Having Doubts About Your Uni Course Choice? You’re Not Alone

It’s that time of year again. As students are getting ready to haul themselves back to uni, the existential dread sets in.

“Where am I going with this?”

“I don’t even like Geography. Why am I devoting myself to it?”

Anxious students hunch over their laptops navigating between tab after tab of a million career path websites. Others immerse themselves in binge watching, binge eating and binge ignoring the problem altogether. But what if you don’t want to pay a monthly subscription to procrastinate?

Here are some more productive ways to conquer your uni course doubts.

1. Take a breather

Not enough can be said for taking a step back and a deep breath. According to Tamar Chansky, anxiety is a future-oriented state of mind; “reel[ing] yourself back to the present” can help to restore a sense of calm. This means close all of those tabs, put away the TV series and think:

What, if anything, do you like about your course right now?

Why did you choose your course in the first place?

How does this relate to your feelings right now?

It could simply be that your interest in your course is dwindling with the endless rigmarole of essay writing and readings of tedious topics. In this case, switching courses isn’t going to solve any problems!

2. It’s not all about the grade

According to a 2014 survey of 2,000 graduates, only half of graduates get jobs that directly relate to their degrees at university.

This statistic may sound scary, but think about how much pressure this eliminates from your university experience! Your degree isn’t the only thing that gets you a job once you graduate. In fact, most employers seeks experience and a positive attitude over education!

It’s important to remember that you’re not at university for the sole purpose of wearing a cap and gown, to be awarded a fancily bow-wrapped piece of paper with a number on it. You’re gaining a plethora of skills – people, time management skills, etc. Others on your course may seem like they have it all figured out. They may enjoy their studies more, and they may be seemingly a lot better at it than you, but you are not them.

Don’t study in misery. Set your eye on the prize and ensure that you have nothing to regret when you look back on your time at uni in the coming years.

3. Review your options

If none of the above gives you any relief then kindly remind yourself that uni isn’t for everyone; you don’t have to do it if your heart’s not in it.

You can switch course, drop out or defer. University can be an incredibly anxious experience. A year out can be a nice breather to take the pressure off and discover whether the disillusionment you’re feeling is you or just your anxiety talking.

There are so many employers out there looking for apprentices or employees ready to climb the ladder of opportunity – without the pressure of exams and essays. So skip those extra two years of accumulated student debt and earn some real money.

Stick your head out the window and have a breather. You’re made from tough stuff. You will get through this.

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