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whats uni like?

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  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Even though I'm only 21 I lead a uni life like a "mature student." (When I think of mature student, I think of 30+ full time worker and family going back to school, not, hey I'm 20 and going to school.)

    This is my third time at, what you would consider, university.

    My first time was when I was 16. I took university courses while I was still in highschool. I earned my associates degree before I earned my high school diploma. It was purely school. I went to class and I went home. I made zero friends and I talked to zero people. I went for nothing more than an education.

    My second time was right after I graduated highschool. A typical time to enter "university." I went to a school in the next state over and lived in the dorms, or "halls." It was the worst experience of my life. I was not emotionally ready for it. I had spent the last 10 years of my life in a complete funk. I was depressed, I suffered extreme social anxiety and everything came 10 fold when I went away. I was only there a month and went to less than a handfull of classes. I couldn't leave my room. I couldn't talk to my roommate. I couldn't sleep and I couldn't eat. In one month I lost 20lbs. It was absolute hell. I was 18 and I was not ready. I made no better choice in my life than the choice to quit school. (I say this because of Stargalaxy's recent thread about dropping out. People were so rude to him saying such crap to him when I could understand. Dropping out is not a sign of failure or weakness. It's about doing whats best for you at the time.)

    I didn't go back home for a long time. I went back to my parents for a couple of months then moved 2 states away with a friend. We led different lives, drug and alcohol filled 7 days a week. After a couple years I changed.

    Now, at 21, I'm back at school. I applied, started, and am going for the soul puropse of an education. I never planned on doing it to make friends or to lengthen my social circle. Except for the boyfriend, I have zero friends. I live with the man, in our own house. I do not or will not join any societies or seek out any parties or any of the social crap I read about here. I go for education. I'm taking 2 classes and paying 4 grand for those 2 classes. I'm not screwing it up. I'm mentally stable this time around. I can do it.

    Having said that, I know for fact I am now stable enough for school. I've talked to people. My first time, I went because I knew if I didn't, I would have no post secondary education, and not even a high school diploma. Without that, you work at McDonalds FOREVER. I can now do it. I've gone to school. I've even taken hundreds of thousands of dollars of therapy's knowledge with me. I havn't made friends and I'm skeptical and I don't think I will, but I have talked to people. I've said hi. I've asked about the class we're in what their major is and other classes. That, right there, is the greatest accomplishment of my life... until I graduate.

    However, I *need* to work full time. I cannot afford not to. I do have "student loans." Those loans work like this, I apply, they accept, the money goes directly from the bank to the school. I do not see one cent of that money. I cannot buy one shot from student loans. I cannot buy a pair of shoes from student loans. Any money I have is money that I have earned, any money that is loaned to me goes directly to the school. I cannot go party on "student loans." I have realized my own limits and I know I cannot go to school more than 2 at a time. My two years left at a bachelor degree with take me 4-5 years and my 3 years of law school will take me 6-7. I won't have what I want for at least a decade and then some. But its a start.

    To me, going to uni is getting an education, and just that. It's not about making friend; it's not about going to parties and meeting people. My uni experience is about getting a job. It is getting where I want to go in life. Nothing more.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i have heard that many jobs dont need a degree in anything specfic, they just want a degree - maybe of a specific level. talk to your careers advisor - you dont need a specific job in mind, just do a subject you like, are good at and could imagine yourself doing for the rest of your life. :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Whats uni like? Overrated! Perhaps thats because i didn't move out to the halls, but i never saw a single party.

    The work on my undergraduate was pretty easy tbh, the pressure wasn't too bad and i had plenty of time off to complete it. For the most part of my BA (hons) i'd be at uni for maybe 1 1/2 days a week.

    Now the post grad (PGCE) was totally different, the work was so much harder, i was either in college or out on teaching practice every single day. There was a lot of pressure on me and most days i'd have maybe an hour free time.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    It can be stressful but fun, i didnt go to halls so i kind of missed out making friends that way. But make sure you make the most of the 1st year fun because 2nd year is never as much fun.

    just try and remember why your there but also make the most of the time because it goes dead fast.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Class, lots of partying and meeting new people.

    Work? I don't wanna sound big headed but I find it very easy, well 1st year anyway. Nothing too complex, and it's not like I'm doing a Mickey Mouse degree or anything.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    what ya doing?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Yerascrote wrote:
    Class, lots of partying and meeting new people.

    Work? I don't wanna sound big headed but I find it very easy, well 1st year anyway. Nothing too complex, and it's not like I'm doing a Mickey Mouse degree or anything.

    not being rude but aren't you repeating your first year again?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    well I hear stories like its real easy to pull
    pranks
    parties every night
    scavanger hunts

    stuff like that

    Well i've been here for like 4 weeks now. Had an awesome time and met some really cool people who i can see being life long friends already.

    The first couple of weeks were the most manic, pretty much partying and drinking every night .. cost alot though. Havent really been many pranks going around though.

    The easy to pull thing that everyone goes on about .. well its not really been like that here, i've just been interested in making some new friends. Everyones been dead friendly and you can pretty much chat to anyone.

    But now things are calming down, there are still parties going on but alot of people are starting to get tied down with work and moneys an issue now. But still doesnt stop us from having a good time, either if we just go to the student pub or just play some footy or just watch dvds all night.

    Uni life rocks!!

    Can't really be assed to think of anything else, just say what else ...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Uni is wicked!
    The parties and stuff do happen quite a lot but tbh if you're not the sort of person who goes to them now don't expect things to be any different really.
    The level of work expected from you raises quite a big jump but its still manageable if you have the brain cells to take it all in.
    Double lectures are a bit of a ball ache but if you get a decent person taking them they can still be interesting.

    Have a think about what you would like to do in the future when picking your course and then take one that will help you reach that goal.

    This is a video of the 1st night of freshers week in my student union bar, good! But pretty much like any other club tbh, as you can see:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk_u3iHC3Es
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    the counterside of uni?

    I am sitting here looking for definitions of various fields of mathematics on the internet, because I cannot solve my mathematic arithmetics. I have to finish 10 examples (at least 7) for thursday and my head is fuming already. I have a notepad, pages full of doodled theories how I gonna solve this and that example with different ways/styles. I am "wasting" my time with that, since I hardly manage to solve a math issue, and cannot learn Lab-technology which I have an exam about on friday.

    I compare the handwriting from the lectures (and it's correct!) with the corresponding math issue I have to calculate and it's not coherent for me.

    Moreoever do I have to work out a presentation in another math lecture for next wednesday and my project-members are waiting for my part so they can study it. It's already half past 11 and I have to get up tomorrow at 6:30.

    Tomorrow I am in uni until 5 or so and then I have to buy certain things I will need for lab. When I come home at evening, tired, I can do maths, lab-technology, introduction to chemistry and the math presentation, probably won't finish anything and it's another day closer to exam/group presentation/the day where my math calculations are due.

    If I went to uni for the sole purpose of pulling and partying I'd left already last week.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    not being rude but aren't you repeating your first year again?
    lol thats what i thought.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Work hard - play hard.

    Thats what uni is all about tbh. My advice to anyone who is going to uni is to enjoy the first year whilst you've got it as its all downhill from then in my opinion.

    I'm studying Law and believe me, it aint all fun and games. There is a hell of alot of work involved in my degree and its not easy. Infact, I just want to get my final year over and done with. I've had enough of it. Its actually beginning to drive me insane.

    However, the social side of things is great. I've made lots of friends since I've come to uni although saying that, alot of them I've made through jobs I've had along the way. Theres a great nightlife to enjoy if you know people who go out alot and theres alot to do in your spare time.

    Uni is great if you are cut out for it tbh.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    not being rude but aren't you repeating your first year again?

    Yes, I didn't go to class or do the assessed essays haha. Who gives a fuck, extra year of partying is what I say! :thumb:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Surely that would explain why it's a dos then?!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Surely that would explain why it's a dos then?!

    Not really, I didn't go to class last year or do any revision. This site has actually helped me a lot because many of my topics are related to discussions on the Politics board.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Im realy hungry!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    go eat then!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    go eat then!
    clap clap. i can't move im so under-nourished.
    I saw you the other day buying pizzas and then immediatley throwing them in the bin just to annoy me...you swine!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    im a baaaaaaaaaad boy! :p
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I adore my Uni, my course and everything about it. Sad to be in my final year.

    The only thing I don't like is that Bristol is waaaayy to hilly for my liking. Apart from that, it's the best city in the UK.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    You pretty much get out what you put into it. Yes it's possible to be successful without going to uni, and it's possible to get a degree and not end up any better off that those without one. But on average, graduates have more opportunities than none graduates, so if you think you're capable and are willing to put the effort in, then there's no reason not to. And I don't know of anyone actually missing an opportunity because they went to uni instead of getting a job out of college.

    As for the work, most people's timetables will be quite empty. So managing your own time is really important. It's also important not to believe the stereotype of staying in bed 'til midday everyday, watching daytime TV, then going out. Okay, there's the odd day when you will do that, or you will say "fuck this, I'm getting pissed" but for most students, most of the time, work comes before pleasure.

    Depending on your current living situation, it might also be a bit of an adjustment to do your own cleaning, laundry, shopping and things like that. And since you're most likely going to be essentially living in your bedroom, it's important to keep it clean.

    And from a social perspective, I think uni is exaggerated. It is much easier to make friends, mainly because you're gonna be meeting about 100 new people in a few months. But like anywhere else, you've got to put the effort in to socialise with new people, they won't just all come knocking on your door all the time. If you have problems talking to new people, uni will probably make it easier, but it won't solve all of your problems for you. As for pulling, I'd say that if you're okay at pulling in the first place, it becomes a bit easier, mainly because it's easier to talk to new people, because you've got obvious openers, and everyone's going to be pretty friendly. But if you don't approach new people then no-one's going to just jump in your bed (well not that many people anyway). As for meeting someone a bit more special, again it's more likely to happen if you make the effort to socialise, purely because you'll never find a place where you'll meet so many new people in such a short space of time.

    But the important thing to remember about uni is "don't believe the stereotypes." Uni has a greater variety of people than anywhere else I can think of, and so there are plenty of people who don't conform to 'student' behaviour. It's just that it's the students that do get pissed up make the most noise and come to the attention of the general public most. It means that if you are into things other than getting pissed, you are almost certain to find people with similar interests.
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