My mid-uni crisis

[lexitu]

It saddens me to say, but I'm another one of those who is having a mid-uni crisis. Well, not exactly, but sort of.

I'm enjoying what I do but I don't know if I'm enjoying it enough - I'm in a search for perfection that I'm never going to win but I'm not sure if I'm heading in the right direction with this. For those that don't know I'm study Physical Education at RMIT Uni. Basically, I'm with a bunch of unintellectuals (with few exceptions) and the course itself (though in fairness difficult as far as the practical aspect) is not too challenging. My only challenging subject is Human Structure and Function, and that I'm doing extremely well in. I fear being classified with my peers - as the dumb incapable PE teacher and being given lower years to teach, even though I might be competent and confident with my second subject (one of English, Psych or Bio when I decide).

Do any of you have some careers / suggestions / courses / etc. for me? I'd consider anything, so throw them at me. I'm thinking Teaching/Philosophy/Psychology/Anatomy/Physiology/Greek/Linguistics/Random. It might not even be uni-related, it might be volunteering overseas. Anything might give me a nice idea. I have too many areas that I'm interested in - ideally there would be a course where I can just study whatever I want and then teach it when I am competent.

That, and I'm sort of dissatisfied with the uni experience - seems like we're still very much being directed in the way we learn and that things are way too finicky. I want something challenging, rewarding, engaging - I don't care too much about pay.

I sort of considered Arts/Science at Monash but probably not seriously because of distance. Now, I'd also consider something like an Arts where I could do Psychology or Philosophy and take a Science breadth such as Anatomy/Physiology.

Any thoughtful advice is useful advice, I'd appreciate it

[taiga]

I'm not too sure, but is Physical Education available to any extent at any other Universities?

You could try a Bachelor of Science with a Double Major in like Physiology and Psychology at Melbourne University? Then Followed by a Diploma of Teaching / Masters of Education or something similar?

It is reasonably rare that a potential teacher with a Postgraduate Diploma or Masters Degree would be thrown into a Primary School straight away? Also you can probably start being a teaching assistant at an earlier stage so as to increase your experience.

[lexitu]

It's tricky because it really isn't incorporated into courses too well, it's not within UoM's.

You could try a Bachelor of Science with a Double Major in like Physiology and Psychology at Melbourne University? Then Followed by a Diploma of Teaching / Masters of Education or something similar?

This does sound like a great idea, I'll do some investigation!

I'm gearing towards secondary school but yes they are thrown in straight away if i understood properly - at either level, just the school dictates what you have to teach. Thanks taiga

[Liuy]

I do not know enough about Uni courses to actually comment, but whichever direction you head into, you will be a talent.
Good Luck man

[werdna]

I think this would be perfect for you to do, but it's all the way in Monash Peninsula..

[ninwa]

Have you considered taking a year off and doing one of those "teach English overseas" things?

[Fyrefly]

I think this would be perfect for you to do, but it's all the way in Monash Peninsula..

Accommodation down that way is rather cheap, y'know.

Also, unless you live as far as Geelong or Ballarat, I don't think you should write off Monash just because of the distance. Traveling requires extra commitment, but is entirely possible to adapt to.

Umm... just want to say that uni usually gets way more interesting *after* first year. Don't count your current course as a write-off too quickly. Maybe find and speak to some penultimate (final year) students and ask them about your uni beyond first year?

[Fyrefly]

Alternatively: Work your ass off for six months and save up, then spend the following six months in a country (or countries) that you've always dreamed of going to. Plenty of people fantasise about backpacking through Europe, for instance.

[Glockmeister]

I'm not too sure, but is Physical Education available to any extent at any other Universities?

You could try a Bachelor of Science with a Double Major in like Physiology and Psychology at Melbourne University? Then Followed by a Diploma of Teaching / Masters of Education or something similar?

It is reasonably rare that a potential teacher with a Postgraduate Diploma or Masters Degree would be thrown into a Primary School straight away? Also you can probably start being a teaching assistant at an earlier stage so as to increase your experience.

Don't take this as gospel, but I have been told by numerous education students that it's far better if you take a course which integrates the education component with your other degree rather than a Graduate Diploma of Education afterwards, because with the Education double degree, you would've had about three years of education experience before jumping into final rounds, whereas with the Grad Dip Ed, you're literally thrown into a classroom.

[lexitu]

I think this would be perfect for you to do, but it's all the way in Monash Peninsula..

Thanks werdna, but this is essentially what we're doing now - we have an outdoor-ed module and I will come out as a fully qualified teacher. But I like the thinking

Have you considered taking a year off and doing one of those "teach English overseas" things?

Yes I certainly have! I really like this idea

I'm not too sure, but is Physical Education available to any extent at any other Universities?

You could try a Bachelor of Science with a Double Major in like Physiology and Psychology at Melbourne University? Then Followed by a Diploma of Teaching / Masters of Education or something similar?

It is reasonably rare that a potential teacher with a Postgraduate Diploma or Masters Degree would be thrown into a Primary School straight away? Also you can probably start being a teaching assistant at an earlier stage so as to increase your experience.

Don't take this as gospel, but I have been told by numerous education students that it's far better if you take a course which integrates the education component with your other degree rather than a Graduate Diploma of Education afterwards, because with the Education double degree, you would've had about three years of education experience before jumping into final rounds, whereas with the Grad Dip Ed, you're literally thrown into a classroom.

Yes, this is completely true! But having said that, like my English teacher said in an email (after prefs were in) "Education degrees are fairly intellectually undemanding (yes i know i am saying this about my own profession...i am not saying that teaching itself is intellectually undemanding!!)" - wise words.

Alternatively: Work your ass off for six months and save up, then spend the following six months in a country (or countries) that you've always dreamed of going to. Plenty of people fantasise about backpacking through Europe, for instance.

I agree, travelling is not that bad, it was probably a silly excuse, I actually work really well on PT and get a lot of reading done. I have talked to fourth years and I have a pretty good feel of the course because we are such a tight group. The backpacking idea I really like, it would be good personal development and my life is a bit stagnant (and busy) right now so that might be a nice change.

I think I need a course with flexibility and before that perhaps a break and a life challenge. Is it possible to do an Arts course with some sort of a Science qualification as well?

[Predator]

If you still want to do teaching, have you thought about just a general Education course?
You can do either primary or secondary or a combination of both.
I have a few friends doing the general teaching course per se and they are really enjoying it since they are not being taught the one subject but rather a wide range from P.E to English.

The Arts/Science double seems to be your next bet if you want to do a wide range of subjects. Plus an extra year for an extra degree is always an added bonus.
Pity Univeristies like Melbourne do not offer them anymore though.

[lexitu]

Yep, certainly have. Which university are they doing it at? La Trobe (close to my place) just opened up on for Secondary but they don't offer PE at Melbourne (Bundoora) Campus. Unless I can persuade them to let me do PE at Bendigo and give me some cred for what I've already done. Only thing with teaching degrees is that they might not be very demanding, but I'll see. 

And yeah I agree, it is a pity Thanks for that!

[ninwa]

I sort of considered Arts/Science at Monash but probably not seriously because of distance. Now, I'd also consider something like an Arts where I could do Psychology or Philosophy and take a Science breadth such as Anatomy/Physiology.

UoM
Bachelor of Arts, and use up your breadth on anatomy/physiology (not a UoM student so don't know anything about the specifics, but there's plenty of people here you can ask)

Monash
Physiology in BSc or BBioMedSc
Anatomy in BSc or BBioMedSc
Degrees in which you can study psychology
re: Philosophy/Greek/Linguistics those are all covered in an arts degree (you'll have the option of a major and 2 minors if you are doing arts in a double degree, which works perfectly for your 3 areas of interest)
another option: you don't need to do an arts degree, you could choose one area you'd really like to do and do a diploma in it, which will only add 1 year onto your degree instead of 3 (if you don't wanna be at uni forever, assuming you also want to do some sort of education qualification later)

re: travel, consider distance education, which covers some of the areas you expressed an interest in. I wouldn't really recommend it though because you lose out on the entire uni experience, but that's something for you to consider the pros/cons of

Teaching English overseas
you'll need to do a short TEFL or TESOL course, I hear it's good experience and well paid, will update if I find more info

http://www.teachinternational.com/?gclid=CLnw-L6SqqgCFYgdpAodQUJpHg
http://australia.i-to-i.com/volunteer-teaching-overseas.html (volunteer work)
http://www.teachabroad.com/

[Russ]

He can't take anatomy or physiology breadth without doing prerequisites first (this is the same at Monash or in Science). Because of the breadth system layout, you wouldn't be doing actual anatomy/physiology until the end of 2nd year at the earliest

[lexitu]

Thanks so much Nina!! I like the diploma idea the best - everything you listed there is useful and I'll do some research soon.

He can't take anatomy or physiology breadth without doing prerequisites first (this is the same at Monash or in Science). Because of the breadth system layout, you wouldn't be doing actual anatomy/physiology until the end of 2nd year at the earliest

Which pre-reqs do I need? And what would happen if I had already done Human Structure and Function?