Failing Uni

[Z_BB]

I started my dream uni course in 2023. After completing a bridging course in 2022 to gain entry into my dream course. I unfortunately failed a subject in my 1st year and had to repeat it in my 2nd year. I once again failed it in my 2nd attempt and was academically excluded from the university. 

Ever since my mental health has been awful. I feel like such a failure and I have been lying to everyone around me because I’m too embarrassed to say I failed twice. It was my dream course and I did really enjoy the content but I just honestly couldn’t keep up with the workload and had a lot of personal issues going on that affected me mentally. I’m feeling overwhelmed with the fear of what to do next with my life. I’m not sure if I should find another course at another university and try again or if I should look at different options, but I feel like i have wasted the last 3 years of my life working towards my uni goal, just to chuck it away. All of my friends/partner have already graduated and have their life figured out. I’m getting to the point in my life where I’m 23 and I’m worried that starting a new 4-year course will set my whole life plans back and I still won’t have anything figured out by the time I’m 30. I don’t know what to do. I’d love to hear some other people’s stories about finding success and their right path! At the moment I’m feeling like such a failure and cannot see a further for myself.. 

[smallwolf]

hello and welcome.

I’m really sorry you’re going through this. It sounds incredibly tough, but failing a subject doesn’t define who you are or your worth. You took on a lot, and it’s okay to have setbacks. (Cost sucks though!) When I did my undergrad degree many years ago I failed subject. That was a while ago. More recently, I had to take a break from Uni for mental health reasons.

I would add that I did not get into Uni after highschool either. I did not even get into the course I wanted. I went to TAFE first and found something that I was good at.

Perhaps a similar option might work for you? Or maybe there’s a way to reframe your path or explore related areas that align with your strengths. A gap year is OK as well.

At your age it Ok to still be figuring things out. In years from now, when you look back, what happens now .... The path you take might be a little different to the norm (like mine). Take your time, focus on your mental health, and know that setbacks often lead to new opportunities.

[BlueLily]

Hi Z_BB,

Sorry to hear you are going through a tough time! I can imagine how confusing it would be given the options available to you at the moment.

I haven't failed the same subject twice but I have certainly failed multiple subjects in uni. It did take me a while to change my thinking not to feel like a total failure by looking at the root cause of falling behind the subject. I realised I spent hours studying the subjects but I was studying the wrong way. For example this theory subject that had lot of content to memorise, I was just reading it over and over past 2am which was not effective at all. I used that as a learning point and adjusted my study method for the same subject and similar subjects. For example I discussed the subject matter with a friend and wrote answers to questions which was far more effective. So you can go through your old notes and materials to understand how you can change your study method moving forward.

When I failed the subject, uni contacted me and offered various type of help and even a study break. So I'm a little bit surprised that they excluded you completely rather than offering any help or other possible options. My cousin who was doing a double degree failed way too many subjects then the uni offered him to complete the single degree instead. So perhaps you can talk to them again and get someone with academic experience involved in the discussion so that you don't have to start over.

Even if you do have to start over, age isn't a blocker. It's about what you want to achieve in life rather than comparing yourself to others, even though that's not easy to do. Do you want to complete an academic course and get a job or do a training course to go on to the workforce or explore employment opportunities. What is your passion and what drives you. I decided to complete a masters course when all my friends were having babies or getting married. They thought it was silly for me to do that. But now I'm really glad I completed the masters as it opened lot of career opportunities for me. 

It's never too late to pursue your passion or change your path. Good luck!