To in thinking give it up

[Paddleslowly]

I'm really not the sharpest tool in the box,I know that. I have recently started an access course at college. I have been out of education for twenty years and a bit. I wasn't any good at school and really struggled at the basics. I left with three GCSEs and without ever doing a maths GCSE. Low marks for the three d,s and f,s. Trouble is that I'm really struggling on the access course. I'm having a massive wobble, loss of confidence. I wanted to go onto university and have applied. But I can't get past feeling that I have made a mistake, and to just give it all up

[CupidStuntSurvivor]

How many modules in are you? I've just started one and they generally give you the most intimidating modules first in order to get rid of drop outs early so the tutor can dedicate time to those who are determined enough to get through.

[flora717]

They are very intensive courses. Is a particular unit causing you concern? Is it the volume of work?

[flora717]

Did you sit tests to get onto the course? If you passed them you DO have the necessary ability to do the work and could possibly ask about studying strategies. If there wasn't a test you could ask for maths/ english diagnostics. There ARE level 2 intro courses to get you into the right place for Access (the work slightly easier, the pace a bit slower).

[Paddleslowly]

There are about 17 modules but some modules have two part assignments. Since September we have been given about seven assignments. But because for four weeks at the start of the course we didn't have a tutor. When they did finally get that tutor we were then given assignments on top of what we had. Now we have just been told that the marks we have for the three assignments that have been marked ( tutors are slow at marking) that they are only provisional marks.
This is making me anxious and thinking to give it up

[Tinks42]

Some people are just not academic OP (it doesnt mean you're stupid) Why not try something else?

[HolyTerror]

Good on you, OP. Not an easy thing to do. You shouldn't even think about giving up at this point. What exactly is causing you problems? Comprehension in class? Assignments? Have you talked to your tutor about what help is available? Of course your study skills are going to be rusty after 20 years - your tutor is there to figure out exactly what help you need to move ahead. Plus I bet a good three quarters of your cohort feel exactly the same.

[HolyTerror]

Cross-posts. It sounds as if the start of the course was badly run, and you had no one to go to for organisational reasons. You sound a bit overwhelmed by assignments stacking up, rather than them happening one at a time, which is entirely natural. Your tutor should be able to help with organising your time. Or are you saying you got very poor marks on the assignments already returned, and don't know why?

[SacredHeart]

Do you know what your uni choices want? If you have an option that wants passes then you'll be ok if you are really struggling as you can resubmit if you don't pass.

I'm on an access course getting ready for uni and I think it's worth sticking out. Talk to your course leader or tutors about your worries, they are here to help.

[WooWooOwl]

Access courses are intense, you need to be prepared to put in a lot of time and effort, but then so they should be as the thing you want access to is likely to be harder.

Is there any support available at your college? Sometimes there are people there that can help you get organised or work out what you need to do to do well on assignments.

What would you do if you gave up?

[Paddleslowly]

It was very badly run, change of evening class at the last minute and then no tutor to take it because they hadn't interviewed anybody. They put us in with a lot of nursing students and we were clueless. This course is for social work. Went for the introduction day and told them that I needed to do my maths. They said they would organise a diagnostics for me to do before the start of the course, I chased them up but still waiting. There wasn't an interview.
We have three tutors, one for the evening class, one for the morning and one for the afternoon for the one day. All three set different assignments. I'm totally overwhelmed by the work and don't feel supported because the class is big with about 30 in it. They did say they were going to split it but that was four months ago

[HolyTerror]

It sounds incredibly badly run. Is there any possibility taking of a different course at a different institution, if organisational matters don't improve? Everyone else must be equally pissed off - do you have a class rep?