Can't handle university...

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Hi. I'm just looking for some advice, insight, anything.

I have a degree already. A B.A. In psychology and Germanic languages..During that degree I changed my mind on what I was going to major in 12 times. Took me 6 years to finish a 4 year degree. I did it though, but only because those two subjects were the only things I could force myself to study.

Now I am trying to do a B.sc because I would like a job someday...and while I can read science all day long and be quite content I just cannot study it. I can't. I've tried to force myself but I can read the same page 20 times and still not know whats on it. A science novel isn't the same as a textbook or a rambling dry professor. I'm distracted easily and prefer to just do what I like and it is hard to make myself study physics when I'd rather be reading for enjoyment. I can study biology just fine. I love biology. The tests too are driving me. I cannot stand silly word problems that just beat around the bush instead of just asking what they want. It seems silly. If I could go at it in my way and learn when I want to learn and be tested without the sillyness...but university doesn't work that way. I'm excellent at lab work. I love lab work. Less talk, more action. Can just be in my own world and do my thing.

It just seems that I have this inability to study and learn things I just don't enjoy. Other people seem to have no problem cramming all this stuff into their brain when they have too and succeeding. I've been like this all my life too. Unless I like the subject enough I can't learn it but if I like it...I'll probably read everything out there about it and become an expert on it. I'm annoyed at myself. I want to be able to force myself too but my brain is too stubborn, does any of that make sense? I'm bad at explaining myself.

So now I'm scared. People mocked me for changing my mind so much the first degree and I feel I let so many people down taking that long to make up my mind and finish it..and now I'm on this second degree and I promised myself and those people that I'd be different this time, I'd stick to it whether I liked it or not and finish on time like everyone else..my parents were so disappointed that it took me so long and so many changes for me to graduate that they didn't care when I did...I feel I'm failing again and its the same old mess and I've let myself and everyone down.

I can't advise you. I am in a similar situation right now in that I enrolled on the "wrong" postgraduate course and now I'm like, hum ugh. Like you, I cannot study effectively what I do not enjoy. When I enjoy it, I will spend ALL MY TIME AND ENERGY learning more and more... I do not know what you should do. I would question whether you are in receipt of any study support for your AS, as perhaps that could help: for example, I am sure there is something they can do to help you with the wording on the examination papers. On the other hand, I think that doing another undergraduate degree is a very large undertaking to expect of yourself, and I would also question whether it is truly necessary to do that... is not that another 3/4 years? Are you sure you cannot get a job with your BA? Is not doing the BSc in the interests of getting a job later, a bit like procrastination? What do you think? I have found that what helps me to get a job is work experience, so then I've done a lot of temporary work to improve my professional skillset.

How many years into the BSc are you? It's also just my impression, but I've considered in the past doing another undergraduate degree but it always seems to me quite "infantalising" once you have been through the process once with a different subject. There is so much "jumping through hoops" in formal studies.

Anyway, hope you're alright. Do vaguely relate to your dilemma due to my situation right now with my postgraduate course. Good luck.

I do work with my B.A but it isn't a lot cash-flow wise, its tutoring, I guess I should of said 'career' and not job. I've always loved science so I thought it was a good idea...I was very wrong. I can get a separate room to do my exams and a lower course load by one course, that's about it. I wish I had taken them up on the offer of a lower course load right now, but I was too stubborn and jumped too high.

I've been recommended to a 2 yr lab technologist course at a college since I excel in lab but I don't know if my funding will let me switch to it. It is the hope right now.

Thanks for your reply, and I hope you figure things out as well

You have to ignore other people and just finish. Do this for yourself and to prove those people wrong.

I understand how you feel about how no matter what you can't focus or grasp concepts for the subjects you do not really enjoy. This may be a result of your studying habits then. Try to observe your studying habits and maybe change them.

Before you go any further, I would go talk to someone who performs the job you would do if you get the BSC and see if it's something you could even tolerate, let alone like. If all you like about it is the salary, you might as well stop down this path.

It could be that there's something else you can build upon your BA with. Can you give us a little more information? What is the actual job you're targeting? Someone here may do that job and be able to tell you about it.

Next, would you consider getting a graduate degree in some kind of technology or teaching? That would go along with your psychology and languages and you might be able to get something in an HR department or online teaching?