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University is Horrible.

So I came to uni looking forward to studying Herpetology, something I'm really really interested in. Freshers week wasn't my cup of tea, but I kind of expected that, so I just waited for lectures to start. That's when it started going pear shaped. I soon realised that the modules are so loosely related to my interests, I struggle to pay attention. I joined the herpetology society, hoping it'd be perfect, but I ended up getting shunted away because I'm not confident with talking to people for a long time; people literally pretended I wasn't there, and when they did I was treated like I was inferior. I had already been struggling with being away from home and my boyfriend & cried often, at least once a day. But now it's getting so much worse; I cry so much I have a constant headache, I barely eat and I just feel so low. I don't want to do anything or go anywhere; I'm really feeling like University just isn't for me, despite being quite the academic student. I don't have anyone to talk to (my tutor has no interest in anything I have to say) and I don't have any good friends here. I don't know what to do or how to feel, I need help.

Reply 1

gr8wizard10

lol uni is **** anyway, just go for thie piece of paper.

last year i stayed out, was pretty whack.. this year commuting from home.

Reply 2

T-go

Which uni do you go to? Could you swap courses to something you might like more?

Reply 3

fxrrestfires

Original post by T-go

Which uni do you go to? Could you swap courses to something you might like more?

I go to Bangor in North Wales, but its the only place in europe that does herpetology. Its the only subject im interested in so I have no other options; its nothing like I hoped but i dont want to be stuck in an office forever

Reply 4

affluentmakaveli

Original post by fxrrestfires

Hi,
I am sorry to hear it's so hard and grueling.

Have you considered asking your University to study the course through distance learning?

Reply 5

581371

Original post by T-go

Which uni do you go to? Could you swap courses to something you might like more?

Damn, your sig picture looks like a guy between a pair of legs. I now realise they're surfboards(?) and I feel ashamed :ashamed:

Reply 6

beruangmacan

the only good thing from uni is certificate

Reply 7

almostmaybe

I assume your degree title is actually Zoology with Herpetology,which is very different from a course in pure herpetology (which I doubt exists anywhere at undergrad level, maybe at postgrad). All a ‘with’ degree really means is that you are studying Zoology with some extra modules tacked on (or sometimes just a restricted choice of modules). I’m not a massive fan of these kinds of degrees, most 17 year olds are better off enrolling on a broad a degree as possible and choosing to specialise as they gain some actual experience of the subject. (This is reflected in practice by a lot of these types of courses having common first years, allowing you to switch between streams anyway, so the course title is really just a marketing tool)

If you think the University deliberately misled you then you might have reason to be angry, although I think it’s unlikely as the course details, down to module titles, are available on the website. Your school or careers advisor should have been able to explain to you that you are never going to find an undergraduate degree where you just study herpatology, you need to have some background in zoology and biology in general before you can specialise in a particular sub-field. I’m also surprised that you could be passionate about reptiles but not even have a passing interest in any other branch of zoology – it’s not my field, but I assume there must be quite a lot of overlap!

So you have two choices – you can either get on with your degree, accepting that you have to get a broad background and skillset in a field before you can specialise on a topic, or leave.

If you are staying, I suggest joining some other clubs and societies so as to meet a wider range of people. It’s great that you joined your subject-based society, it gives you a chance to meet people from other year-groups and will often provide you with some good contacts to help you in future careers. But it doesn’t really meet the main goal of joining clubs – to broaden your horizons and have new experiences. From your post, I really think you’d benefit from this. As for the herpetology society, you should just try to stick with it. Maybe they all actually are horrible people, or maybe you were a bit nervous and mis-read the situation. You have nothing to lose by trying again.

If you’re really struggling then you should look into what support your university of student union can offer. Don’t imagine you’re the only one who feels homesick in the first few weeks of University, there will be a lot of people in your position. No-one has good friends this early on,friendships take time to develop, for now just focus on meeting lots of people. And if you can, try to separate how you feel about your social situation from how you feel about your course, as the two probably aren’t related.

Original post by fxrrestfires

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 8

sorg61013

Sorry to hear :frown:

is there any units closer to home or that you could commute to that maybe do a similar degree, or offer modules you are interested in? The bottom line is, you're not as likely to do well if you are unhappy, so put your happiness first! Hope things start improving, I am also unhappy at uni and will probably drop out in the near future.

Reply 9

redferry

Original post by fxrrestfires

I'm assuming you didn't read much about the course before you started then?

Why would you take zoology with herpetology is you aren't interested in zoology? That's like taking French and Spanish and having no interest in Frennch...

Also, a degree is not a ticket to working outside an office - ESPECIALLY not one in herpetology - which is so narrow you will struggle to get enough experience, and especially in this country where we have very few reptiles and amphibians.

Unsurprisingly employers in the zoology field are generally looking for a broader knowledge and a hell of a lot of fieldwork experience, alongside good statistical knowledge, and often ArcGIS skills. I don't know what kind of job you want to do - but given you said you don't want to end up in an office I'm guessing field based? The reality of field based herpetology is generally working for free interspersed with menial jobs for a number of years. Eventually you might get paid to do it but jobs are scarce and 90% of the time in Australia/America. If herpetology is really the route you want to go down it is really not about your degree, its about your skillset and getting as much field experience and breeding experience as possible. I'd also make sure you study a,lot of epidemiology, as a large number of amphibian research roles are understandably in this field.

Reply 10

parentlurker

you sound as if you are suffering from depression so I'd suggest seeing a gp and asking for help.

University may not be for you but it's more likely that you just need another year to grow up a little. Children think they can always get what they want, adults know that you often have to compromise - in this case buckling down to study related topics.

Talk to your parents and ask the university if you can defer for a year. The best thing for you might be a gap year.

Reply 11

sorg61013

Original post by parentlurker

Is it possible to defer for a year if you've already started the course?

Reply 12

parentlurker

Original post by sorg61013

Is it possible to defer for a year if you've already started the course?

well they may call it something else - seems to be temporary deferment at Bangor - see advice here http://www.bangor.ac.uk/studentservices/leaving/index.php.en

Reply 13

nulli tertius

Original post by sorg61013

Is it possible to defer for a year if you've already started the course?

Sometimes.

Universities don't like losing people who are not ready, permanently.

Reply 14

br0ccoli

This is gonna be long, but I hope it helps! :smile:

- I have definitely felt how you have, and sometimes still do most days.

I am currently in my final year of a Wildlife Conservation and Ecology degree. I wanted to go to Bangor, but I have no interest whatsoever in Zoology and would of preferred to do a strictly Herpetology only degree - but you're right that that's the closest to it.

I often have moments where I want to leave my degree because it doesn't feel relevant to my field of interest, there is a herpetology society on my campus, but because I am based at at FE college (they messed up our entire course placement) it is full of FE students from the ages of 15-18 and being 21, I don't really enjoy going because it is (not sounding big headed) mostly information that I personally already know, what I remember from being at college or completely behind me considered i'm in my final year of my degree. I have a herpetology module; but its mostly evolution based with no practicals and it sways more to chelonians; which is fine I guess and better than nothing but I would much prefer a more rounded module filled with Amphibians and reptiles! :smile:

)

I would say, first port of call if you tutor is being a d***, go to your student services. These are the guys that deal with support, counselling and welfare of students, they are there for you. Make them earn their money. Tell them your feelings (its usually confidential) ask for guidance, perhaps other things you could do to enhance your journey. In my first year I went to counselling and to HE support and without them I would of definitely dropped out as I was very depressed. Following student services, perhaps arrange a meeting with your tutor and course leader to address these issues, they will have to act. Potentially find out any opportunities, I went to Venom day last year which was FAB and hosted at Bangor, also maybe trips abroad? I went to Peru and collected some research for my diss in the amazon with an organization called crees; that was a life goal that I wouldn't of been aware of if it wasn't for uni.

Even through my bad days, I try and keep confident because out of your whole life, 3 years isn't much and you will gain so much, I know it doesn't seem like that right now, I really have been there.. I missed so many lectures in first year, most mornings I couldn't find the motivation to get out of bed and I constantly doubted why I was there.

P.s I've found that i've been able to gain a lot of herps friends through facebook pages, as well as places like this, and twitter. People like us are out there, it can be hard as it is a specialist subject, but think how amazing it'll be to hold that certificate.
I wish you all the best with your studies, I really do. I hope that you feel a bit more settled after christmas, and can put into place steps to continue; however if its not for you, don't be ashamed to hold your hands high and move on - only you know the choice which is right for you and there are many more ways to get into herpetology.

If you ever need a friendly lil chat, feel low or just want to bounce off about herps related stuff, feel free to inbox me because herps friends are the best! Take care, Elijah :smile: