What to do when you have doubts about your studies?

Anne Papenfuß is a 27-year-old dual bachelor's student and campus reporter at the RPTU in Landau. She is also a self-proclaimed “expert” when it comes to the topic of doubts about one's studies. This is a topic that is not talked about enough, but it affects many students, she says.In her column, Anne shares her experiences as well as tips and advice that have helped her and can assure you: It is normal to have doubts about your studies and it is important to talk about them.

For a long time, I thought I was one of the few people who had doubts about their studies. My fellow students all seemed so self-confident and determined, as if they had a perfect plan for what they would become later on. I felt bad and out of place. Am I the only one who doesn't know exactly what they want and has thought about dropping out? Many students I have spoken to since have had doubts about their decision to study or have no idea what they want to do after graduating. This is particularly common in courses of study such as the two-subject bachelor's degree, in which students do not specialize in a particular profession, more so than in teacher training, for example.

Nevertheless, I have the feeling that this topic is not talked about enough. I think it is particularly important to discuss it, because doubts about your studies are definitely not a taboo subject. They are a sign that you are developing as a person, reflecting and dealing with your desires and needs. They do not mean that you have made the wrong decision about your studies, should drop out immediately, or are now stuck in a career direction and unhappy forever.

In my experience, students have very different reasons for doubting their decision. These include homesickness, financial worries, changing desires and goals, failed exams, or new career opportunities. Insecurities can arise at any time, whether at the beginning, middle or end of your studies. Perhaps they don't come at all or they subside over time. If they do arise, it's important to know how to deal with them and what to make of them so as not to get lost in them. Unfortunately, I don't have a step-by-step guide for this, but I do have four points that have personally helped me when I've had doubts about my studies. I'd like to share them with you based on my story:

After graduating from high school in 2016, I entered the world of work fairly carefree. I was 19 years old and felt like I had all the time in the world. After fulfilling my childhood dream of training as an actor, I was seized by the desire to do something else, to develop intellectually. So, quite spontaneously and without a plan B, I decided to study at the University of Landau. Sociology and business education in a two-subject bachelor's degree sounded pretty exciting to me. Towards the end of the first semester, I suddenly had doubts. I liked the course and student life, the subjects were interesting, but I wondered if it was really what I wanted. Although I had been so carefree before, I suddenly got an oppressive and constricting feeling and was afraid that I had made the wrong decision. I sensed that there were topics that interested me more and when I heard that I could best go to the personnel department with my combination, I knew that this was not the right path. I dropped out of my studies and moved back home. From that point on, I set myself a time limit of six months to find out what I wanted to do. I took what felt like a thousand skills, study choice and personality tests in the hope of finding a suitable direction for me. This self-reflection did me good. Focusing on myself and my strengths also greatly strengthened my self-awareness. Even though I didn't learn much new about myself, at least what I already knew was confirmed, and that was good for my self-confidence.

In addition to the self-reflection, I also did a lot of research and reading to get an initial idea of the possibilities. The research was helpful in narrowing down the range of options for me. For example, if I liked a course of study in Berlin, I knew that I could rule that out for me, as I wanted to stay close to home. I also had many (counseling) interviews, for example at the employment agency, or with friends and family. The advice from the Competence Center for Studies and Careers (KSB) in Landau helped me a lot at the time. The KSB now also has some offers on its website for those who are unsure about their studies for a personal check-up. The Student Service Center in Landau and in Kaiserslautern also offers study and career advice for prospective students and those who are unsure about their studies. I personally find consultations and discussions with neutral people to be more productive most of the time, as they have a more objective view and know about opportunities that you wouldn't have thought of yourself. Ultimately, however, you have to make the decision yourself and should therefore trust yourself and your feelings, not just outside advice.

In summary, self-reflection, research and consultations are great for getting an overview and dealing with yourself. But what helped me most personally was simply doing things and giving them a try. When the six months I had set aside for this had passed, I decided against a new course of study and started a new apprenticeship. I didn't want to study something again that I wasn't 100% sure about. And so I decided to train as a marketing communications specialist. After all the research and discussions, the content suited me best and, above all, I felt comfortable with this decision. Not only did the training give me more time, but afterwards I also knew what interested me, what I was good at and not so good at, and what I didn't want to do. During this time, I also discovered which topics were missing from my training and in which subject areas I would like to continue my personal education.

After two years of further life experience and a completed apprenticeship, I finally decided again, and this time out of conviction, to study at the RPTU in Landau in a dual bachelor's degree. This time with the subjects of German studies and educational science. And what can I say? After six semesters, I am still convinced that it was a really good decision. This may sound very promotional, but I was actually, and still am, very convinced by the concept of the two-subject bachelor's degree and had only good memories of this course of study, despite dropping out. Besides, I knew the university and the processes, and that gave me a pleasant feeling, especially in the Corona years.

However, you don't have to drop out of university to gain practical experience. There are several opportunities to try things out at and outside of university. For example, a job as a working student or as a student assistant, a practical semester or even a voluntary position. Prospective students and those undecided about their studies can get a taste of university life before deciding, for example, as part of RPTUzero, the orientation program. I also work as a student assistant and do volunteer work on the side. This work in different industries and areas fulfills me a lot. In addition to my income, it gives me an insight into interesting career opportunities that I might not have considered before. But I know that university life itself can be very exhausting, so don't stress and only do what suits you in your framework and capacities.

Finally, there is one more point that is particularly important to me and that I would like to recommend to anyone who is prone to doubts: Stop overthinking!

Yes, that's easier said than done, but not everything that seems hopeless at first is. There is a solution for most things, including doubts about your studies. Sometimes during my current studies, I have also had uncertainties that have resolved themselves in retrospect. One example of this would be the semester during the coronavirus pandemic, when it was difficult to make new contacts, or the failed statistics exam, which cost me many a night's sleep. It's normal to have doubts about your own path from time to time, or at least to question it. But we learn so many skills during our studies that we don't even realize because we don't actively notice them. Competencies such as abstract thinking and problem solving, scientific work, self-organization and many more are soft skills that are in demand in every profession. Don't let doubts take over, reflect and see what you can and want to change with your current resources. Exchange ideas with others and, if necessary, seek advice.

No matter what, don't despair!

Author: Anne Papenfuß

If your doubts and insecurities are putting a permanent strain on you both mentally and physically, it is important to seek professional advice, for example from university services (RPTU website) or therapeutic institutions. The Mental Health First Aid Teams in Landau and Kaiserslautern also offer students an initial point of contact on the topic of mental health.