The University Thread, AKA The Virtual Blend Student Union Options

[JamesK]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/offTopic.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I'm James. No cookies for guessing. I'm a first year physics student and I'm loving it, apart from the amount of homework, which a lot more than A levels, and GCSEs (or for the 'mature' members: O-Levels (IMG:style_emoticons/default/muahaha.gif) )

Oh well, music saves me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

[Floss]

"the best years of one's life"

I strongly dislike that statement, I think it's got a lot to answer for! Everyone has a different experience - I hope I have better times in my life than the last 2 years! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Probably fill supermarket shelves or pull pints like so many graduates.

Are you being comforted by this thread, btw? because I don't think I would be! It's full of people with more degrees than you could shake a stick at, and the message seems to be "stress?! Wait 'til you're on your 3rd PhD!" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

How lovely (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) You get this all the way through eduction - "GSCEs?! Nothing compared to A levels, get over yourself!" "A levels?! Wait til you're doing a degree! *Then* you'll know what stress is!" "Undergraduate? Just you wait...." The best way I find is just to take it with a pinch of salt and hope that people with more experience, instead of telling you to just grin and bear it might actually give you some advice on how to cope. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Granted, but also at the same time I have uncontrolled seizures and can't sleep a lot because my form of epilepsy along with the medication.

Things like this are also another reason why I wanted to start a support thread - I find that in 'real life' it's hard to find anyone who isn't just a 'normal' student! Whereas here the chances are that someone will also have encountered serious health issues while at university.

I have a meeting with my elusive dissertation supervisor in the morning - over halfway through term and I've only just managed to pin her down. Trying not to stress over it though... still got plenty of time in the grand scheme of things! She only gave me a few days notice to write a research proposal though, so here's hoping my couple of pages of non-sensical (to anyone but me!) notes will suffice for now!

[heslop01]

It's a good idea yes Floss - to help each other as much as we all can!

I've got a day off from classes tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get some work on my research on epilepsy and music done - yeah ... thought I might as well use my medical illness for my creative sound module (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Basically, i'm going to research into epilepsy and music and to use mathematical equations to create music through a computer programme that hopefully results in releasing a sound that is relaxing to patients who suffer epilepsy and can be used to lower their numbers in seizures. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


I've also got to research into music from around the world for my music into performance module, as for that I have to prepare a 30 minute seminar to my classmates - which i'm kind of looking forward to (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

[mel2]

It's a good idea yes Floss - to help each other as much as we all can!

I've got a day off from classes tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get some work on my research on epilepsy and music done - yeah ... thought I might as well use my medical illness for my creative sound module (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I hope you didn't think I was being cynical; I think a university 'support' thread is an excellent idea, I was just a bit cross that it was turning into a boast-fest for all those who have umpteen letters after their name (or even before their name).
I mention the shelf-filling and pint-pulling because that is what my own graduate children are doing; also have very close-to-hand experience of a family member with epileptic seizures. Not easy for you.
Hope the thread helps all the stressed-out students out there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[allegretto]

I've not read anyone's post as boasting - I think it's useful to hear about people's experiences at different stages of the student journey, whether it's 'just started' or 'been doing it for years'.

Heslop, your project sounds really interesting.

Much as I'm loving my course, I'm feeling hugely lacking in energy at the moment - made a start on my next assignment last night and felt that I had very little to show at the end of two and a half hours (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mellow.gif) Trying to keep the end of degree in sight - it's been a long time coming!

[Dugazon]

I hope you didn't think I was being cynical; I think a university 'support' thread is an excellent idea, I was just a bit cross that it was turning into a boast-fest for all those who have umpteen letters after their name (or even before their name).

Why so bitter and negative? I think you're being a bit unfair. I don't think anyone was boasting, and the 3rd degree can be as stressful as the first. You will maybe be more experienced and more used to the whole situation of studying, but you might have other problems to juggle now: Job alongside, family, whatever. What's wrong with still wanting to learn and keeping your skills up-to-date? Writing about what you already did is not boasting, it's about introducing yourself so other people know your background.

However, if this is only a thread for first-time students, I'll gladly bow out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[mel2]

However, if this is only a thread for first-time students, I'll gladly bow out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

I did not suggest it was for first-time students. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
But it was in the process of being hi-jacked by reminiscences of ex-students!

* also bows out because this is wandering (IMG:style_emoticons/default/offTopic.gif) *

[jod]

Don't bow out Dugazon, surely University is as much about post-graduate education as it is about undergraduate education. The problems may be different, but there still are difficulties.

My problem with foreign languages (I'm not bi-lingual, but have good French and German skills) is that as neither French or German is a first language, and neither was started really early although I'll mainly be thinking in one a word from the other will come into my head and can I get the correct word in the correct language to replace it - no! Given if I do any post-graduate study I will almost certainly need to translate papers, I really could do with getting this glitch out of the system first!

Undergrads may have tuition fees, and 1st time away from home, submission deadlines, and a whole load of growing-pains to deal with, however unlike post grads at least funding is on a more stable footing aka you will get a student loan. Anyone who wants a Post-grad place not only has to convince the establishment they are good enough, but then they have to find the funds themselves. No student loan company to get living expenses from, no tuition fee scheme, you go out and grab the money from one studentship pot or another.

Then there is the problem is your project viable? You might only find this out six months down the line. There is far less support. Sure you meet with your supervisor, but largely it is your work, and you are responsible for it.

[Dugazon]

However, if this is only a thread for first-time students, I'll gladly bow out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

I did not suggest it was for first-time students. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
But it was in the process of being hi-jacked by reminiscences of ex-students!

Threads do wander off topic occasionally. It happens, that's the beauty (or not) of human communication, on- and offline. As long as we get our Billy Connolly moment to bring us back on track, we'll be fine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

And for that reason: It's true what jod says about the postgraduate funding. It's a reason for me to think about it very hard, and to actually feel a bit anxious about it.

Did anyone do the A870?

[heslop01]

I hope you didn't think I was being cynical; I think a university 'support' thread is an excellent idea, I was just a bit cross that it was turning into a boast-fest for all those who have umpteen letters after their name (or even before their name).
I mention the shelf-filling and pint-pulling because that is what my own graduate children are doing; also have very close-to-hand experience of a family member with epileptic seizures. Not easy for you.
Hope the thread helps all the stressed-out students out there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I myself know that I've got that fire feeling inside of me that once I've done my degree I'm not going to just sit back and 'pull pints' for people, i'm going to put myself into the music industry and find that job I want or go to someone and tell that person "I've translated a musical from English into ...., what do you think of it, do you think it's viable to be put on stage in ....? " (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Edit: As for fun and to keep my languages for practice: I've already started translating musicals, for example Wicked into Spanish, Portuguese and French. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[mrbouffant]

Hello. I am mrb. I am currently studying for a BA and an MSc. I have a 6500 word essay due soon for the MSc and instead of doing it I am surfing the net and eating Strawberry Cheesecake Haagen Daas ice cream instead. How do other students deal with getting distracted so easily?

I will never manage to do a PhD because I can't believe that [a] I am clever enough and [b] I can sustain interest in a subject for 6 years.

If I ever win the lottery I would love to enrol at RAM and do a fulltime BMus and learn how to be a proper musician. Not sure they would have me, mind.

[Floss]

I could really use someone to help me plan out the best use of my time over the next 4 weeks - I simply seem to have far too much to fit into the available time! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[Pixie*Porsche]

Floss - give me a PM if you want any help - I'm used to fitting lots of different things into one day (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Above all - You CAN do it! Positive thoughts (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Floss]

Thank you, I'm trying to be positive!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[jod]

Hello. I am mrb. I am currently studying for a BA and an MSc. I have a 6500 word essay due soon for the MSc and instead of doing it I am surfing the net and eating Strawberry Cheesecake Haagen Daas ice cream instead. How do other students deal with getting distracted so easily?

I will never manage to do a PhD because I can't believe that [a] I am clever enough and [b] I can sustain interest in a subject for 6 years.

If I ever win the lottery I would love to enrol at RAM and do a fulltime BMus and learn how to be a proper musician. Not sure they would have me, mind.

Very droll.


Oh and Heslop, you nearly got my foreign languages sweetie, they are French German, Italian and Portuguese. I just haven't the heart to tell the Portuguese who think I've been studying for years dahrling it has all been done in three weeks battling away on holiday with a phrase book.

Maybe I ought to try and get another Bachelors degree, but I don't want to get found out copying my essays off google whilst out on the lash every night.

Hmm, back on topic... well this is meant to be the Virtual Student's Union, and in the Union, I spent most of my time downing Tea and Pints when I was meant to be working.

I would dearly love to do my PhD, but then my esteemed colleague MrB reminded me how easy it is to be distracted. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

However Dugazon, given the treatment you had earlier from those who have yet to graduate, in all seriousness, I wish you all success in your further studies.

Just because I graduated in 1991, does not mean I have lost all empathy with those who are studying now. Neither does it mean I have had a sense of humour by-pass.