Why You Shouldn’t Freak Out If All Of A Sudden You Decide Your Uni Degree Isn’t Your Vibe

Uni degree
Contributor: PEDESTRIAN.TV

Think about how many phases you’ve picked up and dropped in your life: the Tumblr phase, the emo phase, the wannabe-prep phase (you get the picture).

When it comes to picking a degree or career path, you’ll probably make an initial decision based on whatever your current goal/obsession is at that moment – which is likely to change over time. That’s why there’s absolutely no shame in switching gears and doing a complete 180 while you’re in the midst of a course or job.

It is scary to realise you may not have started the right degree for you or slowly realise that you actually can’t stand the field you’re in, but it’s definitely not the end of the world. To give you some reassurance if you’re considering a change, we spoke to Michael Gordon, a graduate from CQUniversity who had this very experience (and lived to tell the tale).

PEDESTRIAN.TV: What degree did you start in, and what made you want to change?

Michael Gordon: I started with a Bachelor of Medical Science (Nutrition). I am interested in human anatomy and physiology, so I enjoyed that aspect, particularly biochemistry.

The catalyst for changing courses was finding out the pathway to dietetics required additional study after the Bachelor. I spent some time considering my options and thinking about Psychology. I had always had an interest in human behaviour, and the more I researched, the more I felt it was the right change to make.

PTV: How did this change equip you for the various positions you’ve held within the industry?

MG: Completing the Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) allowed me to apply for registration as a provisional psychologist. This degree equipped me with skills in psychological assessment, interventions, research and report writing, and expanding my knowledge of human development and behaviour.

Ultimately, finding out that my desired pathway was not possible gave me a nudge in the right direction. I began to seriously consider what career I would be happy to pursue for a long time. I spent the time researching the psychology profession and talked it over with some people close to me.

PTV: What does your current day-to-day job look like?

MG: I am currently working in private practice as a provisional psychologist. I have been working with individuals from a range of different backgrounds and across the lifespan. My days are filled with things like individual and group supervision with my primary or secondary supervisors, researching evidence-based interventions and client sessions.

PTV: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

MG: I am very happy working in private practice at the moment. Private practice was actually my end goal, and I could never have imagined that I would be fortunate enough to walk out of university and into this role. Five years from now, I expect to work as a general psychologist in private practice in Bundaberg.

See, there’s always a solution if you feel like you haven’t made the right choice straight off the bat. There are tonnes of opportunities out there when it comes to degrees and career paths, so I wouldn’t blame you for getting overwhelmed. If you are currently pondering a career change, or you’re not sure what to study, check out CQUni Careers to suss out your options to help you figure out what you want to do.

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