Anyone else have a dc struggling with first year at uni?

[Vliss]

Dd is struggling. In the first year of a humanities degree at a RG university. She started really well but has had one bad essay and one terrible module and now thinks she's only going to finish the year with a 2.2. She's really panicking and anxious about it. She's also just been dumped by her (short term) boyfriend. She's contacted the wellbeing service who have been good apparently but she's too scared to talk to her tutors. She's also got a job for three days a week in a coffee shop which I think is madness but she loves it. She is ringing me three or four times a week in a panic and I keep telling her not to worry and to contact her tutor but it's really beginning to wear me down. She's coming home for a few days this weekend.

Anyone else have a struggler?

I read your post and I just wanted to say how difficult this situation is. My DD was fine until y3 then a lot of wheels fell off! I didn’t know. She said nothing. All was just about ok in the end but I empathize with your concerns.

What it might be worth doing is checking if first year actually counts. Then look at the number of modules and her marks. Is it a 2:2 or can she pull herself up? How many modules have gone wrong? 2? 1 out of 4? Is she too concerned?

Work: great she’s doing some but is it too onerous? Most degrees are 20-30 hours of your time each week. Research, writing, prep for seminars etc. Is she prioritizing making coffee?

Also check if she can pull the marks up next year by choosing the right options. Lastly, does she have supportive friends? If she’s working a lot, is she joining in with parties and university clubs? Has she a group of friends ? What are her housing plans next year? Hope the chat goes ok.

So sorry to read this OP. My nephew was reading History at top RG uni and was also struggling - the lack of contact hours doesn’t help.

However, as PP says, in many (I believe almost every) university, the first year doesn’t count towards your final degree. So, if your DD is confident she can boost her grades next year, that shouldn’t be too much of a worry. In my nephews case, he felt he was at the wrong institution so dropped out in February and is going to a very good Uni (but a tier below RG) to start again in September. But his is a drastic case and he really does need a 2.1 for the graduate entry programme he is ultimately aiming for.

I wish your DD all the best.

@Backflips
Contact hours have never been very high for humanities. It’s making sure you know how to work effectively in your own time. This is sometimes very alien to DC who have been somewhat spoon fed at school. However the personal tutor should be available to talk to if she can be persuaded to do this. Also some universities offer help regarding essay writing, for example. So if this is an issue, there might be help available.

Thank you so much. She's home and we've had a really good chat. No, first year doesn't count but she thinks if she does well in the next few weeks she'll pull it up to a 2.1. She's planning to go to her tutor on Monday. She's slightly more positive.

She has a lovely group of friends and a house sorted for next year so that's not a worry.

@Vliss
That is much better news. I think uncertainty over what’s required can lead to big wobbles. If she can review why some marks have been lower than she would like and put a plan into action to improve, she’ll get there. Sounds a lot more positive. Plus having good friends and no housing issues really helps students enjoy university and settle into a good work ethic.

Sorry to hear about your DD’s struggles, OP. Very glad she will be talking with her tutor. Most of us really want to help! It might be useful for her to know that this happens to many, many Y1 students and they mostly recover well.

The most important thing is getting help when you need it. Your DD is doing that right.

Back in the day I think it was fairly normal to do less well in the 1st Yr. Is it not still the same?
I think my 1st Yr grade was a 3rd - I knew I had to get myself more organised in the 2nd and3rd yrs, final degree grade was a 2i.
I had friends that had retakes also.

Suspect it is more common than they may realise. Does year 1 count towards her final degree classification. In many unis you just have to pass first and even second year.