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

I did my BA with 3 kids and a full time job. It was challenging but with good time management I got a First. And I've just finished an MA again with my kids in tow and a fairly stressful job and got a Distinction. I loved every bit of it. The ones on my course who stressed were the ones with no job and no motivation to get shit done. If I only had say 3 hours on a Sunday free I made them count.

[quote watthaduck]@EstebanTheMagnificent sorry if that sounded rude [/quote]
I’m not offended 😊

I do think I understand better now, though. It’s not unusual to see a degree as nothing more than a means to an end for your chosen career. I understand that you have your reasons for your chosen course but the vast majority of people in your position would be doing a vocational degree to qualify for their chosen profession. Conversely, most people studying pure arts or humanities are usually doing so because they love the subject, and whilst career plans may be important they are a secondary consideration. That’s why so many of us on this thread are talking about wider reading and immersing yourself in a subject, and also perhaps why you seem to regard these points with a mixture of bafflement and defensiveness. (There are, of course, also people who are doing vocational degrees in subjects that they adore!)

You can keep going through the motions. You are clearly very able and you will probably be able to get a reasonable pass without putting in too much effort. It wouldn’t, however, reflect your considerable abilities and it probably also wouldn’t provide you with much stimulation or fulfilment. If you were to try putting in more than the bare minimum then you might be pleasantly surprised at what you get back. Don’t spend too long comparing yourself to friends or fellow students who haven’t fully engaged with their courses, either. You wouldn’t be the first person to be brighter and more academic than your friends.

I really do wish you the best of luck.

@NameChangeUnwiseAdvice

I did my BA with 3 kids and a full time job. It was challenging but with good time management I got a First. And I've just finished an MA again with my kids in tow and a fairly stressful job and got a Distinction. I loved every bit of it. The ones on my course who stressed were the ones with no job and no motivation to get shit done. If I only had say 3 hours on a Sunday free I made them count.

Well done. How would you have fared doing a STEM BSc with 25+ hours of lectures and seminars a week, lab practicals and self study on top of that?

I think it goes to show that not all degrees are equal.

I think you may find the challenge you are seeking if you go on to study social work/become a social worker (because the study doesn't stop once you complete the degree).