To think university is fairly easy?

[watthaduck]

This is not a boast in any way, I am not trying to ruffle anybody's feathers but am genuinely curious if I'm missing something.

So I am at a fairly average university in Glasgow, I was a direct entrant into third year after completing my HND at another fairly average college in Glasgow. I am a mature student (28) and am studying social sciences with a main focus on politics, from there I'm hoping to do my masters in social work.

Anyways, leading up to university, I heard so many people, lecturers included telling me what a shock to the system university would be, how I would be studying constantly, how the workload would be so much more full on than college so I was fully prepared and slightly dreading it.

However, since starting beginning of October we have had 6 assessments for the term, 2 assessments per module which have mainly consisted of 1000 word to 2000 word essays, one assessment we had to complete four fairly basic questions and a presentation. Everyone on the course is freaking out, saying how difficult the workload is and how all the assessments are crammed together whilst me and another girl that have been on the same course from the start genuinely scratch our heads wondering if this is a joke.

I've only had one piece of coursework graded and this was the assessment with the four questions which I got 72 percent, not amazing but was happy with that being my first piece of work. Yet today I was speaking to other students who got 43 percent and said how difficult the work is this year.

At college we literally had about 12 pieces of coursework all within 6 weeks of each other including exams and I was very stressed but always passed with an A.

I guess my question is am I doing something wrong? I am putting in the bare minimum amount of effort to be honest as is my friend as struggling with motivation with it all being online. I've never felt less stress through education.

AIBU to think that people were just trying to scare me about uni? And that it's actually not that hard?

Obviously I understand and appreciate that some courses are harder than others and mine just might be a fairly easy one but I'm just waiting for someone to come out and shout JOKE

@Gwenhwyfar

"Come back to us when you're writing up your dissertation and compare your stress levels then to your stress levels now!"

An undergraduate degree doesn't' necessarily involve a dissertation.

I bet you're fun to be around.

" It is not as hard. I find it bizarre that people may be surprised by this.£

Well, there are two separate things though. A course may be easy academically, but workload is a separate matter. I wouldn't necessarily have thought that a new university or former poly would have a lower workload.

"I bet you're fun to be around."

Should've also said that I'm doing a BSc. There's a lot of contact hrs and the expectation that there will be a lot of self directed study.

As others have said, I think it depends on your own strengths. I found the jump from GCSE to A Level really hard and did struggle in the first year of uni too. However, I thought my MA was easier than undergrad.
But I think that the fact that you've done a HND has probably helped you prepare for 3rd year better than uni would have as it has a more intense workload. As you mentioned, you don't necessarily have strength in the discussion side of things (same) but you're better at getting your point across through writing and research, which is what some other students will struggle with. Depends on what type of learner you are (VARK) and how you best absorb information and communicate.

My degree was economics related and wasn't hard in terms of a lot of hours required, I could probably have done a full time job alongside! However, some of the concepts were relatively complex and you needed maths type ability as well as critical thinking and essay writing abilities. I'd say you needed to be reasonably academically inclined. I didn't have to do a dissertation.

Some of the more science based degrees my friends did were properly hard though - pretty much full time hours in the lab, some had placements (medical students) etc. It seemed a bit unfair that we came out with the same qualification in the end! They were better placed for certain careers though obviously and are probably earning more than I am now.

So I'd say it totally depends on the degree you do.

@watthaduck

I don't think anyone I came across in college or uni or any of my friends that have previously went through uni have ever 'immersed' themselves in their subject honestly.

I think many people look at it as just a way to earn a degree. And for those who are claiming it will affect my ability to get a job because my interview skills won't be up to par....well I've done alright so far....

I feel like we need to take a step back. Why are you doing the degree, OP?

@EstebanTheMagnificent just genuinely as a stepping stone to get my masters in social work so I can become a social worker.

In which case honestly I’d go to see the course director and ask if you can transfer to BA Social Work.

@EstebanTheMagnificent I decided to do it this specific way for personal reasons so no, I won't be transferring.

OK. Good luck.

@EstebanTheMagnificent sorry if that sounded rude

I did accountancy and I would say it was fairly easy until the last year where it got a bit harder so I see where you are coming from.

I found the step up from a university degree to professional exams to qualify as a chartered accountant was big. It was much harder and I had to study a lot more.

I also worked full time while doing my degree part time, same with professional exams.

It also depends how much support you have. I was on my own, completely, and if I hadn’t had great lecturers who let me be flexible and sneak kids into class on occasion and leave 10mins early for a whole semester in one class, I’d have been screwed.

If I’d had a supportive partner, or parents who could help with pick ups and drop offs or even just someone to let me unload emotionally it would have been such a big help.

I found A levels much harder than my degree. If I'm honest I barely put in half the effort I should have done and still got by.

In saying that, if I were being graded on how much I contributed during a seminar then of course I would prepare and put in the effort and force myself to talk.

I'm glad not all my students only do the work they get directly rewarded for or there wouldn't be much of interest happening in seminars. Have had brilliant seminars these last few weeks- all dependent on students being prepared to engage even without a direct reward. Making it better, more interesting, more informative for everybody.

In saying that, if I were being graded on how much I contributed during a seminar then of course I would prepare and put in the effort and force myself to talk.

By doing that I would say you are missing a huge opportunity to learn FOR THEE JOB YOU WANT TO DO.
I’m teaching at Uni too and my experience in the course I’m involved in, is that the more the students participate, the more they are learning the skill they need for the job they will do. By limiting yourself to do the minimum rather than been fully present and doing the things yoiu dont like as much (aka the ones you actually find harder), you are doing yourself a disservice.

@watthaduck

I don't think anyone I came across in college or uni or any of my friends that have previously went through uni have ever 'immersed' themselves in their subject honestly.

I think many people look at it as just a way to earn a degree. And for those who are claiming it will affect my ability to get a job because my interview skills won't be up to par....well I've done alright so far....

No, a lot of people don't.

I don't consider that a degree like that is worth much. It's not useful, like technical training, and it's not educational in the sense of a traditional university degree.

Most of those kinds of degrees could be eliminated which would save people a lot of money and time.

I agree @corythatwas. Nothing worse than a bunch of students staying silent and refusing to participate.
Zoom lessons (or Teams.....) with videos off are making things even worse. I’ve had many instances where I called a specific student and was met with silence.

I think A levels are hardest if you go straight into them from GCSEs and a degree tends to be easier the older you are but maybe that’s due to more of a desire and commitment to do it as you age.

I echo others it depends upon uni and course, my undergrad was a hard thought 2:1 at a Russel group red brick uni (one student transferred from a mid range uni in her second year to our first year, and said we were doing things they hadn’t looked at yet and our course was way harder).
On the other hand I have a masters from a mid range (former poly) at distinction level which I found to be an absolute walk in the park.
I have helped friends with proof reading assignments for the same uni I found easy to do my masters at, and was (quietly) aware that their marks appeared easier won than those at my under grad uni (based upon writing standard and to a degree- depth of content). Just my 2 pence worth 😃

Well didn’t show myself in my best light there, trying to multi task.. obviously meant ‘fought’ not ‘thought’ and not to mention the appalling grammar of my very first sentence 😬 I promise I’m an English language grad and a qualified teacher 👩‍🏫 😂

depends on your degree. I did a year of BA politics - 10 hours of lectures, not much work set - I did minimum and still got C average. Changed to Bsc Biomedical as was bored senseless with politics. 30 odd hours of lectures and practical's, load home study, lots of testing and assignments.

I used to feel bad for the chemists - I did physics with up to 25 hour of contact time. The chemists had 30 and had labs after the exams as well.

Old RG university in the top 10