So Confused :(

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JayceeStar

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As I'm sure a few of you know, I am at the University of Worcester, in my first year. I've been here for 3 weeks now, and I can't say I'm loving it. I'm not hating it by any means, but I'm still very homesick.
I've spoken with my parents about the possibility of transferring to Plymouth (my closest uni to home) once I have completed my first year. I think it's going to be best...It will be cheaper as I won't have to rent a house, plus I'll be happier being back at home. I'll get to see my friends, family, and pets more. My nan is currently suffering from cancer and being away from her is heartbreaking- if anything happens, it takes me a good 4 hours to get home by train :(
I'm going through each day just to I can wake up in the morning and cross another day off my calendar so I'm closer to going home. Surely I shouldn't be like this...?
But I don't know if I'm thinking about this too early, whether I need to give Worcester more of a chance?
 
I am sorry that you are feeling homesick and sorry to hear about your nan :( When I was at Uni, I was a student rep and found out that the 3 main reasons for people giving up uni was for the following reasons:

1) They didn't get along with their housemates
2) They didn't like their course
3) They were homesick

It was sad when people left without giving it a chance. May be you should give yourself a bit more time before making any hasty decisions. Why don't you wait until say, Christmas and see how you feel then? If you still feel the same, then may be rethink your options.

I had a friend who went to Sheffield Uni and she hated it from the start. She lived with people who went out drinking a lot which just wasn't her thing. She missed home to much and generally just couldn't settle. Eventually, she had enough and managed to transfer to Nottingham Trent Uni and moved back home. She was much happier.

Have you thought about contacting Plymouth University to see if they can help? Students always drop out at the beginning of the year due to various reasons so there may be places available now meaning that you could transfer and easily catch up. If you are interested in doing this, speak to your tutor and they should be able to help.

At the end of the day, you need to do what is right for you.

Good luck in what ever you decide xx
 
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Bless, I can see that with your Nana being ill it's making it harder for you but please try and give it more time and do try and seek some advice with the facilities there someone may be able to help. Hope it all works out ok :{
 
I hated my first and second year of uni accomodation too! Now I commute into uni which takes around n hour by train, I'd suggest seeing how it goes till christmas, sometimes it takes a couple of months to settle into the new routine and get to grips with everything :) If it's still not working out you should speak to your univercity and see if you can get a transfer for your second semester :) Hope it all works out for you soon :)
 
Thanks everybody :)
I'm definitely going to stay for this year, *** I've paid and everything, and don't want to be the "drop out". But I really think I need to be home. At least at home I can be working back at the farm, earning money, rather than getting in more debt renting a house in a place I don't really want to be.
I've emailed Plymouth Uni to see if it would be possible to transfer next year, as I might have to do first year again if their course is dramatically different to mine. Which, even though it would mean another £3290 debt in tuition fees, would still be cheaper than renting for two years.
Part of me wants to just go home at Christmas but I don't know if thats too soon :(
 
I felt like this for a while during my first year so please don't think you're on your own. I hated my housemates, I missed home (and real food haha).
But if you stick it out it will get better! I'm in my second year now, living in a house with soooo many animals :D
Having said this I phone my mum every day so I can't get homesick as much.
If you put up lots of photos of your pets and family it might help you feel like they are right there with you.
Other than that keep busy! Join a uni society, maybe get a part time job... get drunk with your friends? Typical uni student response but still :P
 
will you be going home for the holidays?

Yeah, I'm going home on October 29th for a week and then I'm home again for Christmas, so I'm home every 5 weeks or so...but the time inbetween is just, well, rubbish, for use of a better word :(

I felt like this for a while during my first year so please don't think you're on your own. I hated my housemates, I missed home (and real food haha).
But if you stick it out it will get better! I'm in my second year now, living in a house with soooo many animals :D
Having said this I phone my mum every day so I can't get homesick as much.
If you put up lots of photos of your pets and family it might help you feel like they are right there with you.
Other than that keep busy! Join a uni society, maybe get a part time job... get drunk with your friends? Typical uni student response but still :P
I have a huge noriceboard with lots of pictures on and I find myself looking at it all the time :)
I've joined Equestrian society but that doesn't get started for a while. I know it's not beein long, but I just can't see things getting any better. I'm 160 miles away from home, and it's just too far :(
 
If it's making you feel that down Jaycee, do what is right for you. If you are still struggling to cope by Christmas then IMO (and this is purely the view of an outsider just looking at the facts you've laid out), you should move back to Plymouth. You will go so much further with your studies if you are happier on more levels, and in a location you feel comfortable with.

It's an important and stressful enough time of your life, you need to handle it the way it works for you, if that means 'dropping out' of Worcester this year then so be it - you can always do another course at the Uni closer to home, and it will work out better for you because your head is in a better place.

Feel free to ignore me if none of what I am saying is useful, just my thoughts. You need to look after yourself. xx
 
I dropped out of Uni after my first term (many years ago). I think I knew before i went that it wasn't right for me but as I'd already taken a year out (to work) there was a lot of pressure for me to go.
I didn't really like other students, I hated living in a different place (and after 2 weeks moved out of my lodgings and either drove or caught the train every day- nearly a 2hr journey), and I really hated not having my own money and being independent.
Dropping out was absolutely the right thing to do for me at the time although it caused some major problems with my parents. Had there been a university closer to home I might have been happier but I think really it was all just too big for what I could cope with. I did want to do the studying though and felt I'd missed out on something. I eventually did a degree through the Open University which suited me perfectly.
I'd say try and give it a bit longer to be sure but there is no point being unhappy. If Plymouth looks to be the better option then go for it. :)
 
Just a suggestion but have you looked into animal rescues/farms near where you are studying to see if you could work there? I know it is tough at the moment but it is important that you try to build a life there even to tide you over until you leave at the end of the academic year.
 
Sadly the closest rescue to me is Windwhistle Warren in Cheltenham which is a £6 train journey (I don't have my car up here with me)

I've just spoken to my boyfriend and realised that I actually don't even want to be doing this course. Ever since I was little I've been wanting to work with animals and I've ignored that because everyone wanted me to be the "academic"...but I think I just want to go home and do a course in Animal Care or Vet Nursing.
When I found out I got into Uni I wasn't ecstatic like I should have been. Part of me even wanted to fail, so i would have more time to rethink my options.
I think I've made a huge mistake :(
 
Then you need to follow your dreams, you only live once and it is important that you are happy!
 
Thankyou :)
I'm going to stay here and do the first year, so I have time to think about it fully, and I've paid tuition already so might as well. Plus it will give me a qualification that may help me to get on the animal care course. But when my boyfriend asked me, what I really want to do in life, it always has and always will involve animals. I feel so stupid for having made such a mistake but at least it's not too late to change it :)
 
Good for you for sticking it out for the year anyway, and it is only a year and like you say will get you a qual so all is good.

I agree totally with the others, you must follow your dream, i never knew what i wanted to do when i was at school or since to be honest, but luckily i have had two long term jobs that i have loved equally as much as each other, so my life hasnt turned out too bad. I think you are very lucky to have that dream..........dont give up on it.

And remember, life is for living so just be happy love :(|) x>>
 
Oh my lovely you poor thing!

I got TERRIBLY homesick when I went to uni, I was really shy and missed my home friends so much it was silly. It wasn't helped by the fact that I had lots of friends who were one or two years below me at school and so were still enjoying a 'normal' life. Eventually, I opened up and made friends. By Christmas, I REALLY didn't want to go home! You said you have lots of photos up, this might sound harsh, but try taking some down (I found pics made me MORE homesick, ironically) and putting up random images from mags or postcards or whatever. When you've settled, you can put things back up. I just used to look at my pics and cry...

What are you studying? I think that if it's quite far removed from animal care, you should try now and focus your energies on getting experience in the area to help your application next year. I found that the busier I was, the easier it got, so maybe this might help you too? I know the £6 train journey to Cheltenham (is that on a railcard? Is there not a bus or a megabus?) is a lot but maybe they could reimburse you half in return for you cleaning out the animals? I just did a quick search for you and there's also an RSPCA branch in Worcester. Drop them an email, they might have something for you to do:

[email protected]

Ooooo...here's a little business idea to help you make some dosh for next year...You could set yourself up as a pet-sitter/dog walker! (Silly idea, sorry). My parents didn't trust our neighbours to look after our elderly bunnies when they went on hols (one was a grump who'd pounce when you tried to feed him, and one had a special diet because he was a 'dental' bun, not animals to be left with the average person!) and managed to find a lovely retired couple who would go round to feed the buns. They even used to clean their hutches and let them out for free-range time. And they'd take photos as well! How many neighbours do you know who'd clean out a stinky bunny litter tray?:{

So someone like you, who is clearly good with animals, would probably be invaluable to people, especially those with 'special needs' pets. You could advertise your services here, and maybe make yourself known to a local vet surgery so they can recommend you, they may even give you work experience.

Sorry if this has been a long post. I hope some of my suggestions have been helpful. Homesickness is HORRIBLE, but trust me, it's totally normal!

Take care lovely, and don't forget to keep us posted. xx :rose
 
Thankyou :)
I have looked into RSPCA Worcester, and their headquarters is near uni but they don't keep any of their animals there :(
I'm studying geography, so it is quite different. I'm just going to do this year and see where it takes me. Everything is so confusing at the moment :(
Thanks for your advice :) x
 
Is there a student counsellor that you could have a chat to at Uni. Might help make your options clearer. :)
 
Is there a student counsellor that you could have a chat to at Uni. Might help make your options clearer. :)

Yes, I am going to book an appointment with them on Monday. I've talked things through with my boyfriend and mum and dad but would be good to get a totally unbiased opinion :)
 
Do you have any of the other students that you could talk too? They could well be feeling the same way?
 
I've made a decision :)
I am staying here for this year, then going back to Devon to do a Foundation degree in Animal Science for 2 years, which then leads on to going straight into the 3rd year of a BSc (Hons) in Animal Science, and a degree :)
It's a huge change but thinking about it makes me smile, and I know I will be so much happier. I can be with my piggies, can continue working at the farm, and won't have to face another 3 years away from my boyfriend (we've already done 3 years long distance)
I can't wait :)
 
I think your missing the piggies more than anything else ;) Pets make life so much better, there when you need comfort;)
 
I think your missing the piggies more than anything else ;) Pets make life so much better, there when you need comfort;)

Yeah...I'm missing animal comapny SO much. I have 6 piggies, 6 bunnies, 4 cats and fish tanks at home, and I work on a farm, so I'm around animals all the time. Going from that, to seeing the occassional squirrell...it's crazy! I have joined the equestrian club so will be riding in a few weeks, Can't come soon enough!
 
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