College is REALLY stressing me out

Joza

Feeling a bit a **** lately. Beginning to think college was a mistake.

I'm in every day at 9, so i get up about 6 or 7. Get home about 7pm. Then I've tons to be studying, or doing a report or questions for a lab.

I get hardly any free time in the week even to exercise, nevermind relax.

I get assignments to do each week and the are pretty tough sometimes, I'm struggling with the latest one. (I ain't stupid , I got pretty high points).

On top of that, I have no money. So I can't go out, and so no chances to meet any women.

Did anyone else feel like this?????? I mean I really feel like the entire world is on my shoulders. I'm gona get crap marks in this latest assignment. And I have a MOUNTAIN of stuff to study.:(

regi

I think everyone feels like that at least once every year, the whole totally overwhelmed thing. You'll get through it and realise that its not so bad, but you'll get that feeling again next year too!

The trick is to just know that its in your head and that you can manage to get it all done.

Boston

This was my experience of the first few months of college. Things got better and I stuck it out, eventually began to enjoy it. My advice is to stick with it for a year, and then see how you feel. College will be overwhelming for most at the start.

paperclip

Joza wrote: »

Feeling a bit a **** lately. Beginning to think college was a mistake.

I'm in every day at 9, so i get up about 6 or 7. Get home about 7pm. Then I've tons to be studying, or doing a report or questions for a lab.

I get hardly any free time in the week even to exercise, nevermind relax.

I get assignments to do each week and the are pretty tough sometimes, I'm struggling with the latest one. (I ain't stupid , I got pretty high points).

On top of that, I have no money. So I can't go out, and so no chances to meet any women.

Did anyone else feel like this?????? I mean I really feel like the entire world is on my shoulders. I'm gona get crap marks in this latest assignment. And I have a MOUNTAIN of stuff to study.:(

Hang in there. Everything will be fine. EVERYONE feels that way at some point. Tears are inevitable sometime during first year (and even second!) But, bear in mind-- something that's worth doing is worth doing well, no? No one said college is easy, but it's worth it. Just make sure you're doing a course you like. Which course are you doing, by the way?

ApeXaviour

As everyone's been saying, you'll find your own pace and adapt your way around it. I heartily believe you really don't settle in to college until about February... Even as a postgrad I can pick out the freshers walking around, their manner is very tangible, until Hilary term when they begin to blend.

I take it you're doing engineering or maybe science?

So hang in there, make some friends, you'll likely begin to enjoy yourself soon enough.

Boston

Btw, I did engineering (and I'm currently doing a postgrad in the elec department) , if thats the course you're doing and you want to meet up for a coffee or something some lunch time, an old head can sometimes see things more clearly, I know that was the case for me.

John

As everyone above has said, you'll eventually click into a routine and find a cosy spot in college. I only really made some new friends coming up to and just after the Christmas break, I remember feeling like a bit of a loner up until then. Also remember that it will only be for some of the year, you'll be able to relax over Christmas and you still have (huge) summer holidays. Also, as your degree moves on, the hours shorten and the work becomes easier in the sense that you shed the subjects that bog you down.

cunnins4

That can certainly happen easily. I always find multivitamins help me cope a lot better-can give you a nice little boost. Get a little notebook to help you stay on top of things, I've found that a great help this year (3rd Year Engineering) This is my 5th year in college-I started in DCU in doing Accounting and HATED it and dropped out half way through. Love Trinity, love my course, but it can get quite hectic (like this week-very stressful).

A social life is hugely important though. If you're broke, try putting up signs around your area for grinds for LC and JC students-if you got high points you should have a couple of gem subjects that you could teach standing on your head? I know you think your time is completely taken up by college work, but you'll find that after a while you can prioritise things and you'll free up a lot of time. I presume you're doing Science or Engineering? There's a lot of hours in those faculties and the workloads can seem massive. Trust me, you will get on top of it.

If I can do this, anyone can. I work part-time, (~14hrs/week), see my gf 2-3times a week, exercise (2-3 time/week), drink 2-3 nights and still stay reasonably on top of my college work. In first year I wasn't nearly as able to cope with all that, but I learned how and now i'm fine.

If you find you're still unable to cope, have a chat with someone about your time management. I'm sure you'll be able to free up some "you" time.

Good luck.

AlanSparrowhawk

First of all, well done for keeping up with the academic stuff, a lot of people in your position would abandon it and would rue their mistake at exam time. Don't forget that you'll get a few weeks off soon enough for Christmas so you'll have time to rethink thinks then. Courses like Science, Engineering and Health Science stuff are very demanding of time and energy but you got to roll with it.

Boston

As cunnins4 mentioned its very important not to get run down and exhausted. Things are alot more managable when you have a full night sleep. Also as you mentioned having no money, most people I know get through college on less then 50 euro a week. My approach was to work like a dog during the summer and get enough together with some parental help that i didn't need to work during term time. As a student you don't need alot of money to have a social life.

Nehpets

a job during college.. meh. i'm quitting soon. I'd rather be money-less and have a good time

Gallardo

I'm struggling like mad in my course and need some advice please. Is there anyone with a good experience of TP here who can help me? In school I used to think I was great at maths, but now I'm finding it really hard. I feel like I'm depending on other people for solutions in a lot of the questions. My classmates are great, but the course is putting so much pressure and stress on me (especially with 3 late night shifts a week: fri-sunday). It's actually really depressing, but I try to keep these feelings to myself so as not to bother anyone else. This just seems like a thread with nice people who genuinely care about the strains of college life. Does someone want to suggest something useful. It would mean a lot. it would also be great if i could meet up with a 2nd, 3rd, 4th yr or post grad tp student. Thanks

JC 2K3

The only thing potentially worrying me in my course is the lack of a workload, but presumably that'll pick up soon.

OP, set aside times to study and times to do other things like going out or attending society meetings/events. You always have more time than you think, it's all about planning how you spend it.

Stargal

JC 2K3 wrote: »

I'm actually the opposite. College so far hasn't been stressful at all, it's been rather easy going so far, and it's a hell of a lot more fun than 6th year.

Though, I think in Computer Science, that if you just "get " algorithms, programming and logic, the first few weeks will inevitably be easy enough while the basics are explained. I'm expecting the workload to grow over the next few weeks, I actually sorta wish they'd give use more work to do outside tutorials and labs...

Dear god, what a useless post. I can think of few things that would be less helpful to the OP and Gallardo than what you just posted JC 2K3.

JC 2K3

Ouch, this isn't PI. I just commented on what my workload has been like so far. I don't think there was anything overtly inappropriate about my post....

EDIT: Hmm.. rereading my original post, my tone may have sounded a bit condescending, I'll edit it. I didn't mean it to sound like that, but you must understand, it's 2am....

ApeXaviour

Gallardo wrote: »

I'm struggling like mad in my course and need some advice please. Is there anyone with a good experience of TP here who can help me? In school I used to think I was great at maths, but now I'm finding it really hard. I feel like I'm depending on other people for solutions in a lot of the questions. My classmates are great, but the course is putting so much pressure and stress on me (especially with 3 late night shifts a week: fri-sunday). It's actually really depressing, but I try to keep these feelings to myself so as not to bother anyone else. This just seems like a thread with nice people who genuinely care about the strains of college life. Does someone want to suggest something useful. It would mean a lot. it would also be great if i could meet up with a 2nd, 3rd, 4th yr or post grad tp student. Thanks

I edited your post to make it easier to read. I'd appreciate if you didn't use text speak here just out of courtesy. Thanks.

On your problem... is it absolutely necessary for you to work? If so is it possible for you to cut back your hours or work more during daylight? It appears you're giving up your entire weekend. Coming to college, and especially when doing a burdensome course is a big life change and effects some people quite heavily. You need more downtime. Time to unwind, be sociable or just sleep. I notice the less I sleep, the more overwhelmed I feel by life, and not in a good way. Regular sleeping hours too in a completely darkened room, a bit of exercise here and there and (very important) a balanced and healthy diet (lots of vegetables and protein).

I'm a postgrad experimental physicist, the undergraduate courses are fairly similar. I don't know if I could help, but there are a few TPs who post here. Maybe attend some things by the Physical Society, it's one of their aims to help students in different years meet each other.

paperclip

There should be more of a mentor type thing in the college, not one set up by the authorities but a more student-friendly one. The one-on-one thing seems a bit uncomfortable for newbies- what if you didn't get along with that one mentor? I think a good idea would be for each department to have a 'mentor/mentee' gathering day where people can mix and give/recieve advice and pair up with people they particularly get along with. This could be run by the convenor of the department....

Boston

Gallardo wrote: »

I'm struggling like mad in my course and need some advice please. Is there anyone with a good experience of TP here who can help me? In school I used to think I was great at maths, but now I'm finding it really hard. I feel like I'm depending on other people for solutions in a lot of the questions. My classmates are great, but the course is putting so much pressure and stress on me (especially with 3 late night shifts a week: fri-sunday). It's actually really depressing, but I try to keep these feelings to myself so as not to bother anyone else. This just seems like a thread with nice people who genuinely care about the strains of college life. Does someone want to suggest something useful. It would mean a lot. it would also be great if i could meet up with a 2nd, 3rd, 4th yr or post grad tp student. Thanks

Well Firstly I'll say I've heard that TP gets easier in first year after Christmas. Have you considered getting a student loan and maybe not working though your course? AIb and Bank Of Ireland have both got branches in college, and afaik are willing to give loans with 0% interest for a period of 4 years. Don't worry about leaning on people that what they are there for. If things down work out in TP transfers into other related courses are common enough such as maths and engineering so you do have options.

Joza

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Well I'm doing science btw. Yes., the workload is huge, and I have to study alot, not even just to revise, but to actually get what the lecture was about since some of the lecture rooms are so uncomfortable, I can't pay attention.

But **** it I aint quitting or anything I'll just ahve to soldier on. As long as I pass the exams Im good right:)

Podge_irl

Gallardo wrote: »

I'm struggling like mad in my course and need some advice please. Is there anyone with a good experience of TP here who can help me? In school I used to think I was great at maths, but now I'm finding it really hard. I feel like I'm depending on other people for solutions in a lot of the questions. My classmates are great, but the course is putting so much pressure and stress on me (especially with 3 late night shifts a week: fri-sunday). It's actually really depressing, but I try to keep these feelings to myself so as not to bother anyone else. This just seems like a thread with nice people who genuinely care about the strains of college life. Does someone want to suggest something useful. It would mean a lot. it would also be great if i could meet up with a 2nd, 3rd, 4th yr or post grad tp student. Thanks

Try not to worry too much, that's an awfully common theme in TP. Everyone in your class will have been great at maths in school. First year in TP/maths necessitates a fairly large change in your approach to maths and some people simply adjust quicker then others. I know I struggled a good bit for the first few months and I was by no means above just plain copying other people's homework at times as I had little to no idea what was going on. It's early days yet, I adjusted to the whole thing after a while and got on top of things (I've made it to 4th year TP now). If you can keep up steady work, make sure you do all your assignments and at least try to do some assignments on your own (or failing that, actually work collaboratively as opposed to copying solutions, I've rarely done an assignment completely on my own.) you will be fine. Make sure you ask questions of both your fellow students and your lecturers if needs be (most Maths lecturers are very approachable and eager to help). Just try not to stress too much, I'm in an almost perennial state of confusion in some courses.
The hours actually ease up next year too if that's an issue, though I really would cut back/quit work if at all possible. I know I was in no state to work when I was in first year.

rjt

Gallardo wrote: »

I'm struggling like mad in my course and need some advice please. Is there anyone with a good experience of TP here who can help me? In school I used to think I was great at maths, but now I'm finding it really hard. I feel like I'm depending on other people for solutions in a lot of the questions. My classmates are great, but the course is putting so much pressure and stress on me (especially with 3 late night shifts a week: fri-sunday). It's actually really depressing, but I try to keep these feelings to myself so as not to bother anyone else. This just seems like a thread with nice people who genuinely care about the strains of college life. Does someone want to suggest something useful. It would mean a lot. it would also be great if i could meet up with a 2nd, 3rd, 4th yr or post grad tp student. Thanks

Heh, 1st year maths student here, so I know what you're going through. I think a lot of people are experiencing the same thing, especially in Linear Algebra. Most people seem to be getting through it solely by reading the book. Thankfully, in my group of friends from maths/tp there's always someone who will have read a bit ahead and understand what's going on, and can explain it. This is working pretty well, and means everyone is leaning on each other more or less. Maybe you could try something similar? Also, your class rep Cian is organising Linear Algebra tutorials, which should help things a bit.

By the way, I'm Joshua; maybe we know each other :P

Vebor

Gallardo, I'm in first year maths, we have lots of the same lectures, who're you?

Also, more on topic, try planning your time ahead or something.