate from secondary school. Many young people are unsure of what they want to study.

Consider taking a year or two out

If you feel like you need a year or two to think it through and make your decision, that’s perfectly fine. Think of it this way: would you rather waste a lot of money on a course that you hate?

Or would you rather start a bit later and end up in an environment that keeps you happy, motivated and fills you with energy? I think the choice is clear.

Speak to someone

Another option is speaking to people who might be able to help you consider your options. A good idea is to see your university careers advisor, or even talk to a lecturer and explain how you’re feeling. Chances are they’ve dealt with many students in your position so can advise you best on what the next steps are.

However, no matter what someone says, you might know deep down what the right decision is. It is best to not continue on a course you don’t enjoy if you know in your heart of hearts it’s not the right decision.

That being said, I wish you all the best in picking the right degree for you!

Inspiring Interns is a recruitment agency specialising in all the internships and graduate jobs London has to offer.