I don’t know how to manage to work load, how to pace myself, keep up with all the things i need to do, and I have 0 free time. I have to quit my job because I have no time for homework otherwise (unless I get very little sleep), and had to stop doing things I enjoy. I have to give up a hobby I’m passionate about, due to lack of time as well. I’m at community college doing general studies because I don’t know what I want to do yet/there’s nothing I want to do, so I need the time to figure out what I’ll dislike the least. As I’ve been taking classes like algebra, writing, history, etc - I realized that no matter what I’m going to hate what I major in or what I do. I don’t like anything and I HATE homework, it makes me miserable. There’s so much goddamn homework. If 5 general education classes consume my life how would I even handle a major? I’m really unhappy and I don’t know what to do. Any advice would be great.
Also, I couldn’t find a suitable category for this post, sorry if it’s the wrong one.
@Smilingkiwi . . . Can you lighten your load a bit? There’s a reason why some colleges will have students take a lighter load in their first terms. It sounds like you’ve enrolled in courses with which you’ll need to transfer, and you’ll probably have to get up to speed also. Also try to take something like a photography class with those courses you’ll need so you won’t overwhelm yourself – though a bit late for this term. Are you otherwise in a hurry to xfer? Also, are you foreign with respect to the States as possibly your name suggests? This would be tough for anyone.
Many students do take fewer than 5 courses at a time. You could consider dropping a course now and taking 4 at a time in the future, or at least until you have gotten use to the pace.
It has been a long time since I was a student. However, my recollection is that taking 5 classes at a time requires a significantly larger commitment of time and effort when compared to having a full time job. Hobbies do indeed suffer.
There is also the obvious question of whether you belong at college or university. Most students in the US, and in nearly every country in the world, never get a 4 year bachelor’s degree. There are other options.
Out of curiosity, what is the hobby you love that you don’t have time to do anymore?
Yes, college is more difficult than high school and it isn’t for everyone. See if you can take one less class to lighten your load a bit. Did you enroll in college before researching other options such as trade school? It sounds like you may have been happier trying something different.
@Smilingkiwi , 5 classes (which obviously includes homework and study time in addition to the class time) is not a small course load. Add in a job, a hobby that requires regular time, free time to hang out, and other obligations, and many people might have too much to handle.
This could be an issue of you not managing your time well enough. It could also be a situation where you simply have too many things you want to include in your life right now. Time management is important, but there are limits. You can’t get 30 hours of activities out of a 24-hour day. No more than you can buy $150 worth of goods when you only have $100. Just like with money, you have to prioritize what items to spend money on and what items you can wait to purchase later.
Write down the five or six things you feel you need to do in your life at this time: Education, work, hobby, etc, etc. Decide what is most important in your life. Mark that item as #1 and continue until you get to the end. The last couple of items may be things you have to stop doing temporarily so you can focus your time (for the next 2 or 4 years) on the things you decide are more important.
If you truly feel you cannot stop doing any of the things, you may have to decide to do each less. For instance, instead of enrolling in 5 classes, go to school part time and take only 2 classes. Instead of working 30 hours a week, you may have to work 12 hours a week. Instead of hanging out with your friends three days/nights a week, you cut back to 1 night out. Of course, each of those decisions have consequences. Going to school part time means it will take longer to graduate. Working less means you will have less money. Only you can decide which consequences matter most.
If nothing else, do what @DadTwoGirls suggested and reduce your current course load. If it’s not too late to withdraw, drop a class or two this semester. Taking 3 or 4 classes may free up enough time to make you feel less overwhelmed.
Go to the tutoring center, they can help you with time management and your classes.
Make sure you have a manageable work load, start with some gen eds, not too many hard science or math classes.
Prioritize your time, make a list of what you need to do every day: attend class, do homework, study.
Academics should come first. Once you have a good routine going and feel you have some free time, maybe work a few hours a week on campus. They will be more flexible about finals and such than an off campus employer.
Go to whatever student services your CC offers and tell them you need to speak to someone who can advise you on time management. Relax. You just need to acquire a new skill set.
In the meantime print out a calendar and a daily schedule. Yes, the old fashioned way with paper so you can look at it, touch it, write on it, erase, cross out and see it without having to open up a device. Work with your scheduled including daily, weekly and monthly. Keep it out where you can see it. Stick to it. You can do this.
Maybe the OP should take a break for a while. I hear not only his/her frustration with time management and homework but also a general dislike for school. Taking time off to work full time might lead to renewed interest in college down the line, and if that time comes, the OP can take a lighter load (say, two classes) to build up confidence and also learn what college-level classes require. Not everyone is ready to dive into fifteen credit hours right out of HS (if that’s the OP’s situation). I know I wasn’t.
Take advantage of all the resources at your school. Make an appointment right away with the academic advisor, who can help determine which class to drop. Make an appointment at the tutoring center to get help with whatever subjects are hard for you. Make a schedule for studying, when assignments are due, and so forth. If you have a hobby, there should be time for you to do it, but taking five classes is probably eating into your time. Colleges expect students to have time to do stuff outside of homework, so organize your time better. But first, get rid of a class.
What is the hobby you’re passionat about? What do you most like about it? This might be the key to figuring out your future career direction and what (if anything) you need to study in order to get there…
I agree with the others…drop at least one class. No one should have to feel this miserable. You won’t be able to do well at any of them if you’re overwhelmed. There’s a learning curve to getting time management, so go easy on yourself. Also, don’t be shy to go to your professors for help!