College isn’t working for me, what can I do next?

You thought college was going to be the next step. Maybe your friends went there, maybe it seemed like the obvious choice after school, maybe you picked a course because you weren’t completely sure what else to do.

But now you’re there and something just isn’t clicking. You could be not enjoying it, struggling to settle in or be bored sitting in classrooms all day. Or maybe you’ve realised that the course you chose just isn’t for you.

If that sounds familiar, you’re definitely not alone.

College isn’t the right fit for everyone.

There’s a lot of pressure on young people to follow the same path, but people learn differently. Some people love being in a classroom, getting stuck into coursework and working towards exams. Others learn much better by doing things, being active and getting hands-on experience. Neither is better, it’s about finding what works for you.

But what if you’ve already started college?

You don’t have to simply convince yourself to stick it out if you’re genuinely unhappy, before making any decisions, talk to someone you trust. That could be a parent or carer, teacher, tutor, careers adviser or another member of your support network. There might be a different course, college option or pathway that suits you better.

And if there isn’t? There are other routes to explore.

If sitting in a classroom all day isn’t working for you, a more practical learning environment could make a huge difference. That could mean an apprenticeship, vocational course, training programme or another type of education that gives you more opportunities to learn by doing. For some young people, that’s where things start to click.

Maybe you actually enjoy being active and you’d rather be outside than sat behind a desk. You might enjoy sport, fitness, teamwork or challenges. In that case, a programme such as MPCT could be worth exploring.

MPCT combines vocational qualifications with physical training, military preparation, teamwork and employability development, giving learners a different kind of learning experience from traditional college.

If you’re not enjoying college, don’t just assume that it’s your only option. Talk to someone, explore your options and find out what’s out there. Sometimes, finding the right path starts with realising that the one you’re on isn’t quite right.