[Wongers]

Right, I'll start from the beginning. Sorry this is going to be a long post. I'm a current first year doing Msci Natural Sciences (Maths, Chemistry and Physics) looking to do the Maths and Physics pathway next year.

In my January exams, I failed a 10 credit module in Probability with 36%. At the time my tutor's words were "Don't worry about it- No one will care." I failed because I have never done Probability before but a lot of knowledge was assumed by my lecturer as I had done A level Maths and Further Maths (I avoided all statistic modules.) Later in the year, I voiced my concern about it to my course coordinator who reiterated as long as I did not want to do the subject next year, I can soft fail (30-40%) 30 credits worth of modules and still pass the year provided I pass the year with an average of 50%. This was already written in my course handbook but I was just checking I understood.

In my Summer exams, I began to have severe emotional difficulties, which involved having no appetite and I developed insomnia. I locked myself in my room for about two months- only leaving for the bathroom, the kitchen or to actually attend an exam! I just put it all down to exam stress and ignored it.

I passed the rest of my exams and averaged over 50% so I wasn't worried about uni.

However, during these past months, I've just gotten worse and I have just been diagnosed by my doctor to have moderate depression. I am now on a cognitive behavioural therapy course and I am to return in 3 weeks to assess whether I'll need antidepressants.

Last week I received a letter from the uni saying I had a resit. Of course I was horrified and thought it was some mistake. But after checking my uni emails (which I had not thought to do since results where I believed I had passed) my course coordinator confirmed I had a resit and was in fact a bit rude to me for not checking my emails sooner.

She said while it is true I have passed the year, I have to resit Probabilty to do Maths next year despite the module not being a perquisite to any modules I want to do next year and I should have read the regulations more closely! Even though this was not mentioned to me by my tutor, her, in my course book but is on some obscure document online that I agreed to by accepting my place at the uni!

So I am now thoroughly under prepared to sit an exam I could not do while erm 'mentally sound' when I could have had since January to prepare! I have told them about my depression and have been sent a Extenuating Circumstances Form (ECF) to be assess by the Board of Examiners but I'm not sure how much it will help?

I am pretty much convinced I will fail the exam again as I really cannot do the module at all and all my depression means is I'll probably fail worse than I did last time so I don't think I'll still be allowed to do the modules I want next year. Unless, they look at my whole case and see it's a bit unjust saying I'm not allowed to do any Maths next year because I can't do one subject within Maths that I'm not required to do ever again so just let me have a place. But then my ECF will not make any difference! This is unlikely seeing as they would have said so by now.

Basically anything less than 'She just failed her resit by a little and she does have a ECF so we will let her stay', is pretty much worthless to me but I can't imagine them saying so. If that's the case, I might as well terminate my course now, save me the stress of this exam and concentrate on recovering.

Any advice will be great. I have already contacted my tutor, course-coordinator, doctor so I don't know who else could help :/

[LaurenPhilippa]

First piece of advice I would give....RELAX, please.

Much easier said than done I know, but I think you'd have a much brighter outlook if you accept what happened in the past and move forward from here - worrying won't change anything. It's a cliche I know, but someone once told me that "everyday is a fresh start", and having a bad day does honestly not matter, and it will pass.

You mention treatment, which is brilliant - give it time and things will start to improve.

I would most definitely explain your circumstances to your tutor/lecturers, even ask your parents/a friend to help you do this if you find it daunting. Also, the ECF will help, I'm sure. In fact, most universities have a free, confidential team that deal with mental health - perhaps you could look into this?

If you feel you would benefit from a break to relax and feel better in yourself, you could perhaps inquire about taking a year out and returning after that year has passed, Maths, Chemistry and Physics must be a challenging course, I'm sure it would be for anyone, so don't feel bad. I think to often it's easy to see everyone else as "fine and coping" and question why you can't, but often people hide their true feelings. You've been honest and open about them, and gone to get help. That takes real courage, so be proud of yourself for that.

I have a friend who struggles with depression, but it doesn't stop her from living life, she's off to Uni next year, and I certainly don't see or treat differently. She says to me that she feels at her best when she manages to get 8 hours sleep, eat healthily and exercise (even if this is just walking her dog). She also says alcohol just makes her feel worse, so doesn't drink.

There are helplines to help people living with depression, I can't think of any to name, but do Google them if you feel like talking to an anonymous person - it's surprising how much just talking about problems can suddenly make you feel 'lighter' and more worry free.

Hope this helps, and good luck in your treatment!

[Wongers]

I've explained it all to my uni and no one is being very helpful :/ I just like I'm going to drop out because they are not advising me properly.

I would like to make a fresh start but I know I am going to fail my resit and that is just playing on my mind. Time off sounds good but I am not sure if I can afford it seeing as my student loan will be cut off and I already have signed my tenant agreement on my house next year.

Thanks for your reply. I should relax. It's easy to get caught up in everything!

[DarkWhite]

(Original post by Wongers)
Right, I'll start from the beginning. Sorry this is going to be a long post. I'm a current first year doing Msci Natural Sciences (Maths, Chemistry and Physics) looking to do the Maths and Physics pathway next year.

In my January exams, I failed a 10 credit module in Probability with 36%. At the time my tutor's words were "Don't worry about it- No one will care." I failed because I have never done Probability before but a lot of knowledge was assumed by my lecturer as I had done A level Maths and Further Maths (I avoided all statistic modules.) Later in the year, I voiced my concern about it to my course coordinator who reiterated as long as I did not want to do the subject next year, I can soft fail (30-40%) 30 credits worth of modules and still pass the year provided I pass the year with an average of 50%. This was already written in my course handbook but I was just checking I understood.

In my Summer exams, I began to have severe emotional difficulties, which involved having no appetite and I developed insomnia. I locked myself in my room for about two months- only leaving for the bathroom, the kitchen or to actually attend an exam! I just put it all down to exam stress and ignored it.

I passed the rest of my exams and averaged over 50% so I wasn't worried about uni.

However, during these past months, I've just gotten worse and I have just been diagnosed by my doctor to have moderate depression. I am now on a cognitive behavioural therapy course and I am to return in 3 weeks to assess whether I'll need antidepressants.

Last week I received a letter from the uni saying I had a resit. Of course I was horrified and thought it was some mistake. But after checking my uni emails (which I had not thought to do since results where I believed I had passed) my course coordinator confirmed I had a resit and was in fact a bit rude to me for not checking my emails sooner.

She said while it is true I have passed the year, I have to resit Probabilty to do Maths next year despite the module not being a perquisite to any modules I want to do next year and I should have read the regulations more closely! Even though this was not mentioned to me by my tutor, her, in my course book but is on some obscure document online that I agreed to by accepting my place at the uni!

So I am now thoroughly under prepared to sit an exam I could not do while erm 'mentally sound' when I could have had since January to prepare! I have told them about my depression and have been sent a Extenuating Circumstances Form (ECF) to be assess by the Board of Examiners but I'm not sure how much it will help?

I am pretty much convinced I will fail the exam again as I really cannot do the module at all and all my depression means is I'll probably fail worse than I did last time so I don't think I'll still be allowed to do the modules I want next year. Unless, they look at my whole case and see it's a bit unjust saying I'm not allowed to do any Maths next year because I can't do one subject within Maths that I'm not required to do ever again so just let me have a place. But then my ECF will not make any difference! This is unlikely seeing as they would have said so by now.

Basically anything less than 'She just failed her resit by a little and she does have a ECF so we will let her stay', is pretty much worthless to me but I can't imagine them saying so. If that's the case, I might as well terminate my course now, save me the stress of this exam and concentrate on recovering.

Any advice will be great. I have already contacted my tutor, course-coordinator, doctor so I don't know who else could help :/

(Original post by Wongers)
I've explained it all to my uni and no one is being very helpful :/ I just like I'm going to drop out because they are not advising me properly.

I would like to make a fresh start but I know I am going to fail my resit and that is just playing on my mind. Time off sounds good but I am not sure if I can afford it seeing as my student loan will be cut off and I already have signed my tenant agreement on my house next year.

Thanks for your reply. I should relax. It's easy to get caught up in everything!

Heya,

First of all, try and relax. 36% is a soft fail and they're normally quite easy to work with, especially with extenuating circumstances

If you've submitted an Extenuating Circumstances Form and you feel you've given all the evidence/supporting documentation/information you have then that's great. If there's anything you'd like to add to it, contact your personal tutor to let them know you'd like to add information to it, but if there's nothing else to add, no worries.

Next, get in touch with an Education Advisor in the Students' Union - they deal with these sorts of situations every day and can guide you through, provide independent advice on the matter, and represent your case to the University throughout the process if you'd like. Their contact details are online @ http://www.su.nottingham.ac.uk/helpadvice/education/