The University Thread, AKA The Virtual Blend Student Union Options

[allegretto]

Hello, I'm Allegretto and I'm an eternal student and work at a University (doing admin stuff).

I got an HND in music quite a few years ago after school, and since then have done an assortment of OU courses and one 2nd year at a real life Uni - mixture of Philosophy, English, and a bit of Psychology. I'm currently on my final Level 3 course with the OU (E301) and should, fingers crossed, be able to tie it all together into a BA Humanities with Philosophy next year. I'm looking at doing a Masters after that - probably won't have the option to give up work so it's likely to be with the OU as well although I am looking into some other options for part-time/ distance learning. I do miss the 'proper' Uni experience a bit though.

[Seer_Green]

I'm currently on my final Level 3 course with the OU (E301)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) This was the best OU course I did by miles - absolutely fantastic tutor too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[allegretto]

I'm currently on my final Level 3 course with the OU (E301)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) This was the best OU course I did by miles - absolutely fantastic tutor too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I'm really enjoying it so far, and seem to have a great tutor too. Got my best ever OU mark for my first essay which was a nice start! (just need to get on with the second one now...) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[freda_bloogs]

Hello, my name's Freda_bloogs and I'm an alcoh- student.

My first degree is a BA in French Studies which I followed up with an MSc in Linguistics and Neuroscience. I'm currently on my gap yah in an attempt to get motivated again and decide what it is that I want to do with my life. I have been away from academic work for a good 6 months now, if we don't count the dissertation, and I'm already itching to get back. The thought of working in wine for the rest of my life does genuinely scare me. I think it would kill me.

Those who have looked in the PhD thread will know that I'm just putting the finishing touches to the 2nd draft of my research proposal. I'm hoping to look at L1 language attrition in late bilinguals. But I hold out little hope for getting funding is about as likely as the 2nd coming. (I'm a 6.9 on the Dawkins scale! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ) When I'm not selling drugs to rich people, I work part time at the Ecole Normale Sup?rieure in their cognitive science department as a research assistant. I just can't let go.

Sigh.

[BerkshireMum]

An article someone recently showed me that I think every student should read...

I don't think depressive illness is the prerogative of students - anyone can suffer from it. The bit about finding someone to talk to if/when you feel like this is good advice though.

[freda_bloogs]

An article someone recently showed me that I think every student should read...

I don't think depressive illness is the prerogative of students - anyone can suffer from it. The bit about finding someone to talk to if/when you feel like this is good advice though.

Yes I agree. And it's not just in the high-flying institutions like Harvard or Oxbridge where this can happen, it can be anywhere.

[lilly763]

An article someone recently showed me that I think every student should read...

I don't think depressive illness is the prerogative of students - anyone can suffer from it. The bit about finding someone to talk to if/when you feel like this is good advice though.

No, obviously not. But at least in my acquaintance, an extremely disproportionate number people started having mental health issues after starting university. Living away from family and long-term friends from school, getting used to a new environment/culture, having to take care of oneself, having a much less "structured" schedule, and greater workload and expectations are all issues that can be difficult to adjust to when starting college. The community is larger than what most people have experienced before and it is often correspondingly easier to feel lost and lonely. Furthermore, there's a certain pressure that time at university is supposed to be "the best years of one's life", with more independence than childhood and less responsibility than adulthood, so people tend to feel guilty about not being happy and try to ignore the problem. There's also a culture which makes everyone feel as though in order to use their time to the fullest, they have to be constantly stressed and tired, and that the "ideal" student should be taking 12 classes/managing 17 different student associations/sleeping once every 3 weeks, which nobody can really live up to. Not to mention that basic statistics dictates that not every student who was among the highest performers in their hometown can continue to be so when gathered with loads of others also used to being high performers...

[corenfa]

Universities like Harvard and Oxbridge also can attract certain personality types - driven, perfectionistic etc that can be prone to depression. I don't know of any studies that "prove" this but I'd be interested to read them.

I also would love to go back to university - thought about getting another Masters but can't really justify it. I miss the academic environment a lot. Also thought about a PhD in this programme or similar, but really could not justify spending five years in it even if I did get in.

[heslop01]

I'm Robbie, and I'm a final year undergraduate in Music and Drama BA(Hons).

Oh how time flies ... No idea what to do after my uni life ... provided I pass this year :/

[SkyT13]

Hello everyone! I'm currently doing a PhD - still have a few years left of being a student before entering the real world...

(And student discounts are great! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif))

[mel2]

I'm Robbie, and I'm a final year undergraduate in Music and Drama BA(Hons).

Oh how time flies ... No idea what to do after my uni life ... provided I pass this year :/

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)

[lilly763]

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)

[freda_bloogs]

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)

I don't think you're quite correct there, to be honest. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[Misti]

When I was in my second year, I nearly packed it all in and swapped subject. When in my third year I couldn't wait to go on placement and get out of uni. When in my fourth year, on placement, I loved my job, but hated my housemates, so couldn't wait to get back to uni and move back in with boyfriend+friends. When in my fifth and final year I contemplated doing a PhD, but found I actually couldn't make myself fill out the forms. Or talk to academics. Or face the thought of spending MORE time at uni.

So I got a job on a shiny graduate scheme, as I figured it couldn't hurt.

Now, I still work on a uni campus. Which is odd. While getting bombarded with corporate brainwashing. It sometimes feels like the worst of both worlds. But the job is fun, the people are nice, and the money is good.

The PhD still gets considered now and then.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ph34r.gif)

[corenfa]

I haven't been out of uni for so long that I can't remember my first job... I think of it now as "learning how not to get fired" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I think it was also good to find out what I didn't want to do, which was work in a big company. I've always thought that knowing what you don't want to do is as important as knowing what you want to do