I hate university

They don’t tell you this, but university life’s not always one big party. In fact, it’s pretty much guaranteed to be an emotional rollercoaster. If you’re dealing with break ups or evil housemates, don’t hide away in your room thinking ‘I hate university’. Instead, read our tips for dealing with these common uni worries.

I’m going to fail my degree

So you took procrastination to a whole new level and now have a deadline/exam in two days. Your response? PANIC. There’s no way you’ll get it all done in time – even if you pour coffee granules into your eyeballs and super glue yourself to the library. So what are you going to do? Flee the country? Or maybe just shove your head into that nice patch of sand over there, start yelling ‘I hate uni’ at the top of your lungs and not come out til’ you’ve graduated? 

Solution:

You need to snap out of this self-destructive spiral. Quickly. We promise you can steer this back, you just need to take some decisive action.

• Stop thinking it’s too late to save your degree. Get your ass out of your bed and see your personal tutor, or just a professor you feel comfortable with. Talk through your concerns and create a revision/dissertation plan of action.
• Consider changing course if you’re really unhappy. Ask yourself why you’ve not done any work? If you think you’d work harder if you actually enjoyed what you’re doing, it may be worth switching subjects. Check out our article on changing university courses here.

I hate university because of my housemates

Having crap housemates is a common reason for hating uni. Whether you’re stuck in first-year halls with absolute idiots or in a student house with bullies, it’s gonna suck. The worst part is that your living situation can directly affect the rest of your uni life. So, if your digs have turned into a bitching nest, or you find you don’t have much in common with anyone and feel ‘different’ or left out, make sure to take action.

Solution:

• Widen your social circle so you’re not so dependent on your housemates for social contact. For example, join clubs and societies and fill up your spare time so you don’t spend too much time around their negative energy.
• Talk to someone about it – whether it’s someone back home or from a completely different course. There’s no shame in admitting you’re not having the time of your life.
• You can request to move to a different room/block if things are really bad. Your best bet is to go and speak to your accommodation office.

Plus, we have some advice for dealing with bullying housemates right here.

Shouldn’t I be having more sex at uni?

Everywhere you look there’s PDA. You’re given more free condoms than promotional drinks vouchers. And every other drinking game revolves around some sort of sexual exploit. Thing is, you’re not exactly having that much sex. Well, any sex really. But uni is about sex, right? So why is everyone else having it apart from you?

Solution:

• If you’re a virgin and think you’re therefore a scientific anomaly – read our Only Virgin Left article to realise you’re not. In fact, you’re completely and utterly normal.
• Give yourself a break – For now, just focus on getting out there and meeting new people – leave romance/carnal desire out of the equation. Sex is more likely to come from confidence and respect, not a desire to keep up with your mates.

I hate uni because I’ve just broken up with my partner

A broken heart is completely consuming. Everything else just seems so insignificant – including your degree. Unfortunately, uni is prime heartbreak time. Everyone’s scattered about the country, all doing their own thing, needing to figure themselves out. On their own. Good news is, the pain goes away eventually, and for now you just need to survive til that day comes.

Solution:

• In the midst of heartbreak? Read our article about mending a broken heart to help you through this shitty moment.
• Try to keep busy doing productive, degree-related things. Keep going to lectures and doing essays. Your ex may have crushed your heart temporarily, don’t let them crush your career prospects permanently. 
• If it’s too much and you feel incapable of leaving the comfort of your duvet– chat to your GP about what’s going on. Alternatively, you can book an appointment with your personal tutor, so you can chat through your feelings and your options.

I’ve got too much spare time and I’m getting depressed

So you’ve got four hours of contact time with an academic a week. The rest of your ‘degree’ is up to you. You think you’re supposed to be learning stuff in the library, but you’re not quite sure what. Instead you’ve developed nocturnal bedtime habits, wasting hours watching TV you don’t even like, and have an existential crisis once a week. Everyone keeps telling you how lucky you are to have such a flexible timetable... But, actually, you just keep thinking ‘I hate university’ because you feel so lost. 

Solution:

• Book an appointment with your personal tutor and admit you’re not sure what you’re supposed to be doing. Remember you’re paying a LOT of money for this degree. You might as well get your money’s worth.
• Get into a routine and stick to it. Set your alarm for the same time each day. Work in the library so you’re less distracted by Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Add a few extra-curricular activities into your week to mix things up.
• If you’re feeling really low, go talk to your GP about how you’re feeling. And be completely honest with them. If you’re struggling with your mental health then they can help you get support.
• Read our article on looking after your mental health when starting university.
• Find out more about depression.

Did you love or hate university? Let us know your tips for making the best of it on our discussion boards.