So I think It's over
I always wanted to go to a great University and dreamed of going to Cambridge, I guess I was always a high achiever and was pushed to do better, but in the past year or so, My life has come crashing down, and I don't know if all that will work anymore.
During my GCSE's I did pretty well I guess, I'm still not happy with them, but they're not bad grades at all (4A*'s and 6 A's) But I was going through depression and had some Post Traumatic Stress due to a horrific event I witnessed a while back.
It just got worse when I started college, I cannot do anything now, whenever I revise I can't read I begin to cry, I just can't cope. The post traumatic stress has gotten even worse due to other stuff happening and it all snowballing It's taking over my life.
I am pretty sure I'm going to fail my AS's (maybe not fail completely, maybe goodish grades, but nowhere near what I expected or want, or need to get into Cambridge or something of the sort)
My question is firstly, any tips go get over this, I have seen my school counselor, just wondering if anybody had any advice.
But secondly, if I were to retake this year, due to these circumstances, would it still be possible for me to get into Oxbridge.
Thanks
During my GCSE's I did pretty well I guess, I'm still not happy with them, but they're not bad grades at all (4A*'s and 6 A's) But I was going through depression and had some Post Traumatic Stress due to a horrific event I witnessed a while back.
It just got worse when I started college, I cannot do anything now, whenever I revise I can't read I begin to cry, I just can't cope. The post traumatic stress has gotten even worse due to other stuff happening and it all snowballing It's taking over my life.
I am pretty sure I'm going to fail my AS's (maybe not fail completely, maybe goodish grades, but nowhere near what I expected or want, or need to get into Cambridge or something of the sort)
My question is firstly, any tips go get over this, I have seen my school counselor, just wondering if anybody had any advice.
But secondly, if I were to retake this year, due to these circumstances, would it still be possible for me to get into Oxbridge.
Thanks
Hi
I'm so sorry that you are going through a rough time. I can somehow relate. Currently I'm in A2 and I'm hoping to study at a Russell Group uni. Although my dreams were not set on Oxbridge, my anxiety, stress, depression (to an extent) has made my experience... Crazy!!!! Last year when I was doing my AS I actually thought I will fail, literally before results day I was thinking I will get bad grades, although I put soooo much effort in revising. But at the end I got AAAB , event though my mind was playing me.
So the best advice I can give is to work hard! I know it is hard especially before exams. I remember the week before my exams, I was constantly crying and sitting on the floor in the corner of my room for hours and thinking that I'm not gonna do well, I'm going to fail, I'm going to end up being unsuccessful, despite it I attained all As in all my exams, even though as GCSE I would say I got average.
Try not to stress about it! Although its easier said than done, because I can't do it, just try hard, if at the end it doesn't work just retake the year. Oxbridge would definitely consider what you have gone through
Posted from TSR Mobile
I'm so sorry that you are going through a rough time. I can somehow relate. Currently I'm in A2 and I'm hoping to study at a Russell Group uni. Although my dreams were not set on Oxbridge, my anxiety, stress, depression (to an extent) has made my experience... Crazy!!!! Last year when I was doing my AS I actually thought I will fail, literally before results day I was thinking I will get bad grades, although I put soooo much effort in revising. But at the end I got AAAB , event though my mind was playing me.
So the best advice I can give is to work hard! I know it is hard especially before exams. I remember the week before my exams, I was constantly crying and sitting on the floor in the corner of my room for hours and thinking that I'm not gonna do well, I'm going to fail, I'm going to end up being unsuccessful, despite it I attained all As in all my exams, even though as GCSE I would say I got average.
Try not to stress about it! Although its easier said than done, because I can't do it, just try hard, if at the end it doesn't work just retake the year. Oxbridge would definitely consider what you have gone through
Posted from TSR Mobile
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by lala121
Hi
I'm so sorry that you are going through a rough time. I can somehow relate. Currently I'm in A2 and I'm hoping to study at a Russell Group uni. Although my dreams were not set on Oxbridge, my anxiety, stress, depression (to an extent) has made my experience... Crazy!!!! Last year when I was doing my AS I actually thought I will fail, literally before results day I was thinking I will get bad grades, although I put soooo much effort in revising. But at the end I got AAAB , event though my mind was playing me.
So the best advice I can give is to work hard! I know it is hard especially before exams. I remember the week before my exams, I was constantly crying and sitting on the floor in the corner of my room for hours and thinking that I'm not gonna do well, I'm going to fail, I'm going to end up being unsuccessful, despite it I attained all As in all my exams, even though as GCSE I would say I got average.
Try not to stress about it! Although its easier said than done, because I can't do it, just try hard, if at the end it doesn't work just retake the year. Oxbridge would definitely consider what you have gone through
Posted from TSR Mobile
I'm so sorry that you are going through a rough time. I can somehow relate. Currently I'm in A2 and I'm hoping to study at a Russell Group uni. Although my dreams were not set on Oxbridge, my anxiety, stress, depression (to an extent) has made my experience... Crazy!!!! Last year when I was doing my AS I actually thought I will fail, literally before results day I was thinking I will get bad grades, although I put soooo much effort in revising. But at the end I got AAAB , event though my mind was playing me.
So the best advice I can give is to work hard! I know it is hard especially before exams. I remember the week before my exams, I was constantly crying and sitting on the floor in the corner of my room for hours and thinking that I'm not gonna do well, I'm going to fail, I'm going to end up being unsuccessful, despite it I attained all As in all my exams, even though as GCSE I would say I got average.
Try not to stress about it! Although its easier said than done, because I can't do it, just try hard, if at the end it doesn't work just retake the year. Oxbridge would definitely consider what you have gone through
Posted from TSR Mobile
Thanks
Well you seem like you should get in a RG pretty easily, good luck.
I just thought that if I had another chance I could do a lot better, should I fail this year, which hopefully doesn't happen but I have a feeling it will, I think I should have a talk with them though, to explain, do you have any advice about who to contact in Cambridge regarding that?
just a thought but if you're struggling to cope with A levels do you want to be going to a university which is such high pressure?
Please go and see your GP. By the sounds of it, you need support from a trained therapist who knows about PTSD, in order to have some kinda trauma CBT or trauma-oriented therapy. A school counsellor will not suffice, in this instance.
As for Cambridge, it might be best for you to see what you get for your A2s and apply post-A2. I believe Cambridge does have some kinda special/extenuating circumstances form but you would need to make a thread in the Cambridge subforum to find out (and you won't be able to post anonymously there).
It really is worth thinking about whether such a high-pressure, stressful environment would just exacerbate your problems. There is a lot of support at Cambridge for people like yourself but it's not specialist support, for the most part...
As for Cambridge, it might be best for you to see what you get for your A2s and apply post-A2. I believe Cambridge does have some kinda special/extenuating circumstances form but you would need to make a thread in the Cambridge subforum to find out (and you won't be able to post anonymously there).
It really is worth thinking about whether such a high-pressure, stressful environment would just exacerbate your problems. There is a lot of support at Cambridge for people like yourself but it's not specialist support, for the most part...
Original post by doodle_333
just a thought but if you're struggling to cope with A levels do you want to be going to a university which is such high pressure?
Oh sorry perhaps I should have made it Clear. I'm not really struggling with A level content, when I did my mocks in January I got very high grades, but since then depressions just getting worse. I do understand though, I guess I will have to see, maybe it will fix over time and maybe it won't but I will consider this.
Thanks.
Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
Please go and see your GP. By the sounds of it, you need support from a trained therapist who knows about PTSD, in order to have some kinda trauma CBT or trauma-oriented therapy. A school counsellor will not suffice, in this instance.
As for Cambridge, it might be best for you to see what you get for your A2s and apply post-A2. I believe Cambridge does have some kinda special/extenuating circumstances form but you would need to make a thread in the Cambridge subforum to find out (and you won't be able to post anonymously there).
It really is worth thinking about whether such a high-pressure, stressful environment would just exacerbate your problems. There is a lot of support at Cambridge for people like yourself but it's not specialist support, for the most part...
As for Cambridge, it might be best for you to see what you get for your A2s and apply post-A2. I believe Cambridge does have some kinda special/extenuating circumstances form but you would need to make a thread in the Cambridge subforum to find out (and you won't be able to post anonymously there).
It really is worth thinking about whether such a high-pressure, stressful environment would just exacerbate your problems. There is a lot of support at Cambridge for people like yourself but it's not specialist support, for the most part...
Yeah, I told my GP about my depression but didn't mention my PTSD, I'll make an appointment and try and get some.
Oh that sounds good, I'll probably go to the Oxbridge coordinator in my college, I'd rather not tell everybody about my problems, it's hard enough speaking to my Counsellor and GP. I haven't told anybody else, not even my family.
Posted from TSR Mobile
Original post by Anonymous
Yeah, I told my GP about my depression but didn't mention my PTSD, I'll make an appointment and try and get some.
Oh that sounds good, I'll probably go to the Oxbridge coordinator in my college, I'd rather not tell everybody about my problems, it's hard enough speaking to my Counsellor and GP. I haven't told anybody else, not even my family.
Posted from TSR Mobile
Yeah, I told my GP about my depression but didn't mention my PTSD, I'll make an appointment and try and get some.
Oh that sounds good, I'll probably go to the Oxbridge coordinator in my college, I'd rather not tell everybody about my problems, it's hard enough speaking to my Counsellor and GP. I haven't told anybody else, not even my family.
Posted from TSR Mobile
You will struggle to get much help at Cambridge - or any other uni, for that matter - without an official diagnosis, so it is really important to tell your GP everything and be honest with him/her.
I understand it can be very difficult to talk to family members but in many cases, it alleviates your stress levels because at least you're not hiding things anymore. Something to consider
I think doodle_333 has raised a very valid point that should not be dismissed too easily. I don't think she is questioning your academic capability to do the work, but rather how healthy an environment it would be for you to be in, given these long-term problems that you have
Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd
You will struggle to get much help at Cambridge - or any other uni, for that matter - without an official diagnosis, so it is really important to tell your GP everything and be honest with him/her.
I understand it can be very difficult to talk to family members but in many cases, it alleviates your stress levels because at least you're not hiding things anymore. Something to consider
I think doodle_333 has raised a very valid point that should not be dismissed too easily. I don't think she is questioning your academic capability to do the work, but rather how healthy an environment it would be for you to be in, given these long-term problems that you have
I understand it can be very difficult to talk to family members but in many cases, it alleviates your stress levels because at least you're not hiding things anymore. Something to consider
I think doodle_333 has raised a very valid point that should not be dismissed too easily. I don't think she is questioning your academic capability to do the work, but rather how healthy an environment it would be for you to be in, given these long-term problems that you have
I will do, thanks for the advice
It's more the case of their reactions. Mum will probably start crying and Dad will probably tell me to man the **** up. Both don't really believe in counselling or depression and stuff like that. Neither are reactions I want to deal with so I think I'm fine with it myself. The counsellor was very nice though, I think it does give me somebody to talk to and it does make me feel somewhat better.
This may be a weird question but are there any uni's you would recommend then for this? Like do any have any specialist support available?
Original post by Anonymous
I will do, thanks for the advice
It's more the case of their reactions. Mum will probably start crying and Dad will probably tell me to man the **** up. Both don't really believe in counselling or depression and stuff like that. Neither are reactions I want to deal with so I think I'm fine with it myself. The counsellor was very nice though, I think it does give me somebody to talk to and it does make me feel somewhat better.
This may be a weird question but are there any uni's you would recommend then for this? Like do any have any specialist support available?
It's more the case of their reactions. Mum will probably start crying and Dad will probably tell me to man the **** up. Both don't really believe in counselling or depression and stuff like that. Neither are reactions I want to deal with so I think I'm fine with it myself. The counsellor was very nice though, I think it does give me somebody to talk to and it does make me feel somewhat better.
This may be a weird question but are there any uni's you would recommend then for this? Like do any have any specialist support available?
I'm afraid I have no idea about unis to recommend. I did a postgrad degree at Goldsmiths and they were very helpful to me, but my issues are different to yours (I'm schizoaffective). What I mean by specialist support uni-wise is welfare officers who have been given some training, however basic, in how to deal with students and the different problems they may face, etc. I would hope most unis in the UK would be sensible enough to do this, but it's not really the case at Oxbridge.
Fair enough if you think your parents' reactions would not be conducive to your progress. Do you have any friends you can talk to? Just thinking of the whole 'problem shared = problem halved' mantra
Original post by Anonymous
Oh sorry perhaps I should have made it Clear. I'm not really struggling with A level content, when I did my mocks in January I got very high grades, but since then depressions just getting worse. I do understand though, I guess I will have to see, maybe it will fix over time and maybe it won't but I will consider this.
Thanks.
Posted from TSR Mobile
Thanks.
Posted from TSR Mobile
I meant struggling to cope emotionally, I dont know whether the work itself stresses you or not but you're clearly not managing your illness well enough to cope with your A levels and an oxbridge degree is very tough, lots of work and a lot of pressure which if you're still struggling will be very difficult and potentially lead to a 'relapse'
If Cambridge is what you want and you have passion for go for it, work really hard, keep pictures of Cambridge Uni to remind you create a scrap book etc
Nightworld1066
Nightworld1066
Whn you are diagnosed print of literature for them to read to make sure they don't dismiss it or tell you to get over it.
Nightworld1066
Nightworld1066
