The Student Room Group

Scared of leaving Uni

I'm not sure if this is in the right forum but the lovely mods can move it if they want :flutter:...

This probably seems a really stupid thing to say but I’m scared of leaving Uni. Basically, the last 3 years have had its ups and downs for me, like everyone I’m sure, but Uni has been the only real ‘constant’ thing, I’ve always had that to concentrate on and rely on. I leave this year and I’m pretty scared, I have no idea what to do when I leave, or rather I do but I know I’m not clever enough to do what I want, and it seems completely pointless to get a job which is in no way related to my degree.

It’s as though I’m losing my security, I know that sounds daft. I’m worried I’ll never see my mates, or even some of the really nice lecturers who have helped me through tough times. I feel as though come July, I’ll be nothing just lonely and miserable. I wish I was in the 2nd year so that I still had time left.

Hmmm I know I sound completely stupid, I am stupid, but does anyone feel even just a tiny bit like this? Nobody I know seems to. It just seems like, basically, everything else in my life is a mess right now, apart from Uni, but in a few months I won’t even have that and I’m scared :redface:
Reply 1
aw, that sounds really pathetic and I always feel for pathetic dudes like myself, we should form a club together :p:

perhaps you could do a masters degree at the same uni if you feel academically able and like your subject enough, that would put off leaving a bit
Reply 2
Great. I'm pathetic as well as stupid now :frown:
Reply 3
Gem
Great. I'm pathetic as well as stupid now :frown:
no I don't think you're stupid, join the pathetic club and be happy :wink:
gianthead
aw, that sounds really pathetic and I always feel for pathetic dudes like myself, we should form a club together :p:

perhaps you could do a masters degree at the same uni if you feel academically able and like your subject enough, that would put off leaving a bit


:laugh:

why dont u think ud be able to get the job you want, there are loads of jobs around and once u have one you can rely on that. But yeh if you wana waste a few more yrs, do a master...then phd..then MBA...then maybe another undergrad degree...
Reply 5
I don't think you're pathetic at all, it seems quite a natural reaction to me :hugs:

I don't agree with gianthead about postgrad study. I don't think anyone should do it just to put of leaving uni :rolleyes:

I'm sure you're not the only one who feels that way, even though it seems like you are. Just try to look forward to all the cool stuff you can do after you graduate! Other than that, I don't know what to say :redface:
Reply 6
This is a totally different circumstance but I know how you feel in a way, I finish school this year and I've been at the same one since I was 4 :eek: (I know, how strange!). But since last June I been all over the place so much and I've only just started to get support and I feel like I'm tumbling towards my A2 exams and then things will be over and that kind of scares me. Also I'm taking a gap year so I don't know what I'm going to be doing then, I have a few rough ideas since I chucked my old plan out of the window!

But once I leave thats it, no support, so I'm going to have to cope with my downs on my own and I don't know if I can do that. I thought about undeferring for a while but I can't face another 3 years of education straight away especially as I'm currently terrified of my A2 exams, I have no clue how I'd cope with uni work.

Anyways I know my circumstances are different but well that's me....
aww Gem hun, it'll be ok. Definetly don't do post grad just to avoid leaving, unless of course you think it might help with job prospects etc? What you're feeling is completely natural ok, and you're in no way stupid or pathetic! You still have until July to have a good thing about what you want to do after uni. Mot uni's have careers advisors etc, so mabe it'd be worth talking to them? Also a lot uni's have employment fairs, and there's bound to be some in the current months so maybe worth checking out. You're doing psychology yes? Well if its the right path to go down, could you contact your local health services about a placement etc? Some of them have schemes for uni graduate.
Its going to be hard yes, and a bit scary, but just take a look at all you achieved, its been buiilding up to this moment, the moment when you take that step into the world, with you degree and start on with working life in something that hopefully you'll enjoy and excell in. Don't let you're worries now, put you off. You can do it hun :smile: :hugs:
Awww, I feel for you Gem!

I really understand how you feel. I'm not in the same situation as you but I just feel like I can see where you're coming from. I'm in year 12 and I felt like you did at the end of GCSEs...I even stayed at the same school with most of my friends but everything was so different anyway. I just know I'll have the same feelings when I leave 6th form, and again when I leave uni. And that must be the scariest one - I can't actually imagine what it must feel like to be leaving uni and going into the 'real world'. I guess it must feel like your in the ocean and university was your boat but now you're going to have to swim. Ok I'm going on a bit now and I'm not convinced it's helping you. I don't really know what to say to make you feel any better other than don't worry because thousands of people feel just the same as you, and every year, people get through it. I'm sure things will turn out for you,

Good luck :smile: don 't worry you can still come on here even when you're no longer a student anyway!

MissSurfer
Reply 9
Great. I'm pathetic as well as stupid now

No! This is just how mathematicians try to cheer people up... and fail.
Reply 10
Oh man, i know exactly how you feel! I was in the same situation last year. I was an absolute mess. I loved being at uni, and it was such a bubble, and it was a really constant thing in my life and it was such a horrible prospect for me to leave.

But dont worry, you will see your friends, and you will be employable! You just need to get your ass in gear and start looking for jobs! Or start saving and go travelling..

I know exactly how you feel though, but take it from someone who was petrified about leaving uni.. the big bad world isn't that scarey, and it's actually quite fun! Just take stock, and enjoy your final few months at uni, but then look forward to the rest of your life.
Reply 11
Gem............how can you call yourself stupid when you're graduating??! There are soooooo many people out there who don't have the benefits of a degree. You'll be ok honey...........I felt the same way when I left college.

Look at it this way..........what are your options.

1. Lounge around at home......lonely, bored and depressed.

2. Make the most of your degree and circulate LOADS of CVs. Search for jobs on the internet/newspapers. Go and join a few work agencies....even do some temping to get a taste of different work environments, this way you can apply for any good positions within the firm, internally, if you like it. Plus it won't do your CV any harm.

3. Postgraduate if you enjoy your course and want to take it further.

Good Luck.......whatever you decide.:hugs:
I'm a third yr too, i wouldn't say i'm scared of leaving university, i'm really looking forward to leaving university, in fact my last seminar was this afternoon. Surprisingly rather than feeling elated and overjoyed, the experience of my last seminar felt very empty, that's because i've not particularly enjoyed the context of a university life. I've not felt personally fulfilled through university.

I wouldn't say i'm scared to finally enter the world of work, after having travelled for a period of 3-6 months in a half a year out of sorts. What i do worry about is lack of direction...at the moment i cannot envisage anything other than myself doing some temping after the travelling, but maybe that would be the best thing as it could show me to like a particular job or give me some time to reflect and try and specify interests and wants if that makes sense. I think that once i have greater confidence in my own abilities, i've lost some confidence in this last year for some reason, i may pursue some tennis coaching qualifications and coach tennis...i am definitely good enough to do so but again, it's not a huge overwhelming desire to coach...i'm as clueless and directionless as an awful lot of people coming out of university etc. My advice would be not to worry too much, just be aware and on the look out for job opportunities etc...if you have too much anxiety regarding the future that can't possibly be too good a thing...remember you could well be working up to the age of 65 and 65 plus now, so some 'tinkering' amongst small, temporary jobs could be an excellent 'finding yourself' process.
You're not alone. I'm terrified of leaving college :frown:
Reply 14
yeah, i feel the same

i am final year, this semester has been amazing, i have learned alot, last semester was terrible tho, you have your ups and down at uni', but the ups tend to be better then the downs

i never liked school, i.e secondary and college, and achieved average or below average grade. I am doing well at uni', apart from last semster, i have really enjoyed the uni' style of teaching, it makes you think and you need to ask for help, if you want to do well

i am halfway through this semester and only have 6 weeks left till exams. The semester has flown by. I will really miss the people and lecturers
You will get used to it, I felt the same about leaving 6th form, throughtout 6th form my life had been really great and stable, had some great mates, a boyfriend i had been through most of school and all of 6th form, and a job. Then uni comes and throughs my friends all over the country, takes my job from me, and also takes my boyfriend away from me. It was very hard to adjust at first, and I did think how will I ever get used to my life, its so unstable! But now half way through 2nd term my life feels stable, I feel like I know who my good friends are here now, and my way around etc. It is starting to settle down. So yea, you will get used to it and find some direction, just might take a little time.
Reply 16
Also post-grad requires money, unless you have rich parents it's not really an option.
Gem, I know you're interested in child psychology, so how about doing an MSc in that? If you dont fancy a change, I'm sure ur current uni will do it and have a wide range of coursers available. You could think about getting work experience too, like working in schools after your exams in May/June/July and doing some charity work over the summer? This way if you set yourself a goal, then you know you have to take steps to achieve it and wont be scared leaving uni :smile: think about it.