Uni Troubles

[Stuliasz]

Right I've gotten myself into quite a situation. Basically I'm a computer science student at Sheffield uni. First year I really struggled to adapt and as a consequence failed the year. Second time round I passed albeit with a few retakes, but struggled to find the motivation to put in the effort required to do well.

So last September I started the second year and really had bad motivational issues, getting to the point where I was missing lecture after lecture and wanting to quit the course after convincing myself I didn't find any of it interesting. This caused me to have an emergency meeting with my tutor who said I should either quit or "forget I didn't find it interesting and carry on" with him setting me some short term goals.

I decided to carry on and it only took a few days after the meeting where I lost motivation again and this carried until Christmas, which was the first time I was able to stop and think about it properly. Consequently my exams after Christmas were a complete disaster, with me only passing one out of the five. This meant that five out of the six modules in the first semester were fails, including two primarily coursework modules where it is difficult to retake.

Now this semester, from somewhere I have regained motivation and am feeling more willing to put in 100% than at any point throughout the course. So as a result I am really enjoying the work so far this term, and I e-mailed my tutor to ask about the possibility of retaking the coursework as soon as possible as I already knew I had failed it. He returned an e-mail to me where the tone of it worried me. He basically had a go at me for not e-mailing him back an assignment a week after our last meeting towards the end of last semester (one of the short term goals) and said that he does not think i deserve extraordinary circumstances in redoing the coursework now and that he wants to meet with me this week to discuss the current state of affairs.

What is worrying the hell out of me is that he could recommend that I quit the course which I desperately don't want to do as I know I could turn it around the way I'm feeling about the course now. I have even started revising already for the exams that I know I failed ready for the retakes in the summer. So what can I say during the meeting or do (I know they say actions speak louder than words) to convince him that I am worth keeping on? Any other advice about this would be gratefully received.

P.S. Please no snide comments about lazy students etc, only looking for helpful advice

[Shum]

If you really want to do it mate, then your tutor will realise that when you go to see them. Just be open with them, and say it how it is.

The one thing I realised about being at uni compared to college is that dealing with tutors is a more 'adult' thing than speaking to a tutor at college.

On another note, if you start losing the motivation again, get out of it ASAP and spare yourself the debt. I'm just about on an even keel 2 and a half years after graduating!

Either way matey, good luck

[The People's Hero]

As Shum has already advised, I feel that if you really want to do it then that will come across in your interview.

My tutors helped me a little when going through some difficult circumstances.

Anyway, best of luck with it all mate!

[Steven]

All I would say is that it is all part of growing up. I too lost my motivation although it was just before Christmas in my final year and nowhere as bad as it sounds you have. I have also lost my motivation in the contract I have even though I probably have another five months to go.

There are times when no matter what your state of mind is you have to get through certain situations even though you have no desire or energy to do so.

My advice is to go back to your tutor and a student counsellor if you have one and be honest about your situation and accept the fact that the tutor may have the hump with you for not being previously fully honest about your state of mind and not handing in work.

If you want to complete the course then commit to it and don't prevaricate otherwise do yourself a favour and don't waste your time and that of others.

My final comment is try to complete the course and get a 2.2 if possible as you will find in life it can make situations open up to you that will not if you do not get a Degree. Finally finally remember you can always come back to studying at a later date but if you take that route you must commit to studying at a later date and don't be seduced by the notion of work.

Good luck.

[Collymore]

Jesus mate, very common what you're experiencing. I'm in my final year (computing) and started the year off really well but it's recently gone all down hill and now I just can't be arsed to do anything.

One of my mates is in exactly the same position as you and his tutor has recommended counseling but he's reluctant to go. If he doesn't go then he will fail no doubt - Do you feel depressed? Or is there another reason outside uni that has caused this? If there is then I’m sure your uni will help you out.

If (like me and many others) you have realised that computers are boring as fcuk and it's nothing to do with what you will do when you're older (java) then I would recommend seriously considering changing course - because you don't want to be going into your final year unmotivated, trust me.

[The People's Hero]

I never had any motivation at all, just never considered giving up as it's not easy to fail a history module. It's shocking to admit but I just coasted to a 2:1, not something I'm particularly proud of.

Sounds like you're on a course where you really need to be in your lectures and working hard mate... stick at it, the satisfaction at the end will be phenomenal if you can complete this now.

All the best.

[Stuliasz]

Thanks for all the advice people, looking back I think I was suffering from mild depression and it took a period of being back at home to sort this out.

But as I say, I'm feeling amazingly committed to completing the course and I'm going to try and lay it down to him how I plan on completing the course and that I would like full support from him and that if I let him down again, then I know I'm probably a gonner.

[The People's Hero]

Well, as we've all said mate... good luck with it. Sounds like you're extremely determined and motivated at the moment and if you can keep that up and churn out some decent assignments...

Well you've heard it all before.. best of luck with it though mate.

[Steven]

I never had any motivation at all, just never considered giving up as it's not easy to fail a history module. It's shocking to admit but I just coasted to a 2:1, not something I'm particularly proud of.

Sounds like you're on a course where you really need to be in your lectures and working hard mate... stick at it, the satisfaction at the end will be phenomenal if you can complete this now.

All the best.

The ones that get Firsts are bright and well motivated. 2.1s are got by those that are either bright or motivated. Sadly I was/am bright but suffered like others with motivation in the last year. <_<

[The People's Hero]

The ones that get Firsts are bright and well motivated. 2.1s are got by those that are either bright or motivated. Sadly I was/am bright but suffered like others with motivation in the last year. <_<

Some of my mates worked their socks off for 2/1s 2/2s in subjects like physics etc whilst if I'd put in even a decent amount of effort, I'd have got a 1st in history. I feel for those who really do work hard and still don't get the grades - some of the physics stuff they were doing looked so hard, whilst most of you on here could get a 2/2 at least and probably a 2/1 in my history modules with very little bother, and you wouldn't even have chosen the subject like I did!