Struggling with your study - case studies

If you're struggling with your study then the first thing to do is work out what's wrong.  Use the case studies below to help you think about what's not working for you and what changes you might need to make.

Subject or course doesn't suit you

• It's not what you thought it would be like.
• The work is too easy/hard.
• The teaching or assessments don't suit you.
• You're no longer interested in this subject area.

Things to think about

• Is this the best course for you at the moment?
• Is it the whole course or just one aspect of it that you don't like?
• Do you need to re-examine your options more thoroughly?
• Check out your range of interests, skills and options.
• Talk to the careers office at your education provider.

Case study - Paul

When Paul started university at 17, he took psychology because he wanted to become a criminal psychologist. He quickly discovered he had made a mistake. He didn’t find the lectures interesting and struggled to adapt to life at university. He seriously considered chucking it in and getting a job.

After speaking to his careers adviser in his third week, Paul realised he was interested in a number of other areas. Paul looked at several possibilities before picking out a course in human behaviour He spoke to the lecturer and within a week he had transferred courses.

Paul admits that he was lucky, because taking early advice meant finding a course that he enjoyed and that suited his career ambitions.

 

Personal problems

• You're homesick or missing friends and family.
• You feel out of your depth.
• You find it difficult to balance your study with other interests or social activities. 

Things to think about

• Are you still adjusting to your new life?
• Who can you talk to about this?
• Do you need to find a better balance between your study and sports/interests/social activities?
• Approach your student office.
• Talk to family and friends.

Case study - Melissa

Melissa chose to study at a training provider a long way from her home because it was the only place that offered the qualification she wanted. Although she had checked out the town on the Internet before moving there, she found it to be a lot different from what she expected.

The course was going OK, but she missed her family and friends, and most weekends drove a long way home to see them. After speaking to her family and guidance counsellor, Melissa decided to stick at it as the course was interesting.

By the second semester she had joined some sports clubs and made new friends and was really enjoying student life.

Looking back, Melissa says she realises that it’s typical to be anxious and nervous about entering full-time study. Many of her friends experienced the same feelings. She says it’s important to think about your actions carefully before making hasty decisions.

 

Financial worries

• You can't afford to pay for your course costs and accommodation.
• You find it difficult to meet your general daily expenses.
• You're worried about getting into debt.

Things to think about

• Is this the only way to get the qualification you're after - or can you do it through an apprenticeship or cadetship?
• Are you in a position to do some part-time work while you study?
• Have you looked at all the financial support that is available? Contact StudyLink to find out if they can help you.
• Use the Breakout database at public libraries or Career Services regional offices to check out what scholarships are available.
• Can you study all or part of the course close to home?
• Have you examined alternative accommodation options, such as boarding?
• Find out if there is a student finance or budget adviser at your institution. They can help you with a budget and can assist with urgent or hardship difficulties.
  

Case study - Jared

Jared moved away from home to study a Bachelor of Engineering at university. He was concerned about the tuition fees, as he needed four years of student loan borrowing for the qualification.

However, he quickly found that covering accommodation and living costs was a real struggle. After his first semester, a family friend told Jared he could have started his qualification locally or even looked at an apprenticeship. Jared discovered that he could do a national diploma through his local institute of technology that would count toward the first two years of a bachelor’s degree.

He also discovered that three large local engineering firms were actively looking for young people for their cadetship programme. After contacting two of the employers, Jared took up one of the cadetships and combined his studies with learning on the job. He says the experience really made him appreciate the importance of first carefully examining all of your options.

 

Change of mind about your career path

• You're having second thoughts about your chosen career path.
• Another subject might be more beneficial to your career prospects.
• You've heard negative things about the career you're planning to enter.

Things to think about

• Do you need to sit down with a careers adviser?
• Do some informational interviewing with employers in the field you’re studying to get a better idea of career prospects.
• Discuss your doubts with your family and friends.

Case study - Nathan

Nathan had long planned to be an accountant and had chosen his subjects accordingly at school. He enrolled to study accounting and initially enjoyed the study. However, his friends often made comments and jokes about his intended career and said he would become a “boring number cruncher in an office”. They also told him that people never lasted in the field very long because it was so dull.

After talking to his parents about his doubts, Nathan went to talk to a family friend who ran an accountancy business. He discovered she had specifically set up her business to provide accounting services to clients in the creative and arts fields, which had always interested her. This enabled her to combine work with her interests. Being self-employed also gave her flexibility in other areas of her life.

Nathan says this was all he needed to feel reassured about his career. He now takes his friends’ jokes in good humour. As an added bonus he also got part-time work with the family friend while he was studying.

 

Problems with your training provider

• The university/polytechnic or training establishment is too big or small.
• You would prefer to study in the city or country.
• The accommodation options aren't what you expected. 

Things to think about

• Is this just a settling in period for you?
• Do you need to use the student support services?
• Can you do the same course elsewhere?
• Are there any interest or sports groups that you could join?
• Do a pros and cons list.

Case study - Caitlin

Caitlin moved to the city from a small rural community to study hospitality. She was boarding with her uncle and aunt. To get to her course she caught a bus every morning to the other side of town. Caitlin found the experience overwhelming – the campus seemed very large and everyone else seemed to know where they were going and what they were doing.

The course was also very different from the type of learning she was used to. Caitlin felt out of her depth and like a “small-town nobody”. To make matters worse, her uncle and aunt were both professional people, and seemed so organised and “onto it”.

She was also nervous about approaching employers for work experience, though everyone else on her course seemed to have work placements set up.

Caitlin rang her parents to say that she was going to leave the course to move home and find work in a local shop. Her parents convinced her to talk to her uncle and tutor first before she made any decisions. Caitlin’s tutor reassured her that lots of employers would be keen to offer her work experience and her uncle contacted a friend for her who owned an established restaurant.

Getting some work experience and making a few friends boosted Caitlin’s confidence a lot. She began coaching her cousin’s hockey team, as she had been an age group rep. Despite having had problems, Caitlin says she is really glad that she decided to stick it out.