Changing a major

Abstract

Pursuing a degree programme of one’s childhood dream and blessed by one’s parents could not guarantee that the person will be able to complete his studies. The case walks the readers through the experience of Hasan who completed his matriculation studies and enrolled into MBBS (medical) programme of a public university in Malaysia. Hasan realized that there was a misfit between his aptitude and the nature of medical studies when he was in his second year. The case chronicled Hasan’s actions and reactions in coping with his poor academic performance, fulfilment of his parents’ wish, his lack of concentration and inability to digest his courses, changing to another academic discipline with his current university, or withdrawing from his university and making a new application to other public and private universities. There are compelling lessons that students, instructors, university authorities and parents could generate and contemplate after going through Hassan academic adventure.