Please tell me it's normal to feel this way!
Hi,
I'm a first year university student and I was wondering if I could get some advice. Basically, everything is so overwhelming about university so far. I'm really struggling to make friends which is worrying me, even though I'm attending societies/meeting people. I'm finding reading academic articles really tough, and it feels like they're skimming past my head rather than I'm taking in the information. I know the lecturers will not spoon-feed you, however I feel so nervous, as if I'm saying the wrong thing all of the time in my seminars. I just feel so unintelligent sometimes in my lessons. I felt like I was so unprepared submitting my first assignment even though I'd worked for hours on it.
I don't know if it's ordinary to feel this way. I just can't seem to shake the feeling I'm doing something really wrong.
Thank you
Aimee
I'm a first year university student and I was wondering if I could get some advice. Basically, everything is so overwhelming about university so far. I'm really struggling to make friends which is worrying me, even though I'm attending societies/meeting people. I'm finding reading academic articles really tough, and it feels like they're skimming past my head rather than I'm taking in the information. I know the lecturers will not spoon-feed you, however I feel so nervous, as if I'm saying the wrong thing all of the time in my seminars. I just feel so unintelligent sometimes in my lessons. I felt like I was so unprepared submitting my first assignment even though I'd worked for hours on it.
I don't know if it's ordinary to feel this way. I just can't seem to shake the feeling I'm doing something really wrong.
Thank you
Aimee
Its completely normal and guess what? I bet a bunch of your peers feel the same way. Despite this, do go and ask for help from your professors if you're really struggling.
Original post by typicalvirgo
Its completely normal and guess what? I bet a bunch of your peers feel the same way. Despite this, do go and ask for help from your professors if you're really struggling.
Thank you for your reply. I am asking my professors however I think there's only so much they can say. I have lost a stone though since moving to university and I don't know if it's due to stress. I just hope things start getting better.
I'm in Upper Sixth at the moment so I can't give first hand experience, but my closest friends are a year above me so I've heard plenty of stories. Some of them are struggling with the workload, and some of them are not - I guess it depends on the degree? It's also such a big jump from school to uni, and people adjust at different rates. I know someone who's always been independent, and so is really enjoying his time at uni. I also know someone else is less so, and pretty much spends his time in his room. So to answer your question I do think it's normal.
With regards to making friends, different people make friends at different rates, so don't be put off if you see other people acting like besties straight away. What looks like close friendships might just be boisterousness. It's really good that you're going to meet ups and societies
! Because soon social circles will start to form and as long as you put yourself out there, you'll make good friends. Just keep doing what you're doing.
And about the weight loss. Do you think you're eating the same? Maybe it is the stress, which will go away as you get settled, or do you think you're eating less because you're in a new environment and not the comfort of your own home?
With regards to making friends, different people make friends at different rates, so don't be put off if you see other people acting like besties straight away. What looks like close friendships might just be boisterousness. It's really good that you're going to meet ups and societies
! Because soon social circles will start to form and as long as you put yourself out there, you'll make good friends. Just keep doing what you're doing. And about the weight loss. Do you think you're eating the same? Maybe it is the stress, which will go away as you get settled, or do you think you're eating less because you're in a new environment and not the comfort of your own home?
Original post by aimeejr97
Hi,
I'm a first year university student and I was wondering if I could get some advice. Basically, everything is so overwhelming about university so far. I'm really struggling to make friends which is worrying me, even though I'm attending societies/meeting people. I'm finding reading academic articles really tough, and it feels like they're skimming past my head rather than I'm taking in the information. I know the lecturers will not spoon-feed you, however I feel so nervous, as if I'm saying the wrong thing all of the time in my seminars. I just feel so unintelligent sometimes in my lessons. I felt like I was so unprepared submitting my first assignment even though I'd worked for hours on it.
I don't know if it's ordinary to feel this way. I just can't seem to shake the feeling I'm doing something really wrong.
Thank you
Aimee
I'm a first year university student and I was wondering if I could get some advice. Basically, everything is so overwhelming about university so far. I'm really struggling to make friends which is worrying me, even though I'm attending societies/meeting people. I'm finding reading academic articles really tough, and it feels like they're skimming past my head rather than I'm taking in the information. I know the lecturers will not spoon-feed you, however I feel so nervous, as if I'm saying the wrong thing all of the time in my seminars. I just feel so unintelligent sometimes in my lessons. I felt like I was so unprepared submitting my first assignment even though I'd worked for hours on it.
I don't know if it's ordinary to feel this way. I just can't seem to shake the feeling I'm doing something really wrong.
Thank you
Aimee
At uni, in the same position as you. Hopefully it will get better for us
I can't really help with the academic side of things, i'd talk to one of your tutors and see what they say, as for the friends thing... I'm a first year and I was like that for the first couple of weeks, and still am a little bit I guess. I'm kind of struggling to make friends on my course so I asked one of my mates in 2nd year who I had known from sixth form and she said that she didn't really make good friends on her course until the end of first year, idk if you live on campus but i'm of campus and i've made some great friends in my house so maybe try there, if not societies and stuff like that but I wouldn't worry to much about it, look at the 2nd and 3rd years, you don't see many of them sat alone eating lunch or out at the pub by themselves, but it's safe to assume that most of them felt like you do at some point in time in their 1st year, I guess the best thing to do is wait, I know its not easy but friends will turn up, and in the mean time try and do things you like, watching TV/movies, go out and exploring your uni city, volunteering somewhere!! sorry if this was no help, what your feelings are totally normal, at least I felt it and so did most of my mates, you'll settle in eventually and if not its not the end of the world to leave, hope you feel better soon 
Reading academic papers can be tough for new people as the words in a good paper are normally written very well and compact to deliver what it means and differs from a normal literature and can take some time to get used to. It's a common problem for everyone, and don't worry about not getting the information in after you read the paper. The main purpose of reading the papers, contradictory to what you may believe, is actually not to understand the paper completely, it's so that you know the concept/idea exist. When you go through the lectures, hopefully what they say will ring a bell that you read it somewhere of which you went back to read them again is the time you should start understand them.
I'm not a sociable person myself and it actually only until almost the end of my second year in university that I started making friends, as long as you don't think you need a "friend" too "desperately", I think that shouldn't be a main concern as most university tends to have the infamous group projects that force you to work with others and will actually promote conversation with your classmates to find like-minded people.
I'm not a sociable person myself and it actually only until almost the end of my second year in university that I started making friends, as long as you don't think you need a "friend" too "desperately", I think that shouldn't be a main concern as most university tends to have the infamous group projects that force you to work with others and will actually promote conversation with your classmates to find like-minded people.
Everyone feels that way. We were told in uni that it's pretty normal not to understand full academic papers anyway at least not every one, if it's not a specialist subject for you it's likely to be written above your level... but you should be able to grasp the gist and find useful information to cite. You will be given some tough papers to push you out of your comfort zone, that's very normal. Same goes for your first essay, the standards are different at uni and the feeling of writing something having been given little to no information first is very daunting the first time... but first year marks don't count so you can take your time to feel out what the right things to do are and you don't need to put pressure on yourself to get it all right first time.
I've spoken to my academic tutor and I'm really not settling in at all so she's emailing my university at home. I will be able to transfer and live at home. A new start. I have tried my hardest these past weeks but I've still felt really terrible. Just hope things are on the up from here!
Original post by aimeejr97
Hi,
I'm a first year university student and I was wondering if I could get some advice. Basically, everything is so overwhelming about university so far. I'm really struggling to make friends which is worrying me, even though I'm attending societies/meeting people. I'm finding reading academic articles really tough, and it feels like they're skimming past my head rather than I'm taking in the information. I know the lecturers will not spoon-feed you, however I feel so nervous, as if I'm saying the wrong thing all of the time in my seminars. I just feel so unintelligent sometimes in my lessons. I felt like I was so unprepared submitting my first assignment even though I'd worked for hours on it.
I don't know if it's ordinary to feel this way. I just can't seem to shake the feeling I'm doing something really wrong.
Thank you
Aimee
I'm a first year university student and I was wondering if I could get some advice. Basically, everything is so overwhelming about university so far. I'm really struggling to make friends which is worrying me, even though I'm attending societies/meeting people. I'm finding reading academic articles really tough, and it feels like they're skimming past my head rather than I'm taking in the information. I know the lecturers will not spoon-feed you, however I feel so nervous, as if I'm saying the wrong thing all of the time in my seminars. I just feel so unintelligent sometimes in my lessons. I felt like I was so unprepared submitting my first assignment even though I'd worked for hours on it.
I don't know if it's ordinary to feel this way. I just can't seem to shake the feeling I'm doing something really wrong.
Thank you
Aimee
Hello,
The way you are feeling is completely natural and experienced by a lot of students when they first start university. Heck! I'm in my Third Year and still find it overwhelming sometimes, you are not alone!
Yes, your lecturers won't spoon feed you but they can help you if you reach out to them and tell them that you are struggling. You can also approach student support and they can help you with academic articles and finding references and such - that's what they are there for, I finally went and used them in my Third Year and it was the best decision I ever made!
It's a big transition period and is over whelming, don't worry - it will get better. Your friends will just fall into place as your journey through university continues - just keep doing what you're doing and don't stress yourself out - I know, it's easier said than done but just remember to give yourself breaks and do things you enjoy!
You are doubting yourself and it's extremely normal - just keep pushing! You'll be okay!
Good luck!
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Did I do the right thing?
- A lot of people have been telling me I don’t display a normal behaviour.
- Was I abused as I child or am I looking into it to deeply?
- How do I stop being jealous of my crush and my best friend?
- left out at school
- Is it normal for a girl to masturbate twice a day?
- Intrusive thoughts.
- I have anxiety about getting circumcision
- Moving on
- help age gap
- INTENSE anxiety pls help
- How to stop missing someone who isn't good for me
- Insecurity with my boyfriend
- i have a crush on my teacher 😭😭😭
- I'm an atheist but I like the idea of having a god to believe in
- Why am I constipated ?
- Hey want some advice, anyone feeling like they are going to fail all the time?
- Can't masturbate properly..Is something wrong?younG
- Did she even like me in the first place?
- Advice please
Latest
Trending
Last reply 3 weeks ago
Got a third in my second year and the highest I’ve achieved in third year was 55%Trending
Last reply 3 weeks ago
Got a third in my second year and the highest I’ve achieved in third year was 55%
