Struggling in college

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>So basically, my college experience has been an interesting one to say the least. I am currently a 2nd year college student at a local community college. However, before attending this community college I attended the University of Vermont (my freshman year of college - Fall 2012). When I was at UVM, I struggled with my classes. At first I did alright, but as the semester went on, I began to do very very poorly. I ended falling very far behind in my classes and was never able to catch up. i began over sleeping and skipping classes. Not even to hang out or socialize with other students on campus, but instead to sleep and just sit in my room. I got outrageously depressed at UVM and didn't tell my parents how poorly I had done until I returned for winter break. I spilled everything to them and was put on academic probation at UVM. My parents wouldn't let me return though for spring semester of 2013 and had me go to a psychiatrist for my depression and anxiety issues. Turns out I am bipolar and that contributed to my lack of focus and depression at UVM. </p>

<p>I began taking medicine for my bipolar disorder and decided to attend a local community college by where I live. That semester I did much better with school and ended up taking 4 classes. Everything was great until the last 2 weeks of the semester when I got a job working at a local supermarket. I began to get overwhelmed with school and my job and ended up not turning in a essay for my critical thinking class and didn't do well on the final exam. Basically I received 2 A's, a B and an F for that semester. </p>

<p>Then came along the summer of this year (2013). I took 3 classes over the summer at the community college and ended up withdrawing from all 3 of them. It was way to heavy of a work load for me to manage with my social life and job and I just fell way to far behind in all 3 classes to stay in them. I had missed class a lot, missed quizzes, tests, ect...So for the summer I had 3 withdrawals. </p>

<p>Now begins fall semester. I took initially 5 classes (18 credits) and quit my job at the super market to focus exclusively on my grades. However as time went on, my parents began to threaten to kick me out if i didn't get a job soon and started doing things like taking the car away from me so i had to take the pace bus and train to school. I began to feel really overwhelmed again and just broke under pressure. I ended up missing about a week and a half of school because of me being sick and also having to take the bus to school. I would occasionally miss it and sometimes just not go because of the extra work involved in doing so, like waking up way earlier (4:30 AM). I ended up withdrawing from 2 classes and am left with 3. I am currently doing good in the 3 classes I am in but my parents are just absolutely furious with me. </p>

<p>My parents essentially think i am a failure. I have let them down every semester i have been in college and have wasted a lot of money out of a fund i have set aside for me for college. They are just waiting for me to mess up with my last 3 classes this semester to finally kick me out of the house to demonstrate what it is like living without anything, including food or a roof. </p>

<p>I am worried that even if I do end up doing well this semester with my last 3 classes (B's A's) that I will struggle to get accepted into a decent university in the future. I am falling further and further behind and I don't know what to do. My parents recommended just taking 1 or 2 classes next semester and focusing on finding a full time job instead and that maybe college isn't right for me, at least at the moment. I don't want to do that because I will fall even more behind in achieving my goal of getting a bachelors degree. </p>

<p>Here is the break down of my classes/major.
- Sophomore 17 credits at the moment ( 28 credits after fall semester 2013 )
- I am a civil engineer major (was a biology major at U of Vermont)
- Vermont grades:
Chemistry : F
Biology: D
Calculus 1: F
Political Science: B</p>

<p>-Sem 1 at Community college:
Micro: B
Macro: A
Philosophy: A
Critical Thinking : F</p>

<p>Summer semester:
Physics : W
College Alg : W
Pre Calc 2 : W</p>

<p>Current semester (Fall 2013)
Computer science : W
Architecture : W
Chemistry: (B) - hopefully
Pre Calc 2 : (A) - hopefully
Engineering graphics: (A) - hopefully</p>

<p>I am confused with what I should do. Am i basically done for with college. Should I give up on attaining a 4 year degree in civil engineering. Is it even possible to transfer to a 4 year university at this point with 5 withdrawals and a few F's? I would love to go to U of Arizona or UIC in chicago.
Should I perhaps take less classes and try to focus on making some money at the moment to pay back parents for withdrawals?
I just don't know what I am doing wrong. Why am I struggling so much with college. I did very well (for the most part) in high school and did not have these problems of horrible procrastination and giving up mentality that I do with college. </p>

<p>Thanks guys :)</p>

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<p>Stop taking so many credits at once. A “typical” schedule is 15-16 credits, but often 12 is considered full time as well. Slow down. Especially during summer, ~12 units is a death wish. Try taking 2 or 3 classes during normal semesters. Especially if you’re working, don’t take a lot of classes… certainly not engineering ones. Overloading yourself isn’t going to help if you’re struggling with class, and you’ll be better off taking a bit longer to graduate than you’ll be if you take on too many units and keep failing classes.</p>

<p>Transferring to a 4 year: Upward trend can help you. You might be able to retake classes you failed to boost your GPA. I haven’t personally been in your situation, but it’s definitely possible if you want it and work hard.</p>

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<p>Your parents already hate you, so I wouldn’t prioritize paying them back. I agree that you should focus on two or three classes and spend time on them, and retake classes you failed but get good grades this time. And for the love of God, don’t miss quizzes. :P</p>

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<p>What do I do about the 5 withdrawals? how badly will this impact me attempting to transfer to a 4 year university?</p>

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<p>What a mean and irresponsible thing to say to someone who is already upset. Parents are understandably upset when their kids keep failing classes (and essentially wasting the money they spent years saving for college). That does not mean that they “hate” their son. I’m assuming that you are posting more out of immaturity than intentional cruelty but you are way out of line.</p>

<p>If you have nothing intelligent to contribute when someone post’s requesting help, the least you can do is to not reply.</p>

<p>I agree with the poster who suggests slowing down and focusing on a few classes at a time. Your parents have shown that they are willing to get help for you but you have to do your part and stop repeating the behavior that results in failure. If you cut back on the number of classes you attempt and do well in them you will still have to repeat the ones you’ve failed but that’s ok. Take your time and regroup and then do well with a reduced course load. If you take charge and turn this around you will be able to transfer to a 4 year school when you are truly ready to handle it. Most of them have seen some very mixed transcripts from kids who have had a rocky start and won’t hold it against you if you prove you can succeed at your cc.</p>

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<p>I do think you need to consider whether engineering and/or a STEM path is really for you. Looking back over your courses, you have done best in Econ, Political Science, and Philosophy. Maybe you need to consider changing majors to something like Econ. </p>

<p>And I agree with the posters who say you need to slow down. Since you started your medication you have overloaded every semester (summer and fall) and it didn’t work out. Take 12 credits. If you do get a job, stick to one that is 8 hours/week or less. Hopefully your parents will let you give this another shot with that type of schedule. I understand their concerns…</p>

<p>You also need to figure out better time management skills, I think. You need to block of your time for various activities, leave yourself more time than you think you will need (sounds like you often underestimate the effort for tasks0, and stick to the schedule. Reward yourself when you complete something or successfully stick to your schedule. Maybe look for some time management books or websites to try to figure out a system that will work for you.</p>

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<p>I agree, slow down. Also, it sounds like you need more structure. Get a day planner and “schedule” homework and study periods, and even sleep times, to help keep you on track to get your work done and take care of yourself. Hopefully, if you are doing better you will be more enthusiastic about attending class, so it may help in that way too. Also, talk to an advisor at the school about what classes would be a little less demanding and more interesting for you. Even when there are requirements, often there is more than one option to fulfill the requirement.</p>