Should I defer my exams?

LegacyUser

I'v got my final year college exams next week and I am unsure whether to sit them or to apply to defer them and sit them at a later date. I'v already defered them since last year and I would potentially have to wait another year again though there is the possibility of being permitted to sit them in August.

I have struggled with bad anxiety and also episodes of depression in college that have really inhibited my ability to do well. It's a 4 year course but I'v repeated two years of it already. One side of me says that enough is enough and that maybe nothing would be different if I deferred again. That it's anxious avoidance and I just need to be rid of the course at this stage.

The other side is that I have been unwell and perhaps I just need more time to get better. I have been seeing both a psychologist and a psychiatrist and I'm determined to shake these demons off, whatever it takes. My degree isn't something I'm passionate about but I'm absolutely confident that I'm capable of getting a good grade which would allow me to move on to something else I would like to do.

I am basically terrified at the prospect of coming out with a poor degree grade if I do sit these exams and knowing that it was because I let these mental health difficulties get the best of me. I feel I'd struggle to secure a job or masters as a result and I could see myself ending up in a bad place as a result. One career option that I had my heart set on would certainly be ruled out if I were to not get a 2.1.

I'm 24 though and time is moving on. Many of my friends have long left college and are establishing careers for themselves. Wherehas I'm still here struggling to finish my degree. I'd really appreciate any advice. I feel like I'm lacking perspective on my situation.

mr_edge_to_you

You can't keep deferring life.

You have had difficulties over the last few years and you're working through them but the reality is you're in the final year of a degree and have already repeated 2 years.

I think you're as well to get your exams done. If you defer them now, when can you repeat? August 14 or May 15? What happens then if you were to fail one. All of a sudden its another 12 months on and you've no degree, regardless of result.

To be honest I think your prospects in both education and career would be best served by finishing your degree ASAP.

Future employers will ask how it took so long for a degree?

Also, its "only" a degree. You're talking about further education - its only going to get harder.

There will always be something in the way so sometimes there's no right time.

Rubberchikken

i agree with the other poster.
you cant keep deferring life.
while you want good grades, and know you are capable of them, are you willing to let anxiety stop you from at least doing the exams and seeing what the results would be?

you could surprise yourself and do great, in which case you can move on to the next stage knowing that you didnt let fear stop you.

what do you have to lose?

miss no stars

Don't defer. Sometimes sitting thinking about something can make you more anxious than actually just doing it. College exams are stressful at the best of times but just prepare as best as you can and get them out of the way. At this stage it's 6 years in college and whatever grade you happen to get versus 7, or 8, or 9 or however long you defer (if the course allows you to) and potentially a slightly better grade.

College obviously isn't doing you much good, so the best thing you can do is take what you can from it, move on and carry on with life. Sit your exams. If you fail a few, it's not the end of the world, it just means you sit repeats at the end of the summer (and you'll have had more time to study for them then and fewer exams to do). Then you have your degree and you're free of the place.

sashafierce

This post has been deleted.

LegacyUser

OP here. Thanks for your replies. They have put things in perspective for me.

I suppose the difficulty is that these exams are one shot only. There's no scope for repeats or anything if I were to do badly. I should have said as well in my OP that I have an offer to study something else but it requires me to get a 2.1. (Something im really interested in/A career I think I'd love - I suspect a lot of my difficulties are linked to me not enjoying my current course) So because of this, I potentially have a great deal to lose in that if I sit these exams and get a 2.2 or worse, this option (and others) would be shut for me permanently.

So I'm therefore afraid I might look back in 5 years time and kick myself for not being patient with myself and taking the time to get well again before tackling these exams. If I deferred (Depending on college decision, it would be either August or May), I'd be 100% sure of the 2.1 next time as I'm increasingly in a better place now; its just come a little too late for these exams now.

In any case, I think you guys are probably right and I need to just go for it this time. Though you can probably see that its a tough decision given what's at stake.

Faith

Anon1947 wrote: »

If I deferred (Depending on college decision, it would be either August or May), I'd be 100% sure of the 2.1 next time as I'm increasingly in a better place now; its just come a little too late for these exams now.

Being honest with yourself, when you deferred your exams last year, did you tell yourself you'd definitely be well enough to do them this year?

I think you hit the nail on the head yourself in your first post when you said:

One side of me says that enough is enough and that maybe nothing would be different if I deferred again. That it's anxious avoidance and I just need to be rid of the course at this stage.

I've seen this happen, albeit to a lesser degree. Something gets the better of you and it becomes a bigger and bigger hurdle. The only way to get through it, IME, is just to force yourself to do it with as much support from others as you can gather. The more you put it off, the less likely it is you'll get it done.

Listen, you never know what the future has in store for you. In August or May 12 months, anything could happen to get in the way of you doing these exams. Get them done and out of the way now. For the person that I went through this with, I could literally see the change in him the day after he finished.

mr_edge_to_you

Anon1947 wrote: »

If I deferred (Depending on college decision, it would be either August or May), I'd be 100% sure of the 2.1 next time as I'm increasingly in a better place now; its just come a little too late for these exams now.

1st up. Is the option to defer at the college's discretion? Surely they will be asking questions.

2nd and most important. You cannot say you'd be 100% sure of the 2.1 the next time. This is fantasy stuff. I did exams for 6 years after I did my degree. I can tell you life gets in the way, quite often. The more prepared you are for the exams, the bigger the curveballs.

you should be buried in past-papers and notes right now.

Trust me, there will always be something hanging around.

LegacyUser

Hey OP,

Never normally reply but felt compelled to reply to your post as I was in a similar position during my finals so I completely understand where you are coming from.

I know that you need a 2.1 in this degree to progress to the career that you want so I completely understand why you would consider taking another year. I understand its a difficult decision as there are no repeats so I understand why deferring may seem like a good option. In the grand scheme of thing an extra years isn't that much. If you really do think that you won't get a 2.1 it may be the sensible option. You can use that year to save money and get experience in the field you plan to enter.

That said, you are never going to feel fully prepared going into your finals no matter how long you have. It's always going to be a but of a risk but its something you are well able for. A lot of the exams are fairly predictable so have a good look at the exam papers and try imagine how you would do if faced with those questions on the day.

You are able to well in these exams so believe in your self. :-) I wish you all the best whatever you choose. Make sure to eat right and get lots of sleep before the exam. I myself would say you should give it a shot! Worst case scenario there are other ways to get onto your chosen field without a 2.1. (although you will likely will get in the route you planned!)

Whatever you choose there really is no right or wrong decision so do what you feel is best for you.

Bafucin

Anon1947 wrote: »

I'v got my final year college exams next week and I am unsure whether to sit them or to apply to defer them and sit them at a later date. I'v already defered them since last year and I would potentially have to wait another year again though there is the possibility of being permitted to sit them in August.

I have struggled with bad anxiety and also episodes of depression in college that have really inhibited my ability to do well. It's a 4 year course but I'v repeated two years of it already. One side of me says that enough is enough and that maybe nothing would be different if I deferred again. That it's anxious avoidance and I just need to be rid of the course at this stage.

The other side is that I have been unwell and perhaps I just need more time to get better. I have been seeing both a psychologist and a psychiatrist and I'm determined to shake these demons off, whatever it takes. My degree isn't something I'm passionate about but I'm absolutely confident that I'm capable of getting a good grade which would allow me to move on to something else I would like to do.

I am basically terrified at the prospect of coming out with a poor degree grade if I do sit these exams and knowing that it was because I let these mental health difficulties get the best of me. I feel I'd struggle to secure a job or masters as a result and I could see myself ending up in a bad place as a result. One career option that I had my heart set on would certainly be ruled out if I were to not get a 2.1.

I'm 24 though and time is moving on. Many of my friends have long left college and are establishing careers for themselves. Wherehas I'm still here struggling to finish my degree. I'd really appreciate any advice. I feel like I'm lacking perspective on my situation.

Can you ask some lecturers advice on this? How do you feel you are doing academically?

Do you have support?

You can prepare yourself mentally for this and get yourself in gear. If you are prepared Academically as well as you can be it does not matter. Is it possible your mental health issues are feeding into your decision about this too and you lack confidence?