struggling after a yr out

surfsister

have you been to your student support? the people there are great helping with problems. They can tell you if any help is available.
if you missed core assignments in yr 2 it may not be too late if you contact tutors immediately to explain why. Also they may agree to let you hand them in now so get on with them, don't forget any basic assignment handed in on time is better than none.

do you have any reason why you didn't go the work? if dislexic etc you may have more leniency but think you need to see the course leader to explain your point of view. they really don't want to lose students.

hope things improve

the_devil_made_me_do_it

Thanks for the replies. A week before returning to uni & I'm still unsure of whether I can face going back. For some reason, I'm so nervous & to top it off, my OH & I have suffered 2 bereavements over the new year which have taken great priority as they were close family who passed away.

frank_r

ill health? Mental or physical?

Uni is not the ideal place to battle with depression / anxiety and I suspect thats what you got. With uni your constantly under pressure. If your depressed and you think your not gettint thru it then here's my advice: Take another year out but this time dont sit around watchin dr phil and poppin tablets. Pack a suitcase and have an adventure. Travel around india perhaps. Study yoga or meditation and remind yourself that life is worth living. Get connected to the planets energy. If your feeling frightened everyday then forget about it. Uni will still be there when you regain your mojo. Age means nothing. Careerwise it makes no difference. People rise to their deserved level regardless of age. Start having fun. Come back reenergised and you will truly enjoy uni

Mankysteve

Someone's got a bit of hippy in them. But are also completely right.

It sounds to me that your academic problems don't steam from an inability to do work as your proved from getting into second year but from anxiety and fear. You need to either knuckle down and just push though get and get the work done, Prove to yourself that you can do it then you'll feel a hell of lot better when you get some decent results in. Or follow the above advice which is just as good as mine.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

If I decided to withdraw now after a yr and a half, then wanted to do another degree at a later date, would I get any student finance help (tuition fee loan/student loan)?

Oldernotwiser

the_devil_made_me_do_it wrote: »

If I decided to withdraw now after a yr and a half, then wanted to do another degree at a later date, would I get any student finance help (tuition fee loan/student loan)?

If you were to do this you would have to self fund for the first year of another degree.

sukysue

I think you need to ask further into that as you may not be able to get funding.

bitsandpieces

Have you spoken to your personal tutor and to student support yet, to let them know how you're feeling? If you're struggling, you need to let them know so they can see what support they can offer you.

It's incredibly common for students to face problems with anxiety etc. in the course of their degrees - and that's before you take into account bereavements etc. If you get appropriate support and still feel uni's not for you at this time, that's fair enough. It would be a real shame, though, if you dropped out without accessing the support that is available to you (this would have implications in terms of funding for any future degrees). If you passed the 1st year exams with so little work, you're clearly academically capable - it's just a matter of whether you can, and want to, get through the degree.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

I have spoken with my yr tutor, but he was more concerned with my lack of attendance. I never actually got the chance to disscuss my emotional issues.

I am going to make an appointment with the senior tutor a.s.a.p. The uni I attend have never been particularly supportive when it comes to problems of a mental health nature, I'm not sure they actually know how to deal with it. They just seem to be more concerned about students and how they perform. It is very "old school" and don't appear have time for those of us emotionally challenged people.

I will check with student finance too and inquire whether a note for the GP would support my case.

MrsManda

Just a quick note,
I think the advice to take another year out and do something else is a good one. At the very least it'll help build up your confidence - you could do an OU course to keep your hand in whilst doing other things to build your confidence.

In terms of finance I don't know the specifics but make sure you get as much medical evidence as you can as to why you need to take another year out - notes from GP, consultant, counsellor etc... if you have them can help a lot when trying to prove extenuating circumstances. Also make sure you fill out the proper paperwork with your university so you don't just disappear off.

*hugs* hope it works out for you