[jeraku]

I've been at Uni for nearly a week and already my mood has totally dipped. I don't know if it's just because it's hard to talk to new people or if the fact I'm here and I don't know if I'm even doing the right course, maybe it's finally sinking in.

Don't know what to do. I feel like I can't ask for help so soon. I don't want to admit I can't handle myself for less than a week before I crumble.

[lone_twin4]

In my experience, the end of the first week is the worst period. When I started university in England, I hated it for the first couple of weeks. When I started university in America, the end of the first week was even worse! I think it was a mixture of being really tired because of the change and all the meetings we had to go to, and homesickness, and unfamilarity - being permanently confused can be tiring!

Why do you have a problem with your course? It is possible to change your course in the first semester, or even after Christmas. It can be difficult to meet people, but it doesn't need to be. If you are struggling to meet people in halls, that's okay. Once lectures start it gets a bit easier, but the best way to meet people is through clubs. Really. In my first semester I didn't really join any clubs, but in the second I met a bunch of new people from joining just one.

It will get easier, but you can ask for help any time you want, as well. Counsellors get paid to counsel at any time, and I think the start of term is a peak time as well, once homesickness and the challenge of being independent sets in. So it's always okay to ask for help. Tutors love to help as well. During one bad time, when I had a paper due in the next week and I was trying to write it at night... all of a sudden everything just seemed impossible! I started to think I couldn't do the essay, then everything spiralled and I wondered what the point of even being there was, suddenly everything seemed so pointless and boring. I ended up emailing my subject tutor (at 2am!) this awful and long email about how I couldn't do it and I needed some help, etc... he mailed back really quickly asking me to come see him the very next day. So my point is that they're happy to help.

I notice you're in Scotland so maybe your uni also has a Nightline you can phone? They will be helpful for telling you about available supportive resources, and stuff.

Being in university really takes you out of your comfort zone. It is difficult, but worth it, to leave your door open, or knock on other people's doors and offer them tea or biscuits, help with packing etc... food is a good way to introduce yourself, like baking in the kitchen etc...

Good luck! University doesn't have to be super duper fun all the time, but it gets more fun as time goes by.

Sorry for the length!

[Travelinglady]

You're definitely not alone! It's not too early to ask for help...In fact, I suspect a fair number of your peers are struggling, too. Yes, schools do provide counselors. With time, I think you'll begin to make some friends (be on the lookout for clubs and organizations that sound appealing) and get used to the uni atmosphere. I was a student for a long time (got a Ph.D.) and then a professor. So, know, too, that professors are generally not ogres. We care, too, and we have office hours so students can come in to chat--in can be about courses, but I was willing to be a listening ear to all kinds of things. I think if you give uni some more time, you'll be fine...Okay?