The Student Room Group

Just Started Uni And I am Overwhelmed and considering dropping out

I am a mum of 3 and 39 years old

I already have a degree in Photography but couldn't find any work in the field. after volunteering at a local hospital with my photography skills I decided i would really love to study occupational therapy as I absolutely love my voluntary work.

I found the whole uni application process overwhelming. I was so in-depth and felt like it was never ending with all the different application parts and forms/funding etc.

I started my course 4 weeks ago. it has mostly been online...i have been put in a group of 10 and had to take part in projects online which was really difficult, i didnt even know who there people were that i was working with or what they looked like it was really weird

sitting infront of my laptop from 9-4.30 listening the lectures while my poor laptop overheats and the fans are going wild...it is too much for me! as much as i love the comfort of my own home...the tutors share their screen and go so fast i cannot follow what is going on. feels like its 'click here' click there' open this ...

there is an online platform, but also about 3/4 sub platforms that i cannot navigate my way around for the life of me
(my previous degree was straight forward and clear)
we have to register our attendance for each session and for me it never works! its really bringing me down..

the actual subject is really interesting but I am struggling with the technical side/written work/essays /referencing/

i feel like i am getting constant emails about more work to do and its just building up.

i cannot navigate my way around the platform to find it..its a mess..pdf's are scattered everywhere and its not user friendly at all (i feel like complaining but feel like everyone else will think its ok) i need a timetable as i never know whats going on unless i look in depth and some folders tucked away somewhere and i cant tick off my work or have some sort of to do list as i feel like i'm missing out important stuff as i cant find it.

its seems a whole lot stricter than with my photography degree which i found fairly straight forward.

i borrowed 9k to do the course and it wasn't an easy desicion.

i have been granted disabled students allowance as i have Adhd, bipolar and anxiety, I have just topped up £800 of my own money towards the DSA allowance for a new laptop, as the one they offered was basic. I have been awarded funding for a personal mentor, but they are all working from home which is useless to me as I need to sit with them and show them what im doing...so i dont feel like asking for help from them

(if i left uni i am worried i will have to pay all this dsa back somehow? )

I dont want to feel worried and i dont want to feel like a failure

i am struggling to find the time to do the work. my daughter has asd and was suspended from school last week and now my time is taken up with school meetings etc...i am finding is hard to juggle parent life and uni as much as i want my own time to study.

The university campus is fairly new, it is ugly and has no soul.. i feels cheap and is empty due to covid.. we have done a couple of masked up classroom sessions which i enjoyed but i feel like i am a lot mentally slower than the other in the class despite understanding what is being taught..everyone seemed on the ball when i had to work with apartner i felt embarrased as i was really slow and looked thick . i hate using my adhd as an excuse


since starting uni i have just had daily nightmares, anxiety and panic. i have felt really depressed and overwelmed..i dream about it every night and it is a weight on my mind


any advice??
It’s normal to feel overwhelmed with uni work and lost when trying to navigate a new e-learning platform - it was difficult for me and I didn’t have Covid-19 to contend with!

It can take time to find your own rhythm and understand the way you work best so it may be best to try and sit down with a clear head and think about ways you can organise yourself a bit more, for example, if you ever have a few minutes of free time, try exploring your e-learning platform so that you can become a bit more familiar with it. Try out different note-taking and revision techniques (if this is also a struggling point for you).

You have clearly worked hard to secure yourself a place on your course and you know from your previous volunteering that this is a field of work that you enjoy so perhaps reconsider dropping out just now and give yourself some time. If you have a student support team at your university (you should do, I think all universities should have this), contact them and let them know how you’re feeling. Likewise, talk to your tutors about the troubles you’re facing. They may be able to provide you with more support and advice and point you in the right direct for further help you can get. It’s important that the relevant staff know that you are struggling as early on as possible so that the right measures can be put in place for you to best support you and maximise your future prospects.
(edited 3 years ago)
Original post by 555_kitty
I am a mum of 3 and 39 years old

I already have a degree in Photography but couldn't find any work in the field. after volunteering at a local hospital with my photography skills I decided i would really love to study occupational therapy as I absolutely love my voluntary work.

I found the whole uni application process overwhelming. I was so in-depth and felt like it was never ending with all the different application parts and forms/funding etc.

I started my course 4 weeks ago. it has mostly been online...i have been put in a group of 10 and had to take part in projects online which was really difficult, i didnt even know who there people were that i was working with or what they looked like it was really weird

sitting infront of my laptop from 9-4.30 listening the lectures while my poor laptop overheats and the fans are going wild...it is too much for me! as much as i love the comfort of my own home...the tutors share their screen and go so fast i cannot follow what is going on. feels like its 'click here' click there' open this ...

there is an online platform, but also about 3/4 sub platforms that i cannot navigate my way around for the life of me
(my previous degree was straight forward and clear)
we have to register our attendance for each session and for me it never works! its really bringing me down..

the actual subject is really interesting but I am struggling with the technical side/written work/essays /referencing/

i feel like i am getting constant emails about more work to do and its just building up.

i cannot navigate my way around the platform to find it..its a mess..pdf's are scattered everywhere and its not user friendly at all (i feel like complaining but feel like everyone else will think its ok) i need a timetable as i never know whats going on unless i look in depth and some folders tucked away somewhere and i cant tick off my work or have some sort of to do list as i feel like i'm missing out important stuff as i cant find it.

its seems a whole lot stricter than with my photography degree which i found fairly straight forward.

i borrowed 9k to do the course and it wasn't an easy desicion.

i have been granted disabled students allowance as i have Adhd, bipolar and anxiety, I have just topped up £800 of my own money towards the DSA allowance for a new laptop, as the one they offered was basic. I have been awarded funding for a personal mentor, but they are all working from home which is useless to me as I need to sit with them and show them what im doing...so i dont feel like asking for help from them

(if i left uni i am worried i will have to pay all this dsa back somehow? )

I dont want to feel worried and i dont want to feel like a failure

i am struggling to find the time to do the work. my daughter has asd and was suspended from school last week and now my time is taken up with school meetings etc...i am finding is hard to juggle parent life and uni as much as i want my own time to study.

The university campus is fairly new, it is ugly and has no soul.. i feels cheap and is empty due to covid.. we have done a couple of masked up classroom sessions which i enjoyed but i feel like i am a lot mentally slower than the other in the class despite understanding what is being taught..everyone seemed on the ball when i had to work with apartner i felt embarrased as i was really slow and looked thick . i hate using my adhd as an excuse


since starting uni i have just had daily nightmares, anxiety and panic. i have felt really depressed and overwelmed..i dream about it every night and it is a weight on my mind


any advice??


First of all, what a queen! Can’t tell you how inspirational it is to a younger woman that you’ve not let having kids stop you from following your aspirations, there’s far too many woman that give up on their dreams to have children.

I’m 18 so pretty much everyone I know has progressed onto uni this year, and every single one of us have found it extremely difficult to adjust. There’s a huge workload and covid doesn’t make access to anything any easier. I know you’ve got more to juggle but just thought you should know everyone finds it hard to balance at first.

And I know giving up probably seems like he easiest option right now but you can see it in one of two ways. If you decide to drop out now in a couple years time when your children are grown you’re going to have so much spare time and you’ll always think about what could’ve been had you carried on. But if you carry on with it now, in spite of the difficulties you’ve faced, you’ll have secured a qualification to help you get your dream job. And you’ll be a hell of an inspiration to your kids for never giving up.

I’m not saying dropping out is the wrong thing to do, it’s probably what most people would do. But continuing with the degree would be extraordinary.
Wishing you well and praying you come out of this stronger, prouder and closer to your goal.
Original post by 555_kitty
I am a mum of 3 and 39 years old

I already have a degree in Photography but couldn't find any work in the field. after volunteering at a local hospital with my photography skills I decided i would really love to study occupational therapy as I absolutely love my voluntary work.

I found the whole uni application process overwhelming. I was so in-depth and felt like it was never ending with all the different application parts and forms/funding etc.

I started my course 4 weeks ago. it has mostly been online...i have been put in a group of 10 and had to take part in projects online which was really difficult, i didnt even know who there people were that i was working with or what they looked like it was really weird

sitting infront of my laptop from 9-4.30 listening the lectures while my poor laptop overheats and the fans are going wild...it is too much for me! as much as i love the comfort of my own home...the tutors share their screen and go so fast i cannot follow what is going on. feels like its 'click here' click there' open this ...

there is an online platform, but also about 3/4 sub platforms that i cannot navigate my way around for the life of me
(my previous degree was straight forward and clear)
we have to register our attendance for each session and for me it never works! its really bringing me down..

the actual subject is really interesting but I am struggling with the technical side/written work/essays /referencing/

i feel like i am getting constant emails about more work to do and its just building up.

i cannot navigate my way around the platform to find it..its a mess..pdf's are scattered everywhere and its not user friendly at all (i feel like complaining but feel like everyone else will think its ok) i need a timetable as i never know whats going on unless i look in depth and some folders tucked away somewhere and i cant tick off my work or have some sort of to do list as i feel like i'm missing out important stuff as i cant find it.

its seems a whole lot stricter than with my photography degree which i found fairly straight forward.

i borrowed 9k to do the course and it wasn't an easy desicion.

i have been granted disabled students allowance as i have Adhd, bipolar and anxiety, I have just topped up £800 of my own money towards the DSA allowance for a new laptop, as the one they offered was basic. I have been awarded funding for a personal mentor, but they are all working from home which is useless to me as I need to sit with them and show them what im doing...so i dont feel like asking for help from them

(if i left uni i am worried i will have to pay all this dsa back somehow? )

I dont want to feel worried and i dont want to feel like a failure

i am struggling to find the time to do the work. my daughter has asd and was suspended from school last week and now my time is taken up with school meetings etc...i am finding is hard to juggle parent life and uni as much as i want my own time to study.

The university campus is fairly new, it is ugly and has no soul.. i feels cheap and is empty due to covid.. we have done a couple of masked up classroom sessions which i enjoyed but i feel like i am a lot mentally slower than the other in the class despite understanding what is being taught..everyone seemed on the ball when i had to work with apartner i felt embarrased as i was really slow and looked thick . i hate using my adhd as an excuse


since starting uni i have just had daily nightmares, anxiety and panic. i have felt really depressed and overwelmed..i dream about it every night and it is a weight on my mind


any advice??


@@555_kitty

It sounds like you have had a very difficult experience at your University, it is clear that the current situation is exacerbating your anxiety but it sounds like you have responded positively so far to the challenges you have faced. In terms of DSA funding, if you complete the academic year you will not need to pay that back.

I think it is worth speaking to the student support services in the University to see if they have any mini online sessions on how to use the Virtual Learning Environment, or one to one support to help you with this area. Under the Equality Act 2010 you are entitled to a 'reasonable adjustment' as an SEND learner to help with your studies which is difficult to facilitate during Covid 19. They should, hopefully extend an invite to any relevant pastoral care if you mention your anxiety and bi-polar disorder (if you feel like this is appropriate). They may be able to use some of your DSA funding for a personal mentor who specialises in e-learning who could give you more advice about online learning

Marc (qualified SENDco) +
Arden University Student Ambassador
Reply 4
Hey, Fellow first year, mature (22) sutdent and bipolar/anxiety suffferer here! If you haven't already I'd suggest accessing as many support services your uni offfers as possible. I currently have a weekly mentoring session where we organise my week and discuss any issues I have mentally, aa weekly academic meeting where we look at extensions and other academic options available for me as well as having access to my disability advisers email address where I can contact him whenever. It's not been easy to adjust but they are the reason I am able to. You should have similar people available to you and they should be able to help with pretty much all you're having issues with. Feel free to send me a message if you'd like to chat in more detail :-)

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