The Student Room Group

I failed my first year of Physics at Manchester....

I go to the University of Manchester and last year I studied Physics. Let's just say that didn't go well and I failed 8/10 modules. They gave me an option to resit those modules but I declined, because I could not do that amount on work in such a short space of time and just simply because I didn't want to.

There could be many reasons as to why I have failed (I should know because I'm the type of person that analyses everything in my head). First one is that I simply did not do enough work. Another was that I was determined to have a good social life because my Pre-uni social life was not great. A lot of people asked why I was continuing on this course if I was not enjoying it. (They got the impression that I did not enjoy it because of the amount of times I complained about it).

That got me thinking that maybe I was not working hard enough because I did not love Physics. You could say that my intention to get a Physics degree was to say that I have this prestigious, hard to get degree and that businesses will be fighting over me after graduation!

Needless to say that I became severely depressed, there is nothing like failure to fuel your depression! Then your social life takes a turn for the worse because you don't want to socialise any more and you realise you become a bore because all you can do is complain. You kinda have no reason to get mashed on a night out if you have nothing to celebrate.

So laziness kicks and I spent my days just staying up watching tv on your laptop (On an unrelated note, I love How I Met Your Mother) and aimlessy browsing the internet, just refreshing your facebook for that last morsel of social normality. I just wanted uni to be over.

Now it's the summer and I have no job, nothing to show for my first year and I am hoping to switch course (I am trying to switch to Electronic Systems Engineering) determined that I will change and things will be different this time round, they better be because Engineering will be not be a walk in the park. However I am doubting myself once again because of the unproductive way I am dealing with this summer.

Sorry to go into depth, I just wanted to give you a feel for what has happened to me in the past year.

I think I can offer advice to people in Sixth From choosing Physics, I'd tell them to make sure that this is really what they want to do! Now I just need someone who has been in my situation to help me!

Any help/comments will be appreciated!
surely your resits are in september, therefore if you don't have a job you will have pleanty of time to revise for your resits.
Reply 2
They are at the end of August and 8 modules of Physics seems to me such a mountain to climb.
You could revise learn the whole of first year physics for a 1st standard by doing 4 hours work a day for a month.
Reply 4
Well, all I can say is that switching course should be possible. I do EEE at Manchester and I know somebody who switched to it after failing Physics.

Good luck, EEE/ESE is a great course and the first year isn't difficult if you study reasonably hard. What was it that you didn't like about Physics?
Reply 5
Don't get me wrong I am interested in Physics, I find it fascinating, although probably from a distance! It's a very broad subjects requiring knowledge in a lot of things that seem unrelated but I reckon will all come together in later years of the course. I think the EEE course will suit me better as I am a big tech geek and love all things to do with gadgets and hopefully get into the industry designing MP3 players and mobile phones. (Would love to work for Apple or Sony)
Reply 6
paresh

There could be many reasons as to why I have failed (I should know because I'm the type of person that analyses everything in my head). First one is that I simply did not do enough work. Another was that I was determined to have a good social life because my Pre-uni social life was not great. A lot of people asked why I was continuing on this course if I was not enjoying it. (They got the impression that I did not enjoy it because of the amount of times I complained about it).

That got me thinking that maybe I was not working hard enough because I did not love Physics. You could say that my intention to get a Physics degree was to say that I have this prestigious, hard to get degree and that businesses will be fighting over me after graduation!

Needless to say that I became severely depressed, there is nothing like failure to fuel your depression! Then your social life takes a turn for the worse because you don't want to socialise any more and you realise you become a bore because all you can do is complain. You kinda have no reason to get mashed on a night out if you have nothing to celebrate.


I happen to find myself in this same position at the moment.I am an international student.I failed my first year of Electronics/Computer Engineering for precisely the same reasons.I am told that i am very smart and intelligent but i guess i took my degree with so much complacence.i actually did some work but it wasnt just enough

I had failed 4 out of 8 modules(C programming,Digital,Analog Electronics and transmission lines)in June 08.Always pass my maths modules!.My worst nightmare was my C/C++ and Digital modules.I was told to resit my 4 modules and i managed to pass the C and tx line modules and i could not still progress after resitting because i didnt pass Analog & Digital.

I was severely depressed because i was told i have to leave Uni and foolishly, i went to enroll on Maths with Physics degree in October 08 without my parents express permission and with a way to cover up things.I was very stupid.They came to withdraw me from York and all of a sudden i find myself in London.They couldnt understand how/why an A straight student could find themselves in this position.After a few talks with them, i have decided to take this year out to figure EXACTLY what i want to do with my life and then play ball next year instead of rushing into Maths and "chickening out" and then messing things up all over again

This sounds sadistic but i am really glad i failed this year and i wasnt allowed to progress because of 2 modules because if this had happened in my 3rd/4th year, we are talking about a mid life crisis!

I am not trying to make you change your mind about studying electronics but u should have the balls for it.Be prepared for real hard work

All the Best,
Mid
Hi I know you went through this a long time ago, but what was the outcome? I am going through something similar at Manchester and I feel the exact same way about everything.
Reply 8
Original post by paresh
I go to the University of Manchester and last year I studied Physics. Let's just say that didn't go well and I failed 8/10 modules. They gave me an option to resit those modules but I declined, because I could not do that amount on work in such a short space of time and just simply because I didn't want to.

There could be many reasons as to why I have failed (I should know because I'm the type of person that analyses everything in my head). First one is that I simply did not do enough work. Another was that I was determined to have a good social life because my Pre-uni social life was not great. A lot of people asked why I was continuing on this course if I was not enjoying it. (They got the impression that I did not enjoy it because of the amount of times I complained about it).

That got me thinking that maybe I was not working hard enough because I did not love Physics. You could say that my intention to get a Physics degree was to say that I have this prestigious, hard to get degree and that businesses will be fighting over me after graduation!

Needless to say that I became severely depressed, there is nothing like failure to fuel your depression! Then your social life takes a turn for the worse because you don't want to socialise any more and you realise you become a bore because all you can do is complain. You kinda have no reason to get mashed on a night out if you have nothing to celebrate.

So laziness kicks and I spent my days just staying up watching tv on your laptop (On an unrelated note, I love How I Met Your Mother) and aimlessy browsing the internet, just refreshing your facebook for that last morsel of social normality. I just wanted uni to be over.

Now it's the summer and I have no job, nothing to show for my first year and I am hoping to switch course (I am trying to switch to Electronic Systems Engineering) determined that I will change and things will be different this time round, they better be because Engineering will be not be a walk in the park. However I am doubting myself once again because of the unproductive way I am dealing with this summer.

Sorry to go into depth, I just wanted to give you a feel for what has happened to me in the past year.

I think I can offer advice to people in Sixth From choosing Physics, I'd tell them to make sure that this is really what they want to do! Now I just need someone who has been in my situation to help me!

Any help/comments will be appreciated!


but do you think the content was immensely difficult though?

like do you think you would've got a 2.1 easily if you knuckled down throughout the year?
Reply 9
Just going to mention this don't switch to EE engineering if you consider it a softer option because its a very difficult degree in it's own right, you will need to put the effort in to get a good result out of it.
wow. I feel like I am reading the stroy of my life. Went through the same exact thing with the same majors. I am re-attempting year 1. I would like to know, if you don't mind, what did you decide to do and where are you now? 11 years have passed since you wrote this comment.
Hi there, I know I'm asking this after a long time, do you get to re attempt the first year because of dialed resits? Also is that a default or does the school board have to decide if u can retake the first year?
Hey Guys! my 19 year old kid is going through the same. He is in his first year MPhys. His 1st term exams went horribly bad and he is in his 1st week of a new term and he says he is already demotivated. He says he can't keep up with the content and he says he can't study the entire day. What advice should I give him? I'm totally lost.
Original post by AltoPico
Hey Guys! my 19 year old kid is going through the same. He is in his first year MPhys. His 1st term exams went horribly bad and he is in his 1st week of a new term and he says he is already demotivated. He says he can't keep up with the content and he says he can't study the entire day. What advice should I give him? I'm totally lost.


This thread is so old that all of the above posters are likely long gone by now. I'd recommend starting a new one with a summary of your Son's circumstances. The University Life section would be a good place.