Anxiety, University and my Future

[Failed_dietitian]

For context I have been at uni for about 5 year. Initially I didn't really want to go but once I switched degrees I really thought I had a chance to make something of myself. My grades improved and I was granted a conditional offering to do a 6 month honours program towards a research path of something that I love. Currently my parents are supporting me financially so that I can volunteer for work experience to increase my chances of employment after graduation in an extremely competitive field (3-6 grad jobs in the state)

Up until this semester my grades have been good but not outstanding, however I knew that I needed to achieve a certain mark to fit the conditional offer for the research program of around 75%.

I have been sitting about 80% for the whole semester up until now. I started 3 weeks out from exams studying 16 hours most days, taking 1 or 2 days a week sometimes to make sure I could spend time with my girlfriend but put everything else to the side. I studied every piece of course content I could have for this exam.

I open up the exam and what the ***. I could not have possibly known the things they were assessing.

The only reassurance I felt was the fact that everyone else that had sat the exam seemed to be in the same boat.

But if there was nothing I could have done to prepare for an exam that will determine whether or not:
1. I have to repeat an entire year (it's only offered in this half of the year)
2. Can get into the honours program and follow the career path that I want
3. I have wasted 5 years and an immeasurable amount of my parent's money who have sacrificed so much for me.

Marks haven't been released yet but I am not even confident I would have got enough to pass let alone meet the required hurdle of 60%.

I don't know what to do. Everything was looking so positive for my future and now it's all falling apart.

I don't know who to talk to. My

[Tam28]

Hi, I'm not sure which uni or subject your studying(I presume dietitian) but when I failed my exam I emailed the lecturer and he told me that they offer an additional exam if you fail but I think it depends on the subject etc. Not sure if that is of any help.

[Here_I_am]

Hi Failed dietitian,

Firstly I want to comment on how wrong it felt to type your username! 🙂 It doesn't sit right calling you a Failed dietitian, as that's not how I see you at all.

As a fellow student, the pressures of study and the expectation to always be achieving well above average is known to me, and I can appreciate the extreme feeling of deflation you describe. I can only imagine how you must be feeling being in the middle of the experience.

One thing that really stands out for me is the narrow tightrope you've described. I read that you've had a singular goal and pathway for the past five years, and whilst their may very well be a reason to feel a little wobbly on that tightrope at the moment, is it really true that if things don't go a particular way then all is lost? My field of study (psychology) has myriad career pathways - very few of which carry the appellation of 'Psychologist' at the end of the journey; all very valid careers though, and very much in need of the study and qualification. I appreciate that right now it may not seem like it, however - regardless of how this particular unit goes - there will be a time when career pathways present themselves that you will either accept as interesting but not what you thought you'd so, or reject in preference for staying the course.

That being said, as a student you are no doubt very familiar with this pre-result tension. You've every right to feel a little squeamish right now, as most uni students are (me included... anxiously awaiting the outcome of my recent efforts that won't be known until 29 October... feels like forever away!). I know I use this time to do a bit of soul searching. What will I do if I don't follow through with the plan of being a counseling psychologist? Where else could my training lead me? What else am I interested in? I think I'd make a good teacher - what's the leap from psychology into education? I could do that. Their one other option...

Is their any scope for you to view some of the options as workable - even positive - or does it all really feel as though it's been for naught?

Hope to hear from you soon.

[Summer Rose]

Hi

Welcome to the bb forum and thank you for sharing your story. I can understand that you're anxious and why. It's a tough spot to be in.

However, I suggest you have a chat with someone in student services to ask about how the university grades. This is because you said that everyone had the same experience as you. This means you are not alone and it's entirely possible that a bell curve will be applied across the board.

It could still turn out that you did better than you think. A good chat with student services might also help you find a pathway you may have overlooked.

Kind thoughts to you