For as long as you can remember, when someone asked you what you wanted to do, you always replied confidently that you wanted to do a particular job, whether in media, communications, or finance. Your family also expects you to work in this area, and you have commenced a degree that will eventually lead to the job you thought you wanted.
But now, you aren’t sure that this is what you want to do in life. If anything, you are filled with doubts and find it difficult to be enthusiastic about the course you are studying.
What do you do in this situation?
Often, we feel we must stay with the course of study we have started. We are concerned about what people will think if we change course, and we are afraid of disappointing the expectations of family and friends.
However, it is okay to change study courses and degrees. In some situations, it is the best thing to do.
Some of the reasons why changing your degree can be a positive decision
Personal Growth
The transition from High School to university is a time of transition and change. Higher study opens up new ways of thinking and understanding the world. Our perspectives change, particularly in a multicultural environment such as TMC Academy, where our thinking is enriched and broadened by interacting with students from different cultural backgrounds.
We change and grow as we are exposed to different ideas and ways of doing things. Part of that growth may be discovering qualities and interests we were unaware of. These new interests may lead us to want to do something totally different from what we initially thought.
When our personal growth has taken us in a new direction, changing course to something more aligned with who we are is healthy and makes sense.
Passion and interest
This reason is linked with personal growth. As you change, you may find a new area of study that captures your interest and gives you a passion for learning that is missing in your current degree course.
In any degree course, we will find units of study more challenging, either in terms of difficulty or our interest in that particular unit. However, overall, we should have a reasonably high level of interest and enjoyment in our course of study.
It is our level of interest and enjoyment in the course that motivates us when things become difficult. If we have lost that interest and enjoyment or find our interest and passion for learning being sparked by a different area of study, then it may be time to consider changing courses.
Academic Performance
Sometimes, struggling with our current course requirements can indicate that another area of study or degree may better fit our strengths and abilities. This often occurs when we have commenced a course of study because of family or friends' expectations.
These expectations may not consider our personal growth, interests or passions.
When we are struggling, it is essential to seek the help and support of lecturers and the Pastoral Counselling provided by TMC Academy before we consider changing courses.
There can be many valid reasons other than the course of study for why we struggle with our academic performance. For example, if it is our first time living away from home, this can impact our academic performance. Some students take longer to settle into a course of study than others. In this situation, changing course does not assist, as it is the student’s learning style rather than the course of study.
Career Goals
As you study, you may discover that another degree better suits your career goals or offers better job prospects.
The job market is evolving. Careers that were considered crucial in 2000 no longer exist, and in many industries, new careers are emerging due to the impact of AI and new technologies.
One advantage of studying with TMC Academy is its Industry Advisory Board, which ensures the Academy stays up-to-date with current industry practices and emerging and future trends. This gives students the confidence that what they are learning is relevant and will equip them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed when employed in current positions.
Another advantage of studying through TMC Academy is that many courses have an internship or industry attachment component. This gives students the opportunity to work for six months in their area of study. After working in the industry for a few months, students may realise they would be better suited to a different career.
These are some reasons why changing your course of study is okay.
What to do if you are thinking about changing your course of study
1. Speak with your lecturers and Career Advisory Service
TMC has a Career Advisory Service that can assist students in considering career options and help with resumes and interview preparation.
As mentioned above, it is also helpful to talk to your lecturers.
Many factors can cause a student to disengage from their course of study. We have mentioned the first time living away from home. Another factor may be not getting sufficient sleep and feeling stressed and overwhelmed by the study, which can result in wanting to withdraw from the course.
Being willing to seek help and talk about what the student is experiencing allows TMC Academy to provide support and assistance that will enable the student to make the best decision regarding their course of study.
2. Speak with trusted others
By trusted others, we mean people who want the best for you. Often, trusted others are our family and close long-time friends because they know us better than anyone else. Our trusted others can help us consider things we forget or gloss over. They will also hold us accountable and, perhaps, tell us things we may not want to hear. While we may find this uncomfortable, it is because they have our best interests at heart.
3. Ask yourself questions
For example,
Have I lost interest in my study because I feel stressed and overwhelmed?
Am I prioritising my sleep so I feel rested and alert during classes?
Do I want to change course because I am afraid of failure?
Am I really interested in this new area of learning, or am I interested in a new area of learning every few weeks?
Questions like these can help us decide whether changing courses will benefit us while we are studying and in the future.
4. Take time
After speaking with lecturers, career guidance and Pastoral Counselling, trusted others, and asking ourselves questions, it is essential to take time to consider and weigh up our options.
It is easy to feel rushed, and we must make a quick decision; however, this can be due to our emotional state. Considering our options enables us to make the best decision, weighing up all the advice we have received.
TMC Academy will support you in achieving the best academic outcomes possible, including changing your course of study to one that is better suited to you.
Commentaires