h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I was at an astronomy lecture a while ago, by one of the people who worked on the Cassini probe. He was a professor at Queens, Belfast.

Really? What was his name, can you remember?

Can´t say I do. But he was wearing tweed like a proper professor

His name was Alan Fitzsimmons, physics professor there. It was rather boring though.

Well, this seems stupid since it's what I was after for a long time. I've started at Uni now, studying astrophysics. It's been three days and I feel like quitting. The maths is just too much, some of the stuff they use I haven't even heard of. I underestimated how difficult it would be. The one's I study with are just kids, and seem to know it all. So do you think I should run away while I still can, and while I haven't paid the registration fee? Or just hope some serious studying will be enough to get me through? Advice please.

Stick with it. You are in culture shock.

You presumably have a member of the faculty you can discuss your dificulties with? If you feel the same way in a week, go and discuss it with them.

I plunge myself into extreme situations every six months or so when I take on new contracts, and there is simply too much to take in during the first week for one to be able to process it all and handle it. It is bewildering and scary every single time.

Actively work at identifying what is difficult for you, when you have worked out what it is work out the best way to deal with it. The maths is hard? Talk to your maths tutors about doing extra intermediate maths. The kids are much younger? Seek out the other more mature students who are not on the same course as you and socialise with them.

Be proactive about solving the problems, that way you will find out if they really are problems, or just wierd shit during the first couple of weeks.

There is no point at all in leaving something when you are new and scared and frightened. You have no way of knowing if your fears and concerns are valid or not.

If you find, after the end of the first term, that you haven't been able to solve the problems *despite trying everything you can to solve them* then just maybe think about considering perhaps possibly leaving.

Ben

Definitely. Think how depressed and bored you'll be if you have to go back to doing what you were doing before, but with your dreams dashed...

I also second B's suggestion of seeing if you can get some extra help, and I suspect that many 'mature' students must face the same problem, so I'm sure they must have some solutions available.

sprout

The problem is not that the other students are younger in itself. I could always hang with 3rd and 4th years. It's the fact that a bunch of kids five years younger than me, understands all this stuff that I have no grasp of. But I'm trying to find out something about math tutorials. That's a start, thought probably a bit too late.

I have also gone to other countries before, not knowing anybody or really what I was getting into. But not being actually scared, I am this time.

Stick with it Xan

Its always daunting when you start a new year at uni.

I've just started my 3rd year and have just been told the sheer enormity of the work i'll have to do to pass my degree.

Part of me wants to run away and hide, but i know i have to stick with it.

Xan, don't give up on it yet - you've waited so long to get there! Much good advice here already and I just want to repeat that you can talk to your tutor about getting some extra help with the maths. It must feel a bit horrible that all these kids seem to be taking it all in their stride but don't worry about it - you'll be stronger in other areas. Get the right help and in no time you will be wondering what you were so worried about!

I'd second the comment somebody made about a mature students group too - have you been to freshers fair yet? There will probably be a mature students association you could join. If you have missed the fair then wander along to your student's union and ask there.



k

The other thing is that the kids are probably in awe of the number of languages you speak, the number of countries you have visited, the fact that you have paid your own way in the world for some years now, and the fact that you set your sights on this goal and have achieved it.

You probably intimidate them just as much in your own understated 6'5" way!

Stay . (You are you know!)

B

6'6" mind you I was just at the clubs fair, and was at the basketball stand. The guy sitting there asked me straight faced if I was a professional. Made me feel a bit silly asking if they had a beginners team.

Hmmm, those things are good. Knowing that I have seen a lot more than these kids. But for this course it isn't really relevant.

I found out yesterday they have a historical reenactment society here. Makes me more keen to stay just for that kind of thing. One of them was also talking about how archeology is something you can pass, even if you're really stupid, and that it isn't that difficult to find a job anymore. Maybe that's what I should try and switch to.

I dunno, give him an inch, and he takes a mile!

Did you get any joy with extra maths tuition? It should be possible to arrange it informally even if you cannot do it via the Uni itself.

B

I talked to my science mentor and she said she didn't know if there was any, but that she would find out and get back to me. I couldn't find anything on their homepage, but there are for some of the other courses.

One of the things they said in physics class was that you actually didn't need to have had physics before. So for studying physics they expect you to be brilliant at maths, but to not even know anything about physics? Odd.

Physics and maths are so closely related at many points.

How about if you put a sign on the notice board - say you're looking for someone (another student) to help you with maths. Maybe even in addition to officially organised tutoring. Especially if you find an NFG to help you out. You can offer money but even better something like lessons in Danish in return.

B gives sensible and practical advice above, so stick to it.

Don't forget you've been out of a learning environment for a while. You may have underestimated this.

My eldest son was offered a course to gently ease him back into the learning environment (as many boys do national service, which is still obligatory in Germany, between school and uni, which can probably quite badly addle your brain). This was during the last two weeks before he started his first semester. Pity you didn't have a chance to do something like that. He said it helped a lot.

As with everything in life:

take the problems a little at a time
don't lose sight of your goal.

And my middle son went to Hamburg last week to take a test to see if he was good enough for Lufthansa to train him as a pilot. He didn't get through. (Only 5 out of 40 candidates did). Don't know what'll happen to him now. He's interested in astronomy - are there any more places on your course?

Anyway Xan, we're all in favour of you sticking it out. So keep us posted, and don't give up too easily.

I could be wrong, but it might be better to postpone the physics classes to take more maths now.

I can see why there might not have been any prerequired physics classes, but weren't there prerequired maths?

I took trig based physics because I hadn't learned calculus. I started to go back for a second degree and started with precalc intending to learn calculus before diving into quantum physics. (never did get around to it in the end due to financial restraints (dad said either get a job or get out.) ).


But my thought is that if you are having trouble because of the maths then you should learn that first.


(Of course, your professors should know best.)

Thankfully, being a computer literate person, you have access to all sorts of wonderful resources to help you. For instance this one is tailored just for people like you:
http://www.mis.coventry.ac.uk/jtm/foreword.htm

Or if you have specific difficulties then Ask H2G2 can be good.

I'm having a look at that now Bouncy, looks quite good. The physics class has started to seem less overwhelming, so let's see what will happen.

How's it going Xan'?

Ben

Hmmm, well it is less scary but still as difficult. I have been meeting some nice girls, which is a plus. And I have found out that I'm entitled to get money from the Danish state. Without that I would have had to leave again.