• Facepunch, I need advise on whether to drop a university course
    1 replies, posted
For a bit of background, I am in my fifth year of an undergraduate double degree this year. I am studying three courses this semester (equivalent to three-quarters of full-time study), but I also work two jobs: An office job every Monday, and a nightfill/weekend retail job every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The days I go to university are every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. I also live by myself, which (combined with studying at the minimum three-quarters of full-time load) means that I am eligible for a study allowance from the government, which works out to $100 per week. The problem is that I am not going particularly well in one of my courses, a course on Knowledge Management; six weeks in and I still feel lost. We have an individual assignment due in two weeks, and it's hard for me to comprehend. I do feel capable of achieving at least a pass in the course, but I do not like settling for mere passes. I worry that because of my work-work-study-life balance, I do not have as much time to devote to studying that class. Adding to the stress is that there will be a group assignment later in the semester for that course, as well as another group assignment for another course. Some key points for and against dropping the course include: [b]For dropping it[/b] - I will have less stress to manage, and more time to devote towards the other two courses, my two jobs, and my life. - Dropping the course will mean only having to do one group assignment rather than two, and only two exams rather than three. - I can probably re-attempt the course next year, and if only doing two courses per semester next year, I will probably be better-prepared. - I will not receive any academic penalty, as I would be dropping the course early in the semester. [b]For holding onto the course[/b] - I paid $50 for the eBook for the course, which would be wasted if I choose to instead study a different course in a later semester. - I would probably still pass the course if I kept it. - I will no longer be eligible for my study allowance, meaning that some weeks I may just barely break even in paying all of the bills associated with living by myself. However, I have $10,000 in savings, which I could probably rely on to keep the bills paid. - It means doing an additional course in a later semester, and if I choose to stick with just two courses per semester for later semesters, it means that my last semester will be semester 2 of next year, rather than semester 1 of next year if I keep with three courses per semester. - Although I will not receive academic penalty in dropping the course, I will still receive the financial penalty, meaning that the $1,000 for the course will still be piled onto my student debt. Thanks in advance.
Talk to an academic advisor, not us IMO
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