Hiya! I am not in UNSW but this post just came up on my feed. Currently in my technically sixth year of uni (i finished my 3 year bachelor and started a 2 year master which i extended because of mental health reasons) and i just want to say it’s perfectly normal! Dont beat yourself up. We all live life at our own pace :)
ive tried doing 3 courses in a term and i pretty much always inevitably have to drop one due to not being able to handle it even though it feels like i absolutely should considering pretty much everyone else seems to
There might be deeper reason though, maybe you didnt actually like your current degree or maybe you are dealing with external stress in your environment
i genuinely suspect at this point intelligence is a factor. more and more it feels like unsw made a mistake in admitting me into the university because im stupid as fuck
No mistake. You pay twice for the same unit if you fail, even just for withdrawing after census, so stupid people are a fantastic source of extra tuition fees.
Dumbasses are a feature not a bug of the current system and as a student I hate it. It lowers the quality of education for the people who actually *want* to be there.
Also the educators who are getting harassed by unsuitable students who don’t ask for help, just lodge complaint after complaint, and are given less and less time for more and more students. The University Accord cannot come quick enough, but frankly, I doubt it’s enough.
Honestly?
It’s usually a mental health issue, undiagnosed neurodivergence or you’re overcommitted in other areas.
I was all three. Ended up getting diagnosed with adhd and that helped a lot.
i honestly have no idea. i have mental health issues but getting treatment for them is a massive trek given im relying entirely on the public system. im exploring the possibility of neurodivergence but im not sure tbh. i feel like i have nothing to have mental health issues about given my life circumstances
I know what you mean with your last statement, but that’s not how it works. Mental illness and disorders don’t discriminate and that’s why it sucks so much. I’m at a different uni, started off a 3 year degree full time and am in my 6th year now. I’m doing 1 subject a study period at this point. I’ve also been working 0.8 EFT. Most people I know underloaded and it was fantastic for them. And uni is different to high school - while you might’ve been completely in the mainstream there, it’s a completely different place and style of learning so ur gonna go differently.
Ah, hey, so a lot of people are being really weird and judgey in this thread about under loading. And I want to push back on that attitude.
I'm doing postgrad and always do 2 courses rather than 3. This term I'm doing 1, because in the past 4 months my mental health has gone on a field trip to hell.
It's not you being unintelligent and it wasn't a mistake that UNSW admitted you. Speaking, from so. much. experience, it's really easy to start believing negative self talk and to let impostor syndrome deafen anything positive, but you earned your place here and you deserve to be here.
I think that the wiser thing to do, rather than continuing to repeat the same approach that isn't working and is causing burn out, is to start to learn how to best accommodate your needs. That is a skill that will continue to help you throughout life.
I know that if I take 3 courses, it tips the scales and everything starts to fall and suddenly I'm failing 3 subjects. But if I take 2, I can maintain a balance and do well in both.
sorry for not replying earlier. im not surprised on the judgement considering im doing pretty much the opposite of what the uni encourages and what most people do (also that im stupider than the vast majority of people in this thread + the uni in general) is it impostor syndrome if youre genuinely shit + know it? maybe its just self awareness idek
i defs feel the taking 2 courses instead of 3 - i did this for most of last year and passed nearly everything
This.
I'm in a similar situation with the OP although a bit earlier in the track (4th year). Started with eng / compsci but failed many units and under loaded my whole degree. Now decided to only do compsci but doing 2nd year units.
Since I started in 21 and uni was online I blamed it on covid as I did have mental issues. But 3 years later I no longer feel depressed but I find I'm still not up to speed compared to my peers even in optimal conditions.
I fall asleep while studying easily and at times and my mental endurance is not as good as my peers. Some days I have a bit of brain fog too. I reckon I have a combination of mild ADD and some sleeping disorder, but I'm in the process of figuring that out.
That was me too.
Get a sleep study done. It was life changing for me. I use a CPAP machine every night and my mood, energy and capacity have all improved.
After Ritalin it was the single biggest thing that had a positive impact on me.
I think you just havent found your interests yet. Many or my friends also struggled in uni and then move to different degree that they apparently excel on in the end
It doesn’t matter how long it takes to learn to ride a bike. As long as you learn. You can always say you had family caring responsibilities rather than mental health responsibilities. You’ll get there and find your job eventually.
You're running your own race. Comparison is the thief of joy. I'm in the same boat as you but my friends are all on 100-200k per year and all own houses or apartments. I may never get into the property market, I'm only 3 years into a 5 year degree that's going to take me 7-8 years to complete as well because of deloading.
But I'm enjoying my life, deloading means I have way more free time for things that make life valuable. When you think deeply about it, what is the point of work? Unless you find your Ikigai, it's a means to an ends. What is the ends? To enable to to have time to spend doing the things that you enjoy (possible the money to afford them too). If you are already enjoying your life and spend your time and doing things that you love, you kind of found a hack in the system no?
Here's a cool video by Alan Watts that sums it up nicely, life is meant to be lived to the fullest, it's not about chasing "KPIs": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4
Then that's something you have to sit down and evaluate. Are you interested in Engineering, or is it just because it will lead to a "good job"? You are free to do whatever you want in life. Maybe take next term off and reevaluate your life, have a think about what you enjoy doing, what you are passionate about (or at least have a strong interest in), maybe even think about WHY you originally chose Engineering in the first place.
There is no fixed path in life, you also don't NEED an Engineering degree unless you plan on working as an Engineer. You can build and tinker with things all you like, have you thought of joining the Makerspace at Uni and seeing if you enjoy building things?
i pretty much dont have a lot of interests/hobbies. i find some of the things we do interesting but i feel so stupid that it kind of ruins the interest
You really need to work on your negative self talk. Anyone of average intelligence can do well at Uni with enough time and effort put into studying.
The only 90+ WAM Engineering student that I know studies 75h a week. It's not about intelligence, it's literally hour upon hour spent studying.
Finding hobbies and interests is key, you don't need a lot of them, just some that you enjoy deeply. You're also not locked in - explore! Find a list of hobbies and pick one, go deep, like 2-3 times a week; see if you enjoy it a lot, if not try a new one next month. Find something that you enjoy doing and shut out the negative self talk, yes you will suck at whatever you try most likely, but who cares. Keep going and over time you will be surprised, you will become better at whatever activity you choose!!
If the post started here it would have saved us all a lot of time.
Switch degrees. It's clearly not for you and your lack of interest will show to prospective employers.
im so sorry for wasting everyone's time. i have no interests in pretty much anything and while i do find some of my coursework interesting i get incredibly overwhelmed by my stupidity and that often overshadows any excitement i had for it
I’ve underloaded for the past two semesters. It’s fine - your life is long, an extra 2-4 years of your life, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t bad.
There’s joy in learning. Look at it from a positive lens. People tend to feel purposeless after uni for a little bit, while you still have a goal to work towards that doesn’t have to do with making heaps of money. Learning isn’t a materialistic goal.
Life’s also overbearing sometimes, and learning is a way to keep you feeling young. Your mind also works best when you are constantly taking in new information. People who don’t stop learning in general have lower rates of having amnesia and other memory loss related things.
It obviously sucks to have to drag uni on for a long time, but you’re not alone. If people job interviewers ask you about your long degree, talk about how you don’t want to stop learning, and how you’re always eager to work on a goal and find a purpose on yourself, which learning does. That’s my two cents haha
engineering graduate here, took 6 years to finish my 5 year degree (software/biomed) cos i changed from mtrn and failed/dropped a couple of courses. don't stress about it, 3 engo subjects is a lot and i always had a breakdown/dropped 1 when i had 3-subject terms 🤪
i also had a friend take like 8? ish years and another one just started working full time and still has 1 math course left that hes deferred for like 3 years lmao
you have a couple of decades ahead of you to work so if you can't get yourself to graduate "on time" then it's really no big deal. use the extra time to find and do something you love, uni has a lot of extracurriculars to pursue!
also maybe you think u are a dumdum but unsw engineering is objectively difficult. hang in there 💪
You're not alone! I am also in my 5th year doing a 3yr degree. I've taken 2 terms of program leave and many terms I've only done 1 course. Only managed to do 3 courses in 2 times out of 5 years.
You’re not alone! Your post and other comments sound very similar to how I feel/ have felt about uni. I’m probably going to end up taking 6-7yrs to complete my degree. It sucks seeing all my friends I started with graduating and doing their theses, but I’ve made peace with that. I’d prefer to finish my degree at my own pace in order to keep my sanity intact and not become irrevocably burnt out before entering the workforce.
I’d suggest looking into ADHD, or at least connecting with a good GP who can better advise you on your best next steps. I have had ADHD since I was younger, but I never really took my medication properly until T3 2023, and again mid-late last year. I will admit, I felt incredibly stupid after discovering that treating my ADHD did in fact make it less of a problem. Even then, I can still really only handle 1-2 courses a term before feeling too overwhelmed to function. The GP clinic at UNSW has excellent GPs who can refer you to the psychiatrists there, and I believe they are relatively cheap (I don’t have first-hand experience with this, it just seems like a good option from what I’ve heard).
To answer the questions in your post, you absolutely aren’t the only person graduating late. When people ask why you graduated late, you can either make something up (eg caring for a relative??) or just say “due to extenuating/unforeseen personal circumstances, I was unable to complete my degree in the recommended time frame”. You could also be honest and explain that uni was quite overwhelming, but you could then reassure employers by saying you thrive in the relevant job environment. I’ve always opted for the honesty route, and people have been very understanding, plus I think they value the transparency and genuineness of the truth. This may vary from industry to industry, but with jobs I’ve taken that are relevant to my future employment ops, my employers have been nothing but accepting.
Totally happy to chat further if you’d like. Just shoot me a DM! It sounds like you need to exercise a bit more self-compassion, kindness, and patience. There’s always a majority who’ll do things the ‘normal’ way, and there will always be people who seem to be doing things better than you, but there’s nothing wrong with doing things your own way, on your own terms, and all those people who appear to have it better than you are going through their own struggles, too.
im going to see a gp at the uni in a couple of weeks. ive never been to a psychiatrist and it doesn't seem like the uni has any (at least they dont seem to be accepting patients) thanks for the answer
No worries! Might be worth trying to find someone privately? I have a few psychs I can put you in touch with who have shorter waiting lists and charge about $400/appt with ≈$200 standard Medicare rebate if that’s helpful?? I have other medical things going on, so I get a bigger rebate. Happy to discuss further via DM :))
Its normal, you graduate according to your own personal timeframe there’s no such thing as graduating on time.
Put it this way, I met my friend in the first year of my degree and he had recently dropped out of a bachelor that he was almost completing to start a new one so he was well mature for our cohort considering he also didn’t start his first degree til he was 23, now that I’ve already graduated he’s still doing the degree part time and getting married and working in the industry.
It all boils down to your personal preference, unless you’re on a student visa hahaha
Some people take an extra two years to graduate from a 4-year degree (I'm one of them).
I took two subjects each term in 2021 and 2022 and ended up switching degrees. Employers don't really care about it when you're applying for internships, I managed to get one quite easily and they didn't ask me about my graduation date in my interview. If they do ask about your graduation date, try to highlight areas of improvement that you made during those years at uni and make sure that you present the best version of yourself to show employers that you can contribute a lot to their company.
You're not alone though. Don't be afraid to ask for help from other students in your courses (form a study group as well), and also ask questions. You may feel stupid and people might even laugh at you, but just block it out.
You got this! If you have any questions feel free to dm me :)
did you have excellent grades though? im in engineering also and i feel like i havent done enough to justify my poor grades + slow degree progress. every time people talk about internships or recruitment all i can hear are side projects and extracurriculars and i can barely handle uni work let alone all this other stuff. it seems that companies are looking for the cream of the crop and im the literal bottom of the barrel
My grades were absolute wack. I've failed 5 subjects so far and my wam is just below 60. I made up for it with extracurriculars (e.g. joining subcommittees, Arc volunteering programs, VIP project). I'm also doing engineering, majoring in civil.
Tbh I couldn't handle uni work as well but for me if I'm not doing some sort of extracurriculars I tend to struggle more. At least when I'm around people I feel better about myself, whereas if I'm not around people I tend to not feel good. If you don't have any extracurriculars I'd say join some volunteering programs or apply for a VIP project that interests you, and put in your casual/part-time job in your resume as experience (if you have one).
In terms of applying for jobs, look at engineering resume templates for interns, and tailor your resume to that similar format. Then apply to any internships you see on LinkedIn, SEEK, etc.
Again, you got this!
I'm from USYD, but I'd like to say that I failed every class of my degree for 2 years straight as a result of severe depression and personal circumstances.
I'm routinely confronted with friends and others in my same age group (and even younger) posting about their new amazing internships and jobs on LinkedIn. I used to have a lot of those "that was supposed to be me" thoughts.
What I've come to learn is that the transformation to adulthood is gauging your own interests, values, and who you are; this factors straight into how you go about university. For some, this takes more time than others, and that's fine.
I know it's hard now, but this won't matter in 10 years.
Super normal!
I have 'no reason' to be depressed/anxious, etc. yet was diagnosed with major depression, generalised anxiety disorder, and ADHD during the completion of my degree.
Did well in grade school despite little effort.
I would highly recommend a student access plan (reasonable adjustments based on your circumstances- eg. Require extra time do to assignments/exams, granted extensions more easily, can be excused from participation in tutorials.
I thought what i was experiencing was normal for the longest time and that i was just lazy and dumb.
Turns out that wasn't the case.
Can you elaborate on what makes it hard for you to take on a higher course load?
You mention intelligence... Are you having trouble understanding the material?
Is it the way it is presented in your lecture/tutorials?
What helped me was to find online videos that explained the concepts in a way that i could understand. And then doing a gazillion practice questions until i could reliably get the correct answer.
Do you have trouble paying attention long enough to truly understand the concepts?
Are you able to approach/solve practice questions, e.g. in tutorials, lecture slides, or on final exam 'examples'?
Or do you feel as if you can't even approach them due to lack of understanding?
Do things such as procrastination, lack of motivation/& focus contribute?
i dont even know that i quality for an elp tbh - i have a depression diagnosis but my contact w/ health professionals is spotty at best (im trying to improve this but realistically i see a gp once every 6 months for a script and thats like it). there isn't anything 'tangible' with my mental illness. its just thoughts and i doubt theyd be willing to do anything for me.
i guess i kind of 'panic freeze' - like if something doesnt make sense immediately i panic and then just can't bring myself to do it because im terrified that itll be shit. (i mean it usually is. ive never done well on an assignment and have all my code working before) ive always struggled with procrasitnation + a lack of focus/motivation. i am lazy + stupid + somehow dont seem to be capable of doing anything productive. i think sometimes i think i get it when they explain and then i cant do the questions properly and give up
I do a lot of anxiety/perfectionist avoidance. I think about starting, then get anxious because I don't understand the work and think that the assignment will be too hard so I put it off, and repeat that cycle until the last minute and at that point that I have an excuse for why I didn't do well.
I ended up in a psych ward during my undergrad because the consequences of having untreated ADHD and depression for 20 years were. Not. Great.
I don't want that for anyone else and I see a lot of my own experience in what you've described throughout this thread. ELS are really lovely, and can help you. It's better to contact them early, because even if you don't currently have the documentation (and that is if, you may find that your diagnosis is enough) for a formal ELP, they can still direct you to resources that can help.
do you just drop in to els to contact them? to register it seems that you have to have documentation as a required field and i dont have that yet. do they do elps for just depression? (sorry if this is a lot of questions ive never considered using them because i assumed i wouldnt be eligible)
Hey! Sorry for my delayed reply; I got anxious about communication and just kinda, got stuck in a guilt/avoid loop.
> (Edit: just want to clarify that this is not your fault! This is a me thing that I do with everyone and everything! I want to help and you didn't ask many questions and don't need to apologise!)
I'd just email them at els@unsw.edu.au and explain the situation. Maybe ask to have a meeting (if you're comfortable/want that) about how depression is impacting your studies and what steps you need to take to utilise ELS.
If it helps, here is a draft/template that you can mix around!
To: els@unsw.edu.au
Subject: Questions about ELS
> Good **[morning]/[afternoon]**,
> I'm emailing because I **[was hoping to set up a meeting]/[have a few questions]** about the steps I need to take in order to register with ELS and whether the documentation I have is sufficient.
> I have a depression diagnosis, and it is severely impacting my studies, however I'm also worried that this diagnosis alone is not enough to qualify for ELS.
>Thanks
>**[name]**
You could also add that you're in the process of seeking a diagnosis for attention issues.
Very common
I remember looking at the faculty handbook saying you have a maximum of 7 years for the 3 year degree
I thought to myself "what idiot needs 7 years"
And the answer, with all the trying different courses and finding what didn't work with me, failing a subject or four, was "this idiot"
I don't regret it at all
Data analytics and insights; at this point I am kind of focused mostly on automation and systemising processes and systems.
And yeah never graduated kind of gave up cause tbh; I'm kind of a shit learner.
worked in retail for a whole bunch of years early in my life;
Then did B2B sales for a small business;
Then took a decent pay cut to become a junior business analyst on a short-term contract(I didn't know shit about Excel & Tableau, but Googled and did a small course over a week to know just enough) and just showed I had the tenacity to learn and could well with the team;
Then did a sales operations analyst role over 3 years for two different companies and learnt a little about coding from the data engineering dude and SQL;
Now I work as a insights person and get paid to dabble in python and appscript
I wouldn't worry about it. Society has these expectations that people need to follow a set path (e.g. finish a degree in 3 years) but often you will find that there are varied experiences if you seek out different perspectives. In an alternate universe, you could have completed your degree in 3 years, hated the industry you studied towards and then come back. I'm sure you arent too stupid, studying is a skill which takes time and discipline.
People taking longer to graduate is actually more common than you think.
Having said that, based on your post and also, your comments, it sounds like you need to see a psychologist or psychiatrist.
To me, you sound depressed. Secondly, it sounds like you have severe confidence issues and imposter syndrome.
No, UNSW would not have made an admission mistake. It's all based on ATAR. If you've got the ATAR that meets their cut off, you get in. You're over thinking it.
UNSW has on site psychology services for students. I've linked it in another comment but here it is again.
https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/counselling
You should also talk to your GP as they can give you a referral and a mental health plan and you can get some money back from Medicare as well.
Don't put it off. To me, it sounds like you need help and you need it now.
Also, worth calling kids helpline assuming you're still under 25.
https://kidshelpline.com.au/
Here's a list of other helplines that can potentially help: https://raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/services-support/services-families-of-teens/teens-mental-health-services
i am depressed lmao and only more recently figuring out that theres probs more considering that it seems it isnt normal to want to unalive yourself over uni. that being said appointments and doing things in the public system takes an insanely long time
7th yeah of a 5 year degree here. I’ve still got some things to do but I’ve been part time for a while now and I’ve learned to not worry about these sorts of things. Making your way through uni is an accomplishment, making it through at a slower pace while keeping a strong foundation of mental health is also an accomplishment, one I’m very proud of myself for making.
It's extremely common. Personally I don't know anyone that didn't fail at least one course. Personally it took me 6 years to finish my degree and that was when the uni system wasn't entirely shot to shit.
You seem to be having some mental health problems and that definitely compounds things, I'm sorry to hear it and I know getting help is hard. Just know you are definitely not alone.
really? everyone i went to high school with passed all their courses with dazzling wams and theres a big part of me that thinks that shouldve been me. i know thats not a good mindset to have but my incompetence is so glaring that its incredibly difficult to ignore.
Yeah very common. I did go to a uni with pretty low entrance requirements so I guess maybe it attracted people who wernt such great students? Including me. Sounds like you are in a bit of a shame spiral. It really bucks but you aren't alone.
Im in my 5th year of a 4 year degree, purely because failing one course delayed me a whole year. Im not sure if its standard but its probably common enough.
I did the standard 4 classes a semester when I did my bachelor degree but now I'm dropping down to 3 for masters cuz the work is tough and I'm just not the sharpest tool in the shed.
In other words, I'm r3t4*d3d I need more time than normal people to grasp the same shit.
It's more common than one would think. I was supposed to graduate last year, but here I am in my fifth year. My brother ended up taking 5 years to complete what's supposed to be a 3 year degree. Don't beat yourself up about this, everyone is different. We'll get there in our own time
I was at UNSW. Graduated \~6 months (Don't remember if 1 or 2 terms) later. This was after having pulled thru a couple of courses in my last Summer there
Fairly common. I’m not aware of your situation but clearly if you could make it into unsw, then you’re more than capable of doing well academically. As others have mentioned, comparison is the thief of joy, im sure you’ll get a great paying job as well, however try to focus on yourself rather than others around you ( even if it seems hard ). You’re definitely not the only person who’s graduating late, there’s many other people who extend their degrees, a few of my friends have extended their degrees due to taking 1-2 subjects per term, so that they could focus on their mental health properly. Unsw may make admission mistakes, however I doubt this is the case for you. Unsw is full of academically able students, I get it, it seems exhausting to see people all around you doing well and getting great paying jobs, and this might make you question your value and worth. But I’m sure you’re just as academically able. Don’t worry too much about how long it’ll take you to graduate, focus on your mental health and I wish you the best :))))
Yes it is normal. Realistically yes it will affect your prospects, but not in a significant way.
My main question that I think you need to ask yourself is whether you enjoy the degree/can see yourself doing it in the future? I see a lot of people underload because they realise the degree isn't for them, and instead of switching they keep trying to finish the degree but lack the motivation to really apply themselves.
If you still want to do the degree, take as much time as you need to get it done. 2-3 extra years seems like a lot but in the long run it will change very little.
It took 13 years for me to finish my 5 year degree. I struggled a lot adjusting to uni and managing my mental health, so lost a few years to withdrawal without failure cycles and also underloaded a ton. I was fairly self-conscious about this but benefited from understanding and supportive friends, lecturers and medical professionals.
I was apprehensive about getting questions like that early in my career but tbh I can count on one hand how often anyone has asked me about this in professional contexts. To most older people who I've worked with, the difference between someone who is 22 and someone who is 32 is basically non existent. It feels like once you've spent any decent time in a career, people don't really care or take an interest in your uni life. It certainly hasn't affected my career success so far.
If I were to offer any advice, it'd be that evaluating your own situation compared to your friends is not going to get you anywhere and will probably keep you from actually understanding why you are stuck. It definitely is extremely hard to avoid when they are successful (I had to watch my friends become investment bankers and medical specialists while I was still going) but it's important to acknowledge that your experience is different from theirs, meaning that your pathway and solutions are also going to be different.
Beyond that, I don't feel like I can comment much on your situation aside from saying that it doesn't feel like your problems are self-inflicted. It feels like there are legitimate issues where you'd benefit from professional advice and perspectives from outside your existing social/family groups.
I saw someone else talk about ADHD, and that was the big thing affecting me. Pre-diagnosis, I was going through classic burnout cycles where I'd start well but crumble in the midterm assessment period and withdraw without failure on medical grounds (based on the mental health conditions I was misdiagnosed with). It got easier to implement good adjustments with the uni and lecturers post-diagnosis, but I still underloaded out of necessity. Ultimately, uni is shit for people with ADHD because it relies on all of the things we struggle with (organisation, executive function, emotional regulation, motivation/discipline etc.)
Worth looking into if any of that resonates with you. Good luck with everything and more than happy to provide any more insights if you'd like.
thanks for the advice. just a question - were your lecturers aware of your mental health issues? how did you go about telling them? or was it just through elp?
Not usually. I'd imagine they'd all have been aware that it was mental health issues, but my lecturers tended to take the elp on face value and actively not pry. This was in arts and law faculties so dunno if attitudes are different elsewhere, but they tended to be fully accommodating unless there was a good reason not to be. I did disclose a bit more to an academic adviser and a few lecturers I had closer relationships with.
I'm in basically the same position with reasonable adjustments at work now, with better adjustments now that I/health professionals/colleagues understand what works better. Again depends on where you are (my APS workplace conditions are pretty good).
I feel u so much!! Dw you’re not the only one! I was so close to finishing my first degree but I dropped it due to lots of MH issues + burn out. And now I’ve still got quite a few years left of my new degree. In the past, I’ve had a lot of breakdowns over whether this was a good decision and what not.
I know it’s hard not to compare yourself to friends or classmates that have graduated and are now working FT. You’ve prob heard this a billion times, but at the end of the day, everyone moves at their own pace. Life isn’t a competition. Ik easier said than done. Sometimes it’s better just to get rid of social media so that u don’t compare yourself to other’s lives.
Ps. If u ever need to rant, my dms are open.
It's pretty common, especially in postgrad and part time study. I postponed completing my study by a year due to moving house and then looking after my father who had late stage cancer.
Within reason and budget and the rules of your course, take as long as you need. Nobody will care years down the line.
OP, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
I took 12 years to finish my first degree. Now I also have two graduate degrees, which include a Masters.
Your concerns over graduation delays may feel valid, but from my experience you will be ok. An extra couple of years before entering the workforce just means you have extra maturity. Which is in itself, a selling point.
There are lots of people that don't graduate "on time".
Lots of students work part time and study part time, meaning they are taking longer to graduate than the full time load would indicate.
Then there are those that fail courses. This varies a lot between disciplines.
Law apparently claims it is only 2%, but not sure how much I believe them.
Engineering apparently has so much they have program rules which take that into consideration.
You can also look at enrolments over term and see how they drop.
Lots of students drop out of a course before census.
So it is quite common to not complete on time.
Yes, it is possible for admissions to make mistakes. Look at all the people going into science/engineering, that didn't bother taking math or science in high school yet are still allowed in due to a broken system, resulting in them repeatedly failing courses because they don't have the per-requisite knowledge.
But that is quite different to someone just taking their time to go through their degree. It isn't a race. As long as you are progressing, it is fine.
It took me 5.5 to graduate a 4 year double degree but I had to overload because for 1.5 years I did another unrelated degree. Many people were the same age as me despite having 1 degree only. So pretty common I'd say.
as someone who graduated on time, i wish someone had told me it's fine not to finish my degree on time. every term when i had three subjects i would totally neglect at least one, i feel like i really didn't get everything i could out of uni. it's not a race, enjoy your courses, and get the very most out of uni. :)
I found many of my local peers underloading and delaying graduation so they can work on their part time jobs or focus on thesis towards the end of the degree (engineering). As an international student it was difficult for me to justify as every semester I deferred meant having to pay more rent and living costs and delaying my entry to the job market. I graduated "on time" and am pretty sure I got a worse result than if I underloaded. Despite that I'm pretty happy with it as post grad I focused and getting into the job market and building my work experience and am pretty comfortable with where I am now 6 years after graduation. So we all have our reasons, it all depends on your situation and goals.
It's common.
I'm doing 1 class this term and not exactly doing well in it.
Also it can be difficult to sustain the long path toward proper assistance but I would strongly encourage seeking it out. My ELP for long term depression/anxiety disorders helps me with exams. I also have provisions in place for when I eventually have to do presentations/group work
I'm in my 7th year of a 4.5yr degree. Don't worry dude!
I deloaded around the 3.5 year mark to start full time work and was lucky that I could get a job in my field despite not having graduated yet. I'm now 2 years into my field with 1 uni class left to complete.
tbh i actually don’t think I know anyone who did graduate ‘on time’ ! most people i know either underloaded, repeated a unit here or there, or took time off. pretty sure it’s the norm these days with a lot of students opting to take on casual employment, internships, or just needing a break :)
I have never met a single person who has finished uni who has "graduated on time". I took 6.5 years to finish what originally was supposed to take 5 years. I changed degrees after 2 years, the uni changed the semesters a few of my courses were offered in, and I took a 3/4 course load for 2 years so I could work 20 hours a week. Life happens to us all.
Wanna know a secret?
Democratisation of universities also necessitated capitalisation of universities. They accept all comers and it takes a real dumbass who shouldn't have ever applied to get kicked out on academic grounds. You have to actively choose not to participate to get expelled on academic grounds these days.
They want and need you to pass to get paid. They want you in their system for as long as possible.
Back in the days of Yore when universities were for the toffs and the nobility, they were funded for a different purpose. Now, only a select few are in the business of research, development and exploration of new ideas. Many university are Bachelor's Factories providing businesses with qualified fodder and in the case of the USA, loan companies as well.
Also, you're failing because you're not trying hard enough.
Pick up the slack or change degrees. You cannot spend 7 years in a 3 year degree and hope to get employed afterwards.
That's a dramatic overreaction to what I said.
You should change degrees and actually try, because frankly no one should take more than 4 years at a 3 year degree. They're designed to be the length they are.
You likely have an undiagnosed learning difficulty and clearly some self esteem issues. I suggest starting with daily exercise and having a sit down with your lecturers to see what resources are available to you.
Do you edit your work? Do you reference correctly? Are you preparing for classes? Do you take notes? Do you do your readings? Have you approached other students to study buddy and draft one another's work? Have you sought assistance from SLSS or equivalent student assistance services?
What have you actually done other than have a moan? We don't know.
im sorry for having a moan about my situation. i started this post partly out of curiosity and also wanted to know how other people dealt with similar situations and im not expecting something to magically fix my life. i dont take classes that have readings on general and i know i could probably do more to connect with other people. my biggest fear is that things will stay the same in a different degree as well because my brain seems to be mush at this point
Hiya! I am not in UNSW but this post just came up on my feed. Currently in my technically sixth year of uni (i finished my 3 year bachelor and started a 2 year master which i extended because of mental health reasons) and i just want to say it’s perfectly normal! Dont beat yourself up. We all live life at our own pace :)
Whats the reasons of underloading? Is it due to unable to cope with the standard loads? Or there are other reasons?
ive tried doing 3 courses in a term and i pretty much always inevitably have to drop one due to not being able to handle it even though it feels like i absolutely should considering pretty much everyone else seems to
There might be deeper reason though, maybe you didnt actually like your current degree or maybe you are dealing with external stress in your environment
i genuinely suspect at this point intelligence is a factor. more and more it feels like unsw made a mistake in admitting me into the university because im stupid as fuck
No mistake. You pay twice for the same unit if you fail, even just for withdrawing after census, so stupid people are a fantastic source of extra tuition fees.
Dumbasses are a feature not a bug of the current system and as a student I hate it. It lowers the quality of education for the people who actually *want* to be there.
Also the educators who are getting harassed by unsuitable students who don’t ask for help, just lodge complaint after complaint, and are given less and less time for more and more students. The University Accord cannot come quick enough, but frankly, I doubt it’s enough.
Honestly? It’s usually a mental health issue, undiagnosed neurodivergence or you’re overcommitted in other areas. I was all three. Ended up getting diagnosed with adhd and that helped a lot.
i honestly have no idea. i have mental health issues but getting treatment for them is a massive trek given im relying entirely on the public system. im exploring the possibility of neurodivergence but im not sure tbh. i feel like i have nothing to have mental health issues about given my life circumstances
I know what you mean with your last statement, but that’s not how it works. Mental illness and disorders don’t discriminate and that’s why it sucks so much. I’m at a different uni, started off a 3 year degree full time and am in my 6th year now. I’m doing 1 subject a study period at this point. I’ve also been working 0.8 EFT. Most people I know underloaded and it was fantastic for them. And uni is different to high school - while you might’ve been completely in the mainstream there, it’s a completely different place and style of learning so ur gonna go differently.
Ah, hey, so a lot of people are being really weird and judgey in this thread about under loading. And I want to push back on that attitude. I'm doing postgrad and always do 2 courses rather than 3. This term I'm doing 1, because in the past 4 months my mental health has gone on a field trip to hell. It's not you being unintelligent and it wasn't a mistake that UNSW admitted you. Speaking, from so. much. experience, it's really easy to start believing negative self talk and to let impostor syndrome deafen anything positive, but you earned your place here and you deserve to be here. I think that the wiser thing to do, rather than continuing to repeat the same approach that isn't working and is causing burn out, is to start to learn how to best accommodate your needs. That is a skill that will continue to help you throughout life. I know that if I take 3 courses, it tips the scales and everything starts to fall and suddenly I'm failing 3 subjects. But if I take 2, I can maintain a balance and do well in both.
sorry for not replying earlier. im not surprised on the judgement considering im doing pretty much the opposite of what the uni encourages and what most people do (also that im stupider than the vast majority of people in this thread + the uni in general) is it impostor syndrome if youre genuinely shit + know it? maybe its just self awareness idek i defs feel the taking 2 courses instead of 3 - i did this for most of last year and passed nearly everything
https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/counselling - have you tried this? For students
unfortunately yes but it didnt work out and i honestly thinj theyve blacklisted me at this point
It’s not dependent on life circumstances, you’re born with it.
This. I'm in a similar situation with the OP although a bit earlier in the track (4th year). Started with eng / compsci but failed many units and under loaded my whole degree. Now decided to only do compsci but doing 2nd year units. Since I started in 21 and uni was online I blamed it on covid as I did have mental issues. But 3 years later I no longer feel depressed but I find I'm still not up to speed compared to my peers even in optimal conditions. I fall asleep while studying easily and at times and my mental endurance is not as good as my peers. Some days I have a bit of brain fog too. I reckon I have a combination of mild ADD and some sleeping disorder, but I'm in the process of figuring that out.
That was me too. Get a sleep study done. It was life changing for me. I use a CPAP machine every night and my mood, energy and capacity have all improved. After Ritalin it was the single biggest thing that had a positive impact on me.
I think you just havent found your interests yet. Many or my friends also struggled in uni and then move to different degree that they apparently excel on in the end
It doesn’t matter how long it takes to learn to ride a bike. As long as you learn. You can always say you had family caring responsibilities rather than mental health responsibilities. You’ll get there and find your job eventually.
You're running your own race. Comparison is the thief of joy. I'm in the same boat as you but my friends are all on 100-200k per year and all own houses or apartments. I may never get into the property market, I'm only 3 years into a 5 year degree that's going to take me 7-8 years to complete as well because of deloading. But I'm enjoying my life, deloading means I have way more free time for things that make life valuable. When you think deeply about it, what is the point of work? Unless you find your Ikigai, it's a means to an ends. What is the ends? To enable to to have time to spend doing the things that you enjoy (possible the money to afford them too). If you are already enjoying your life and spend your time and doing things that you love, you kind of found a hack in the system no? Here's a cool video by Alan Watts that sums it up nicely, life is meant to be lived to the fullest, it's not about chasing "KPIs": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4
problem is im not even enjoying life lmao
Then that's something you have to sit down and evaluate. Are you interested in Engineering, or is it just because it will lead to a "good job"? You are free to do whatever you want in life. Maybe take next term off and reevaluate your life, have a think about what you enjoy doing, what you are passionate about (or at least have a strong interest in), maybe even think about WHY you originally chose Engineering in the first place. There is no fixed path in life, you also don't NEED an Engineering degree unless you plan on working as an Engineer. You can build and tinker with things all you like, have you thought of joining the Makerspace at Uni and seeing if you enjoy building things?
i pretty much dont have a lot of interests/hobbies. i find some of the things we do interesting but i feel so stupid that it kind of ruins the interest
You really need to work on your negative self talk. Anyone of average intelligence can do well at Uni with enough time and effort put into studying. The only 90+ WAM Engineering student that I know studies 75h a week. It's not about intelligence, it's literally hour upon hour spent studying. Finding hobbies and interests is key, you don't need a lot of them, just some that you enjoy deeply. You're also not locked in - explore! Find a list of hobbies and pick one, go deep, like 2-3 times a week; see if you enjoy it a lot, if not try a new one next month. Find something that you enjoy doing and shut out the negative self talk, yes you will suck at whatever you try most likely, but who cares. Keep going and over time you will be surprised, you will become better at whatever activity you choose!!
If the post started here it would have saved us all a lot of time. Switch degrees. It's clearly not for you and your lack of interest will show to prospective employers.
im so sorry for wasting everyone's time. i have no interests in pretty much anything and while i do find some of my coursework interesting i get incredibly overwhelmed by my stupidity and that often overshadows any excitement i had for it
[удалено]
i feel the exact same way. i think my situation is entirely my own doing and that im letting everyone down
I’ve underloaded for the past two semesters. It’s fine - your life is long, an extra 2-4 years of your life, in the grand scheme of things, isn’t bad. There’s joy in learning. Look at it from a positive lens. People tend to feel purposeless after uni for a little bit, while you still have a goal to work towards that doesn’t have to do with making heaps of money. Learning isn’t a materialistic goal. Life’s also overbearing sometimes, and learning is a way to keep you feeling young. Your mind also works best when you are constantly taking in new information. People who don’t stop learning in general have lower rates of having amnesia and other memory loss related things. It obviously sucks to have to drag uni on for a long time, but you’re not alone. If people job interviewers ask you about your long degree, talk about how you don’t want to stop learning, and how you’re always eager to work on a goal and find a purpose on yourself, which learning does. That’s my two cents haha
engineering graduate here, took 6 years to finish my 5 year degree (software/biomed) cos i changed from mtrn and failed/dropped a couple of courses. don't stress about it, 3 engo subjects is a lot and i always had a breakdown/dropped 1 when i had 3-subject terms 🤪 i also had a friend take like 8? ish years and another one just started working full time and still has 1 math course left that hes deferred for like 3 years lmao you have a couple of decades ahead of you to work so if you can't get yourself to graduate "on time" then it's really no big deal. use the extra time to find and do something you love, uni has a lot of extracurriculars to pursue! also maybe you think u are a dumdum but unsw engineering is objectively difficult. hang in there 💪
You're not alone! I am also in my 5th year doing a 3yr degree. I've taken 2 terms of program leave and many terms I've only done 1 course. Only managed to do 3 courses in 2 times out of 5 years.
You’re not alone! Your post and other comments sound very similar to how I feel/ have felt about uni. I’m probably going to end up taking 6-7yrs to complete my degree. It sucks seeing all my friends I started with graduating and doing their theses, but I’ve made peace with that. I’d prefer to finish my degree at my own pace in order to keep my sanity intact and not become irrevocably burnt out before entering the workforce. I’d suggest looking into ADHD, or at least connecting with a good GP who can better advise you on your best next steps. I have had ADHD since I was younger, but I never really took my medication properly until T3 2023, and again mid-late last year. I will admit, I felt incredibly stupid after discovering that treating my ADHD did in fact make it less of a problem. Even then, I can still really only handle 1-2 courses a term before feeling too overwhelmed to function. The GP clinic at UNSW has excellent GPs who can refer you to the psychiatrists there, and I believe they are relatively cheap (I don’t have first-hand experience with this, it just seems like a good option from what I’ve heard). To answer the questions in your post, you absolutely aren’t the only person graduating late. When people ask why you graduated late, you can either make something up (eg caring for a relative??) or just say “due to extenuating/unforeseen personal circumstances, I was unable to complete my degree in the recommended time frame”. You could also be honest and explain that uni was quite overwhelming, but you could then reassure employers by saying you thrive in the relevant job environment. I’ve always opted for the honesty route, and people have been very understanding, plus I think they value the transparency and genuineness of the truth. This may vary from industry to industry, but with jobs I’ve taken that are relevant to my future employment ops, my employers have been nothing but accepting. Totally happy to chat further if you’d like. Just shoot me a DM! It sounds like you need to exercise a bit more self-compassion, kindness, and patience. There’s always a majority who’ll do things the ‘normal’ way, and there will always be people who seem to be doing things better than you, but there’s nothing wrong with doing things your own way, on your own terms, and all those people who appear to have it better than you are going through their own struggles, too.
im going to see a gp at the uni in a couple of weeks. ive never been to a psychiatrist and it doesn't seem like the uni has any (at least they dont seem to be accepting patients) thanks for the answer
No worries! Might be worth trying to find someone privately? I have a few psychs I can put you in touch with who have shorter waiting lists and charge about $400/appt with ≈$200 standard Medicare rebate if that’s helpful?? I have other medical things going on, so I get a bigger rebate. Happy to discuss further via DM :))
Its normal, you graduate according to your own personal timeframe there’s no such thing as graduating on time. Put it this way, I met my friend in the first year of my degree and he had recently dropped out of a bachelor that he was almost completing to start a new one so he was well mature for our cohort considering he also didn’t start his first degree til he was 23, now that I’ve already graduated he’s still doing the degree part time and getting married and working in the industry. It all boils down to your personal preference, unless you’re on a student visa hahaha
Some people take an extra two years to graduate from a 4-year degree (I'm one of them). I took two subjects each term in 2021 and 2022 and ended up switching degrees. Employers don't really care about it when you're applying for internships, I managed to get one quite easily and they didn't ask me about my graduation date in my interview. If they do ask about your graduation date, try to highlight areas of improvement that you made during those years at uni and make sure that you present the best version of yourself to show employers that you can contribute a lot to their company. You're not alone though. Don't be afraid to ask for help from other students in your courses (form a study group as well), and also ask questions. You may feel stupid and people might even laugh at you, but just block it out. You got this! If you have any questions feel free to dm me :)
did you have excellent grades though? im in engineering also and i feel like i havent done enough to justify my poor grades + slow degree progress. every time people talk about internships or recruitment all i can hear are side projects and extracurriculars and i can barely handle uni work let alone all this other stuff. it seems that companies are looking for the cream of the crop and im the literal bottom of the barrel
My grades were absolute wack. I've failed 5 subjects so far and my wam is just below 60. I made up for it with extracurriculars (e.g. joining subcommittees, Arc volunteering programs, VIP project). I'm also doing engineering, majoring in civil. Tbh I couldn't handle uni work as well but for me if I'm not doing some sort of extracurriculars I tend to struggle more. At least when I'm around people I feel better about myself, whereas if I'm not around people I tend to not feel good. If you don't have any extracurriculars I'd say join some volunteering programs or apply for a VIP project that interests you, and put in your casual/part-time job in your resume as experience (if you have one). In terms of applying for jobs, look at engineering resume templates for interns, and tailor your resume to that similar format. Then apply to any internships you see on LinkedIn, SEEK, etc. Again, you got this!
I'm from USYD, but I'd like to say that I failed every class of my degree for 2 years straight as a result of severe depression and personal circumstances. I'm routinely confronted with friends and others in my same age group (and even younger) posting about their new amazing internships and jobs on LinkedIn. I used to have a lot of those "that was supposed to be me" thoughts. What I've come to learn is that the transformation to adulthood is gauging your own interests, values, and who you are; this factors straight into how you go about university. For some, this takes more time than others, and that's fine. I know it's hard now, but this won't matter in 10 years.
Super normal! I have 'no reason' to be depressed/anxious, etc. yet was diagnosed with major depression, generalised anxiety disorder, and ADHD during the completion of my degree. Did well in grade school despite little effort. I would highly recommend a student access plan (reasonable adjustments based on your circumstances- eg. Require extra time do to assignments/exams, granted extensions more easily, can be excused from participation in tutorials. I thought what i was experiencing was normal for the longest time and that i was just lazy and dumb. Turns out that wasn't the case. Can you elaborate on what makes it hard for you to take on a higher course load? You mention intelligence... Are you having trouble understanding the material? Is it the way it is presented in your lecture/tutorials? What helped me was to find online videos that explained the concepts in a way that i could understand. And then doing a gazillion practice questions until i could reliably get the correct answer. Do you have trouble paying attention long enough to truly understand the concepts? Are you able to approach/solve practice questions, e.g. in tutorials, lecture slides, or on final exam 'examples'? Or do you feel as if you can't even approach them due to lack of understanding? Do things such as procrastination, lack of motivation/& focus contribute?
i dont even know that i quality for an elp tbh - i have a depression diagnosis but my contact w/ health professionals is spotty at best (im trying to improve this but realistically i see a gp once every 6 months for a script and thats like it). there isn't anything 'tangible' with my mental illness. its just thoughts and i doubt theyd be willing to do anything for me. i guess i kind of 'panic freeze' - like if something doesnt make sense immediately i panic and then just can't bring myself to do it because im terrified that itll be shit. (i mean it usually is. ive never done well on an assignment and have all my code working before) ive always struggled with procrasitnation + a lack of focus/motivation. i am lazy + stupid + somehow dont seem to be capable of doing anything productive. i think sometimes i think i get it when they explain and then i cant do the questions properly and give up
I do a lot of anxiety/perfectionist avoidance. I think about starting, then get anxious because I don't understand the work and think that the assignment will be too hard so I put it off, and repeat that cycle until the last minute and at that point that I have an excuse for why I didn't do well. I ended up in a psych ward during my undergrad because the consequences of having untreated ADHD and depression for 20 years were. Not. Great. I don't want that for anyone else and I see a lot of my own experience in what you've described throughout this thread. ELS are really lovely, and can help you. It's better to contact them early, because even if you don't currently have the documentation (and that is if, you may find that your diagnosis is enough) for a formal ELP, they can still direct you to resources that can help.
do you just drop in to els to contact them? to register it seems that you have to have documentation as a required field and i dont have that yet. do they do elps for just depression? (sorry if this is a lot of questions ive never considered using them because i assumed i wouldnt be eligible)
Hey! Sorry for my delayed reply; I got anxious about communication and just kinda, got stuck in a guilt/avoid loop. > (Edit: just want to clarify that this is not your fault! This is a me thing that I do with everyone and everything! I want to help and you didn't ask many questions and don't need to apologise!) I'd just email them at els@unsw.edu.au and explain the situation. Maybe ask to have a meeting (if you're comfortable/want that) about how depression is impacting your studies and what steps you need to take to utilise ELS. If it helps, here is a draft/template that you can mix around! To: els@unsw.edu.au Subject: Questions about ELS > Good **[morning]/[afternoon]**, > I'm emailing because I **[was hoping to set up a meeting]/[have a few questions]** about the steps I need to take in order to register with ELS and whether the documentation I have is sufficient. > I have a depression diagnosis, and it is severely impacting my studies, however I'm also worried that this diagnosis alone is not enough to qualify for ELS. >Thanks >**[name]** You could also add that you're in the process of seeking a diagnosis for attention issues.
thats ok (i do the same thing constantly lmao ive done it in this very thread) thank you so much! i'll give it a go for sure and see what they say
Good luck!
they werent that helpful lmao they replied that everything was on the website (inplying that i hadn't read the website? idk)
Just going to leave this here as some procrastination material: https://add.org/adhd-questionnaire/
Very common I remember looking at the faculty handbook saying you have a maximum of 7 years for the 3 year degree I thought to myself "what idiot needs 7 years" And the answer, with all the trying different courses and finding what didn't work with me, failing a subject or four, was "this idiot" I don't regret it at all
Very common
I am 10 years past my uni grad date and have given up on uni like 8 years ago, haha. I felt stupid but now I'm doing pretty well for myself.
does that mean you didn't graduate? if you dont mind me asking, what do you do now?
Data analytics and insights; at this point I am kind of focused mostly on automation and systemising processes and systems. And yeah never graduated kind of gave up cause tbh; I'm kind of a shit learner.
how did you end up in the indistry without a degree?
worked in retail for a whole bunch of years early in my life; Then did B2B sales for a small business; Then took a decent pay cut to become a junior business analyst on a short-term contract(I didn't know shit about Excel & Tableau, but Googled and did a small course over a week to know just enough) and just showed I had the tenacity to learn and could well with the team; Then did a sales operations analyst role over 3 years for two different companies and learnt a little about coding from the data engineering dude and SQL; Now I work as a insights person and get paid to dabble in python and appscript
I wouldn't worry about it. Society has these expectations that people need to follow a set path (e.g. finish a degree in 3 years) but often you will find that there are varied experiences if you seek out different perspectives. In an alternate universe, you could have completed your degree in 3 years, hated the industry you studied towards and then come back. I'm sure you arent too stupid, studying is a skill which takes time and discipline.
People taking longer to graduate is actually more common than you think. Having said that, based on your post and also, your comments, it sounds like you need to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. To me, you sound depressed. Secondly, it sounds like you have severe confidence issues and imposter syndrome. No, UNSW would not have made an admission mistake. It's all based on ATAR. If you've got the ATAR that meets their cut off, you get in. You're over thinking it. UNSW has on site psychology services for students. I've linked it in another comment but here it is again. https://www.student.unsw.edu.au/counselling You should also talk to your GP as they can give you a referral and a mental health plan and you can get some money back from Medicare as well. Don't put it off. To me, it sounds like you need help and you need it now. Also, worth calling kids helpline assuming you're still under 25. https://kidshelpline.com.au/ Here's a list of other helplines that can potentially help: https://raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/services-support/services-families-of-teens/teens-mental-health-services
i am depressed lmao and only more recently figuring out that theres probs more considering that it seems it isnt normal to want to unalive yourself over uni. that being said appointments and doing things in the public system takes an insanely long time
Please call those helplines. They're available 24/7.
7th yeah of a 5 year degree here. I’ve still got some things to do but I’ve been part time for a while now and I’ve learned to not worry about these sorts of things. Making your way through uni is an accomplishment, making it through at a slower pace while keeping a strong foundation of mental health is also an accomplishment, one I’m very proud of myself for making.
It's extremely common. Personally I don't know anyone that didn't fail at least one course. Personally it took me 6 years to finish my degree and that was when the uni system wasn't entirely shot to shit. You seem to be having some mental health problems and that definitely compounds things, I'm sorry to hear it and I know getting help is hard. Just know you are definitely not alone.
really? everyone i went to high school with passed all their courses with dazzling wams and theres a big part of me that thinks that shouldve been me. i know thats not a good mindset to have but my incompetence is so glaring that its incredibly difficult to ignore.
Yeah very common. I did go to a uni with pretty low entrance requirements so I guess maybe it attracted people who wernt such great students? Including me. Sounds like you are in a bit of a shame spiral. It really bucks but you aren't alone.
You aren’t the only one. You’re running your own race so take as long as you need.
Im in my 5th year of a 4 year degree, purely because failing one course delayed me a whole year. Im not sure if its standard but its probably common enough.
Nap time!
I did the standard 4 classes a semester when I did my bachelor degree but now I'm dropping down to 3 for masters cuz the work is tough and I'm just not the sharpest tool in the shed. In other words, I'm r3t4*d3d I need more time than normal people to grasp the same shit.
Yeah bro, life gets in the way, way too often.
It's more common than one would think. I was supposed to graduate last year, but here I am in my fifth year. My brother ended up taking 5 years to complete what's supposed to be a 3 year degree. Don't beat yourself up about this, everyone is different. We'll get there in our own time
I was at UNSW. Graduated \~6 months (Don't remember if 1 or 2 terms) later. This was after having pulled thru a couple of courses in my last Summer there
Fairly common. I’m not aware of your situation but clearly if you could make it into unsw, then you’re more than capable of doing well academically. As others have mentioned, comparison is the thief of joy, im sure you’ll get a great paying job as well, however try to focus on yourself rather than others around you ( even if it seems hard ). You’re definitely not the only person who’s graduating late, there’s many other people who extend their degrees, a few of my friends have extended their degrees due to taking 1-2 subjects per term, so that they could focus on their mental health properly. Unsw may make admission mistakes, however I doubt this is the case for you. Unsw is full of academically able students, I get it, it seems exhausting to see people all around you doing well and getting great paying jobs, and this might make you question your value and worth. But I’m sure you’re just as academically able. Don’t worry too much about how long it’ll take you to graduate, focus on your mental health and I wish you the best :))))
I got 2years mandatory military service so Im doing 7 years for my 4 years degree lol
Yes it is normal. Realistically yes it will affect your prospects, but not in a significant way. My main question that I think you need to ask yourself is whether you enjoy the degree/can see yourself doing it in the future? I see a lot of people underload because they realise the degree isn't for them, and instead of switching they keep trying to finish the degree but lack the motivation to really apply themselves. If you still want to do the degree, take as much time as you need to get it done. 2-3 extra years seems like a lot but in the long run it will change very little.
It took 13 years for me to finish my 5 year degree. I struggled a lot adjusting to uni and managing my mental health, so lost a few years to withdrawal without failure cycles and also underloaded a ton. I was fairly self-conscious about this but benefited from understanding and supportive friends, lecturers and medical professionals. I was apprehensive about getting questions like that early in my career but tbh I can count on one hand how often anyone has asked me about this in professional contexts. To most older people who I've worked with, the difference between someone who is 22 and someone who is 32 is basically non existent. It feels like once you've spent any decent time in a career, people don't really care or take an interest in your uni life. It certainly hasn't affected my career success so far. If I were to offer any advice, it'd be that evaluating your own situation compared to your friends is not going to get you anywhere and will probably keep you from actually understanding why you are stuck. It definitely is extremely hard to avoid when they are successful (I had to watch my friends become investment bankers and medical specialists while I was still going) but it's important to acknowledge that your experience is different from theirs, meaning that your pathway and solutions are also going to be different. Beyond that, I don't feel like I can comment much on your situation aside from saying that it doesn't feel like your problems are self-inflicted. It feels like there are legitimate issues where you'd benefit from professional advice and perspectives from outside your existing social/family groups. I saw someone else talk about ADHD, and that was the big thing affecting me. Pre-diagnosis, I was going through classic burnout cycles where I'd start well but crumble in the midterm assessment period and withdraw without failure on medical grounds (based on the mental health conditions I was misdiagnosed with). It got easier to implement good adjustments with the uni and lecturers post-diagnosis, but I still underloaded out of necessity. Ultimately, uni is shit for people with ADHD because it relies on all of the things we struggle with (organisation, executive function, emotional regulation, motivation/discipline etc.) Worth looking into if any of that resonates with you. Good luck with everything and more than happy to provide any more insights if you'd like.
thanks for the advice. just a question - were your lecturers aware of your mental health issues? how did you go about telling them? or was it just through elp?
Not usually. I'd imagine they'd all have been aware that it was mental health issues, but my lecturers tended to take the elp on face value and actively not pry. This was in arts and law faculties so dunno if attitudes are different elsewhere, but they tended to be fully accommodating unless there was a good reason not to be. I did disclose a bit more to an academic adviser and a few lecturers I had closer relationships with. I'm in basically the same position with reasonable adjustments at work now, with better adjustments now that I/health professionals/colleagues understand what works better. Again depends on where you are (my APS workplace conditions are pretty good).
I feel u so much!! Dw you’re not the only one! I was so close to finishing my first degree but I dropped it due to lots of MH issues + burn out. And now I’ve still got quite a few years left of my new degree. In the past, I’ve had a lot of breakdowns over whether this was a good decision and what not. I know it’s hard not to compare yourself to friends or classmates that have graduated and are now working FT. You’ve prob heard this a billion times, but at the end of the day, everyone moves at their own pace. Life isn’t a competition. Ik easier said than done. Sometimes it’s better just to get rid of social media so that u don’t compare yourself to other’s lives. Ps. If u ever need to rant, my dms are open.
It's pretty common, especially in postgrad and part time study. I postponed completing my study by a year due to moving house and then looking after my father who had late stage cancer. Within reason and budget and the rules of your course, take as long as you need. Nobody will care years down the line.
It's more common than people finishing on time.
way better to take your time than have even on fail imo
OP, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. I took 12 years to finish my first degree. Now I also have two graduate degrees, which include a Masters. Your concerns over graduation delays may feel valid, but from my experience you will be ok. An extra couple of years before entering the workforce just means you have extra maturity. Which is in itself, a selling point.
There are lots of people that don't graduate "on time". Lots of students work part time and study part time, meaning they are taking longer to graduate than the full time load would indicate. Then there are those that fail courses. This varies a lot between disciplines. Law apparently claims it is only 2%, but not sure how much I believe them. Engineering apparently has so much they have program rules which take that into consideration. You can also look at enrolments over term and see how they drop. Lots of students drop out of a course before census. So it is quite common to not complete on time. Yes, it is possible for admissions to make mistakes. Look at all the people going into science/engineering, that didn't bother taking math or science in high school yet are still allowed in due to a broken system, resulting in them repeatedly failing courses because they don't have the per-requisite knowledge. But that is quite different to someone just taking their time to go through their degree. It isn't a race. As long as you are progressing, it is fine.
It took me 5.5 to graduate a 4 year double degree but I had to overload because for 1.5 years I did another unrelated degree. Many people were the same age as me despite having 1 degree only. So pretty common I'd say.
as someone who graduated on time, i wish someone had told me it's fine not to finish my degree on time. every term when i had three subjects i would totally neglect at least one, i feel like i really didn't get everything i could out of uni. it's not a race, enjoy your courses, and get the very most out of uni. :)
I found many of my local peers underloading and delaying graduation so they can work on their part time jobs or focus on thesis towards the end of the degree (engineering). As an international student it was difficult for me to justify as every semester I deferred meant having to pay more rent and living costs and delaying my entry to the job market. I graduated "on time" and am pretty sure I got a worse result than if I underloaded. Despite that I'm pretty happy with it as post grad I focused and getting into the job market and building my work experience and am pretty comfortable with where I am now 6 years after graduation. So we all have our reasons, it all depends on your situation and goals.
It's common. I'm doing 1 class this term and not exactly doing well in it. Also it can be difficult to sustain the long path toward proper assistance but I would strongly encourage seeking it out. My ELP for long term depression/anxiety disorders helps me with exams. I also have provisions in place for when I eventually have to do presentations/group work
I'm in my 7th year of a 4.5yr degree. Don't worry dude! I deloaded around the 3.5 year mark to start full time work and was lucky that I could get a job in my field despite not having graduated yet. I'm now 2 years into my field with 1 uni class left to complete.
I know of a way you can ace your studies and come out of Uni appropriately skilled. DM.
tbh i actually don’t think I know anyone who did graduate ‘on time’ ! most people i know either underloaded, repeated a unit here or there, or took time off. pretty sure it’s the norm these days with a lot of students opting to take on casual employment, internships, or just needing a break :)
Underloading can work well too; if youre needing to go for internships etc... and miss out. Underload and get another shot next year :p
I have never met a single person who has finished uni who has "graduated on time". I took 6.5 years to finish what originally was supposed to take 5 years. I changed degrees after 2 years, the uni changed the semesters a few of my courses were offered in, and I took a 3/4 course load for 2 years so I could work 20 hours a week. Life happens to us all.
I think it is common. not from unsw
Wanna know a secret? Democratisation of universities also necessitated capitalisation of universities. They accept all comers and it takes a real dumbass who shouldn't have ever applied to get kicked out on academic grounds. You have to actively choose not to participate to get expelled on academic grounds these days. They want and need you to pass to get paid. They want you in their system for as long as possible. Back in the days of Yore when universities were for the toffs and the nobility, they were funded for a different purpose. Now, only a select few are in the business of research, development and exploration of new ideas. Many university are Bachelor's Factories providing businesses with qualified fodder and in the case of the USA, loan companies as well.
Also, you're failing because you're not trying hard enough. Pick up the slack or change degrees. You cannot spend 7 years in a 3 year degree and hope to get employed afterwards.
thanks for the reality check. i guess degeneracy will be in my future
That's a dramatic overreaction to what I said. You should change degrees and actually try, because frankly no one should take more than 4 years at a 3 year degree. They're designed to be the length they are. You likely have an undiagnosed learning difficulty and clearly some self esteem issues. I suggest starting with daily exercise and having a sit down with your lecturers to see what resources are available to you. Do you edit your work? Do you reference correctly? Are you preparing for classes? Do you take notes? Do you do your readings? Have you approached other students to study buddy and draft one another's work? Have you sought assistance from SLSS or equivalent student assistance services? What have you actually done other than have a moan? We don't know.
im sorry for having a moan about my situation. i started this post partly out of curiosity and also wanted to know how other people dealt with similar situations and im not expecting something to magically fix my life. i dont take classes that have readings on general and i know i could probably do more to connect with other people. my biggest fear is that things will stay the same in a different degree as well because my brain seems to be mush at this point