My son is in his first year studying a science subject at Oxbridge. Struggling and feeling stupid which I know is kind of par for the course. Has friends and is overall happy. But when revising at home he gets very upset and frustrated when he doesn’t understand stuff. Won’t ask his peers or supervisors for help.
Are there tutors who can support with academic work at this level? I am more familiar with tutors at secondary school so would value any advice as to how to start looking for someone.
Thanks.
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Tutors at university
ByeAgain · 14/04/2024 20:14
Dearover · 14/04/2024 21:01
Does he have Collections over the next couple of weeks or is he just heading straight towards prelims? Results from either may provide the push he needs to ask for help.
anoxfordtutor · 14/04/2024 21:13
He really should go to speak to his college tutor (or at least one of his other tutors if he finds the college tutor difficult for any reason). He definitely won't be the only one. I find that at least half of my 1st year students come to me at some point in their first year to tell me that they are worried about how they are doing. Every single one of them also tells me that everyone else on the course is doing well and seems to find things easy. Of course I know that's not the case! Usually I can reassure them that in fact they are doing fine and have nothing to worry about, though I also give them targeted advice. We have graduate students who are available to work with them on areas they are finding tricky (and a college budget that pays for this). I am not sure that all colleges have such a formal scheme but they are likely to have something available.
Please persuade him to talk to his tutor, the tutor really will be used to it.
BeBesideTheSea · 14/04/2024 23:19
The absolute worst thing your DS can do is not ask for help. He needs, in the nicest possible way, to get over himself. None of his peers is even thinking about him - they are all too busy worrying about their own performance.
The only ones judging him is his tutors - and they are wondering whether he is too arrogant, too deluded, or too stupid to ask for help!
Part of being an adult learner is taking self responsibility and asking for help. If he doesn’t get the hang of that in his first year it is only going to get much worse in later years - for his mental health he needs to stop bottling it up and trying to struggle on by himself.
BeBesideTheSea · 14/04/2024 23:19
The absolute worst thing your DS can do is not ask for help. He needs, in the nicest possible way, to get over himself. None of his peers is even thinking about him - they are all too busy worrying about their own performance.
The only ones judging him is his tutors - and they are wondering whether he is too arrogant, too deluded, or too stupid to ask for help!
Part of being an adult learner is taking self responsibility and asking for help. If he doesn’t get the hang of that in his first year it is only going to get much worse in later years - for his mental health he needs to stop bottling it up and trying to struggle on by himself.
Needmoresleep · 15/04/2024 08:24
Well, what is holding him back for asking?
University is about learning how to study effectively as much as the learning itself. Most students will struggle one way or another. He should also stop comparing himself to others. Many of the confident ones who seem to be strolling through their first year will either have gone to the sort of school where university style study techniques were introduced in sixth form, or come from families where high powered parents debated around the dinner table.
ByeAgain · 15/04/2024 08:02
The only ones judging him is his tutors - and they are wondering whether he is too arrogant, too deluded, or too stupid to ask for help
This could not be further from my shy, anxious quiet child who doubts himself and thinks he is a failure. He would be devastated to know this is what tutors think of him.
BeBesideTheSea · 14/04/2024 23:19
The absolute worst thing your DS can do is not ask for help. He needs, in the nicest possible way, to get over himself. None of his peers is even thinking about him - they are all too busy worrying about their own performance.
The only ones judging him is his tutors - and they are wondering whether he is too arrogant, too deluded, or too stupid to ask for help!
Part of being an adult learner is taking self responsibility and asking for help. If he doesn’t get the hang of that in his first year it is only going to get much worse in later years - for his mental health he needs to stop bottling it up and trying to struggle on by himself.
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BeyondMyWits · 15/04/2024 11:28
As @omgz says they are paying thousands of pounds a year to have access to the experts in their field of study.
Why would you pay more money on top to someone else? His teachers/professors/whatever will be the ones setting the assignments and exam questions , make use of their knowledge, their way of teaching will fit with their expectations of how the examined work is approached.
Use their expertise - it has been paid for!
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