Rethinking your course or career direction
If you are unhappy with your course and/or the careers it leads to, career planning involves rethinking your career direction, and possibly changing courses or using further study to change directions.
Before making a decision to change courses, reflect on your course experience. Make sure you’re changing for sound reasons.
Why do you dislike the course?
- Have you given it a fair go? Sometimes it takes a while to get to the material you’re interested in.
- Are you worried about your grades? Early grades may not reflect your ability longer term.
- Are you feeling unsettled because you’re finding it hard to let go of alternative ideas for your future? Refer to decision making difficulties.
- Are there other things going on in your life which means you are not feeling positive generally? Does this impact on your attitude to your studies?
- Have you researched the career options for your course thoroughly?
If you’re considering changing courses, discuss initially with a Course Advisor from your Faculty. If your concerns relate to careers or career decision-making, book a Careers Consultation.
If you’re unsure what course or career you want, do some self-assessment to come up with career ideas.
Course change strategies
If you decide to make a change, think about the different ways of making the transition:
- Finish course your undergraduate course and use graduate study under the Melbourne Model to change direction.
- Finish your undergraduate course and use a Graduate Employment Program to enter a new field. Many programs are open to students in all or a range of disciplines – so a Science grad may work in a management consulting, or an Arts grad may work in banking.
- If early in your undergraduate course, it may be best to change, especially if flagging motivation may affect your grades. Don’t be too concerned if a change of course ‘costs’ you some time. Keep this in perspective - after all, you will be working for 40 years or so!