OT: Is this normal?

[Kamog]

Well, in university, make sure that you are studying something that you like, in a field that you are interested in. Don't enroll in a program just because it might lead to a high-paying job after graduation, if you don't like that field. For example, don't study dentistry if you're not interested in teeth and would hate being a dentist. It's not worth it and it will not lead to happiness in the long term. Make sure that the area of study that you choose is your choice and not something you're doing because somebody else, like parents, decided for you. Also, it's important to have a defined goal for university, to earn a specific degree in a field that you are interested in. It's not good to just take random courses every year without focus, as that would be a waste of money and time. (I've met people at university who did just that. They were there because they didn't want to work, and being a student was easier because their parents were paying for their expenses. So university was a just a means of avoiding work.)

When I finished high school, my father wanted me to study pharmacy in university so that I could become a pharmacist. I have no interest in drugs or pharmaceuticals and my dream was to become a scientist or engineer. So I didn't listen to my father and enrolled in Engineering Physics. I am glad I made my own choice! But yes there were times when I hated being in university. Like most things in life, there are positives and negatives, good times and bad. The bad times eventually passed. Sometimes I think back fondly to my university years, because in many ways I had more freedom as a student, than today, being an employee at a company.

Anyway, I agree with the other guys here that it's good to stick with university, at least for one complete semester and give it a chance, and see if things get better.

[dogscoff]

I got lucky at Uni and landed in a house in the first year with two great guys who became my best friends. Many ppl end up living with arsehloes. If you're living with arseholes, move.

Uni is all about meeting people, learning to live away from your parents, learning to deal with people and manage your time and you life and stuff like that. The academic side of it is kind of secondary. Basically you will hate it until you meet ppl you like, and then you will love it, so get out there now and start meeting people.

My advice to you would be to check out any extra-curricular student groups you can get involved with: See if there's a sci-fi society, a space-strategy-wargaming society. If there's nothing catering to your interests, start something. If you don't have any interests, make some up. See what they're offering and try a few things out- uni is a great time to try new stuff and introduce yourself to some of the things that other ppl are into. Do it. Good luck.

But yeah, if you do all that and still hate it... quit. Uni is great fun and I recommend it, and if you really want to be a [insert job here] and need a [insert qualification here] to do it then stick it out, but it is entirely possible to be happy and earn well without a university education. Worrying about qualifications/ jobs/ careers is over-rated anyway. Many of the nicest, most interesting and most satisfied ppl I know don't have too much in the way of qualifications and are far more interested in living their lives than having a career.