The Student Room Group
Freshers Week, University of Bath
University of Bath
Bath

Transferring courses in year 1

Hi all,

Looking for some guidance really. Daughter is a fresher and generally really happy at Bath but not massively enjoying her course. She's doing Biochemistry and so obviously a lot of it is new as its not a typical A level subject.
She's been quite emotional about it all which is hard for a parent from a distance!
Not entirely sure if it the course topics she's not enjoying, the overwhelm of independent study (and not having a clue what she's meant to be doing) or the fact that she's actually finding it quite a challenge.
But for the first time ever, she actually feels quite unmotivated to study and so is getting herself stressed over assignments etc.
She's reached out by email to her tutor over something she's struggling with but they've not replied so she feels like she can't contact them again but I think she should?
One of the things she's considering is maybe that she'd prefer to study natural sciences or potentially single honours pharmacology.....is 6 weeks in likely to be too late to transfer?
Any guidance on who or how she should reach out for help / support?

Thanks in advance from an anxious parent that wants to help but not interfere!
(edited 5 months ago)
Reply 1
It's tough when they go away, but she will find her way 👍 Definitely keep badgering the tutor or go to the Head of Course. She can always talk to Student Services (or may have slightly different name). Every uni has a central student support department to help with any concerns or problem solving.

Good luck with it all!
Freshers Week, University of Bath
University of Bath
Bath
Original post by Julieb3108
Hi all,

Looking for some guidance really. Daughter is a fresher and generally really happy at Bath but not massively enjoying her course. She's doing Biochemistry and so obviously a lot of it is new as its not a typical A level subject.
She's been quite emotional about it all which is hard for a parent from a distance!
Not entirely sure if it the course topics she's not enjoying, the overwhelm of independent study (and not having a clue what she's meant to be doing) or the fact that she's actually finding it quite a challenge.
But for the first time ever, she actually feels quite unmotivated to study and so is getting herself stressed over assignments etc.
She's reached out by email to her tutor over something she's struggling with but they've not replied so she feels like she can't contact them again but I think she should?
One of the things she's considering is maybe that she'd prefer to study natural sciences or potentially single honours pharmacology.....is 6 weeks in likely to be too late to transfer?
Any guidance on who or how she should reach out for help / support?

Thanks in advance from an anxious parent that wants to help but not interfere!

She's pushing the timeline for a change of subject. She should stop emailing and try and talk to a human being! This isn't a brand new issue, nor is it a catastrophe. Next time she is in the department, she should go and see one of the Admin team and ask to make an appointment with her Tutor - every academic with responsibilities for students has 'office hours' and she should go and talk to them. It's probably the 3rd or 4th conversation like this they've had this term!

She needs to be as clear as she can about what her struggles are - academic, social, 'adulting', home sickness or whatever. They will all have been heard before. And then she should offer her current solution, and listen to the advice given on what the uni has experience of and what they recommend.

To be clear, this is far from unique, a very large proportion of students feel this way, and the '6 week blues' are a well known phenomenon. The answer is usually, trust in your previous thinking, stick with it until Christmas, any by then you realise you are actually very happy where you are and with what you are doing. In only a small proportion is a re-think and re-plan actually needed.

*Btw, helicopter parenting is a bad thing, but Bath is a lovely city for a weekend break - and has/had an excellent Christmas Fair - just saying!
(edited 5 months ago)

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