A
female
 ,
anonymous
writes:Hi, I'm a university student and I just started in September. I have also been working for Sainsbury’s supermarket for 2 years. When I got my lecture schedule it became apparent that it would clash with my work schedule. When I asked them to change my working hours they dragged their feet and kept me on hold for 5 weeks. I held on for so long because I thought they’d change it for me soon, how wrong I was.During these 5 weeks I had been missing lectures to go to work. I sacrificed my education for my job at Sainsbury’s. How foolish, but I had every intention of catching up on my work as soon as they changed my working hours. Little did I know that we would be set so much work in that short time.Now I have assignments to do and 3000 word essays that I am not prepared for. And the biggest worry of all is FAILURE TO SUBMIT OR LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL RESULT IN PROGRAMME TERMINATION WITH NO RETAKE PERMITTED. Unfortunately I haven't been able to do any of these essays. One of which was due in of Friday and the next one is due in tomorrow! Also if I fail I'm not allowed to retake and that will also result in programme termination. I have doubts as to whether I'd pass even if I had done them. Mainly because I’ve never done academic work at a university level before, so this is new to me.They'll probably kick me out of university. So should I just drop out before it comes to that? Do I have any other options? It seems like I’m doomed. I know this is entirely my fault. I should have just quit my job. But then again, even if I did, like I said before it’s not guaranteed that I’d pass anyway. And another one of my worries is my student loan. I still haven’t received it and I have no one to sign my declaration form. This has been by far the most stressful and unpleasant time I’ve had for the whole year. The only solution seems to be to drop out of university and come back next year when I am better prepared.
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female
reader, DrPsych +, writes (12 November 2007):
 I dropped out of my first University place (albeit for different reasons) and it didnt do my future academic career any harm! However, you need to stop the panic and realise this situation can be sorted out. I have lectured and supervised student projects for a couple of years at UK Universities so I shall give you some advice from the other side of the fence as I have heard all the excuses going under the sun. If you need to work to support yourself then you need to do some work...I did some bog awful jobs as a student to get by so I get it. However, that doesn't mean taking rubbish from your employer and you can find another job at another supermarket with evening hours that suit around your studies. You could think about going part-time on your studies if finances are dire (I did that in the last year of a PhD as I juggled 3 jobs and a write up!). My husband combines a part-time degree course with a full-time job for example.
Universities always read the riot act at students about meeting deadlines because they schedule exam meetings between internal and external examiners who come together to moderate the coursework (another words the external checks the internal examiners are not overly harsh or soft in their marking). Therefore meeting deadlines is an administrative issue for academic departments. However, students being students...life is never straight-forward all the time and there will be reasons why people are not coping with the workload. I suggest you go and see your personal tutor or one of the less scary lecturers if you have missed your essay deadlines to GROVEL...I probably shouldn't say this but probably better to create a better excuse than work-commitments. I will also add that attending lectures is not always the key to essay success...lecturers don't want to read their own lecture notes rehashed in a 3000 word essay. They give marks to reflect the fact you have personally researched the topic which means getting in front of a library computer and digging through those electronic journals.
Academic staff will appreciate that you are trying to deal with this head on if you see them and give you a time limited extension (which you would be foolish to miss). I wouldn't listen to the submit once and get kicked out if you fail routine...that is just lecturer speak for I don't want lots of resubmissions to look at! Most UK Universities would be in serious financial trouble if they didn't allow students to resit when they fail assignments. They live for those student fees, even from the less academically able student! If you don't get anywhere with academic staff, look in your student handbook as there will be appeal procedures.
Good luck.
A
reader, anonymous, writes (12 November 2007): good god. that is a pickle your in...but every cloud has a silver lining =]
quit that goddamn job...perrlease. university acceptance level students shouldn't be in sainsburys!
okay. go to your teachers at the university and ask for help, explain your situation fully. maybe you could restart the course or something? Don't point the finger at anybody. especially not them. and if after telling them everything they're still being twats...just quit and come back next year when your more prepared (get a job where you have to write/type a lot, it'll prepare you for university a lot, something in a bank maybe? just not something like sainsburys. get a job that is like the university work you'll be doing)
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A
female
reader, birdynumnums  +, writes (12 November 2007):
 You have already stated that that this is entirely your fault. You are not "doomed", but you seem determined to shoot yourself in the foot.
Stop keeping all of this to yourself and talk with your TA's, Profs and enlist the resources of your fellow students in getting notes from lectures that you have missed. Talk to your parents immediately. They can help. Talk with family and friends to bolster your determination and keep your spirits up. My son lost his apartment (computer, books, notes) in a fire right before mid-terms and still passed his year.
QUIT that job. You have references now and can get one that will be a better fit - even look around for one at the Uni. Get cracking and salvage what is left of the semester, you have already paid for it and Therefore have nothing left to lose. YOU HAVE PAID FOR IT. If you stop now, you will still carry the debt forward and be reluctant (as you sound now) to get back. If you let things slide further, it's possible that you will talk yourself out of University and your future entirely. DON'T. You ARE in charge here and I know you can do it. My daughter put herself through juggling an ice cream shop job, a coffee shop job and her classes. You might need to pick up an extra class if you fail one this time around, but it's worth it and I know you can do it.
You CAN do this. I know that you can. Stop dragging your feet. Don't say that you'll try, tell yourself that you Can and Believe It. No, it's not going to be easy, but nothing worth having is easy. You are capable of this. Believe in yourself. Your determination, ambition and skills will get you there.
The thing that you really need to learn from this terrible beginning, is that no one is in charge of your life but you now. The first thing that the Uni does (in the intro classes) is tell to parents to back off. It's time for you to make the decisions about your life and take control of the reins. Pretty much everyone learns this the hard way, I'm afraid. I still think of myself as a "experimental learner" and have the scars to prove it. I hope this wasn't too harsh, I know you can do this. Best of luck Dear, I'll be rooting for you.
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A
male
reader, rcn  +, writes (11 November 2007):
 I think before making any decisions you need to go in and speak to one of your career counselors. Quite a few schools do have these rules but all though they exist, at time unavoidable situations may make a different. Don't do anything until you speak with them. They may be able to speak to your instructor, letting them know the situation, and possibly give an extended time to complete the assignments. That's what they are there for.
There is no guarantee of passing, other than what you do and what you don't do. If you take time to do the work, it greatly increases your chance of success. College can be difficult, but it's up to you to make it work for you.
Good luck.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (11 November 2007): do EVERYTHING you can to get back on track
talk to student advice people u know that kind of shit
ask older students if they have any ideas
quit sainsburies thats of no importance
if you cant manage those first two essays make sure you can redeem yourself by finishing all the other essays well, on time etc then they cant kick you out for not doing just 2
if you dont have the right info from not going to lectures, then ask to borrow a friend who is on the same course as you's notes or look stuff up in the library/ online
try not to panic so much and (my motto) take life as it comes. spend tomorrow chilling and try nto to think about any of it.
then the next day get into work mode and set yourself the goal of getting everything sorted and back on track
good luck
and if u get kicked out dont be gutted, take life as it comes and try and make an opotunity out of it
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