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I hate uni, remind me why I am doing this

15 replies

Beansmum · 04/03/2005 10:52

I am miserable at uni, I don't know anyone so I don't actually talk for the whole day, I hate maths and I'm crap at it (although just got a test back, 100%), I don't think I'll ever use this degree, I miss the bean, I miss having friends, I hate maths, did I mention that already?

I could cope if it was just until june, but I have a whole year to go after that and I don't know what to do!

why am I doing this again?

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SleepyJess · 04/03/2005 10:55

100%???????????!! Beans you are clearly NOT crap! Get a grip woman! Crap at maths is ME!! I am struggling with the small amount of maths (which is just basic numeracy really) involved with my level one course of social sciences!!

Why can't you talk to people? To take the advice of a very good RL friend of mine who is around here somewhere too.. ACT like you are confident about chatting to people.. play a game with yourself in that you are playing the role of someone who has no problem starting convos with people etc... and see if this helps! It helped my 12 year old DS.. and has helped me in the past!

((hugs)) anyway.. in case they help..

SJ x

Beansmum · 04/03/2005 11:09

I am sooooooo shy, and there isn't really the opportunity to speak to anyone, maths lectures are just silent note taking. Have been hiding away on mumsnet whenever I have a break, or rushing off to get ds from nursery.

I think if I knew what I was going to do after I finish this degree it might help, but have NO idea. I really want to do something with food, so i don't know how a maths degree is going to help!

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SleepyJess · 04/03/2005 11:12

I don't know I want to to with my degree either.. I need something that pays well!.. but it is more than 5 years away..! I suppose I need to give that some thought though before the end of this year. I know I don't want to be a social worker! I might go down the psycholgy route..

A maths degree!! How horrific!! Although excellent to have of course.. just a terrifying thought for me!

What would you like to do 'with food'? I am very much a 'food appreciator'! I LOVE to eat!

SJ x

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Aimsmum · 04/03/2005 11:22

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Beansmum · 04/03/2005 11:26

I REALLY want to own a cafe, which does catering as a sideline. need money though. I don't want to go into any of the graduate training programmes for accountancy, insurance, tax stuff, but can't really think what else to do

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Aimsmum · 04/03/2005 11:34

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Beansmum · 04/03/2005 11:35

edinburgh's not too far! I'll let you know when I open, maybe you could get a MN discount!

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SleepyJess · 04/03/2005 11:38

Crikey Aimsmum.. I am flattered that you think I could help you! I am just a struggling little level one student.. topics covered (briefly) so far are crime, identity, nature/nurture type stuff.. and (God I can't actually remember what I am studying atm, probably due to MN addiction! .. erm... oh yeah... ordering lives.. (she says unenthusiastically!) I am enjoying it on the whole.. but think I would like to take it in a slightly different direction after my next course..at which stage I will have only 60 of the 360 points needed for my degree, lol!

I'm with the OU and you can do an 'un-named degree' which sounds great.. but not so sure in practice. Employers might see it just as a qualifed version of a 'jack of all trades'!

I identify with the time management thing.. sigh. How have you found it all, topics-wise? What have you covered? And what will you use your degree for? SJ x

Aimsmum · 04/03/2005 11:40

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Ellbell · 04/03/2005 13:55

Beansmum

So sorry you are feeling like this about your course. I am sure that there are a lot of things that you can do to make it better though...

Re. making friends. SJ is right. The 'pretend game' really does work. I'm a lecturer and I love my job, but when I first started I was so lacking in confidence and insecure that I never thought I'd be able to do the job. When I first started doing just a very small amount of part-time teaching, I used to be locked in the loo for half an hour before every class . I got round it by 'acting the part' of 'Dr X, the lecturer' and amazingly it worked. I could be myself, panicking in the loo before the class, but when I walked into the room I became 'Dr X' and just sort of put on her persona... and I found that the students really believed that I was that person, and over time I relaxed into it.

Otherwise, you could investigate whether your University has any special facilities for student mums and/or mature students (are you a mature student, or a young mum?). The Welfare Officer or Women's Officer in the Union should be able to help put you in touch with other people in a similar position to you.

Remember (you too, SJ) that for many employers a degree is a degree is a degree... The subject doesn't matter all that much. Clearly if you want to be a vet, then it's not much good doing a degree in English. But a maths degree shows that you have any number of 'transferable skills' (to use 'CV-speak' for a minute!): obviously it shows that you are numerate, but it also shows that you have the ability to deal with complex problems and to 'think your way out of a hole' (as it were), you will also have developed literacy skills (note-taking, any essays you have to write... not sure how much of this there is in a maths degree, but there must be SOME writing, surely), your ability to do the degree (not to mention getting 100% in tests! ) shows persistence (especially in the circs, with a small bean to look after too) and determination, etc etc etc... I could go on and on. So, when you graduate you can look at jobs in all kinds of fields... it might help to buy a paper like, say, the Guardian on a Saturday which has a huge jobs section and see what is out there. (SJ, look on Wednesdays which is when all the 'society' jobs are in - or Mondays for jobs in the charitable sector). Beansmum, if you are interested in working with food, then find out what's available. Go to your careers' office and talk it over with people there. They should have information on all kinds of jobs, not just the 'standard' graduate training schemes and accountancy stuff.

If you really hate maths, another option is to look at whether you can transfer to another degree programme altogether.... I'm sorry, because I work in the Arts, so don't know how easy it is in your sort of field, but certainly it would be fairly easy (not necessarily obvious, but usually sort-able) for someone who has started on a degree in, say, English and Classics, to transfer to single English or single Classics. Or to start off doing Latin and then change to Classics, or whatever. So, what I don't know is whether there is anything close enough to maths for you to be allowed to transfer to it, but it might be worth pursuing. You can also look at 'diluting' the amount of maths you have to do next year, by seeing if you can do some sort of 'elective' module (this might be called something else in your institution) in a different department. At least that would give you a small break from numbers...!

I hope some of this helps, even if only a little bit. Sorry for going on and on and on and on (... ask my students... I'm like this in lectures too ). Let us know how you are doing.

Smurfgirl · 06/03/2005 21:47

Oh I am fed up of my degree too but I only have 8 weeks to go so thats why. Burn out.

Honestly I felt like this at the same time last year, I don't care about English is just so blahhh. But going into 3rd year I felt refreshed and ready again. I think it is this time of year, the end of the semester is so close and there is so much to do.

I will never use my degree and I know how frustrating that is.

Not very good advise, just sympathy!

Beansmum · 19/04/2005 11:48

just reviving this thread to say thanks to ellbell for her post, it was really helpful. havn't been on MN for ages so didn't see it until now.

Anyway, a couple of things you said about transfering to another degree program made me realise that I really really hate maths and would go crazy if I forced myself to do another year of it, so I am leaving at the end of june with an ordinary degree, not staying on for my honours year. I've enrolled for an OU english language and literature degree and can transfer some of my credit so I only have to do 4 courses instead of 6. So I'll be finished by the time bean starts school and can worry about a career then.

I think it will probably help with the feeling of isolation because I'll be able to get out to all the baby groups and meet some mums.

just wanted to say ta ellbell

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Ellbell · 19/04/2005 12:54

Beansmum

I'm so glad that you found a solution to the problem and that you are able to transfer some of your credits. And at least the Scottish system means that you are able to leave with a degree of some sort (you are in Scotland, aren't you?). Sounds like the best all round. You'll feel much more confident doing something you enjoy, I promise. The OU is fab too. My dh used to do some teaching for them.

I hope you now get some time to enjoy Bean and just have some fun.

Good luck

Ellbell

KarlJones · 21/04/2012 03:39

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MrsMagnolia · 22/04/2012 14:31

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