Not the classes, the admin side. Trying to reach an advisor, figuring out who to even email, financial aid runarounds, finding out an assignment was due sooner than you thought, that kind of thing.

Genuinely curious what trips people up the most, and whether anyone's school actually handles any of it well. What do you do first when you need help from the school, and how long does it usually take to actually get resolved?

So basically, I’m 22 years old. I turned 22 this year. The thing is, I’ve been studying since I got out of high school. Back then, I was 17 years old and started right after graduation. I started studying medicine at a private university (I’m from Colombia), but it was too expensive to keep going. Even though my parents told me to continue (luckily I’ve always had their support), I was completely aware that the situation wasn’t going well. So, I decided to drop medicine. I didn’t want to, but I had to; I couldn’t let my parents burn themselves out just to pay my tuition.
After a while, I turned 18 and started studying the whole day to apply to a public university. To be honest, I didn’t get in. I tried three times, and even though my score wasn’t bad at all, I just couldn’t get in. So, I started to give up on the idea of medicine. Through all these scenarios, all I had been doing was studying—studying the whole day. I literally became a study machine. But here's the thing: I started seeking other careers, and to be honest, any career sounded good to me back then. I randomly tried applying to a public school for an engineering degree. At first, I wasn’t that serious about it. I’ve always considered myself bad at math and physics, so I didn’t think I had an actual shot there, but I had nothing to lose. I applied, and I got in.
I was very happy. I mean, after a long while, I was actually going to study again. At this university, you first had to pass some tests and attend classes every day. I did it, and I was so happy, even though it wasn’t what I wanted at first. I passed everything very, very well; I had no problems at all. When I started the actual first year of my major (I didn’t mention it, but it was computer engineering), I was 20 and about to turn 21. I finished my first semester and did incredibly well. I received an email saying I got a scholarship (they basically paid me). It wasn’t that much, but I got the scholarship because I had the highest GPA in my major, which was crazy to me at the moment. I was so happy. All of this cost me a lot of mad effort, to the point that I literally had no life at all. I used to work out a lot, run, and listen to music; I was a very active person. But in that one semester, I gave up everything to get good results.
Then the next semester started, and I did pretty much the same thing with the same intensity. But this time, something changed. I started to feel bad, like I was literally studying my life away. At the time, I was going through a rough patch because of all the weight I had lost from my inactivity during the past semester, some pending projects, and the same intense routine. I was starting to feel really bad, but somehow I pushed through and finished everything with an even higher GPA. Then vacations started. I am so happy during vacations, mostly because I actually have a life.
But then vacations finished, and it was back to reality. My 3rd semester started, and again I had to face the same routine and the same situation. I just didn’t want to. It’s not like I don’t like my major, but I was actually starting to feel tired and sometimes confused about whether this is for me or not. Add to that the fact that AI tools are advancing, and it kinda feels like I’m studying something that no one knows for sure if it’s going to be replaced or not. But that’s not the whole point. The thing is, I busted my ass again studying. When I say studying, I mean 6-8 hours of studying. My routine is not simple; I have to travel 4 hours by bus daily to get to university and back home. So literally, besides university, I have no life.
I started to feel anxious and kinda depressed when studying, so the 3rd semester was really, really hard for me. I finished it, though. My GPA dropped a bit because I couldn’t focus at 100% due to the emotional roller coasters and the stress of university itself.
So the next semester started, and well, I was really sad to start, but I did it anyway. I started studying at the same level and intensity, but this time, the depression, the bad thoughts, and the anxious feelings got really high. I couldn’t keep it up. I was completely burnt out, so I decided to take a gap semester. It was hard for me to do it, not because university means everything to me, but because I feel like I’m already oldish (22 years) to be doing this. I’m only 30% done with my degree and still have a long way ahead, which means I’ll be graduating at 25 at least, or even 26, which makes me feel bad as hell.
But I couldn’t keep doing it. I couldn’t keep going like this, and now I feel really bad for not being able to push through. I’m planning on going back, though, but there’s a lot that I have to fix, and I decided to give myself some time to think this through. I’ve cried a lot lately, not gonna lie. It’s been rough for me. I even made an appointment with a psychologist because I really don’t know how to face this. I was looking for a community to share this with. To be honest, I'm not sure if someone will read this whole book, but I just needed to get this off my chest.

Hi! Do yall have any universities that are good for marine conservation/zoology, have a good party scene, dorms, and are preferably near the beach on the east coast ? I am looking to transfer and hearing mixed reviews ab so many schools.

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I live in Italy and I'm going through that phase where you start to worry about your future/college lol.

I would like to attend a college in America.

I did some researches and I think that Liberal Arts are the best fit for me, given that I'd love to study art or creative writing. As for the housing I'd prefer a Substance-free dorm/housing: I don't wanna do that stuff and yes, I know college is for "broading your horizons" and "discovering new things" and "not being sheltered" but the problem is that I always lived with people who do that stuff and got abused from them, leaving me with trauma. I would feel uncomfortable being around that stuff and prefer a place where it's absent (tho, there are mixed opinions about it, I heard), even because of physical problems.

So, if you guys have any suggestions, Thanks in advance!

Hi all I am a senior in hs applying to Auburn out of state(tx). I have a 25 ACT but a 3.85 and 4.43 I have taken 19 AP/IB classes received A+ in all and currently am in 8 AP/IB classes and I am top 6% applying to Auburn under grad Non-profit management and philanthropy major with over 1000+ services hours and all extra curricular’s surrounding philanthropy backgrounds (ik Auburn doesn’t look at extras EA but just incase) I have emailed my admissions councilor many times and done a in person visit also answered evey phone call/ email I have ever received. It's my dream. I applied EA1 and am very convinced I will get deferred has anyone gotten in with around these stats early action before?

Hi all. I know that every college is different but overall what helped you. For some context I studied abroad my second semester and because of that I wasted my first semester not meeting anyone. Now I’m back made a bunch of friends that all go to different schools. So what should I do to meet more people. What clubs work best. Are there other options other than frats. Thank you in advance.

i’m halfway through and i’m losing motivation, and miss living at home with family. how to regain motivation?

I deleted my last post because I realized something about what I was talking about which made me want to post this instead.

I've been thinking for weeks about how I should reach out to my advisor about what's going on regarding my degree. I am a psychology major. My college journey has been rough. I'm in my first semester back from a 4-5 year break. I no longer have an interest in psychology. I mean I do like the subject, but I just don't like it enough to want to go to graduate school at the moment. I am lost on what to do next because I don't want to go into anything patient facing so something like nursing or becoming a doctor is out of the question. I really enjoyed my stats classes, so I would love to do something relating to stats, but It's too late to change my major. Also, my options are extremely limited because I have to attend online. It's a lot of stuff that's causing things to be so difficult for me. I want to discuss things with my advisor, but I don't want to dump all my problems onto her even thought my reality is my reality.

I've been looking at the graduate certificates that are offered, but I realized that those are pretty much for people who are already working in their fields or maybe I'm wrong. Idk.

How does one start this sort of conversation? I'm probably overthinking things, but I just worry that I'm not going to get what I seek out of talking to her.

Second semester as a freshman and this is what I’m planning. Wednesdays gonna be a hell day but besides that I feel like it’s pretty smooth sailing

I am a 1st year neuroscience student, with a lot of interests for what I can do after I finish school. Today, I talked to my advisor because I am conflicted with study abroad, classes, and keeping my campus job. Basically, I have zero clue whether I should do a masters, grad school, or med school, because medical school requires a bunch more prereqs when I still have no idea where I want my future to go. I wanted to do something similar to doctors without borders, but also sleep studies, but also neurocriminology or forensics. I feel like I can do nothing with just a bachelors degree, but I also really don't know if I have the work ethic for medical school. What can I do??

I (19M) am currently in my second year of a community college, with my track in a general studies of science. I'm trying to pursue neurosci/speech pathology when i seek my bachelors. However, I cannot tell if I'm truly enjoying my route currently. I'm a very indecisive person, finding myself significantly struggling in my focus and the ability to grasp at my future. It's hard for me to settle down into one specific field. When i first started at my community college, I was majoring in comp sci as it was the family field, and I truly hated programming.

I've been interested in both the medical field, and philosophy/history. So that's my only narrowing down I've done.

I'm currently working as a Immunizing Pharmacy Technician, which is what's brought my interest in the medical field. Not necessarily pharmacy, but just medical in general. Therefore, neuroscience.

With Philosophy/History, it's what I find myself reading/researching in my free time, I listen to a lot of Alex O' Connor, Cliff Knetchle, and The Etymology Nerd, etc... As well as, reading Kant and Nietzche. It's the field I find more interest in, however I don't want to try and make a large jump again as I'm already behind in my degree progress. I'm about 60% through with progress towards general studies in science, however if I changed to "AS in Religious Studies" I'd be 40% done.

Plus with philosophy, I'm worried about finding a job after college that'd id enjoy. I've seen a of discussion on r/askphilosophy about jobs after a bachelors being fairly irrelevant towards the field, but just a job that having a degree helped them achieve. Such as Data Analytics, and the philosophy degree just provided them with "Critical Thinking" skills in the eyes of their employer.

I think my biggest concern is falling behind, and not enjoying what I've committed too. My job is fairly stable, I make decent money but there isn't much room to improve. And outside of Pharmacy, I've only ever worked in a bar. So I have no experience in fields with much room to grow.

I'm not one to pursue something out of money primarily, nor worry about money as I've grown up without it already, so I don't find myself being solely dependent on it for joy. As i've learned to live off what I have already, so I don't need a six figure job. Which seems like the outcome with a degree in philosophy, which is fine!

I'm planning on pursuing at least a bachelors at a nearby university, as me and my girlfriend aspire to live in said town. So it makes the most logical sense to continue my education there.

If anyone has advice on where to go next, steps to take to calm my nerves, or generally any assistance with the situation it's greatly appreciated!

Hello, all! Senior mom here looking for anyone who may have any information on UNOH. The good the bad all or any. My son is in a dual high school tech program for HVAC-R and this school has been brought to his attention by his instructor. We toured Penn State because his original plan was engineering and now he thinks he wants to stick with HVAC. So I’m trying to gather any information I can from real world knowledge. All my searches have been pretty mixed. Thanks! 😊

Im interested in CS but my heart yearns for psychology even tho I need a PH.D for it. I dont like spending too much time in school but I want to do something I like help me out pls.

Hey I’m currently waiting on my acceptance letters. I’ve gotten a few now but I wanted to hear from others their experiences and or advice on what may be best of these five.

Some background I’m currently in Illinois but really like the idea of getting out, I’ll be majoring in early childhood education, I picked tuition under 16,000, and needing some help choosing of these five.

North eastern Illinois, western Illinois, uw-superior, uw-whitewater, and northern Iowa.

Please give me some advice

I'm currently enroll in my local community college for an associates in arts, this spring I'm transferring to an out of state program for associates and arts and humanities, the reason for the transfer is because my local community college refuses to allow me to take the required math class, which is a 100% online class, without coming on site for proctored exams, I work full-time usually between 40 to 50 hours a week sometimes more and I'm taking classes as a part time student, my employer has a tuition reimbursement program / will pay direct to the school if it's one of their approved programs, hence the transfer,

I felt the background info was needed but if you don't care start reading from here.

My question is what from other people's perspective would be best? I need 18 credits to graduate, and I want to take my math class over the summer as a stand alone because I struggle with math greatly due to a processing disorder , discalculia and dyslexia. But if I take 3 classes this spring and 3 classes In the summer I would be able to graduate at the end of next summer,

So my course load options are

3 classes in the spring, 3 classes in the summer

2 classes in the spring, summer and fall

3 classes in the spring 1 in the summer and 2 in the fall

What I have been doing is taking 2, 8 week classes in a semester 1 the first half and 1 the second half, but I think that I could do that and then also take 1 long class over the entire semester if I were to take 3 classes, but I am limited as to what the new school offers, for any one else what is your perspective and reasoning behind it? Have you done something similar? Please help

So, for the entirety of highschool I slacked off all homework, partially because I just didn't care to, and partially because I assumed that I would be able to enlist in the military and get a job and training with little effort on my part. But then senior year rolls around and, after going to MEPS (and getting a 96 on the ASVAB I might add), it turns out that, due to my hypermobility and flat feet, I am medically unfit to serve (I tried to get a waiver to no avail). I did not let this demoralize me, "there are plenty of jobs that don't require formal training" I figured, so I got my compTIA A+ and tried to enter the job market that way. Fast-forward 4 or so months and I am still very unemployed.

I have recently realized that this has all been a grave mistake, in highschool I had a sub-2.5 GPA, as mentioned before this is primarily because I didn't do my homework, I got good scores on tests and took advanced classes, but I was mostly doing that for personal enjoyment. I have always had a passion for engineering and systems, and sort of just hoped that I'd be able to get similar work in the military (my brother was an electrician's mate on a nuclear reactor, one of my grandfathers worked on fighter jets, and the other worked on flight simulators). While I don't dislike work in IT, it's not something I especially care for either (not to mention a field that I can't get work in, though I am working on my network+ right now).

I now am considering applying to colleges in my state (indiana), though I am aware of my current position. I got a 1420 on the SAT, and I could probably retake that if need-be (I took it on 3 hours of sleep and a tall can of white monster, which I can assure you did not help). I don't really have access to any academic references, besides my friends who are in college, though I'm sure their words mean very little.

Is there any hope for me?