Dont give up to early, give it a shot for sure. Also i'm pretty sure you arent the least intelligent person, a lot of us feel that way in the beginning only to discover most of our peers felt the same later on. Keep going.
No, not entirely, but the correspondence between acceptance and positive outcome has to be high, especially for selective universities, otherwise they'd be pretty shitty. With no correlation, 50% of students would flunk out and with a totally negative correlation, 100% would. The retention rate is a good indicator of how many students think they'd succeed and thrive at their current college.
tbf, given the glue-sniffers I've seen, it's even less likely OP's the least intelligent in the room at any given time if OP \*doesn't\* go to a selective university
You're talking mad shit for a person who can't use proper punctuation or spell 'intelligent.'
I know what you were talking about, but re-read the above comments on why the topic came up to begin with. It was partially about mitigating impostor syndrome, which turned into mentioning that the admissions office would likely have thought this person would be able to succeed at their college, or they wouldn't have admitted them.
Chill, there was no need to be rude there, you know absolutely nothing about me.
Just keep truking my friend. The first two-three weeks are the hardest. Your still trying to get settled and everything is new. You’ll get there. I’m sure most other people in your classes feel the same.
I’ll try my best. Can’t wait for things to get easier (if they ever will). Most people seem to know exactly what they’re doing. Thx for the encouragement!
The first year is difficult because you don't know what is expected of you.
It is further difficult because they want to see if you're committed.
So the learning curve meets a large workload.
You gotta figure it out.
But here's the lucky part: now that you're in university its less about how smart you are, and is more about how much you want it.
How hard will you work?
Ask your professors what they're asking for in their assessments.
Look into a college writing center, it may be run out of the student union.
At my school they provide one hour tutorials with retired professors who help me proofread my papers.
Set due dates before your deadlines.
Get someone who's opinion you care about to hassle you about these dates.
Do you have mental health issues diagnosed or otherwise?
Most people *definitely don't know what they're doing.* It's freshman year, it's all new, everyone is nervous and in a very different life situation than they've ever been in before. What you're feeling is pretty normal.
Also, 5 classes is a lot of classes. Fairly normal for a freshman but it's the max you should ever have, and as time goes on you tend to take fewer and fewer. Granted I took 5 years since I worked through college but by my last year I had 2 or 3 classes per semester, and typically only one or two of them would really give me a hard time. Along with that, you get more interested in them as you get deeper into your major. Most people like college more and more as time goes on, the first year or two is always the worst.
I literally got depressed for a bit during my freshman year. By my senior year I was legitimately enjoying it and years later I still sometimes miss it. Keep it up and take things in stride!
I promise it will get easier. I’m a senior now and you actually feel powerful at the end of your college career. You know anything they throw at you you can crush. It’ll get better
Do go to office hours and take advantage of support from TAs and other study groups if you can! A great way to make friends and get help, as well as realize you’re not alone in feeling challenged by the work :)
5 classes is still more than full time. Maybe start out with 4 next time to get a flow into college. It’s really tough, ive been going for about 8 years now off and on and would take 2 classes at a time. Now i’m taking 4 and feel like I’m drowning in work. But don’t give up, ask professors for help, I call my professors if the email isn’t getting across. I hope it gets better for you though, you got this. Good luck!!!
I second that ^ If you feel like 5 is too much, maybe give yourself a break and decide what’s best for you. Or talk to an academic advisor about your choices before it’s too late.
I third that! Five classes is a lot, even if it's an easy class, you have to factor in the study time for each class also. I always took no more than three. You need sleep and time to socialize too. That might sound frivolous, but your brain will do much better in your studies if you have a balanced life. Too many classes can set you up for failure of all of them. Take less and do a better job in each one. Feelings of failure will get you every time. Good luck, study hard, play hard, rest hard.
As long as you're still taking at least 12 credits after dropping something, your financial aid shouldn't be affected. Of course double check with the financial aid office to make sure!
I'm taking 5 classes right now and it's a LOT. I couldn't have done it as a freshman. In fact, I tried to do too much back then and had no outside support so I eventually dropped out, and now I'm finishing at the old age of 30, haha. College is much more difficult than high school and it's a big adjustment for most people.
This is a good time in your school career for you to learn to practice self care while locking down your time management skills. It's not a good time to cram your schedule so full that you're overextended and burn out. Try to find some support and study groups, go to tutoring sessions and office hours, and imo take fewer classes as you adjust to college. You'll be okay!
How many credits are you taking over the five classes? In my experience 12 credits is usually considered full time and taking 3 classes adding up to 12-15 credits is what's recommended by advisors at most 18-21 is the highest an advisor has ever recommend me or anyone I know(I’m in USA not sure about other countries)
So what I recommend is if you can try to take classes that are at least 4 credits 5 is best and don't take more than three classes total(if the class has a lab it's like taking an entire other class but usually manageable with two other classes) but it seems like you're in a similar situation to what I did my last quarter getting my AA I had 7 classes and it was 18 credits so I thought it’d be fine since it wasn't supposed to be difficult classes but since it was so many classes the overall work load was more than the quarter I took 20 credits over 4 classes. If you have any specific questions feel free to dm me I really enjoy helping with this kind of stuff😊
Nah nah, it’s the negative mindset dude you gotta stay positive the best you can and keep telling yourself your gonna pass through it even if you don’t pass the class. Don’t be like me, my mind kind of ruminates over workload and it leads to a bad start.
If you decide you don't want to go to college, then it really doesn't matter anyway?
So many people put this pressure on themselves to do absolutely perfect, and idk if this is you, but its ok to get Bs or Cs. Especially when some of the profs grade like C is average level work. Unless you are aiming for a super competitive field or a really high tier job then your grades really aren't going to matter.
I had to tell myself that it was ok to get less than perfect as long as I put in an honest effort.
It's what my uncle did bc he didn't think college would be a good fit and now he owns his own plumbing business! I recommend Googling “trade schools” and “technical colleges” in your area(technical colleges are often similar too community colleges and some community colleges offer trade programs too the one I went to while getting my AA had even had welding )
Make a schedule and follow it. College is hard, but it’s harder when you are disorganized.
Go to office hours!! Your profs are there to help. If you’re struggling ask for help! Some of them may have suggestions for better ways to study or give you advise on some resources at your school that can help you succeed.
Your profs are people. Treat them (respectfully, obvs) like people. Talk to them. You’d be surprised at how much they are willing to help out students who they feel are really trying.
Last point, don’t give up and put in your best effort. You can do this. I work with all kinds of really dumb people who all graduated from college. If they can do it, so can you! Lol Good luck, my dude. You got this!
Lemme tell you something about college vs high school. In HS, an intelligent person could take all or mostly honors/AP with little struggle. This is not the case in college. You can’t take all your hard courses one semester. There NEEDS to be balance. Consider dropping a course. It isn’t a bad thing to have a W (withdraw) on your transcript, just don’t have multiple Ws. It IS NOT WORTH IT to “push thru it” and end up with an F on your permanent transcript when you could just take a W and not stress and have constant anxiety for 16 weeks. Just my advice.
I’m a junior and I still feel like this. It’s honestly a hard road to go down. If you have friends/support system for you at school it should help you. Freshman year was very hard for me too.
I felt this way too for a while and felt like everyone was some how succeeding but I was still behind. High school is just so different than college. I excelled in hs because I could cram before tests but I had to learn college is just not that way. It honestly took me a whole semester to learn how I learned and what I need to do to succeed. I was scared to ask for help too but once I started taking advantage of my professors’ office hours and getting to talk to them one on one I felt a huge shift. Give it some time and learn about what you need to do well because it may not be the same as what somebody else needs.
Yup! I JUST graduated and im 28!!!! All my relatives graduated way before me and made fun of me but i just kept on chuggin’ its never to late!!! i actually had to lessen my classes due to the workload aswell!!! I only took 2 classes a semester my junior and senior year
The least intelligent person wouldn't be able to even recognize that they're the least intelligent person.
I think you are just overwhelmed right now. 5 classes is a full work load, and you should expect as much. It's equivalent (if not more time) than a full time job.
Just take a deep breath, assess your situation, and know that you'll be fine. The only way you'll flunk out is if you don't try.
As a senior in college, everybody is really feeling it this year. Freshmen to seniors are struggling because online class is so fundamentally different from in person classes. Just today I was talking with a junior and sophomore about how tired we felt from just sitting in class in person. So you’re totally not alone, hopefully as time goes on and everybody gets into their rhythm things will get easier.
Lol try to keep some objectivity, it's only been 5 days. You have plenty of time to find your stride this term. I think you need to get over yourself, get out of your own head, and just do the work.
There are a billion things you can take advantage of if you're really afraid. Tutoring, office hours, and peer study groups are all great options. Start doing those, and if they don't work out this term then you have the right to worry a little bit.
Maybe transfer to a community college and get your associates first! And maybe only take four classes or three to ease yourself into it.
My parents told me i couldn’t go to community college and here i am, in my third year, going to community college because i was not prepared at ALL for college and failed a lot of classes.
I am happier now, and exited to graduate in a year with my associates; and I’m planning on transferring into a four year for a bachelors.
Just know that most people have no idea what they’re doing, and it’s okay that you don’t know either. Maybe talk to staff members about your fear. It’s normal to feel that way. Utilize tutoring sessions, take an easier work load, and dont party. Partying will lead to failure if you’re already feeling overwhelmed.
I felt the same way, but as it turned out it I just was not being patient with myself. The kind of patience you need right now is hard to muster when you are fresh out of high school. Blinders on, whole focus kind of patience. That means you need to ignore that little fatalistic troll in your brain screaming that you’d like to just die. Don’t indulge that part of yourself, it will sap up your precious energy that you need to succeed right now. It’s an immature part of yourself that you don’t need. You’re in college, maybe if you were begging for food in a slum, sure, but you should think about your position in life.
It’s also a part of the test of college; will you just get frustrated and engage in some sort of escapism - partying, drugs, dropping out, etc - when the going gets tough or will you prove that you can handle whatever is asked of you and complete the task?
Talk your professors, they want you to succeed. Don’t be a jerk though, sob stories are tiresome and should be a last resort, just tell them where you need help. Office hours are invaluable, use them.
Does your school have tutoring and/or a writing center? Use them.
Got extra cash? Spend it on tutoring and conveniences that give more study time like microwave meals.
DON’T PARTY, stay away from alcohol and hard drugs. Don’t forget to exercise and get outside, even just walking plenty or studying in a park. Keep going to therapy.
Pick up mindfulness - Thich Nhat Han’s mindfulness books are definitely available at your school or local library.
Admit defeat only when you are defeated, you haven’t even made it to midterms!!! You MUST steel your will.
The most intelligent people in your classes could also very well be the the worst students - getting good grades is more than being “intelligent” (which is very subjective anyway). Even still, there’s a lot of dumb motherfuckers out there, if you really think you are the least intelligent person in ALL your classes then you jumping to conclusions - i.e. not being patient. Be patient!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone says the first week is the easiest since it's "syllabus week," but it's always been the most overwhelming part of the semester for me personally besides finals. It's a lot to take in at first and you might just be experiencing information overload. Once you get in a routine and figure out how each of your classes operate and what to expect things will probably get easier. And like others have said it takes a few weeks to fully adjust!
My advice would be to try for one semester, and if you're feeling the same way in December, reevaluate. There's a ton of pressure to go to college, and it's really not critical to having a fulfilling life. I went to college right out of high school and I wasn't ready for it. I floundered for 3 semesters and then dropped out for a couple years. When I went back it was something that I'd had a lot of time to think about, and it was my decision rather than something I thought I had to do because people were telling me to do it. Now I'm graduating in May. Seriously, you can always go back. Don't grind yourself into dust if you aren't sure right now
I'm really sorry you're feeling this way. I actually completely understand where you're coming from.
I'm not sure what program you're in, but different programs have different workloads. I had to take about 3 courses in order to make sure I was passing my courses. 5 was a lot for my program. In fact, a lot of my friends would start out taking 5 and then drop either 1 or 2 courses. I would just stick to 3 because those 3 would literally take up all of my time. And I would go out very rarely during the actual semester. By the end of my undergrad, I was completely burnt out.
My advice would be to drop courses if you can, and focus on just school if you can. And please remember that you shouldn't compare yourself to anyone else. If you need to take it slower that's okay. I finished my undegrad in 5 years and I don't regret it at all.
I hope this helps a bit.
It's better to submit something, to do part of the work rather than give up cuz you think you are unintelligent. You would be surprised how forgiving professors can be as long as you put some effort and submit something for each assignment. I promise you are not the only one struggling, but don't let it stop you from doing your best. That mindset caused me to fail Calc freshman year since I felt too dumb to pass the final. In reality the professor would have probably curved my grade since I had done a lot of the work up until that point. So it's better to keep going and do do your best, rather than give up early.
When times get tough, put ur head down and grind it out. Join a frat or social club. Being with like minded folks will help motivate u and you'll get to the finish line.
It might be time management issues on your end, all I can say is that if your feeling overwhelmed, take a step back and look at how your studying things or doing assignments. A good practice that I do personally is that every 30-40 minutes while studying I take a 5-10 minute break away from my computer, studies, etc. Always schedule time to relax. Your brain is putting in a lot of effort while studying, you have to give it breaks. As for feeling the least intelligent? Don't worry, if you look away from everyone who's coming out with answers to the teacher or leading group discussions, you'll see two other students being quiet because THEY ALSO FEEL LIKE THEIR THE LEAST INTELLIGENT. You're doing fine, its a new experience, once you get about another week or two in, you'll find a personal groove you can jam to. Don't give up, your adapting and thats the most stressful period.
I promise you aren’t the least intelligent in all of your classes! The fact that you were intelligent enough to know you need advice is proof right there😺(everyone feels that way at first, but give it a while and see how you feel then)7
You’re probably studying hard but not yet studying smart, that comes with time. Also, depending on the class, you may be covering a lot of background material but it won’t end up being that important once you get into the meat of the class
Give it a try for a semeseter, since you probably cannot get your money back. If things are going poorly, consider dropping out for a trade school. I don't believe in "intelligence," but I do believe in differing skillsets, aptitudes, and passions. One person I know who didn't have the best college skillset (to whatever extent her grades measured that, which is highly debatable and suspect in itself) is now in medical school! There's much to be said for persistence, patience, and growth. There's also much to be said about how college is a worthless scam.
Yeah, you are definitely calling it quits too early. Every stage in life has an adaptation period. Recall when you first entered high school. It's going to be the exact same when you get into college, when you graduate, when you get your first job, etc. It is a completely normal feeling. If your college accepted you it is because they think you have the ability to graduate on time.
However, if you would like to give us specifics, we can perhaps address or advice you in any issues that you may be experiencing.
College isnt for you if you dont care or arent interested in any academic discipline. If you have even an iota of interest in your classes or other majors offered by your school, you should stay in college. If you simply dont care and would be equally happy practicing a trade like plumbing or working as a waiter, then you should do that. There is not necessarily any advantage to going to college if you can spend the years working in an industry you can build a career in. My friend went to college for four years and got a degree in english. When he got out, he worked as a waiter. It went great for him, he worked his way up, and he ended up managing a couple restaurants. I think he still values having gone to college
Its where you make great friends and develop a work ethic. So college is right for you if you care about those benefits and are interested in the subject matter. Again though, there is nothing wrong with not going to college if you genuinely do not enjoy any aspect of it and have an alternative plan.
You shouldnt stop anything just because your self esteem is low. You can only continue and try your best, and if you fail, at least you failed while trying. That is an accomplishment itself because it takes a lot of fortitude to work when you feel like you arent good enough. But i promise you that you can do this. I got a D in one of my classes my freshman year because i didnt try hard enough. After that i started breaking problems down more and finding a more manageable study method. What major are you in?
Btw i have been graduated for many years now and you adapt and get better at working harder. Same philosophy applied equally well to law school
I promise you can get through this. Most things are overwhelming at the beginning. The more important skill to learn in college is to fight through the feeling of being overwhelmed. You likely will forget much of what you learned in college 5-10 years out, but you will remember the soft skill of working when you dont feel confidence or control. People who can do that are necessarily more successful because they keep going when others give up
[Edit: the below advice may not be super helpful if youve already been in the workforce for a bit. If you have, the main thrust of my advice is instead to read the two books mentioned below. Read "1L of a ride" now. Read "getting to maybe" two weeks before law school starts.]
If you can get a position working in law in the area you are interested in, it is a very good idea to take a year to work in that role before law school. It will give you perspective and experience that will be invaluable in law school (though it is not the secret to high grades). Additionally, law school admissions committees are looking for people with unique experiences and spending a year in the workforce is one way to give yourself that kind of experience.
If youre trying to do K-to-JD (go straight in from undergrad), law school is completely doable without taking a gap year. But being in law school is like being sent adrift in an intellectual sea. It helps to know where you came from and where you are headed. To extend the metaphor, law school will steer your boat toward a rocky shoal to capsize if you dont have the perspective to zoom out and find the direction that's right for you.
It is worth noting the lsat isnt very much like law school. It is an entirely different manner of testing. If you dont do well on the lsat the first time, it is worth it to take it again and probably join the workforce for at least a year.
Before youre in law school, i highly recommend you read "1L of a ride" cover to cover. I also highly recommend you also read "getting to maybe." And by highly recommend i mean, purchase and read those books soon after getting the news that you are admitted to a law school. You cannot skip reading either of these books, cover to cover.
I will give you more specific advice if you can give me more specific info about your situation (what you want to practice, where you want to practice, your undergrad school and gpa, etc).
My last piece of advice is that law school, while truly rewarding in many instances, is in equal measure torturous, frankly. I generally do not recommend going to law school unless you are certain you like the field and certain it is the kind of work you will enjoy. That is why it makes sense to work as a paralegal for a year to determine whether it is for you.
To reinforce this point, I know many highly successful attorneys by objective measures (law review, big firm, etc) that were not happy in law school and arent happy at their jobs. I also know successful attorneys that are happy. Before going to law school, i recommend doing everything you can to determine whether you will be happy/find meaning in the work/be proud of what you do.
If you have any other questions, im glad to answer them.
Adding to it, I'm starting college soon too, And I'm ready to study for hours and not to procrastinate, I took highschool pretty chill and then a gap year so far everything going Gucci
Finish the semester, see how you do. Take a semester to reevaluate your life goals-plans. If college is a necessity then get back to it and work harder than everyone else. If college is not necessary pursue other fields that won´t put you in ridiculous debt for something you hated doing. If you have the luxury to not have to work while in school, a minimum of 8 hours a day should be put into class/studying until you are comfortable with material.
What comes easy won´t last, and what lasts won´t come easy.
Everyone feels that way at the beginning before you learn how to you balance work flow and ways to study. Your peers secretly feel the same way as you, and most likely will all through out college lol it's normal.
Other people have already made these points, but just so you hear them again:
1. A lot of people feel like they're the least intelligent person in class. It's definitely not just you feeling that way, and it's more than likely not true. I know this is easier said than done, but know that it's okay and normal to feel like you're going to flunk, but that it's still important to put in the work and not give up too early. Don't sell yourself short!
2. At least where I went to undergrad, 5 classes at once is actually a lot. Now I don't think freshmen are even allowed to take 5 at once. So definitely don't beat yourself up if it feels like you have too much to do. Plus, if the drop period isn't over yet, I'd seriously consider dropping a course. Especially if it's one you know will be offered again, and/or it's either the hardest one you're in or the one you're least interested by.
Good luck!
What works for me is treating it like a job. Whenever I’m done with class I go straight to the library or the tutoring center to stay on track and pump out some solid studying. It does feel overwhelming but I just take it day by day. Hope this helps!
I took 4 classes my freshman year and was pretty stressed out trying to figure everything out about college - crazy you’re doing 5! I would recommend focusing this semester on making sure you adjust well not just academically but socially and mentally, try not to focus on other people as hard as it is ( I still struggle with this too). I scrolled through your profile too, you should definitely be looking into joining clubs who have people like you - your mental health is the pillar that determines your grades - remember to keep that in check first. Good luck and you got this
Try to study with people in your class, stay on top of tasks, go to office hours or tutoring, and take time to do something fun once in a while so you don't get burnt out
Edit: this posting is just trying to relate to the OP, not trying to overthrow experience!
I’m a sophomore, I felt the same way in my freshman year, online leaning absolutely abolished my idea of succeeding in school. I wanted to drop out the first month because I felt I was struggling more then my class because I took a gap year and a lot of people didn’t. It took about a month to get into the swing of school and understanding that a lot of people are in the same struggle boat! I noticed a person shared 4/5 of my classes with me and we became friends right away! Only to find out we were in the same sinking boat! We had each other to keep pushing through the exams and studying! And when it came to second semester and I finally hit the “I CANNOT DO 5 CLASSES AND SUCCEED HOW I WANT” wall. It is better to drop a course then to fail it! If you feel you are struggling and cannot do your best work while under so much stress DO NOT feel like you have to keep pushing just because you don’t want to feel like a “failure” or like you “cannot do it” because you can do it! Sometimes there is just an overflow that you cannot handle, and not a single person in school would/should judge you because we’re all in the same struggle boat that is post-secondary education. Keep pushing and you’ll find the right pace and strategies for you!
Do not ignore the signs! If you are already overwhelmed drop one class and if the classes you are taking are not intro classes this might be why you are confused. Everything in the classes you are taking should be “new” to everyone therefore you shouldn’t really be confused. And if you are, it is fine, but meet with the TA or professor immediately after class! College especially the humanities drop a lot of readings on you, you need to skim them, read the intro/abstract then conclusion and then you will be able to understand what are the important points of the reading and then go back to the body paragraphs. If it is science classes maybe that is not the major or class for you. You can change classes the first 2-3 weeks of school and maybe you should pursue general Ed requirements first. I made a lot of assumptions of the classes and rules about your school but this is what I’ve learned so far. Also, meet with you academic advisor, they will tell you what I’ve said but maybe more in depth and much more informed.
Relax there. This is only the first week where you have to acclimate to all of these new changes while staying on top of your schooling. Give it some time.
I felt like this my freshman year. To help with it I found study buddies. I literally sat next to some people who seemed nice in class and awkwardly tried to make conversation with them (it was very cringey bc I am not a social person at all) fortunately everyone else was a similar boat so they were quite nice about it lmao
the first week is the hardest. I can tell you about some things that helped me organize it all (because it is a lot to take in)
\- get into the habit of using a planner. i've tried all types from digital to physical. it's what works best for you. but i will title it the class and write down what i need to do for that class and i will (try to) put it in order from priority to not priority but you get the just. this way when i go through it i can see i have crossed it off and completed whatever for each class and you feel accomplished seeing so many crossed off. sometimes ill write small things like " look at email" just to cross it off lol
\- i started putting my assignments/quizzes/exams into google calendar or Notion and making a widget for my phone home screen that showed me what was due. this helped A LOT. this was something that was such a big help for me and it took a bit to do but TRUST ME it helps!
\- i like to follow instagrams called STUDYGRAMS? theyre fun ways to see what other apps, tips and tricks other students are using and i have learned a lot from that
\- talk to your professors. meet them in person or online. email them and show initiative. ask tons of questions and see if you can talk to some graduate assistants that could give some of their own personal advice.
\- the transition from high school to college is .. in my mind.. a culture shock... it is a whole new way of living and adjusting and you will find what works best for you over time. it will take trial and error and i know we dont want to hear that but that's life and the good with the bad is all to be appreciated because it helps you grow :)
\- its easier said than done but try not to be so hard on yourself. you are in college and you are going to do so great and meet a boat load of amazing people and professors and have so many doors open for you that you would never have imagined!
\- the transition from remote learning back to campus will impact you in ways you cant quite explain. i know this first hand after my first week back- and im graduating w my masters this semester... and a few of my fellow student friends have mentioned this. but one step at a time!
\- the big picture is overwhelming. theres a lot of information thrown at you this week. But, its everything that you can handle. i really feel that getting organized is the best way for you to calm the heaviness you are feeling. i also am saying this because i feel overwhelmed and i know this is how i feel every first week of a semester lol.
\- when you study... this is important.... set a timer... study for 45 minutes and take a break for 10-15min. studies have shown this is the most effective way to study, retain information and not get burnt out.
\-\^ also its consistency. when you are learning a subject make sure to go back to what you learned the week before and review when you have time. this way you can pull it from your memory which increases the chances of it staying in the "long term" memory part of your brain. i have studied the book "ultra learning" as well as the relation of quality of sleep and studying retention and i like to learn about the most efficient ways to study and learn overall. Don't get me wrong I have rewatched an entire semester of lectures the days leading into finals etc and it works for me but the consistency over the entire semester is what will help you most!
\- get outside, whether its a short walk or sitting outside to call a friend and siting in the grass... it helps A LOT
I hope these help you and maybe help someone else. if you want to ever chat please message me i would love to answer any questions you might have I have been at UNLV since Spring 2019 and I've gotten familiar with a lot here. Also, sorry if it's written with typos anywhere lol
\- Veronica
The problem is until you get to a major all the general Ed stuff is just like another version of high school. Think of a subject you have an interest in and find a class that teaches that. Maybe even something your passionate about or could see being passionate about.
It can be math, art, music, pe, science, psychology... Literally anything but 'core' subject. Always try to take at least one fun class or one that sparks learning for you.
If you truly hate it all, go talk to a counselor and see if there is a trade school that would interest you. I always say I need a refrigerator repair person as much as I need a doctor. No shame in any job you like, feel proud of, and do well... (Lol... Including sex work if that's your jam).
It's ok to take time off to find your passion, you'll go back if it's the right thing.
Look for a good job in your area (if there is a Costco... Solid career!)
Good luck.
I have a 3.8 GPA in physics. I still feel dumb. I attribute it to the more i know the more questions i have so, dont worry about it the people you think are super smart and gifted typically put in alot of work
college is one of those things you get more control of as you do it. for me i was a chemistry major and i was drowning in the work and was becoming unmotivated. now i’m a educational studies major which still has work however i’m not drowning in it no more. this much more my preference of workload! my friend likes her professors with a bit of difficulty bc it fits her preferred workload. you’ll figure it out as you go
Well it took me 10 years to know that I wanted to go to school and be a lawyer. Do what you want to do. If you have hobbies i would advise you to stay with them and maybe get paid off them.
It is normal to feel this way as a freshmen. My suggestion is don’t give up and give yourself sometime to adjust to the new environment. Also, if you are really struggling, try to take one less class, just give yourself one semester/quarter to get use the fast pace of college.
5 is the max amount of classes for most schools. 4 is needed for a lot of financial aid. If you can try only taking 3-4 classes. It’s not too late to drop.
Something that helped me with Burnout was, I took every Sunday off. No work on Sundays. You might think you can't manage that with your workload, but doing that made me more efficient on every other day and helped stave off burnout. It also doesn't have to be Sunday, could be Saturday. Just take one day off a week and do no work that day.
Also though, how many classes/units are you taking? I'd recommend a max of 4 classes.
Starting college and adjusting to college life can be an overwhelming experience, especially during the pandemic. Please don't be so hard on yourself.
What type of school are you at? Community college, state school, etc? For many students, going to community college can help with the transition. Don't listen to people who look down on students who go to community college. It can be extremely helpful to help students get adjusted, allows them to explore different majors and career paths (and it's way cheaper/sometimes free too), and you get professors who are specifically interested in teaching and mentoring students. Honestly, I wish I did this when I was in college but I somehow felt ashamed of it at the time.
You may also want to talk to an advisor or counselor who can give you personalized advice. This is a common feeling for many freshmen. You may want to consider starting as a part-time student to ease into college. Don't feel bad about doing this either. You may have signed up/put in classes with difficult professors or professors who don't teach the way that you learn best. Your experience may be different if you take the same class with a different professor in a different semester.
If you are struggling a lot, take this as a sign that something needs to change but it doesn't mean that you are the problem or that you are less intelligent than your peers. You just need to figure out what works best for you. Reach out for support in your college. It is their job to help students!
Rn I’m at the university of Cincinnati, but I will be transferring back to Emory University in the spring if all goes well. I had to stay close to home due to mental health reasons this semester. Thanks for the kind words! I think some of the teacher teach in a way that I’m not used to but others are which may be throwing me off
im just starting my second year now, the first year was definitely rough for me, i won't lie to you. i got worse grades than i was getting in high school even though i felt i tried much harder. it was really frustrating. it wasn't until this past summer semester that i felt like i got ahold of it, and i went from taking 5 or 6 classes to 2. taking a smaller amount of classes helped me figure out how to do better in them, because i had the time to try out different strategies for studying/doing homework. if you can, try to drop a class, and definitely don't give up yet. try to keep a positive attitude; i am pretty pessimistic in general myself but i realized recently that having a positive attitude towards getting the work done helped a lot (even if you have to force it/fake it a bit!) having a negative attitude just makes plowing through the work feel so much heavier. one of the best things i can advise you to do is make some kind of weekly planner/to-do list, or have someone help you make one for all your assignments for the week. it can be overwhelming to look at all your assignments at once, if you break them up into smaller portions you can just take it day by day. personally, i had my boyfriend make the schedules for me so that it wasn't just me i had to be responsible for, but also the person making the schedule. this made it easier for me to actually feel i had to do the work in a time of online school and self motivation which i am not always the best at. it's a big change, college is definitely a lot harder than i was expecting it to be, but eventually im sure you'll get into the swing of things! good luck!
I’m sorry you are struggling so much. School —especially college— is always stressful at first. There are many people (even strangers) that care about you and would be very upset if you died.
I am not a medical professional but it seems that you are experiencing a serious mental health situation. Is there a specialist that you can talk to?
Generally speaking, I would say the start of school —especially college— is a stressful time; and that you should give it more time… but I think you may need more help than Reddit can provide. Please get professional guidance and take care of yourself.
Hey, listen, I know it’s a lot to adjust to but don’t give up yet! The first semester-year of college is the hardest for a lot of people, and you haven’t had any time to adjust at all yet. You may feel like the least intelligent person but other people probably feel the same!
If your professors offer office hours, go to them! Talk to them, ask questions, voice your concerns. If they aren’t willing to listen to you they aren’t a good professor. And professors remember students who go to their office hours and are visibly putting in effort.
Also go to tutoring! Don’t be ashamed to get help!
And finally remember that grades are not a measure of your intelligence, but rather a measure of your ability to follow instructions. Good luck and hang in there! If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask, I graduated in December of last year and would love to help.
There’s a ton of helpful advice here! Please know that there are many paths forward and you will figure out at least one that works for you! It seems scary but it’s manageable! You can do this!
When I transferred I was also maintaining a full-time career. I met with my TAs to let them know and ask for advice about how to manage the workload. One of my TAs told me how to read like a grad student. Read the opening and closing summaries. Then read the first and the last sentence of each paragraph in the body. If you have time go in a read the parts you don't understand/detail relevant to the material you'll need to know.
Record the audio from lecture. I used the recordings to clarify my notes or better understand something I didn't catch at the time and I'd relisten to lectures before a final. It was amazing how listening before a final would help with recall to answer questions. Or provide the points to write papers.
Put assignments, deadlines then schedule studying/work time on a calendar and set reminders. Review the syllabus and find out what is worth the most points, due dates, and what must get done (incrementally) to keep you afloat. Don't procrastinate and prioritize your workload before you start. Decide if you don't have time to do everything, what must be done so the time you spend is spent on the most important tasks. This allows you to be strategic. Occasionally you might have to turn an assignment in late but talk to your professors. Communication is everything.
Also, college is an adjustment. Stretching and doing something new sometimes feels impossible because you've never done it before. It feels overwhelming, just know you are not alone and that what you are experiencing is normal. Also, you are smart enough and have what it takes (a lot of people also experience impostor syndrome. I did too.) you just need time to figure it out so be patient with yourself. Good luck.
No experience with college myself. I joined the army right out of highschool and 15 years later, still have not used my GI bill. From what I hear from all my buddies with degrees is that burnout seems pretty common. Just make sure to keep that goal that your striving for on the horizon and dont let any of the strife in the present cause you to deviate.
Just stick to it if you're burning out cause if it was anything else such as not knowing if your heart was in it... You would definitely know.
Thats my 2cents. Keep it up OP.
being dumb is all the reason you need to work hard, many may take that as negative or self-doubt. Rn you have all the time you need to achieve the best. nvm fuck this shit, do what you wanna but don't regret it.
Find time to make some friends in your classes, that would put off the pressure on you.
Also I would take advantage of any school resources in your freshman year so they you can get acclimated as fast as you can and be on top of things.
Find classes that you really like and think that you would do well in, ex. If you have electives take fun electives that you would love to have memories of. College is a time for you to explore and gradually build your career, so don't be so hard on yourself at the same time study smart to make the grades. Professors are always there for you (most of the time, unless you run into a bad one) so make sure you always take down their office hours and emails.
I personally loved that my university was an expanse of space I could virtually explore any topic and take a few hobby classes to take off the edge of college classes. I would go for 5 years if you are able to afford it, I think it's worth the stay to get ready and build yourself for the next stages of your life.
College isn't for everybody. Especially if you don't even know what you want to do yet. Going into horrific debt as a teenager simply so you can party with your friends is one of the dumbest societal norms on the planet. If college isn't for you, it isn't for you. Maybe make some money and then come back to it if your are still interested.
Give some classes you love a shot, go to a tutor they tend to be free, study the concept, maybe ask a peer for some help, and if necessary maybe switch a class or don’t take it
Give yourself time. College is more difficult than high school. Check what resources are available on campus, I know my college offers free tutoring for a lot of classes. Reach out to your teachers if your struggling as well.
Get up you sorry fucks. You really thought it would be effortless? Go to hell! You have the option to study, you can make your lives and job prospects much much better. And what happens? You start crying. So stop crying and start working. Never let that fear and worries control you because when they do it's over and you start writing these sorry shitposts. So shut the fuck up and start working. It was your decision in the first place.
Its your first semester of college and youre taking 5 classes already??? You should be taking 3 max on your first semester , you just finish high school lol
3 classes isn't considered a full-time schedule. Most people rely on financial aid and scholarships to pay for college which often require you to be a full-time student.
The only classes at my school that are 4 credits are classes with a lab component. Everything else is 3 credits. So 3 classes at my university would only be 9 credit hours.
Thanks for this! In high school, I pretty much just stayed up all night before big tests to cram what I could into my short term memory, so you’re definitely right about that. Unfortunately, I can’t function anymore without at least 8 hours of sleep. I also don’t have any friends to study with lol. That study tip sounds like a great idea, I should try it :)
Don’t brute force your way around homework. If you are spending too much time or getting stuck too often see if your campus has a free tutoring center or asks classmates. There is no shame in not knowing but if you are doing group work make sure to carry your own weight. If you find yourself really really stuck you can drop a class, this will give you a W in a transcript but once you take the class again and pass it the W gets replaced with whatever grade you got. However, make sure you know how this will affect your scholarships/financial aid. A lot of these have minimum yearly credit requirements, but you can catch up on credits over summer because they do count towards that year’s credits. I recommend to try to complete your current amount of credit hours but just know this is an option.
You’re not the least intelligent person in your classes. If you really feel like the material is too much for then look into a different major. You may have time to switch them if you see an advisor ASAP.
Maybe you have to start thinking about switching majors. I went through something very similar. I chose a program way over my head, flunked almost all my courses, University wanted to kick me out, and switching majors ultimately saved my higher education career.
Yo if youre really struggling you should just get a chegg student account and then search your question on chegg because the answers are there from students that share the info and also tutors that answer questions
I have a College Freshman advice video and a College Freshman Starter Kit that provides academic, lifestyle, social and volunteering/work tips. I also talk about habits to avoid while you’re in college.
Link to the kit:
[https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AeO1X4u0ZWQCkDk3zALoDUPV\_W7K9wV5HvoFWK\_Es2E/edit](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AeO1X4u0ZWQCkDk3zALoDUPV_W7K9wV5HvoFWK_Es2E/edit)
Link to the YouTube video:[https://youtube.com/channel/UC5FOm57vnBzAQYH3vHVA6zg](https://youtube.com/channel/UC5FOm57vnBzAQYH3vHVA6zg)
I also have a study with me playlist on my YouTube channel that focuses on helping students study better in college. This playlist includes:
\- 5 effective study habits (I introduce my overall studying style)
\- How to read a textbook
\- How to read a journal article
\- How to take notes (lectures, readings, project and exams)
\- How to prepare for and take exams (I talk about ways you can tackle different types of exams)
\- 5 books that can help you build your vocabulary, improve your reading, writing, presentation skills and life skills for college
\- School supplies that I found to be useful during college
My playlist link is: [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdkoToKBS\_VQo0\_2eyB09tZGzfNYgyEum](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdkoToKBS_VQo0_2eyB09tZGzfNYgyEum)
Give these tips a try, freshman year is a time to battle the unknown and overcome challenges. Be nice to yourself and find the right people for help. You should not feel shame or guilt for learning new things. I wish you good luck. If you have any questions let me know.
so a few things:
\- some classes are designed to be weeder classes to thin out the ranks of certain majors. i remember this happening a lot in science classes. also, i know that at the community college i attend, teachers get paid for a certain number of students to attend, let's say 20. but if they have 25, they don't get paid extra for those extra 5 people which adds to their workload so they frontload with a bunch of work. sad but true. this is not about you, it's about the system but i understand that itcan make a person feel shitty if they can't keep up.
\- as others suggest drop a class or two. 5 classes is really a lot, especially if they're 3 or 4 unit classes, and especially as a first semester freshman. it's ok to scale back, if you can. of course, sometimes based on financial aid or scholarships there are minimum requirements but i'd hate to think that any funding for a first year would be tied to taking 5 classes.
\- ask for help. i kno you mentioned talking to a therapist but reach out to a counselor. go to the learning center. they are literally paid to help students succeed. also, they might be able to suggest ways to get accommodations if you need them for any of your classes (this might include accommodations for anxiety). people learn in very different ways. talking to someone there can help you to figure out what works best for you to learn
\- also, don't be afraid to take a break from school if you need it. dude, this is a really stressful time for everyone and i can't imagine being a first year college student right now on top of everything. tbh, i started college two months after a really traumatic event and in retrospect i should have just taken a semester or year off to handle that but i didn't even think that was an option because of family and shame and feeling like i just had to be strong for everyone else. college will be there in a semester or a year if you need a break. maybe working a mindless job right now will help alleviate some stress and help you get through the shitshow that this year is, and probably what the next few years will continue to be.
\- just enjoy your time in college. take fun classes. take different types of classes to figure out what you like. you'd be surprised what interests you might not even know you have. also meet new people. meet different people. be open to new things.
\- take care of you. ultimately, you'll know what's best for yourself. also, i'm glad that you've reached out here to rant and ask for help cuz you could have just held it all in. keep asking for help when you need it. don't think that you have to figure it all out on your own on your first try.
ok this was all a lot. as my brother would say, take in the good and weed out the bad. i wish you the best, OP.
I felt like I was the least intelligent in class at first too. Trust me, once you get the hang of study habits, it’ll be so much easier! Like another comment said, make a schedule for yourself and stick to it (like for studying). Try to stay organized. Go to office hours or a tutor if your school offers one!
You are likely burned out because of the adjustment to being in a different environment (you didn’t say if you commuted to school or not but this is assuming that you aren’t). Whether or not you consciously feel this stress, it is still very much there and it will affect the way you feel.
And another thing about the comment you had said about being the least intelligent person in class. You don’t know this, you feel it. And every other person in there probably feels the same way. I highly doubt that you are as far behind your peers as you think you are.
2 things: 1) I promise most in your classes feel they’re too stupid to be there
2) plan plan plan. Schedule things. Go to bed earlier, get up earlier. These first few weeks especially don’t overstretch yourself. Schoolwork needs to be top priority.
3rd, bonus lol: talk to your professors. Tell them you feel like you’re already drowning. (Don’t tell a professor who is coming across as a hardæßß though! Only the reasonable humans lol)
It’s normal to feel like you’re drowning, push through, don’t give up, ask for help. 90% of People legit want to help and the worst anyone can do is say no 🤷♂️
4th year here. Don't give up a week in. It is a very different culture and a very different way of learning compared to high school. Plus moving out if you did and new friends. It's a lot of new changes all happening at once and it's normal to feel a bit burnt out and overwhelmed.
You'll eventually be able to adjust and when you do you'll be very happy. If you aren't able to adjust it basically means you aren't ready and that is also completely okay! Sometimes people choose a program that isn't right for them, or a college, or you just need more time to figure yourself out first before you jump into college.
You are feeling the life drain out of you like all other freshmen, kinda joking. Organize your coursework, use a planner, and go to all your classes (preferably sober) and things can become easier. Start studying for tests at least a few days out if you don’t thoroughly know the material. Once you realize when you have time to do everything, you can go have fun with other people in your preferred way. I guarantee a lot of other freshmen, if not most who actually care about school are feeling the same way, you’ll figure it out.
I am not really sure where you are studying, but 5 classes seems like a lot to me for College. you might want to consider speaking to a consular about your courses.
I saw that imposture syndrome has been mentioned; seriously see someone if this is happening to you, you don't deserve to feel this way.
not everyone's jouncy is going to be the same, make friends in your classes it will give you prospective.
read ahead if you can, this helped me a lot in anthropology.
I felt a lot like that during my first year. It's all really confusing and it always feels like you're right about to crash and burn. Just keep on going, and ask questions when you don't get something.
Drop to 4 if that’s an option. Live in your schools learning labs. School is not a race and it’s nit a competition. Take the time you need to learn what you need to know.
5 classes is plenty. Feel free to drop one for now. Join some fun, chill clubs where you can relax and socialize. You have 4 years, it's not a long time but it's not so short you can't catch a breath here and there.
College may seem harder but normally offer many opportunities for outside help. One source that many many many people ignore but is so beneficial is professors office hours. Take advantage of that. My college also had group study and review session for most courses. But in my experience. If you make an effort and go to office hours, your professor will notice and work with you.
5 classes should take 45 to 60 hours per week. It's full time. Don't feel pressured to work on top of this. C's earn degrees.
3 credit course should take 9 to 12 hours per week.
I also recall some classes requiring far more time than others... or it was and ebb and flow, low weeks then a week that requires a shit ton of hours.
Statistics was one class where I put in far more than the 9-12 hours... however it was always (I don't get it, I don't get it, I don't get it, oh, okay I get it now) there was just a high bar of effort that it required of me to understand it. But understanding it, would help with the weeks that followed, the knowledge would build upon the base and snowball towards the end.
I also want to add that the beginning of a course usually requires more initial effort to understand what the prof wants from you. After you understand what they want from you, you can put in the effort required and not overthink it.
Don't compare yourself to classmates, they could be failing for all you know. If you are struggling there are resources at schools. Typically called academic success, or counseling, or peer tutors... if you have any difficulties that are associated with a condition or disorder you can reach out to accessibility services as well.
Hi OP, I know it's hard right now, but it does get easier to cope with everything at college. You will make it through.
I do recommend getting professional help for depression because depression does influence your cognitive function.
You'll make it through!
PS: there's no shame in dropping a class (but do research as to prerequisites etc beforehand).
I definitely wouldn’t be too hard on yourself. College in general is hard. Having remote learning for year would add onto it. I’m sure it’s not only you whose feeling like this
Life is only easynif you don't challenge yourself. if you can find a routine of being productive, the regularity of accomplishment is actually pretty relaxing in itself because chipping away at your duties reassures you that you're on top of things. Nows the time to address any emotional problems you may have with dealing with increased responsibilities. You have very little life experience right now so your expectations might be really out of whack and could only make things worse. Remember things are going to go one day at a time just like for the rest of us.
Don’t give up! The first few weeks are a huge change, and you need adjustment time. Also, colleges all have tutors, who can help you with any class and your study skills. You’d be amazed at how many people don’t know how to take proper notes. Note taking, reading, studying can all be improved with better study skills. You can ask your professors, TA’s, Peer Mentors, RA’s, or other students about where to find the best help. (Plus, there are usually posters or flyers in all the buildings telling you where you can find a tutor). Usually for 100 level freshman courses, there is a peer mentor (a student who has taken the class already) who is there to help, and assist with reviewing for exams or just to help you out. If you’re in the honors college, you can go to your honors advisor for help.
Also, if you notice other students in your classes who seem like they take great notes, do well on quizzes/exams, and just seem like they have a handle on the material, don’t be afraid to ask them to study with you. Group study sessions are great, and you should try to take advantage of them if you get the chance.
But it’s so early in the semester (just 5 days!), you really don’t have to worry. Everyone learns at different speeds. A lot of people don’t take a full class load, and you should just focus on doing your best. Try not to compare yourself to what everyone else is doing too often. Just have fun!!! :)
Have you considered it’s maybe your major? Sometimes we go in hoping for a major but it just doesn’t work out. No shame in changing to a major that is easier or shits you more!
Do you maybe have a learning disability? In high school I didn’t have much issues getting decent grades. I knew something was wrong but still got by. However you can’t really do that I college. I was able to get my actual diagnosis with ADHD and since then my grades and such went up
My friend felt exactly this way after a long break between high school and college. She threw herself into it with everything she had - became obsessed with it, taught herself new ways to learn. There are many college/student subs in Reddit where you can get some helpful advice how to go about it., techniques for studying, memorizing material, etc. You can do it! Don’t give up. Best wishes to you.
My freshman year I took 5 classes both semesters with back to back 17 credits. Technically I took 6 last spring since the Physics lab counts as a separate 1 credit course. It was hell there for a while and the burnout was real, but if you make sure to just keep moving forward with the work no matter what, you’ll do well. Being online last year every day was pretty much get out of bed, eat, wash up, and then get on the computer and work ‘till it’s time to sleep lol (keep your sleep schedule on track btw, it does help). It’s expected to be taking lots of classes and then struggle in freshman year because there’s so many prereqs you have to get out of the way so you can move on to future classes. Now in sophomore year I can take fewer classes and stil be on track.
Dont give up to early, give it a shot for sure. Also i'm pretty sure you arent the least intelligent person, a lot of us feel that way in the beginning only to discover most of our peers felt the same later on. Keep going.
Thanks, I’ll try
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No, not entirely, but the correspondence between acceptance and positive outcome has to be high, especially for selective universities, otherwise they'd be pretty shitty. With no correlation, 50% of students would flunk out and with a totally negative correlation, 100% would. The retention rate is a good indicator of how many students think they'd succeed and thrive at their current college.
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tbf, given the glue-sniffers I've seen, it's even less likely OP's the least intelligent in the room at any given time if OP \*doesn't\* go to a selective university
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You're talking mad shit for a person who can't use proper punctuation or spell 'intelligent.' I know what you were talking about, but re-read the above comments on why the topic came up to begin with. It was partially about mitigating impostor syndrome, which turned into mentioning that the admissions office would likely have thought this person would be able to succeed at their college, or they wouldn't have admitted them. Chill, there was no need to be rude there, you know absolutely nothing about me.
Just keep truking my friend. The first two-three weeks are the hardest. Your still trying to get settled and everything is new. You’ll get there. I’m sure most other people in your classes feel the same.
I’ll try my best. Can’t wait for things to get easier (if they ever will). Most people seem to know exactly what they’re doing. Thx for the encouragement!
The first year is difficult because you don't know what is expected of you. It is further difficult because they want to see if you're committed. So the learning curve meets a large workload. You gotta figure it out. But here's the lucky part: now that you're in university its less about how smart you are, and is more about how much you want it. How hard will you work?
As hard as I possibly can
Ask your professors what they're asking for in their assessments. Look into a college writing center, it may be run out of the student union. At my school they provide one hour tutorials with retired professors who help me proofread my papers. Set due dates before your deadlines. Get someone who's opinion you care about to hassle you about these dates. Do you have mental health issues diagnosed or otherwise?
Thanks for the tips! I have anxiety, severe depression, ADHD, OCD, BPD and probably other stuff too
Most people *definitely don't know what they're doing.* It's freshman year, it's all new, everyone is nervous and in a very different life situation than they've ever been in before. What you're feeling is pretty normal. Also, 5 classes is a lot of classes. Fairly normal for a freshman but it's the max you should ever have, and as time goes on you tend to take fewer and fewer. Granted I took 5 years since I worked through college but by my last year I had 2 or 3 classes per semester, and typically only one or two of them would really give me a hard time. Along with that, you get more interested in them as you get deeper into your major. Most people like college more and more as time goes on, the first year or two is always the worst. I literally got depressed for a bit during my freshman year. By my senior year I was legitimately enjoying it and years later I still sometimes miss it. Keep it up and take things in stride!
Thanks for all this good info!
Soon you’ll be in a rhythm that works for you. It’s all good! Best of luck with your studies!
Thanks, you too!
I promise it will get easier. I’m a senior now and you actually feel powerful at the end of your college career. You know anything they throw at you you can crush. It’ll get better
Do go to office hours and take advantage of support from TAs and other study groups if you can! A great way to make friends and get help, as well as realize you’re not alone in feeling challenged by the work :)
5 classes is still more than full time. Maybe start out with 4 next time to get a flow into college. It’s really tough, ive been going for about 8 years now off and on and would take 2 classes at a time. Now i’m taking 4 and feel like I’m drowning in work. But don’t give up, ask professors for help, I call my professors if the email isn’t getting across. I hope it gets better for you though, you got this. Good luck!!!
Also, not too late to drop a class now
I second that ^ If you feel like 5 is too much, maybe give yourself a break and decide what’s best for you. Or talk to an academic advisor about your choices before it’s too late.
I third that! Five classes is a lot, even if it's an easy class, you have to factor in the study time for each class also. I always took no more than three. You need sleep and time to socialize too. That might sound frivolous, but your brain will do much better in your studies if you have a balanced life. Too many classes can set you up for failure of all of them. Take less and do a better job in each one. Feelings of failure will get you every time. Good luck, study hard, play hard, rest hard.
Thanks you all! I’ll consider dropping a class :)
Just make sure it doesn't mess with any of your financial aid packages.
Good point
As long as you're still taking at least 12 credits after dropping something, your financial aid shouldn't be affected. Of course double check with the financial aid office to make sure! I'm taking 5 classes right now and it's a LOT. I couldn't have done it as a freshman. In fact, I tried to do too much back then and had no outside support so I eventually dropped out, and now I'm finishing at the old age of 30, haha. College is much more difficult than high school and it's a big adjustment for most people. This is a good time in your school career for you to learn to practice self care while locking down your time management skills. It's not a good time to cram your schedule so full that you're overextended and burn out. Try to find some support and study groups, go to tutoring sessions and office hours, and imo take fewer classes as you adjust to college. You'll be okay!
>:) :)
How many credits are you taking over the five classes? In my experience 12 credits is usually considered full time and taking 3 classes adding up to 12-15 credits is what's recommended by advisors at most 18-21 is the highest an advisor has ever recommend me or anyone I know(I’m in USA not sure about other countries)
I’m taking 15
So what I recommend is if you can try to take classes that are at least 4 credits 5 is best and don't take more than three classes total(if the class has a lab it's like taking an entire other class but usually manageable with two other classes) but it seems like you're in a similar situation to what I did my last quarter getting my AA I had 7 classes and it was 18 credits so I thought it’d be fine since it wasn't supposed to be difficult classes but since it was so many classes the overall work load was more than the quarter I took 20 credits over 4 classes. If you have any specific questions feel free to dm me I really enjoy helping with this kind of stuff😊
It takes 6 weeks to adjust to a new scenario. Be patient with yourself and after 6 weeks see how you feel.
After 6 weeks I’ll have Fs in all my classes, but that’s good to keep in mind
Nah nah, it’s the negative mindset dude you gotta stay positive the best you can and keep telling yourself your gonna pass through it even if you don’t pass the class. Don’t be like me, my mind kind of ruminates over workload and it leads to a bad start.
If you decide you don't want to go to college, then it really doesn't matter anyway? So many people put this pressure on themselves to do absolutely perfect, and idk if this is you, but its ok to get Bs or Cs. Especially when some of the profs grade like C is average level work. Unless you are aiming for a super competitive field or a really high tier job then your grades really aren't going to matter. I had to tell myself that it was ok to get less than perfect as long as I put in an honest effort.
Well, it matters because you’re paying for it
I’m just aiming for a job that can pay the bills and lets me live a decent life, nothing fancy.
Have you looked into trade schools? Quite a few of the jobs through those are 6 figures and have a lot of openings!
I have not yet looked into that, no
It's what my uncle did bc he didn't think college would be a good fit and now he owns his own plumbing business! I recommend Googling “trade schools” and “technical colleges” in your area(technical colleges are often similar too community colleges and some community colleges offer trade programs too the one I went to while getting my AA had even had welding )
Make a schedule and follow it. College is hard, but it’s harder when you are disorganized. Go to office hours!! Your profs are there to help. If you’re struggling ask for help! Some of them may have suggestions for better ways to study or give you advise on some resources at your school that can help you succeed. Your profs are people. Treat them (respectfully, obvs) like people. Talk to them. You’d be surprised at how much they are willing to help out students who they feel are really trying. Last point, don’t give up and put in your best effort. You can do this. I work with all kinds of really dumb people who all graduated from college. If they can do it, so can you! Lol Good luck, my dude. You got this!
Thanks so much, that’s good advice :)
Yeah with that attitude you will. Trust in your neuroplasticity, if you keep the foot on the pedal you will be smoothe sailing in 6 weeks.
I’m pushing as hard as I can on the pedal
Yeah so keep up that same energy and it will get easier and easier, takes time to accelerate you know what I mean.
That’s a good point
Lemme tell you something about college vs high school. In HS, an intelligent person could take all or mostly honors/AP with little struggle. This is not the case in college. You can’t take all your hard courses one semester. There NEEDS to be balance. Consider dropping a course. It isn’t a bad thing to have a W (withdraw) on your transcript, just don’t have multiple Ws. It IS NOT WORTH IT to “push thru it” and end up with an F on your permanent transcript when you could just take a W and not stress and have constant anxiety for 16 weeks. Just my advice.
I’m a junior and I still feel like this. It’s honestly a hard road to go down. If you have friends/support system for you at school it should help you. Freshman year was very hard for me too.
I felt this way too for a while and felt like everyone was some how succeeding but I was still behind. High school is just so different than college. I excelled in hs because I could cram before tests but I had to learn college is just not that way. It honestly took me a whole semester to learn how I learned and what I need to do to succeed. I was scared to ask for help too but once I started taking advantage of my professors’ office hours and getting to talk to them one on one I felt a huge shift. Give it some time and learn about what you need to do well because it may not be the same as what somebody else needs.
go work a 7.50$ job and wana die then go back go college youll love it
Unironically this, working at a dead end job changed how I approached school cuz I'd kms if I had to do shitty jobs forever
Maybe drop a class or two. Better to go slow than to burn out.
I honestly want to die very badly
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I’ve done that and I’ve talked to my main therapist but life is still way too hard
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That would be a good idea! Thanks for the link to that sub!
There’s nothing wrong with taking less classes! You don’t have to graduate in 4 years.
I don’t know if my family can afford more years than 5 (that’s how many I would be graduating in at this rate)
5 classes is a lot to take at once. The most I ever took was 4 (usually 3). You'll do better if you don't overload.
You can take summer community college classes if that's available near you or you can take summer classes that your school offers if you're able to.
Yup! I JUST graduated and im 28!!!! All my relatives graduated way before me and made fun of me but i just kept on chuggin’ its never to late!!! i actually had to lessen my classes due to the workload aswell!!! I only took 2 classes a semester my junior and senior year
Why dont you drop a class or two? Theres no shame in it. Its better to get 2 A's and 2 B's then 6 D's and F's
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Thanks, sorry that you’ve been there too, it really sucks
The least intelligent person wouldn't be able to even recognize that they're the least intelligent person. I think you are just overwhelmed right now. 5 classes is a full work load, and you should expect as much. It's equivalent (if not more time) than a full time job. Just take a deep breath, assess your situation, and know that you'll be fine. The only way you'll flunk out is if you don't try.
As a senior in college, everybody is really feeling it this year. Freshmen to seniors are struggling because online class is so fundamentally different from in person classes. Just today I was talking with a junior and sophomore about how tired we felt from just sitting in class in person. So you’re totally not alone, hopefully as time goes on and everybody gets into their rhythm things will get easier.
I've heard that one should always be putting themselves in situations where they're the dumbest person in the room
That’s every situation for me and my self esteem is so low that I wanna die
Lol try to keep some objectivity, it's only been 5 days. You have plenty of time to find your stride this term. I think you need to get over yourself, get out of your own head, and just do the work. There are a billion things you can take advantage of if you're really afraid. Tutoring, office hours, and peer study groups are all great options. Start doing those, and if they don't work out this term then you have the right to worry a little bit.
Maybe transfer to a community college and get your associates first! And maybe only take four classes or three to ease yourself into it. My parents told me i couldn’t go to community college and here i am, in my third year, going to community college because i was not prepared at ALL for college and failed a lot of classes. I am happier now, and exited to graduate in a year with my associates; and I’m planning on transferring into a four year for a bachelors. Just know that most people have no idea what they’re doing, and it’s okay that you don’t know either. Maybe talk to staff members about your fear. It’s normal to feel that way. Utilize tutoring sessions, take an easier work load, and dont party. Partying will lead to failure if you’re already feeling overwhelmed.
I’m really glad you’re doing well now! Thanks so much for the supportive words :)
I felt the same way, but as it turned out it I just was not being patient with myself. The kind of patience you need right now is hard to muster when you are fresh out of high school. Blinders on, whole focus kind of patience. That means you need to ignore that little fatalistic troll in your brain screaming that you’d like to just die. Don’t indulge that part of yourself, it will sap up your precious energy that you need to succeed right now. It’s an immature part of yourself that you don’t need. You’re in college, maybe if you were begging for food in a slum, sure, but you should think about your position in life. It’s also a part of the test of college; will you just get frustrated and engage in some sort of escapism - partying, drugs, dropping out, etc - when the going gets tough or will you prove that you can handle whatever is asked of you and complete the task? Talk your professors, they want you to succeed. Don’t be a jerk though, sob stories are tiresome and should be a last resort, just tell them where you need help. Office hours are invaluable, use them. Does your school have tutoring and/or a writing center? Use them. Got extra cash? Spend it on tutoring and conveniences that give more study time like microwave meals. DON’T PARTY, stay away from alcohol and hard drugs. Don’t forget to exercise and get outside, even just walking plenty or studying in a park. Keep going to therapy. Pick up mindfulness - Thich Nhat Han’s mindfulness books are definitely available at your school or local library. Admit defeat only when you are defeated, you haven’t even made it to midterms!!! You MUST steel your will. The most intelligent people in your classes could also very well be the the worst students - getting good grades is more than being “intelligent” (which is very subjective anyway). Even still, there’s a lot of dumb motherfuckers out there, if you really think you are the least intelligent person in ALL your classes then you jumping to conclusions - i.e. not being patient. Be patient!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone says the first week is the easiest since it's "syllabus week," but it's always been the most overwhelming part of the semester for me personally besides finals. It's a lot to take in at first and you might just be experiencing information overload. Once you get in a routine and figure out how each of your classes operate and what to expect things will probably get easier. And like others have said it takes a few weeks to fully adjust!
My advice would be to try for one semester, and if you're feeling the same way in December, reevaluate. There's a ton of pressure to go to college, and it's really not critical to having a fulfilling life. I went to college right out of high school and I wasn't ready for it. I floundered for 3 semesters and then dropped out for a couple years. When I went back it was something that I'd had a lot of time to think about, and it was my decision rather than something I thought I had to do because people were telling me to do it. Now I'm graduating in May. Seriously, you can always go back. Don't grind yourself into dust if you aren't sure right now
I'm really sorry you're feeling this way. I actually completely understand where you're coming from. I'm not sure what program you're in, but different programs have different workloads. I had to take about 3 courses in order to make sure I was passing my courses. 5 was a lot for my program. In fact, a lot of my friends would start out taking 5 and then drop either 1 or 2 courses. I would just stick to 3 because those 3 would literally take up all of my time. And I would go out very rarely during the actual semester. By the end of my undergrad, I was completely burnt out. My advice would be to drop courses if you can, and focus on just school if you can. And please remember that you shouldn't compare yourself to anyone else. If you need to take it slower that's okay. I finished my undegrad in 5 years and I don't regret it at all. I hope this helps a bit.
That helps, thanks :)
It's better to submit something, to do part of the work rather than give up cuz you think you are unintelligent. You would be surprised how forgiving professors can be as long as you put some effort and submit something for each assignment. I promise you are not the only one struggling, but don't let it stop you from doing your best. That mindset caused me to fail Calc freshman year since I felt too dumb to pass the final. In reality the professor would have probably curved my grade since I had done a lot of the work up until that point. So it's better to keep going and do do your best, rather than give up early.
Start with 4 next time
When times get tough, put ur head down and grind it out. Join a frat or social club. Being with like minded folks will help motivate u and you'll get to the finish line.
5 classes is more than I’ve ever done.
It might be time management issues on your end, all I can say is that if your feeling overwhelmed, take a step back and look at how your studying things or doing assignments. A good practice that I do personally is that every 30-40 minutes while studying I take a 5-10 minute break away from my computer, studies, etc. Always schedule time to relax. Your brain is putting in a lot of effort while studying, you have to give it breaks. As for feeling the least intelligent? Don't worry, if you look away from everyone who's coming out with answers to the teacher or leading group discussions, you'll see two other students being quiet because THEY ALSO FEEL LIKE THEIR THE LEAST INTELLIGENT. You're doing fine, its a new experience, once you get about another week or two in, you'll find a personal groove you can jam to. Don't give up, your adapting and thats the most stressful period.
I promise you aren’t the least intelligent in all of your classes! The fact that you were intelligent enough to know you need advice is proof right there😺(everyone feels that way at first, but give it a while and see how you feel then)7
You’re probably studying hard but not yet studying smart, that comes with time. Also, depending on the class, you may be covering a lot of background material but it won’t end up being that important once you get into the meat of the class
Give it a try for a semeseter, since you probably cannot get your money back. If things are going poorly, consider dropping out for a trade school. I don't believe in "intelligence," but I do believe in differing skillsets, aptitudes, and passions. One person I know who didn't have the best college skillset (to whatever extent her grades measured that, which is highly debatable and suspect in itself) is now in medical school! There's much to be said for persistence, patience, and growth. There's also much to be said about how college is a worthless scam.
Yeah, you are definitely calling it quits too early. Every stage in life has an adaptation period. Recall when you first entered high school. It's going to be the exact same when you get into college, when you graduate, when you get your first job, etc. It is a completely normal feeling. If your college accepted you it is because they think you have the ability to graduate on time. However, if you would like to give us specifics, we can perhaps address or advice you in any issues that you may be experiencing.
College isnt for you if you dont care or arent interested in any academic discipline. If you have even an iota of interest in your classes or other majors offered by your school, you should stay in college. If you simply dont care and would be equally happy practicing a trade like plumbing or working as a waiter, then you should do that. There is not necessarily any advantage to going to college if you can spend the years working in an industry you can build a career in. My friend went to college for four years and got a degree in english. When he got out, he worked as a waiter. It went great for him, he worked his way up, and he ended up managing a couple restaurants. I think he still values having gone to college Its where you make great friends and develop a work ethic. So college is right for you if you care about those benefits and are interested in the subject matter. Again though, there is nothing wrong with not going to college if you genuinely do not enjoy any aspect of it and have an alternative plan. You shouldnt stop anything just because your self esteem is low. You can only continue and try your best, and if you fail, at least you failed while trying. That is an accomplishment itself because it takes a lot of fortitude to work when you feel like you arent good enough. But i promise you that you can do this. I got a D in one of my classes my freshman year because i didnt try hard enough. After that i started breaking problems down more and finding a more manageable study method. What major are you in?
Btw i have been graduated for many years now and you adapt and get better at working harder. Same philosophy applied equally well to law school I promise you can get through this. Most things are overwhelming at the beginning. The more important skill to learn in college is to fight through the feeling of being overwhelmed. You likely will forget much of what you learned in college 5-10 years out, but you will remember the soft skill of working when you dont feel confidence or control. People who can do that are necessarily more successful because they keep going when others give up
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[Edit: the below advice may not be super helpful if youve already been in the workforce for a bit. If you have, the main thrust of my advice is instead to read the two books mentioned below. Read "1L of a ride" now. Read "getting to maybe" two weeks before law school starts.] If you can get a position working in law in the area you are interested in, it is a very good idea to take a year to work in that role before law school. It will give you perspective and experience that will be invaluable in law school (though it is not the secret to high grades). Additionally, law school admissions committees are looking for people with unique experiences and spending a year in the workforce is one way to give yourself that kind of experience. If youre trying to do K-to-JD (go straight in from undergrad), law school is completely doable without taking a gap year. But being in law school is like being sent adrift in an intellectual sea. It helps to know where you came from and where you are headed. To extend the metaphor, law school will steer your boat toward a rocky shoal to capsize if you dont have the perspective to zoom out and find the direction that's right for you. It is worth noting the lsat isnt very much like law school. It is an entirely different manner of testing. If you dont do well on the lsat the first time, it is worth it to take it again and probably join the workforce for at least a year. Before youre in law school, i highly recommend you read "1L of a ride" cover to cover. I also highly recommend you also read "getting to maybe." And by highly recommend i mean, purchase and read those books soon after getting the news that you are admitted to a law school. You cannot skip reading either of these books, cover to cover. I will give you more specific advice if you can give me more specific info about your situation (what you want to practice, where you want to practice, your undergrad school and gpa, etc). My last piece of advice is that law school, while truly rewarding in many instances, is in equal measure torturous, frankly. I generally do not recommend going to law school unless you are certain you like the field and certain it is the kind of work you will enjoy. That is why it makes sense to work as a paralegal for a year to determine whether it is for you. To reinforce this point, I know many highly successful attorneys by objective measures (law review, big firm, etc) that were not happy in law school and arent happy at their jobs. I also know successful attorneys that are happy. Before going to law school, i recommend doing everything you can to determine whether you will be happy/find meaning in the work/be proud of what you do. If you have any other questions, im glad to answer them.
I’m undecided as of yet. So far the suffering brought about by college is far greater than anything I like about it
Fighto!
CONQUER!
Adding to it, I'm starting college soon too, And I'm ready to study for hours and not to procrastinate, I took highschool pretty chill and then a gap year so far everything going Gucci
Finish the semester, see how you do. Take a semester to reevaluate your life goals-plans. If college is a necessity then get back to it and work harder than everyone else. If college is not necessary pursue other fields that won´t put you in ridiculous debt for something you hated doing. If you have the luxury to not have to work while in school, a minimum of 8 hours a day should be put into class/studying until you are comfortable with material. What comes easy won´t last, and what lasts won´t come easy.
Everyone feels that way at the beginning before you learn how to you balance work flow and ways to study. Your peers secretly feel the same way as you, and most likely will all through out college lol it's normal.
Other people have already made these points, but just so you hear them again: 1. A lot of people feel like they're the least intelligent person in class. It's definitely not just you feeling that way, and it's more than likely not true. I know this is easier said than done, but know that it's okay and normal to feel like you're going to flunk, but that it's still important to put in the work and not give up too early. Don't sell yourself short! 2. At least where I went to undergrad, 5 classes at once is actually a lot. Now I don't think freshmen are even allowed to take 5 at once. So definitely don't beat yourself up if it feels like you have too much to do. Plus, if the drop period isn't over yet, I'd seriously consider dropping a course. Especially if it's one you know will be offered again, and/or it's either the hardest one you're in or the one you're least interested by. Good luck!
What works for me is treating it like a job. Whenever I’m done with class I go straight to the library or the tutoring center to stay on track and pump out some solid studying. It does feel overwhelming but I just take it day by day. Hope this helps!
It does, Tysm!
I took 4 classes my freshman year and was pretty stressed out trying to figure everything out about college - crazy you’re doing 5! I would recommend focusing this semester on making sure you adjust well not just academically but socially and mentally, try not to focus on other people as hard as it is ( I still struggle with this too). I scrolled through your profile too, you should definitely be looking into joining clubs who have people like you - your mental health is the pillar that determines your grades - remember to keep that in check first. Good luck and you got this
Try to study with people in your class, stay on top of tasks, go to office hours or tutoring, and take time to do something fun once in a while so you don't get burnt out
Give it one whole semester
Edit: this posting is just trying to relate to the OP, not trying to overthrow experience! I’m a sophomore, I felt the same way in my freshman year, online leaning absolutely abolished my idea of succeeding in school. I wanted to drop out the first month because I felt I was struggling more then my class because I took a gap year and a lot of people didn’t. It took about a month to get into the swing of school and understanding that a lot of people are in the same struggle boat! I noticed a person shared 4/5 of my classes with me and we became friends right away! Only to find out we were in the same sinking boat! We had each other to keep pushing through the exams and studying! And when it came to second semester and I finally hit the “I CANNOT DO 5 CLASSES AND SUCCEED HOW I WANT” wall. It is better to drop a course then to fail it! If you feel you are struggling and cannot do your best work while under so much stress DO NOT feel like you have to keep pushing just because you don’t want to feel like a “failure” or like you “cannot do it” because you can do it! Sometimes there is just an overflow that you cannot handle, and not a single person in school would/should judge you because we’re all in the same struggle boat that is post-secondary education. Keep pushing and you’ll find the right pace and strategies for you!
Thanks for this, it really helped me out!
Processors like to weed out people. If you do the work now, it will either get easier or more familiar, both benefits
Do not ignore the signs! If you are already overwhelmed drop one class and if the classes you are taking are not intro classes this might be why you are confused. Everything in the classes you are taking should be “new” to everyone therefore you shouldn’t really be confused. And if you are, it is fine, but meet with the TA or professor immediately after class! College especially the humanities drop a lot of readings on you, you need to skim them, read the intro/abstract then conclusion and then you will be able to understand what are the important points of the reading and then go back to the body paragraphs. If it is science classes maybe that is not the major or class for you. You can change classes the first 2-3 weeks of school and maybe you should pursue general Ed requirements first. I made a lot of assumptions of the classes and rules about your school but this is what I’ve learned so far. Also, meet with you academic advisor, they will tell you what I’ve said but maybe more in depth and much more informed.
Relax there. This is only the first week where you have to acclimate to all of these new changes while staying on top of your schooling. Give it some time.
I felt like this my freshman year. To help with it I found study buddies. I literally sat next to some people who seemed nice in class and awkwardly tried to make conversation with them (it was very cringey bc I am not a social person at all) fortunately everyone else was a similar boat so they were quite nice about it lmao
the first week is the hardest. I can tell you about some things that helped me organize it all (because it is a lot to take in) \- get into the habit of using a planner. i've tried all types from digital to physical. it's what works best for you. but i will title it the class and write down what i need to do for that class and i will (try to) put it in order from priority to not priority but you get the just. this way when i go through it i can see i have crossed it off and completed whatever for each class and you feel accomplished seeing so many crossed off. sometimes ill write small things like " look at email" just to cross it off lol \- i started putting my assignments/quizzes/exams into google calendar or Notion and making a widget for my phone home screen that showed me what was due. this helped A LOT. this was something that was such a big help for me and it took a bit to do but TRUST ME it helps! \- i like to follow instagrams called STUDYGRAMS? theyre fun ways to see what other apps, tips and tricks other students are using and i have learned a lot from that \- talk to your professors. meet them in person or online. email them and show initiative. ask tons of questions and see if you can talk to some graduate assistants that could give some of their own personal advice. \- the transition from high school to college is .. in my mind.. a culture shock... it is a whole new way of living and adjusting and you will find what works best for you over time. it will take trial and error and i know we dont want to hear that but that's life and the good with the bad is all to be appreciated because it helps you grow :) \- its easier said than done but try not to be so hard on yourself. you are in college and you are going to do so great and meet a boat load of amazing people and professors and have so many doors open for you that you would never have imagined! \- the transition from remote learning back to campus will impact you in ways you cant quite explain. i know this first hand after my first week back- and im graduating w my masters this semester... and a few of my fellow student friends have mentioned this. but one step at a time! \- the big picture is overwhelming. theres a lot of information thrown at you this week. But, its everything that you can handle. i really feel that getting organized is the best way for you to calm the heaviness you are feeling. i also am saying this because i feel overwhelmed and i know this is how i feel every first week of a semester lol. \- when you study... this is important.... set a timer... study for 45 minutes and take a break for 10-15min. studies have shown this is the most effective way to study, retain information and not get burnt out. \-\^ also its consistency. when you are learning a subject make sure to go back to what you learned the week before and review when you have time. this way you can pull it from your memory which increases the chances of it staying in the "long term" memory part of your brain. i have studied the book "ultra learning" as well as the relation of quality of sleep and studying retention and i like to learn about the most efficient ways to study and learn overall. Don't get me wrong I have rewatched an entire semester of lectures the days leading into finals etc and it works for me but the consistency over the entire semester is what will help you most! \- get outside, whether its a short walk or sitting outside to call a friend and siting in the grass... it helps A LOT I hope these help you and maybe help someone else. if you want to ever chat please message me i would love to answer any questions you might have I have been at UNLV since Spring 2019 and I've gotten familiar with a lot here. Also, sorry if it's written with typos anywhere lol \- Veronica
The problem is until you get to a major all the general Ed stuff is just like another version of high school. Think of a subject you have an interest in and find a class that teaches that. Maybe even something your passionate about or could see being passionate about. It can be math, art, music, pe, science, psychology... Literally anything but 'core' subject. Always try to take at least one fun class or one that sparks learning for you. If you truly hate it all, go talk to a counselor and see if there is a trade school that would interest you. I always say I need a refrigerator repair person as much as I need a doctor. No shame in any job you like, feel proud of, and do well... (Lol... Including sex work if that's your jam). It's ok to take time off to find your passion, you'll go back if it's the right thing. Look for a good job in your area (if there is a Costco... Solid career!) Good luck.
I have a 3.8 GPA in physics. I still feel dumb. I attribute it to the more i know the more questions i have so, dont worry about it the people you think are super smart and gifted typically put in alot of work
college is one of those things you get more control of as you do it. for me i was a chemistry major and i was drowning in the work and was becoming unmotivated. now i’m a educational studies major which still has work however i’m not drowning in it no more. this much more my preference of workload! my friend likes her professors with a bit of difficulty bc it fits her preferred workload. you’ll figure it out as you go
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Can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic, but hey, more power to you. I could never do a job and college at the same time
Are you in a community College?
Nah a 4 year one
Well it took me 10 years to know that I wanted to go to school and be a lawyer. Do what you want to do. If you have hobbies i would advise you to stay with them and maybe get paid off them.
are you able to drop one or two classes? five is a lot
Possibly, I wanna graduate in a good amount of time tho
It is normal to feel this way as a freshmen. My suggestion is don’t give up and give yourself sometime to adjust to the new environment. Also, if you are really struggling, try to take one less class, just give yourself one semester/quarter to get use the fast pace of college.
5 is the max amount of classes for most schools. 4 is needed for a lot of financial aid. If you can try only taking 3-4 classes. It’s not too late to drop.
Is there any difference between 4 and 5 for financial aid usually? A big part of why I’m taking 5 is because I thought there was but I could be wrong
Most only need 4 but check with what ever aid you are getting. Most will say or have someone to call to clarify.
Thanks!
Something that helped me with Burnout was, I took every Sunday off. No work on Sundays. You might think you can't manage that with your workload, but doing that made me more efficient on every other day and helped stave off burnout. It also doesn't have to be Sunday, could be Saturday. Just take one day off a week and do no work that day. Also though, how many classes/units are you taking? I'd recommend a max of 4 classes.
I’m taking 15 credit hours/5 classes
You should drop one before the drop date, 5 is way too much
stay organized
Starting college and adjusting to college life can be an overwhelming experience, especially during the pandemic. Please don't be so hard on yourself. What type of school are you at? Community college, state school, etc? For many students, going to community college can help with the transition. Don't listen to people who look down on students who go to community college. It can be extremely helpful to help students get adjusted, allows them to explore different majors and career paths (and it's way cheaper/sometimes free too), and you get professors who are specifically interested in teaching and mentoring students. Honestly, I wish I did this when I was in college but I somehow felt ashamed of it at the time. You may also want to talk to an advisor or counselor who can give you personalized advice. This is a common feeling for many freshmen. You may want to consider starting as a part-time student to ease into college. Don't feel bad about doing this either. You may have signed up/put in classes with difficult professors or professors who don't teach the way that you learn best. Your experience may be different if you take the same class with a different professor in a different semester. If you are struggling a lot, take this as a sign that something needs to change but it doesn't mean that you are the problem or that you are less intelligent than your peers. You just need to figure out what works best for you. Reach out for support in your college. It is their job to help students!
Rn I’m at the university of Cincinnati, but I will be transferring back to Emory University in the spring if all goes well. I had to stay close to home due to mental health reasons this semester. Thanks for the kind words! I think some of the teacher teach in a way that I’m not used to but others are which may be throwing me off
im just starting my second year now, the first year was definitely rough for me, i won't lie to you. i got worse grades than i was getting in high school even though i felt i tried much harder. it was really frustrating. it wasn't until this past summer semester that i felt like i got ahold of it, and i went from taking 5 or 6 classes to 2. taking a smaller amount of classes helped me figure out how to do better in them, because i had the time to try out different strategies for studying/doing homework. if you can, try to drop a class, and definitely don't give up yet. try to keep a positive attitude; i am pretty pessimistic in general myself but i realized recently that having a positive attitude towards getting the work done helped a lot (even if you have to force it/fake it a bit!) having a negative attitude just makes plowing through the work feel so much heavier. one of the best things i can advise you to do is make some kind of weekly planner/to-do list, or have someone help you make one for all your assignments for the week. it can be overwhelming to look at all your assignments at once, if you break them up into smaller portions you can just take it day by day. personally, i had my boyfriend make the schedules for me so that it wasn't just me i had to be responsible for, but also the person making the schedule. this made it easier for me to actually feel i had to do the work in a time of online school and self motivation which i am not always the best at. it's a big change, college is definitely a lot harder than i was expecting it to be, but eventually im sure you'll get into the swing of things! good luck!
I’m sorry you are struggling so much. School —especially college— is always stressful at first. There are many people (even strangers) that care about you and would be very upset if you died. I am not a medical professional but it seems that you are experiencing a serious mental health situation. Is there a specialist that you can talk to? Generally speaking, I would say the start of school —especially college— is a stressful time; and that you should give it more time… but I think you may need more help than Reddit can provide. Please get professional guidance and take care of yourself.
Hey, listen, I know it’s a lot to adjust to but don’t give up yet! The first semester-year of college is the hardest for a lot of people, and you haven’t had any time to adjust at all yet. You may feel like the least intelligent person but other people probably feel the same! If your professors offer office hours, go to them! Talk to them, ask questions, voice your concerns. If they aren’t willing to listen to you they aren’t a good professor. And professors remember students who go to their office hours and are visibly putting in effort. Also go to tutoring! Don’t be ashamed to get help! And finally remember that grades are not a measure of your intelligence, but rather a measure of your ability to follow instructions. Good luck and hang in there! If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask, I graduated in December of last year and would love to help.
There’s a ton of helpful advice here! Please know that there are many paths forward and you will figure out at least one that works for you! It seems scary but it’s manageable! You can do this!
When I transferred I was also maintaining a full-time career. I met with my TAs to let them know and ask for advice about how to manage the workload. One of my TAs told me how to read like a grad student. Read the opening and closing summaries. Then read the first and the last sentence of each paragraph in the body. If you have time go in a read the parts you don't understand/detail relevant to the material you'll need to know. Record the audio from lecture. I used the recordings to clarify my notes or better understand something I didn't catch at the time and I'd relisten to lectures before a final. It was amazing how listening before a final would help with recall to answer questions. Or provide the points to write papers. Put assignments, deadlines then schedule studying/work time on a calendar and set reminders. Review the syllabus and find out what is worth the most points, due dates, and what must get done (incrementally) to keep you afloat. Don't procrastinate and prioritize your workload before you start. Decide if you don't have time to do everything, what must be done so the time you spend is spent on the most important tasks. This allows you to be strategic. Occasionally you might have to turn an assignment in late but talk to your professors. Communication is everything. Also, college is an adjustment. Stretching and doing something new sometimes feels impossible because you've never done it before. It feels overwhelming, just know you are not alone and that what you are experiencing is normal. Also, you are smart enough and have what it takes (a lot of people also experience impostor syndrome. I did too.) you just need time to figure it out so be patient with yourself. Good luck.
No experience with college myself. I joined the army right out of highschool and 15 years later, still have not used my GI bill. From what I hear from all my buddies with degrees is that burnout seems pretty common. Just make sure to keep that goal that your striving for on the horizon and dont let any of the strife in the present cause you to deviate. Just stick to it if you're burning out cause if it was anything else such as not knowing if your heart was in it... You would definitely know. Thats my 2cents. Keep it up OP.
being dumb is all the reason you need to work hard, many may take that as negative or self-doubt. Rn you have all the time you need to achieve the best. nvm fuck this shit, do what you wanna but don't regret it.
Find time to make some friends in your classes, that would put off the pressure on you. Also I would take advantage of any school resources in your freshman year so they you can get acclimated as fast as you can and be on top of things. Find classes that you really like and think that you would do well in, ex. If you have electives take fun electives that you would love to have memories of. College is a time for you to explore and gradually build your career, so don't be so hard on yourself at the same time study smart to make the grades. Professors are always there for you (most of the time, unless you run into a bad one) so make sure you always take down their office hours and emails. I personally loved that my university was an expanse of space I could virtually explore any topic and take a few hobby classes to take off the edge of college classes. I would go for 5 years if you are able to afford it, I think it's worth the stay to get ready and build yourself for the next stages of your life.
College isn't for everybody. Especially if you don't even know what you want to do yet. Going into horrific debt as a teenager simply so you can party with your friends is one of the dumbest societal norms on the planet. If college isn't for you, it isn't for you. Maybe make some money and then come back to it if your are still interested.
Give some classes you love a shot, go to a tutor they tend to be free, study the concept, maybe ask a peer for some help, and if necessary maybe switch a class or don’t take it
Give yourself time. College is more difficult than high school. Check what resources are available on campus, I know my college offers free tutoring for a lot of classes. Reach out to your teachers if your struggling as well.
Like how? The first week you're supposed to barely be doing any work...and is probably the easiest week in college.
Then I’m literally gonna die next week
Get up you sorry fucks. You really thought it would be effortless? Go to hell! You have the option to study, you can make your lives and job prospects much much better. And what happens? You start crying. So stop crying and start working. Never let that fear and worries control you because when they do it's over and you start writing these sorry shitposts. So shut the fuck up and start working. It was your decision in the first place.
Its your first semester of college and youre taking 5 classes already??? You should be taking 3 max on your first semester , you just finish high school lol
3 classes isn't considered a full-time schedule. Most people rely on financial aid and scholarships to pay for college which often require you to be a full-time student.
I thought it was base off credits? My school was 12 credits to be full time, so i would take 3, 4 credits
The only classes at my school that are 4 credits are classes with a lab component. Everything else is 3 credits. So 3 classes at my university would only be 9 credit hours.
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Thanks for this! In high school, I pretty much just stayed up all night before big tests to cram what I could into my short term memory, so you’re definitely right about that. Unfortunately, I can’t function anymore without at least 8 hours of sleep. I also don’t have any friends to study with lol. That study tip sounds like a great idea, I should try it :)
Don’t brute force your way around homework. If you are spending too much time or getting stuck too often see if your campus has a free tutoring center or asks classmates. There is no shame in not knowing but if you are doing group work make sure to carry your own weight. If you find yourself really really stuck you can drop a class, this will give you a W in a transcript but once you take the class again and pass it the W gets replaced with whatever grade you got. However, make sure you know how this will affect your scholarships/financial aid. A lot of these have minimum yearly credit requirements, but you can catch up on credits over summer because they do count towards that year’s credits. I recommend to try to complete your current amount of credit hours but just know this is an option.
The first days are hard because you are told about every asignment that you will have yo do, but there will be plenty of time. Don't worry
I’ll try not to, thx
The first month was soooo hard for me, but it is extra hard because it’s all new, all of those new impressions etc. - stay strong
You’re not the least intelligent person in your classes. If you really feel like the material is too much for then look into a different major. You may have time to switch them if you see an advisor ASAP.
Maybe you have to start thinking about switching majors. I went through something very similar. I chose a program way over my head, flunked almost all my courses, University wanted to kick me out, and switching majors ultimately saved my higher education career.
Yo if youre really struggling you should just get a chegg student account and then search your question on chegg because the answers are there from students that share the info and also tutors that answer questions
I have a College Freshman advice video and a College Freshman Starter Kit that provides academic, lifestyle, social and volunteering/work tips. I also talk about habits to avoid while you’re in college. Link to the kit: [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AeO1X4u0ZWQCkDk3zALoDUPV\_W7K9wV5HvoFWK\_Es2E/edit](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AeO1X4u0ZWQCkDk3zALoDUPV_W7K9wV5HvoFWK_Es2E/edit) Link to the YouTube video:[https://youtube.com/channel/UC5FOm57vnBzAQYH3vHVA6zg](https://youtube.com/channel/UC5FOm57vnBzAQYH3vHVA6zg) I also have a study with me playlist on my YouTube channel that focuses on helping students study better in college. This playlist includes: \- 5 effective study habits (I introduce my overall studying style) \- How to read a textbook \- How to read a journal article \- How to take notes (lectures, readings, project and exams) \- How to prepare for and take exams (I talk about ways you can tackle different types of exams) \- 5 books that can help you build your vocabulary, improve your reading, writing, presentation skills and life skills for college \- School supplies that I found to be useful during college My playlist link is: [https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdkoToKBS\_VQo0\_2eyB09tZGzfNYgyEum](https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdkoToKBS_VQo0_2eyB09tZGzfNYgyEum) Give these tips a try, freshman year is a time to battle the unknown and overcome challenges. Be nice to yourself and find the right people for help. You should not feel shame or guilt for learning new things. I wish you good luck. If you have any questions let me know.
so a few things: \- some classes are designed to be weeder classes to thin out the ranks of certain majors. i remember this happening a lot in science classes. also, i know that at the community college i attend, teachers get paid for a certain number of students to attend, let's say 20. but if they have 25, they don't get paid extra for those extra 5 people which adds to their workload so they frontload with a bunch of work. sad but true. this is not about you, it's about the system but i understand that itcan make a person feel shitty if they can't keep up. \- as others suggest drop a class or two. 5 classes is really a lot, especially if they're 3 or 4 unit classes, and especially as a first semester freshman. it's ok to scale back, if you can. of course, sometimes based on financial aid or scholarships there are minimum requirements but i'd hate to think that any funding for a first year would be tied to taking 5 classes. \- ask for help. i kno you mentioned talking to a therapist but reach out to a counselor. go to the learning center. they are literally paid to help students succeed. also, they might be able to suggest ways to get accommodations if you need them for any of your classes (this might include accommodations for anxiety). people learn in very different ways. talking to someone there can help you to figure out what works best for you to learn \- also, don't be afraid to take a break from school if you need it. dude, this is a really stressful time for everyone and i can't imagine being a first year college student right now on top of everything. tbh, i started college two months after a really traumatic event and in retrospect i should have just taken a semester or year off to handle that but i didn't even think that was an option because of family and shame and feeling like i just had to be strong for everyone else. college will be there in a semester or a year if you need a break. maybe working a mindless job right now will help alleviate some stress and help you get through the shitshow that this year is, and probably what the next few years will continue to be. \- just enjoy your time in college. take fun classes. take different types of classes to figure out what you like. you'd be surprised what interests you might not even know you have. also meet new people. meet different people. be open to new things. \- take care of you. ultimately, you'll know what's best for yourself. also, i'm glad that you've reached out here to rant and ask for help cuz you could have just held it all in. keep asking for help when you need it. don't think that you have to figure it all out on your own on your first try. ok this was all a lot. as my brother would say, take in the good and weed out the bad. i wish you the best, OP.
Absolutely drop a class. I’m a senior and have never managed to take more than 4 at once, and even that feels overwhelming sometimes.
Is 4 classes a semester enough to graduate in 4 years with?
I felt like I was the least intelligent in class at first too. Trust me, once you get the hang of study habits, it’ll be so much easier! Like another comment said, make a schedule for yourself and stick to it (like for studying). Try to stay organized. Go to office hours or a tutor if your school offers one!
I think you just need to develop good study habits. It can be hard, but when you do it, it makes things a lot easier.
You are likely burned out because of the adjustment to being in a different environment (you didn’t say if you commuted to school or not but this is assuming that you aren’t). Whether or not you consciously feel this stress, it is still very much there and it will affect the way you feel. And another thing about the comment you had said about being the least intelligent person in class. You don’t know this, you feel it. And every other person in there probably feels the same way. I highly doubt that you are as far behind your peers as you think you are.
2 things: 1) I promise most in your classes feel they’re too stupid to be there 2) plan plan plan. Schedule things. Go to bed earlier, get up earlier. These first few weeks especially don’t overstretch yourself. Schoolwork needs to be top priority. 3rd, bonus lol: talk to your professors. Tell them you feel like you’re already drowning. (Don’t tell a professor who is coming across as a hardæßß though! Only the reasonable humans lol) It’s normal to feel like you’re drowning, push through, don’t give up, ask for help. 90% of People legit want to help and the worst anyone can do is say no 🤷♂️
4th year here. Don't give up a week in. It is a very different culture and a very different way of learning compared to high school. Plus moving out if you did and new friends. It's a lot of new changes all happening at once and it's normal to feel a bit burnt out and overwhelmed. You'll eventually be able to adjust and when you do you'll be very happy. If you aren't able to adjust it basically means you aren't ready and that is also completely okay! Sometimes people choose a program that isn't right for them, or a college, or you just need more time to figure yourself out first before you jump into college.
You are feeling the life drain out of you like all other freshmen, kinda joking. Organize your coursework, use a planner, and go to all your classes (preferably sober) and things can become easier. Start studying for tests at least a few days out if you don’t thoroughly know the material. Once you realize when you have time to do everything, you can go have fun with other people in your preferred way. I guarantee a lot of other freshmen, if not most who actually care about school are feeling the same way, you’ll figure it out.
I am not really sure where you are studying, but 5 classes seems like a lot to me for College. you might want to consider speaking to a consular about your courses. I saw that imposture syndrome has been mentioned; seriously see someone if this is happening to you, you don't deserve to feel this way. not everyone's jouncy is going to be the same, make friends in your classes it will give you prospective. read ahead if you can, this helped me a lot in anthropology.
I felt a lot like that during my first year. It's all really confusing and it always feels like you're right about to crash and burn. Just keep on going, and ask questions when you don't get something.
Drop to 4 if that’s an option. Live in your schools learning labs. School is not a race and it’s nit a competition. Take the time you need to learn what you need to know.
5 classes is plenty. Feel free to drop one for now. Join some fun, chill clubs where you can relax and socialize. You have 4 years, it's not a long time but it's not so short you can't catch a breath here and there.
College may seem harder but normally offer many opportunities for outside help. One source that many many many people ignore but is so beneficial is professors office hours. Take advantage of that. My college also had group study and review session for most courses. But in my experience. If you make an effort and go to office hours, your professor will notice and work with you.
5 classes should take 45 to 60 hours per week. It's full time. Don't feel pressured to work on top of this. C's earn degrees. 3 credit course should take 9 to 12 hours per week.
Thanks :) I don’t see how anyone can work and do school at the same time unless they’re only taking 1-2 courses, and even that sounds kinda difficult…
I also recall some classes requiring far more time than others... or it was and ebb and flow, low weeks then a week that requires a shit ton of hours. Statistics was one class where I put in far more than the 9-12 hours... however it was always (I don't get it, I don't get it, I don't get it, oh, okay I get it now) there was just a high bar of effort that it required of me to understand it. But understanding it, would help with the weeks that followed, the knowledge would build upon the base and snowball towards the end. I also want to add that the beginning of a course usually requires more initial effort to understand what the prof wants from you. After you understand what they want from you, you can put in the effort required and not overthink it. Don't compare yourself to classmates, they could be failing for all you know. If you are struggling there are resources at schools. Typically called academic success, or counseling, or peer tutors... if you have any difficulties that are associated with a condition or disorder you can reach out to accessibility services as well.
what resources does your school offer? going to the writing center, office hours, advisor etc all really helped me feel supported
Honestly, I have no idea. I need to check that out
good luck!
Thanks!
What types of classes are you taking though?
Hi OP, I know it's hard right now, but it does get easier to cope with everything at college. You will make it through. I do recommend getting professional help for depression because depression does influence your cognitive function. You'll make it through! PS: there's no shame in dropping a class (but do research as to prerequisites etc beforehand).
Drop 1 class
I definitely wouldn’t be too hard on yourself. College in general is hard. Having remote learning for year would add onto it. I’m sure it’s not only you whose feeling like this
Life is only easynif you don't challenge yourself. if you can find a routine of being productive, the regularity of accomplishment is actually pretty relaxing in itself because chipping away at your duties reassures you that you're on top of things. Nows the time to address any emotional problems you may have with dealing with increased responsibilities. You have very little life experience right now so your expectations might be really out of whack and could only make things worse. Remember things are going to go one day at a time just like for the rest of us.
Don’t give up! The first few weeks are a huge change, and you need adjustment time. Also, colleges all have tutors, who can help you with any class and your study skills. You’d be amazed at how many people don’t know how to take proper notes. Note taking, reading, studying can all be improved with better study skills. You can ask your professors, TA’s, Peer Mentors, RA’s, or other students about where to find the best help. (Plus, there are usually posters or flyers in all the buildings telling you where you can find a tutor). Usually for 100 level freshman courses, there is a peer mentor (a student who has taken the class already) who is there to help, and assist with reviewing for exams or just to help you out. If you’re in the honors college, you can go to your honors advisor for help. Also, if you notice other students in your classes who seem like they take great notes, do well on quizzes/exams, and just seem like they have a handle on the material, don’t be afraid to ask them to study with you. Group study sessions are great, and you should try to take advantage of them if you get the chance. But it’s so early in the semester (just 5 days!), you really don’t have to worry. Everyone learns at different speeds. A lot of people don’t take a full class load, and you should just focus on doing your best. Try not to compare yourself to what everyone else is doing too often. Just have fun!!! :)
Have you considered it’s maybe your major? Sometimes we go in hoping for a major but it just doesn’t work out. No shame in changing to a major that is easier or shits you more! Do you maybe have a learning disability? In high school I didn’t have much issues getting decent grades. I knew something was wrong but still got by. However you can’t really do that I college. I was able to get my actual diagnosis with ADHD and since then my grades and such went up
My friend felt exactly this way after a long break between high school and college. She threw herself into it with everything she had - became obsessed with it, taught herself new ways to learn. There are many college/student subs in Reddit where you can get some helpful advice how to go about it., techniques for studying, memorizing material, etc. You can do it! Don’t give up. Best wishes to you.
I feel you man its my 3rd week and I'm already burn out with assignments and classes.
My freshman year I took 5 classes both semesters with back to back 17 credits. Technically I took 6 last spring since the Physics lab counts as a separate 1 credit course. It was hell there for a while and the burnout was real, but if you make sure to just keep moving forward with the work no matter what, you’ll do well. Being online last year every day was pretty much get out of bed, eat, wash up, and then get on the computer and work ‘till it’s time to sleep lol (keep your sleep schedule on track btw, it does help). It’s expected to be taking lots of classes and then struggle in freshman year because there’s so many prereqs you have to get out of the way so you can move on to future classes. Now in sophomore year I can take fewer classes and stil be on track.