How to overcome changing undergrad course/university due to failure

Question

Right after school I decided to pursue a degree in physics. It went well at first but then I started to struggle with depression and other personal issues. Eventually I started to fall behind and felt overwhelmed by the coursework, I lost my passion for the field and just felt frustrated. I noticed it was time for a change, so after moving away and attending another university things were lightening up a bit.

Since I was too far behind in my coursework I was afraid of losing my financial support. Thankfully I was always good at programming, so I found a nice job to cover my expenses and switched fields to Applied Computer Science. Ever since then things are working out great. I got top grades, am nominated for a stipend, and even got the time to volunteer and participate at some minor research groups.

Anyways I feel bad for not being able to finish my physics degree. I feel like I completely wasted 2 years of my life and just don't know what to do/think about this. I do miss every aspect of physics now and secretly regret my decision every now and then.

Would it be reasonable to get my physics degree (at least finish the bachelor) when I am done with my current field? If not, how can one deal with the impression of failure and regret?

(English is not my first language, any edits are warmly welcomed)

Answer 1

Difficult times occur. This is normal. Unless you did something foolish that caused your failure (and nothing indicates you did), there is no reason to feel regret.

You cannot control everything in your life. Whoever does not attempt anything, does not fail; people of action fail regularly. Failure is a central part of life, and there is no reason to regret attempting to study physics and then finding out it's not for you at this phase of your life. In fact, I actually recommend testing ones limits early, and knowing where they are makes one a more mature personality. Your current success is point-in-case.

And, keep in mind: limits may be expanded, albeit slowly. Therefore, my recommendation depends on whether your regret refers to ceasing to do physics itself (the topic!), or it is rather the failure to complete (the studies!) that you regret.

If you feel that you would have liked to do physics (the topic!) after all, perhaps you can consider reactivating your studies (or add a Master's degree as suggested elsewhere). But if it is only the missed opportunity, then I recommend to notch your physics studies up as valuable experience and move on the path where you have made progress and which clearly suits you well.

Answer 2

Dont worry, you can always apply for a master's degree related to the field of physics. It is nothing unusual. You should let it go, and multidisciplinarity is in expansion in any research and future career related of your interest ( assuming that you want to continue your studies).

Answer 3

After completing school and academic degree I decided to start the dissertation. Being accustomed that everything runs its usual course, I simply chose a field which was convenient for me (location). Well, after half a year a nasty realization crept in: The interest was not enough to get me through the dissertation. Try as I might I could not muster the energy to get through. So with rising horror I realized that the normal academic career which was nearly half of my lifetime at that point would come to an end.

So I can relate to your feelings. Yes, I felt very miserable at the point and no, the rational consolations did not reach the heart. It is completely normal you feel this way and you need to give it room. Take your time.

I feel like I completely wasted 2 years of my life and just don't know what to do/think about this

No, you did not wasted your life. Only after a time the realization crept in that I simply was not ready for the task at this point. That was a sobering experience. I also realized that failure is the only way to find out your boundaries and wrong assumptions; you learn much, much more from failures than from your successes. Sorry if that sounds like good sounding pieces of wisdom, but it is true.

You did not waste your time because you are pining. If an university would never give out degrees or other forms of commendations, no rewards, no prizes, no notes...would you still have joined the course ? It seems like it. You still learned and enjoyed it, you had a good time.

Simply give yourself time, you will realize what the right course of action is.

Answer 4

Academic success is measured in your best, not your worst. If you write 100 terrible papers and 1 good one people will think of you as a good scientist. Similarly if you get your physics degree after failing it you still proved that you have a high understanding of physics.

If an employer has the choice between someone who got a physics and computer science degree at first try and someone with the same degrees on the second try then the first will be valued a bit higher, but considering how many people have a physics and computer science degree it will probably never come to that.

That said, you don't need a physics degree to prove you are not a failure, you already did that with your computer science degree. My advice would be to get a physics degree for the love of physics, but not because you don't want to look like having 2 years wasted.

Answer 5

Your pursuits in Physics will reward you in ways you never expected. While you may not have achieved the degree, you did gain knowledge and understanding.

You can always finish the degree, if a degree is necessary for a field you want entry into. I would celebrate what you've accomplished, and know you are all that much closer to getting that degree if you should ever choose to do so.

You might want to try just one class and chip away at it over time so it won't be overwhelming.

You didn't fail. You simply need a wider time frame for your goals :)

Timothy Miltz

Answer 6

When you are in certain situations sometimes it's best to have a change of environment and that is what you did, you changed to something you are clearly very good at.You should not feel any sort of negativity towards yourself because you felt at the time that the physics course wasn't working for you,lots of people change their course.Think of it this way, had you stayed on your physics course would you have been able to cope with all the stress?Trust me things happen for a reason and I feel like you doing this new course has probably helped your mental stability so you are much calmer.You didn't waste the two years, if anything you gained two years worth of experience that you could come back to if you ever wanted to.We think the worst thing is to waste time and money but it's not the worst thing to ever let waste away is your happiness and how you feel.I'm sure the people who care for you feel the same way. SO don't feel sad be proud of your achievements because you have done a heck of a lot. WELL DONE MAN!

Answer 7

If you feel a hankering to learn more physics, take more physics classes. You can start now, with one course per semester, alongside the courses you need for your major.

After you graduate, you can continue taking one course per semester if you wish, or you can take several at a time. You can take a class while working full time, if you make sure not to put in extra hours in your job, and if you arrange your schedule carefully.

You may need some more math classes. Certain math skills and the right sort of mathematical dexterity make physics courses much more manageable.

See how you feel as you go along. Let your interest in the subject matter determine how far you go with physics. In other words, don't pursue a degree just for the title and the diploma to put on the wall.

That said, if you find, over time, that it is an enduring interest and you want to keep going, probably the simplest thing would be to take the necessary undergraduate math and physics classes (and probably a couple of chemistry and engineering classes to complement the physics) as a non-matriculated student, and apply to grad school. There again -- you don't need to decide a priori whether to aim for a Master's or a PhD. Keep your options open.

It's great that you have a skill set that makes you reliably and enjoyably employable. You have your whole life ahead of you in which to study anything and everything that interests you.

My favorite undergraduate math teacher (Calculus I) went back to school to study math at the age of 50. That showed me that there are many possible paths to knowledge.