The Student Room Group

Think I've messed up my degree...

I think the title is self explanatory but this past year I've suffered severely with depression for which ive received bereavement counselling for. I've done excellent in my first semester modules securing a first in all modules however this semester has been a tough one. Ive got my final year interim poster due on the 10th for which I have to carry out 8 CFD simulations which take half a day each and then put my poster together. I've got a 3000 word assignment due on the 24th and then my final written dissertation which is due on the 29th. I also have an assignment due early next month and 2 exams. The exams I should be okay with but it's the assignments I'm worried about....what shall I do? I've spoken to my supervisor at the university and he said if you feel like you cant do it then I can apply for an EC and graduate next year. I dont want to graduate next year and want to graduate with my friends we've planned a holiday together to celebrate in summer and I dont want to be the only one there that hasnt graduated or celebrating my achievements. I feel like I can do it as I've done 6000 word assignments before in 48 hours and achieved over 70%. Having said that, I'm also feeling really anxious and I feel like im being over confident. Anyhow, I still want to give it my best shot. If anything I'm looking for reassurance or some positivity from someone who has crammed this amount of work into such a short amount of time. TIA, I'm looking forward to your replies :smile:
Original post by Anonymous
I think the title is self explanatory but this past year I've suffered severely with depression for which ive received bereavement counselling for. I've done excellent in my first semester modules securing a first in all modules however this semester has been a tough one. Ive got my final year interim poster due on the 10th for which I have to carry out 8 CFD simulations which take half a day each and then put my poster together. I've got a 3000 word assignment due on the 24th and then my final written dissertation which is due on the 29th. I also have an assignment due early next month and 2 exams. The exams I should be okay with but it's the assignments I'm worried about....what shall I do? I've spoken to my supervisor at the university and he said if you feel like you cant do it then I can apply for an EC and graduate next year. I dont want to graduate next year and want to graduate with my friends we've planned a holiday together to celebrate in summer and I dont want to be the only one there that hasnt graduated or celebrating my achievements. I feel like I can do it as I've done 6000 word assignments before in 48 hours and achieved over 70%. Having said that, I'm also feeling really anxious and I feel like im being over confident. Anyhow, I still want to give it my best shot. If anything I'm looking for reassurance or some positivity from someone who has crammed this amount of work into such a short amount of time. TIA, I'm looking forward to your replies :smile:

Hi there,

This sounds like a tough situation, you must be feeling stressed.

My best advice would be to talk to your supervisor again and see if you can schedule a meeting to discuss your options in detail. If you have a personal tutor or wellbeing tutor you could also talk to them and see what advice they have for you regarding this.

I would also talk to your module tutors and maybe your course leader and explain where you are at with the assignments and see if they think it is doable in the time that you have. You could also show them what you have done so far, or when you plan on doing the work and see if they think it is possible or they could tell you how they think you have done in the work so far.

If you have done similar work before in the same time frame and have done well, then it might be doable but this is completely up to you and how you feel you can do!

You could also talk to your university wellbeing team and see if they have any advice they can offer you due to you having bereavement counselling. They may be able to offer you some help and support due to this which could potentially help your situation.

I hope some of this helps,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador.
Reply 2
Hi there, have you spoken to student support services at your university to talk through options. Can you ask for an extension? Some places require evidence so it may be worth speaking to a GP or uni counselling service. Just having an extra few days can be enough to ease the pressure. It sounds like you've had a very tough time this year.
Reply 3
I could gladly help with that
Original post by Anonymous
I think the title is self explanatory but this past year I've suffered severely with depression for which ive received bereavement counselling for. I've done excellent in my first semester modules securing a first in all modules however this semester has been a tough one. Ive got my final year interim poster due on the 10th for which I have to carry out 8 CFD simulations which take half a day each and then put my poster together. I've got a 3000 word assignment due on the 24th and then my final written dissertation which is due on the 29th. I also have an assignment due early next month and 2 exams. The exams I should be okay with but it's the assignments I'm worried about....what shall I do? I've spoken to my supervisor at the university and he said if you feel like you cant do it then I can apply for an EC and graduate next year. I dont want to graduate next year and want to graduate with my friends we've planned a holiday together to celebrate in summer and I dont want to be the only one there that hasnt graduated or celebrating my achievements. I feel like I can do it as I've done 6000 word assignments before in 48 hours and achieved over 70%. Having said that, I'm also feeling really anxious and I feel like im being over confident. Anyhow, I still want to give it my best shot. If anything I'm looking for reassurance or some positivity from someone who has crammed this amount of work into such a short amount of time. TIA, I'm looking forward to your replies :smile:


hi op!! it’s astounding how much someone can do in a short amount of time, and you’ve done it before and done super well so i know you can definitely do it again !!! just give that final push and hope for the best, then you can enjoy that holiday with your friends :-)

i know it would’ve been nice to have more time but sometimes when we allow ourselves more time to do things, we simply take longer to do them. like a task that could take only 2 hours may take 2 days if you allow yourself all that time. so i think whatever you need to do is definitely doable in a short amount of time!! not sure if i explained that well haha but i have so much faith in you and am proud that you made it this far despite your struggles - you’re incredibly resilient and so close to that finish line <33
i sincerely hope everything goes well for you, please update us !
Original post by Anonymous
I think the title is self explanatory but this past year I've suffered severely with depression for which ive received bereavement counselling for. I've done excellent in my first semester modules securing a first in all modules however this semester has been a tough one. Ive got my final year interim poster due on the 10th for which I have to carry out 8 CFD simulations which take half a day each and then put my poster together. I've got a 3000 word assignment due on the 24th and then my final written dissertation which is due on the 29th. I also have an assignment due early next month and 2 exams. The exams I should be okay with but it's the assignments I'm worried about....what shall I do? I've spoken to my supervisor at the university and he said if you feel like you cant do it then I can apply for an EC and graduate next year. I dont want to graduate next year and want to graduate with my friends we've planned a holiday together to celebrate in summer and I dont want to be the only one there that hasnt graduated or celebrating my achievements. I feel like I can do it as I've done 6000 word assignments before in 48 hours and achieved over 70%. Having said that, I'm also feeling really anxious and I feel like im being over confident. Anyhow, I still want to give it my best shot. If anything I'm looking for reassurance or some positivity from someone who has crammed this amount of work into such a short amount of time. TIA, I'm looking forward to your replies :smile:

Hello there,
First and foremost, I want to express my admiration for your strength in dealing with such a difficult situation. It's incredible how much you've accomplished despite everything you've been through. Balancing your mental health with academic pressure is extremely difficult, yet you are clearly determined to succeed.
Given your present workload, here are some ways that may help you manage everything more effectively. Try to Divide your duties into small, achievable parts. Create a thorough schedule with exact timeframes for each task. This can help you understand what needs to be done and when, decreasing feelings of overwhelm. Starting the CFD simulations as soon as possible is recommended because they take a long time. Allow them to run while you focus on other chores. This manner, you can make progress on numerous fronts. Given your limited timeframe, strive for progress rather than perfection. It's better to finish something to a good standard than to strive for perfection and run out of time.
Rely on your friends, family, and university resources. Simply talking about your stress will help alleviate it. If you need help, don't be afraid to ask. Rest is essential for maintaining productivity. Short, regular breaks can help you stay focused and less anxious. Stay Positive and Believe in Yourself.Remember that you've already managed high-pressure circumstances. You have got this! Keep your supervisor informed about your progress. They can offer advice and possibly help you prioritise your responsibilities. Make sure you eat well, stay hydrated, and get some exercise. These minor details can have a major impact on your mental clarity and energy levels.
Remember that it's normal to feel anxious; most people would in your circumstances. Your drive to complete on time and rejoice with your friends demonstrates remarkable perseverance. Even if things are really rough, seeking out for help does not imply that you are failing; it simply indicates that you are strong enough to seek the assistance you require. You're doing an excellent job, and I am confident you can get through this. One step at a time, you'll be enjoying your accomplishments this summer!
Best wishes and keep moving forward!
I hope this is helpful.
Kind regards,
Mrunali Kalbhor,
University of Sunderland Student ambassador

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