I honestly screwed up big time. Backstory: A year ago I transferred to University of Florida with a science major. All my life I was pre-med, and the science classes I took back at a community college were super easy to me. I felt like this was the major I was comfortable in.
Present time: I’m struggling every day to catch up because the University’s science classes are ridiculous. I’m slow in general so this fast pace is kicking me in the butt. It’s gotten to the point I have a mental breakdown every morning and am literally in the worst mental state of my life (sorry for sounding dramatic, I just need an outlet to vent).
Anyways, the worst thing is I can’t even switch out of my major because I’m a transfer major. The only option is to drop out. I can’t drop out. I have to get a bachelor’s and get a job within a year or two to support my aging parents.
I’m honestly so lost and would love some advices. What would you do if you were in my position? Has anyone ever transferred to a major at a different institution and realized they hated it?
Are you still planning on medical school, or some other sort of medicine-related career? UF is notorious for weeding out pre-meds with their difficult science classes. You might be better off switching to another school (UCF? UNF USF?) and trying to pull your grades up. It’s going to be tough to do that at UF. Going from community to college to UF can sometimes feel like switching from a sprinkler to a fire hose, particularly in the more difficult majors.
You have quite a few options. Your best course will be to lay out a plan of action. Just building out the plan and starting to execute should help bring things into focus and ease your mental state.
Now for the tough part…
First, I would ask how many semesters you’ve been at UF. Was Fall 2017 your first semester? If so, I recommend that you ask yourself if UF’s science classes are really “ridiculous”, or if they are just more demanding than what you took at the CC. CC’s have a pretty wide range of students in terms of motivation, discipline, and academic prowess and the CCs have to adjust to that. If you’ve only got one semester at UF under your belt, it’s not that surprising that you’re feeling overwhelmed. You will get used to the pace if you stick it out.
Second, I recommend that you ask yourself if you’re really doing everything that you can to be successful. Are you missing classes or recitations? Are you completing your assignments? Are you seeking help from your profs, TA’s, classmates, or tutoring through the UF Academic Support Office? If the answer to any of these is “no”, then you really need to look at making some changes. UF isn’t CC and you will need to up your game if you want to be successful there.
If UF isn’t for you, there’s no shame in dropping out or transferring. Med School probably isn’t in your future, but how about PA or nursing programs? How about a technologist career? I know Laboratory Technicians and Ultrasound Technicians that make a pretty good salary. Make sure you’re looking at all your options. You’re boxing yourself in right now.
Thank you for your responses! I appreciate it a lot!
To answer your question, no I am not in the pre-med track anymore. And I’m also not interested in any medical-related careers. I should’ve clarified it before. Now, I am just trying to finish the science classes for the sake of getting my bachelors.
Anyways, I’m doing the best of my ability to at least pass. I’ve been at this University for already 1 year. We’ll see how this semester goes. If it goes south, I’ll consider dropping out.