College & Uni support thread.

[Cacoethes]

That's pretty much what we're doing.
We get on to the real learning next week!
This week is just more study skills.
Its rather tedious!

[Lilo]

Weirdly enough I think I would of quite liked a few weeks of study skills!
But that's probably because I have already been given my 3rd proper assignment and don't really have much clue on how to properly reference and essay plan. So I am nervous of starting them incase I do it all wrong.

I've made a start on my UCAS form tonight.
I'm just hoping that whoever looks at my GCSE/AS Level grades won't judge me too much for all the D's and E's!

How's everyone else finding College/uni?

[Cacoethes]

Study skills has certainly been very useful!
Its just boring!
We've learned all about note taking, how to research and how to find reliable sources and referencing and we get tons of support with UCAS so its all good really!

Idont even have GCSEs, im sure you'll be fine!!

Im finding that the classes drag a lot less this week!
So i think im getting used to it all.
I still need to sort out this assessment pack thing which ive been putting off and it's due on the 6th so i should probably get going!

[Lilo]

It sounds like as you've been doing loads of study skills so when you do start getting assignments you'll be able to start straight away.

We had a session on UCAS today which was helpful.
I still need to make a start on my personal statement though.

It's good that you're getting used to it now.
I feel mostly settled in although I did get lost on my way to a class the other week lol

What does your assessment pack involve doing?

[Cacoethes]

Yep! Lots and lots of study skills!
And its all on moodle anyway so we can go back and look stuff up.

Yeah me too.
Im procrastinating so badly and I've barely started!

Its pretty hard to get lost at my college! We're in a tower block so like room 405 is 4th floor, 305 is on the 3rd floor, 205 is on 2nd floor and so on! So its pretty easy luckily!
Although I can never remember which room the labs are in which is annoying because you can't have drinks in there and I always end up having to down my coffee before class!

The assessment pack is just basically tasks that relate to what we've learned.
Like for research methods, we have to choose a topic and provide 3 sources of info and explain why we chose those sources and if they are reliable and stuff.
Its all very tedious!

[BangEndedScoot]

I'm really struggling to find any shred of enthusiasm over college tomorrow. I know it's not going to be any real learning, and I have my ESA assesment right after so i've got the anxiety over that on top of the anxiety over college.

[Cacoethes]

I'm doing ok.
This is the first week that isnt study skills so its real stuff now!
We did sciency things today and got to wear lab coats which was very exciting :p
I have a couple of things to be getting on with.

How are you doing with it cat?

[Lilo]

I've written my first essay plan for an assignment that's due in November. We have to hand the plan in next week so I'm happy that I finished it early so I can focus on something else.

My first draft of my personal statement is due in early next week so I need to make a start on that soon. Unfortunately my 4 year old laptop has broken so I'll need to buy a new one asap as my workload is already increasing. I haven't got the money for one upfront at the moment so will have to ask my Dad for a loan and pay him back over 2 years lol.

I've got a 1 to 1 with my tutor tomorrow and am going to London this weekend for a uni open day which should be good. I've also filled in an application to volunteer with the Samaritans and have contacted workers at some local drug & alcohol services to see if I can do some volunteering as I need some type of practical experience to put in my Personal Statement.

Hope you're both getting on alright.

[BangEndedScoot]

two weeks in and i'm already considering quitting, going well this

[HopeRises]

What's happening Bangendedscoot? Is there any support you can engage with at your college? Student services are usually pretty good.

Have you had your esa assessment yet?

Keep going. It takes awhile to settle in and get used to these things.

[BangEndedScoot]

Thanks for the replies guys, I'm just struggling with everything piling up on top of eachother and my mum constantly nagging, yesterday we ended up having an argument and she told me I shouldn't be going to college if I couldn't cope with it and that I should start self harming again, i've just moved back in with her after 4 years being homeless and 1 year in a private rented flat, so things are tense.
As for my ESA assessment, yeah it was on friday and i'm not sure how it went, they were running 3 hours late and I very nearly didn't get seen.

Sorry for my rambling, how is everyone else doing?

[Lilo]

Hey guys

Hope everyone is getting on alright now that college/uni has properly started!

I've finished my first draft of my personal statement and have filled in the rest of my UCAS application. I've got 4 assignments to start, and partially finish, over October half term so I don't think I'll be getting much of a break.

[Cacoethes]

Hey everyone.

Im struggling with college quite a bit due to a decline in my MH.
Should probably let tutors know.

Sounds like you're quite on top of things lilo
That's a lot of assignments!

[Lilo]

Sorry that you're currently struggling with MH and College. I would definitely let your main tutor know at least as they might get concerned otherwise. Also your College might be able to give you some support with it. When I first started my course I was told if my MH started getting bad to let them know straight away so they could help me and not wait until it got worse.

I'm not as on top of things as I would like to be, it's all a facade!
I've already started 1/4 of the assignments so might try and finish it over the weekend so I can start reading up on the others.

[Cacoethes]

Thanks.
College do have a counselling type service.
I'll have to ask about it on Monday.
Will speak to main tutor too.

Sounds like you're doing all the right things!
I have an assignment due on the 20th but its only a really short one.

[Lilo]

I hope talking to your tutor goes well and I'm sure they'll be supportive.

That's good that you only have a short assignment to do.
I was quite surprised that I've been given so much work to do at once but luckily for some of my modules once 1 assignment is done the whole module is completed which is good!

[Lilo]

*bump*

Hope everyone is settling into College/Uni ok.

I have 3 weeks to write 4,500 words between 3 assignments.
I've also got my part in a group presentation to write up and present.

Has anyone got any tips on how to not be overwhelmed by it all?

[Cacoethes]

I forgot about this thread!

That is a lot of work!
Im pretty crap at organisation myself but maybe you could write up a diary or calender type thing and dedicate a certain amount of time to each thing you have to do?

I spoke to my tutor yesterday and she was really good.
I also sent off my UCAS application today :/

[Lilo]

Yeah annoyingly my tutors seem to set the assignments all at once and the deadlines are only 3/4 days apart.

Although I'd actually forgotten that I've been given some 1 week extension slips because of my dyslexia so that takes the pressure off a bit!

You've actually reminded me that I've got Study app so might need to actually pencil in when I can spend time doing my assignments rather than just work at random times.

I might have got myself a Christmas temp for over the weekends which I really need but will be another distraction from my college work.

That's exciting! I paid and sent mine to my tutor the other week but she said it'll be at least 3/4 weeks before they'll be sent to the universities as all my tutors need to add references.

How are you finding college?

[Cacoethes]

That is annoying!
Sounds like you've got a few things to help you which is good!
It is stressful though

It is exciting and nerve wracking!
The actual UCAS deadline isn't until January. The college deadline is tomorrow so the tutors can do all the references and stuff I assume.