If you’ve just started your first year of uni and you’re already feeling like it’s all a bit too much, you’re certainly not alone. Adapting to university after high school is really tough. You might not know anyone in your classes, your learning is much more independent than it was at school, and the concepts are a fair bit harder too.
I remember during my first few classes, I felt that very specific, deep sense of dread that sometimes comes when you put on the wrong shirt in the morning. And within a few weeks, I was ready to drop out and try my hand at a trade. I’m glad I didn’t, because I wouldn’t have lasted two weeks of physical labour, but I truly was not vibing with uni.
You Don't Know Many People
To start with, the feeling of loneliness can hit pretty hard at uni. I was really lucky and had a friend from high school doing the same degree as me. But in the classes she wasn’t in, the loneliness of not knowing anyone in that room was pretty intense. If I could start all over, I would have looked for other people who seemed like they were in the same boat and found a way to start up a convo. Talking about your uni work is a safe place to start because that’s one thing you both have in common. Then from there, who knows? Maybe you will have just found your new bff.
You Have To Adjust To The Workload
Also, school does not prepare you for uni at all. You pretty much have to learn a whole new style of writing for uni essays. The structure varies, the tone is different, and you have to back up your points with peer-reviewed sources (which is a whole new thing entirely). This is one of the most intimidating learning curves when you first start at uni because your tutors and lecturers kind of skip over the whole essay structure thing as if it’s assumed knowledge. Thankfully, they’re actually pretty lenient with marking while first-year students are getting the hang of things. As long as they can tell you’re making an effort to write using uni guidelines and you’re making good points, you should be sweet.
You're In Charge Of Your Own Learning
Another massive change you’ll notice early on at uni is that you’re kind of on your own when it comes to learning. Instead of your teacher telling you everything you need to know for exams, it’s on you to look through academic sources to find evidence that you can use in your essays. Plus, aside from a small percentage of your marks that are dedicated to in-class participation and attendance, there’s nothing stopping you from not turning up to any of your classes. Obviously, that isn’t a good idea because you’re going to miss all the important info you’ll need for exams and assignments (and your future career). But the point is that you have to want to learn if you’re going to do well at uni.
Luckily, after you get your first year out of the way, you’ll be studying subjects that are more practical and relevant to your career. I also found that part of the reason I hated uni so much at first was because of the part-time job I was working. Once I quit and found a job that I really liked, being a uni student wasn’t so bad after all. I always felt like I was working towards something, and I had plenty of breaks from studying and time off during the week to catch up with friends and work on passion projects.
But if you’ve already decided that uni just ain’t it (which is absolutely so fine), there are so many great things you can do instead. One option is to take a gap year. Travel, work, or do both to give your mind a break from studying. This will also give you some time to decide whether you want to go back to uni, change courses, or try something different altogether!
Or, you could take this time to channel into your passions. Whether you’re artistic, musical, culinarily inclined, or athletic, take the opportunity to work on passion projects and do things you really enjoy.
Whether you decide to stick your course out, try a new degree, or take a different career pathway, it’s always a good idea to defer from your course, rather than dropping out altogether. This will give you a solid six months to weigh up your options, while still having the chance to jump straight back into your course if you do decide to go back. It genuinely is a consequence-free option, so don’t hesitate to take a little break if that’s what you feel like you need at the moment!
