No more extensions

top_drawer_2

hi,

I hoping for some advice.

I did a third year last year and due to illness all my exams and work were deferred. This past year has been hell and I havent managed to get much done on paper. Today was my hand in date for my dissertation and its simply not anywhere near complete. I have spoke to my dept and the mental health advisor here at the uni and they say its the end of the line, they cant offer me any more extensions etc.

The mental health advisor talked about intercaluating and the student advisor lady talked about coming back in attendance this next academic year and doing the year again.

I dont know what advice I am looking for but does anyone have any expertise in the area?

I cant express how dreadful I feel at the moment - just sick of life and sick of being like this.

Thanks

Voyager2002

You have done the best thing you could have done, which is talk to the advisers who are there to help you. No-one on this board will know your particular university as well as they do, so the best thing to do is to follow their advice.

If the university allows you to intercalate and repeat the year, that would probably be the best solution. But first you need to make sure that you are well, so that the same thing does not happen all over again.

Of course, many people lead satisfying and useful lives without completing a university degree. So even if you do not return to study, that will not mean the end of the world. Coping with failure is an important part of everyone's personal development.

top_drawer_2

hi,

Im sure someone said once on another thread that there is no deadline for completion....

melancholly

top_drawer wrote: »

hi,

Im sure someone said once on another thread that there is no deadline for completion....

this really will be specific to your instituion - for that kind of advice you're already speaking to the right people. i agree with blacksheep on the whole, but if you don't complete your degree i think 'failure' isn't the right term. if you've had a really tough time then perhaps a full time course hasn't been realistic to cope with - there's nothing wrong with that at all.

also, is re-doing the year a 'good' option for you? will things be better for you - at least enough to make it through and pass? would a few years out be better or make it worse?

i'm also not sure of the situation with LEA contributions to fees - someone else will know whether they will contribute 4 years max. that may be an important factor.

just don't panic over it - you sound really stressed which won't help at all (and i know you can't magically de-stress but know that you're speaking to the right people and something will be sorted out). hugs

cardiffforthefacup

Hi
hope you don't mind some other input but it sounds like you may have some form of depression, in which case if you haven't already done so, go and see your doctor for help and anti-depressants if need be, as these will help you feel well enough if you want to repeat the third year. Do not struggle and hope to get by without the extra help of others, as you will probably do the same thing and be at this point again next year, but without the option of then completing your degree successfully. There is usually a time limit on the courses now, mine being completion within 6 years. I know what I am talking about as I have been in your position myself albeit not in the third year. You have obviously been doing a considerable amount of reflection which is sometimes necessary in life and it can also interfere with day to day issues and make you wonder if it is all worthwhile. You need to take little steps each day and reward yourself for even doing something menial as long as you complete one task it will make you feel better, you can build this up over time, as things improve. I expect you are having a confidence crisis at the moment and suffer from low self esteem, along with exhaustion and lack of concentration, I would not surprised therefore that you have been unable to focus on your work. It doesn't make you a failure to be ill, you will only fail if you stop trying, sometimes it takes a little longer to get to where you want to go. The experiences you go through and how you deal with them are what make you as a person. Think carefully about going back for a third year, it might be the best option as you can start afresh in Sep/Oct after a break to collect your thoughts. You would probably get funding if you have proof from your doctor that you had to suspend your studies through ill health. Also if it is mental and not physical ill health try to do some exercise each day even if it is a walk to the corner shop and back, it will make you feel as if you have achieved something and it is something else to focus on instead of how much of a mess you feel you are making and how useless you might think you are etc etc (that was a regular thought form of mine, anyway). Don't suffer on your own get the help if it is offered, some of the best people in this life are the deep thinkers, do what is best for YOU not for what others want of you or what they expect you to do or be. YOU are the most important person in your life, make the decision that will make YOU happy.

bestpud

There is a deadline for completion of a degree - not sure what it is though, sorry.

If you have exhausted all of your extension options then you really have two choices and there is little point stressing yourself with other options.

You can either leave uni altogether, but don't consider it a failure. Failure (imo at least) is attending but not having the intelligence to pass, or not bothering at all. It is not dropping out through illness.

OR you can intercalate and take stock of your situation before going back a years time. Trouble is, you will need to support yourself in between and I know you are having trouble working at the moment too.

Personally, I intercalated when things got too much for me and it was the best thing I could have done. I still have last semesters assignments to do but I feel so much better for taking the time out and giving myself the space to sort my personal issues out.

I guess, if you intercalate, it doesn't hold you to going back, so you can decide later - keep your options wide open iyswim?

I think right now, you just need to accept you are not going to graduate this year and take it from there. Maybe it will be easier once you can 'let go' of your course for now?

How did you get on with your IB claim?

olibrofiz

Hiya. Couple of things spring to mind.

Firstly it's probably not a good idea to do nothing. If you don't hand in any work you'll go through the exam boards as a 'fail' and things will be a bit more complicated if you want to successfully finish your degree.

One option would be to apply for mit circs and request a repeat year. If your uni grant this then request to suspend (intercalate) so that you'd be going back in Sept/Oct 2009, this will give you a bit of breathing space.

Another option, depending how 'cutting edge' your course is, would be to withdraw from the course completely and in a couple of years apply as a direct entrant onto the third year of the course, either where you are now, or at another institution. This option would take off the pressure of 'being a student'.

You'll also need to talk to your LEA about funding.

Also, as far as I know, a full time student has 6 years to complete a degree in, 9 years for part time

andyrules

Hi
I can see how deeply entrenched in all this you are and although can't tell you what to do I can tell you how I managed my situation.

I did my degree as a mature student and struggled through year 2 with a then undiagnosed illness. After diagnosis, I agreed with college to miss a year, returning the following September. I used the year to research my dissertation so i only had to write it up in my final year. When I returned, I was granted extensions if needed, but kept very close contact and written evidence over these.

My illness was physical and therefore possibly easier to treat than yours (if I'm reading correctly), however, was still undergoing treatment and had a huge impact on simply getting through that year. I ticked off each completed assignment and exam, and in some way that helped enormously to see the 'light at the end of the tunnel'.

Without going into detail, the whole period around making the decision to miss the year and return later was a nightmare, but once I had agreed a way forward with the college I felt so much better and was able to start focusing on getting well and gathering in research.

Finally, should you decide to leave - remember you don't have to have a degree (despite what some say) and not all people with degrees actually use them!

Take care of your health first and foremost.