Hi, I'm a new member with a big decision to make. Perhaps someone might have some advice for me.

I am currently studying for a degree in accounting and finance at Nottingham Trent university. I am in my third year, and as it is a sandwich course this is my placement year. I started in September and have already found accounting is not for me. The placement has used nothing I've studied so far and my work has mainly consisted of inputting figures into and developng spreadsheets, allocating cash payments to invoices (requiring a series of clicks in the right places only) and updating a spreadsheet daily to show bank activity. I occasionally get asked to phone suppliers to obtain copies of invoices or deal with enquiries on the phone, but this has been rare so far. In short, my brain isn't gettng much to think about at work, so it's been thinking of the future instead.

Having discovered that accounting is no longer for me I decided to seek careers guidance. This revealed, afer psychometric profiles were interpreted and options discussed, that I should aim to be a careers advisor or adult guidance worker. I have a passion for helping people with finding their new career or educational course and I'd love to use this in a career.

I decided I would be better not finishing my degree. Yes, I know it's good to have a degree as it shows ability and commitment to studies at this level, but it would be very hard to try and do a dissertation of 10,000 words length when my mind isn't on the subect anymore.

So my next question was what to do instead. I have 3 options. Nottingham trent University, where I am studying now, has a 3 year degree in human services, including a pathway in advice and guidance, which would be relevant. however student finance regulations state that I can only receive funding for the final year of this as I will have used 3 years funding by then and students can receive funding for the duration of the new course, plus one year, minus years of funding already received. 3 + 1 - 3 = 1 and it has to be the final year unfortunately. I am not rich, and neither are my family, so this does not appear a valid option as I could not afford the tuition fees.

Another option is the Qualification in Careers Guidance (QCG). This is a one year professional course costing £2,700 and leading to accreditation from the Connexions service, which I like the sound of, but I don't know how such courses would be funded. the final option is to become an employee in training with Connexions or another careers organisation and take up study of NVQ levels 3 and 4 in advice and guidance.

Several people have raised the question, "if you're not going to finish your degree, why finish your placement year?" All I can say is the careers advisor said it would be good for the transferrable skills it will leave me with, and I agree with that. On the other hand I'm not getting anything out of this apart from that and I could get the transfrrable skilsl in a more relevant work experience placement. I must decide if it is worth finishing this finance placement. If I don't though, and I withdraw from my course as well, then I lose the private sector student accommodation I have. I can take all my stuff back home with me, but we live half an hour from the twon centre in sheffield, in a village with rubbish bus services, so it would be hard getting to and from a placement. Also I would have to find someone to take over my room or pay the remaining 2 instalments of rent as they fell due.

It's a trcky one, and I can't work out what I should do with it. If anyone can advise me, if anyone's still reading this "essay", I would be very grateful. i cannot think of a support service at University that could consider all the aspects of the problem and help me work out what to do. If anyone can name one, please do!

Look forward to hearing your advice.
Thanks in advance

I know this might not be much help ,but why did you go into accounting in the first place if you now realise you dont like it ?

If I were you I would choose the Degree at Notts, Have you checked if Notts offer any type of scholarships ?

Thanks for the message. I started doing accounting because at the time, I had done research and profiles etc. and strongly believed I wanted to be an accountant. It was only when I'd started my placement and got some experience of how different accounting work is in practice to how it seems when studying the theory of it that I discovered how much I didn't like it as a career.

As for scholarships, there is a bursary available to students who are entitled to the Higher education grant, but as a transferring student who has already received 3 years funding I would not be entitled to this, so I would not be eligble for the bursary. I can see your point that the degree would look goo dthough.

Just my opinion here, but maybe you should give accounting a bit more of a chance. You said, you strongly wanted to be an accountant at some point, so don't let a bad placement put you off.

If you enjoyed your accounting degree stick up until the placement stick with the degree - you've only got one more year to go and it doesn't mean you have to be an accountant afterwards.

Maybe speak to your department about dropping out of your placement and changing your degree from a 4 year one to a 3 year one. In the remaining time this year, you could always look for another accounting placement, or do some voluntary work relating to being a guidance councillor. You've got around 9 months before you'd start your 3rd year so there's no rush to decided now.

Also if you haven't already speak to someone in the accounting department about your feelings, they've probably had similar situations in the past and might be able to offer some advice.

It may be that you're not being subject to the "true" world of accounting since you've not graduated yet. Frankly, they may not feel they can "trust" you to do the proper accounting until they've seen how you're getting on?
My advise is to speak to your placement employers about your worries as they will have done the same-ish degree and may have had similar experiences.
Hope this hepls in some way and good luck
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