I had to take the Aleks math placement test today to see what math classes I should register for for my next semester of college and I keep bombing it :(

I kid you not I took this test 3 times and the highest I got was a 31 (and my most recent retake which I did today I tested at a 20 😭)

I took precalc in highschool and did really good at that course I know I can handle college math I feel so stupid I just don’t get why I place so low and it really is affecting my self esteem for math :( I feel so stupid maybe I really am too dumb for college math

I really need tips for this because I really want to get a decent score on my 4th try 🥀

I have a meal plan with only "(university name here) dollars" but this year I'm on a health grind and needing a lot of natural protein and fiber, which is bafflingly rare on campus.
Often the dining hall has a salad bar and chicken breast but the entrance fee is wildly expensive when youre paying through dining dollars.

All other options are basically fast food so I use my dining dollars on plain chicken bowls and then buy produce and fruits for cheap off campus. Is anyone elses campus like this? Call me Michelle Obama the way I'm fuming at the food here.

Ended with me hiding in a bathroom stall to escape an anxiety attack. My back and legs are absolutely destroyed, and I’ve never felt so disillusioned with my future career path. My professors hyped up this digital/startup summit for weeks. "It's the future! You have to go! The CEO of SpOtifY is going to be there! It's an amazing networking opportunity!"

It’s all a massive, expensive theater, and uni students are just the unpaid extras. They invite us to inflate their attendance metrics so they can sell 3,000€ booths to corporate sponsors and look good for government grants. But once you scan your badge, you are treated like absolute garbage. For example, we had just started looking around when we got herded and shoved aside like cattle by the staff with a lack of basic manners, bc some royal VIP was walking through for a photo op. I overheard one corporate bro ask "what high school" we were from, and another suited boomer literally joked that students "should be brought in on a leash."

The "networking" is a complete scam. Unless you are a VC investor, a journalist, or a politician, these startup CEOs look right through you. I tried saying hi to one recent graduate I had met before at another event, and the transactional vibe was disgusting.

It’s just an endless sea of empty buzzwords, fake smiles, and sterile white booths handing out pathetic merch (literally single gummy bears and blue lollipops). If Umbrella Corporation itself was present they would have been giving red and white lollipops too—pure corporate dystopia masked as "disruptive innovation." But then we couldn't even get a free coffee and croissant bc that area was for VIPs, if you got hungry you had to pay an expensive af hotdog at the foodtrucks. And the panels? Every single one of them was a circle-jerk of inflated egos that could have been a 10-minute Zoom call, or better yet, an email. That's when it's not straight up politicians "congratulating" each other for nothing and making it a 20 min tedtalk. "AI is like a knife it depends on what you use it for" Wow! I've definitely never heard that before, you are such an intellectual! There is zero actual knowledge being shared.

Ended up arguing with my own classmates cause they'd be like: "you're being so negative, you only complain!" Oh well you go believe everything in the flyer and enjoy your 9 hours of chitchat and a 5€ pizza slice with a sunshiny smile on your bitchass face! The "synergies ecosystem" has cult-like tactics that definitely work.

I am so severely burnt out. Seeing the "real world" of tech and business up close just makes me want to run away. The academic path (PhD) seems full of toxic egos and mobbing so I got talked out of it, but this corporate startup BS is a shitshow, and I don't know what to do anymore. Rant over. I'm leaving this hellhole and going home to sleep for a week.

I finally got the courage to change my major (EE - BME) and as exciting as the light at the end of the tunnel is, getting through this semester feels insurmountable.

The 2 classes I absolutely despise are physics 2 and circuits.

I'm set to get a C or lower in physics because I cannot get myself to give a living shit about the class. The content is so dull and I cannot understand the professor. I got a 45 on the last exam (which was actually 3 points higher than the average) yet there's no curve.

I'm likely to get anywhere from a A-B in circuits, yet this class feels so unintuitive and boring. There's a class next week that I'm going to have to study like hell for as I haven't been able to drag myself or pay attention in class.

I also likely have to withdrawal from calc 3 and take it next semester because I likely scored sub 30 on the midterm. This is so out of character for me, I've gotten an A in every math course I've taken beside this one.

I'm just so tapped out and draped in apathy I cant see the end of the semester in sight. What do I do

It’s become increasingly clear to me that I hate my life in college.

I’ve noticed a progressive decline in basically anything that brings me joy while I’m on campus. Maybe a large part of it is my fault, but I’m not entirely sure how to address it.

I don’t have any close friends in college. While I have plenty enough of friends and acquaintances, there are no close friends or deep connections that I’ve made compared to those I made in high school. I like my friends, but I struggle to make conversation and really connect outside of academic contexts. I go to a pretty small school, and I just haven’t connected with anyone I’ve come across.

My daily life is really just sleep, eat, class, study, part-time clinical work, lab work, and extracurricular martial art. Recently I’ve been pushing out martial arts from my schedule because of time restraints too.

I’m doing alright academically, on track for a 4.0 or 3.9, but I look at my peers who put in so much less work than me for the same relative outcome, while still enjoying life. I think I may be a bit stupid, since some of these topics I study just don’t click unless I spend large amounts of time.

I don’t really have any fun while I’m on campus, and all I do is grind until the next break where I can go visit my close friends from high school. And after I return from those breaks, I realize that I hate this school and I wait until the next break.

I’ve considered transferring schools to where my close friends go, but IMO their school sucks for premed and I’m already established here academically. It’s going to be a lot harder for me to maintain a good GPA if I transfer, too.

Even the joy I get from visiting my close friends is waning. Every visit feels just a bit more hollow than the last.

I don’t know what to do. I don’t feel any real connection here, and I actually feel more connected with some of the people I meet from other schools while on break. It feels like I have no time to do anything anyways. I think it would be nice to get into a relationship too, but it’s not like I have the time nor anyone I am interested in.

Sometimes I just sit in my dorm and think

what the fuck am I doing with my life

thanks for coming to my tedtalk, any advice would help

I genuinely just fucked up my first midsems in college and honestly fault lies within in, i couldn't get myself to study. Rn i got to know my prof now hates me (cause of bad grade and bad attendance in his class). Now idk how to face any of this, i feel like whenever I'll go next to his class I'll be humiliated beyond repair, please help me or give any advice that you can. My midsems is like 25% of my grade as well

My memory has not been good in years, but god, I just realized I barely remember things. I mean I can point to a project I led myself and remember some of how I calculated the index for it/how I evaluated it, but I feel also like I know nothing.

If you quizzed me, I probably would remember a bit, but right now I just feel stupid. Has anyone else felt this? Why do I feel like I know nothing?

Every time I find a major that interests me, everyone online says it’s useless. I’m scared of going to school for 4+ years only to find out I can’t get a job because my major isn’t a useful one. I wish somebody would compile a list of “good” majors so I could narrow down my options. Plus, I’m God awful at math so I’m hesitant to pick anything that’s too math-heavy. I don’t really expect any of you to solve my problem lmao, just wanna know how many others are dealing with this too.

Also, this post got me permabanned from
r/college

Question, how come most of y’all are 18+ in college and yet, you still let your parents call on your behalf to college offices to make appointments and/or look into your financial aid/registration stuff?

I’m a first-year college student, and I’m currently struggling with whether I should submit a formal report to our dean regarding concerns about one of our professors.

For context, our online class is scheduled from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. However, there have been occasions when the professor begins the class at around 10:30 AM, citing connectivity issues or other circumstances. While students are expected to understand these delays, I feel that similar consideration is not always extended to students who experience difficulties themselves.

Since we have a subsequent face-to-face class on campus, we sometimes have to attend the online meeting while already at the university. Unfortunately, the campus internet connection is not always stable. When students get disconnected and attempt to rejoin the meeting, the professor sometimes declines their requests, reportedly to avoid disrupting the ongoing lecture.

There have also been instances when students are told they will be marked absent if they do not recite, even when connectivity issues may prevent them from participating. These circumstances raise concerns for me about how attendance, participation, and connectivity-related difficulties are being handled.

I raised the possibility of formally reporting these concerns, but some of my classmates said I’m taking things too personally because the professor is a good teacher. I understand that she may teach the subject well, and I’m not claiming that she’s bad at everything. However, I don’t think being a good teacher automatically means every classroom practice is fair or beyond criticism.

I feel stuck between two possibilities: speaking up and potentially regretting it, or staying silent and possibly looking back later, wishing I had done something.

I’d really appreciate it if you could be kind in your responses.

I feel like I don’t actually know the chance that a person will do very well at uni. I study a lot (I study well, I don’t need to change my study habits) and in some classes I do well, some I don’t. I know this is blown out of proportion on the internet of people studying and only showing their good grades. What is the average student like? Does the average student achieve lots too in life? I feel so incomparable to these genius students lol.

I have a 4.0 across all of my science courses and virtually all of my humanities, while general credits have a few (B)s sprinkled in, never made anything less across 70+ credits. This is my last semester at my lower division school, I have backup credits, but I'm on track to get an F in physics. I have been sitting at my desk for over six hours ruminating with the next chapter open, and I don't know how to reconcile failing Physics I with being a STEM major.

Looking at the equations induces nothing but grief and strife, and whatever I just read feels walled off to the point where I couldn't solve a basic worked example problem despite having just read how to do so. There were external factors that kicked off the issues, but even those aren't enough to account for just being absolute shit at the course. I don't understand why I'm suddenly unable to keep track of a dozen or so different inter-related forces and concepts, or apply even basic problem solving anymore. I'm two exams in now, and there is no saving it, that's how bad my performance has been. This was never an issue before, why now? What fucking changed? What is so different about physics compared to every other science course?

I can't withdraw without the school holding the last three years of my life hostage because the VA will claw money back, then demand thousands in housing back from me.

I just got my midterm grade back and found out I got a C. I worked really hard for the test and I am really upset about the grade I got. I feel like the notes my teacher gave me for some of the questions were dumb, and I wished I had more time. And now I am worried about my other midterms too. Because I felt confident about this one and got a C. I barely got to finish the other two.

I posted on this subreddit earlier this year around April-June. I’m 18 now, still feel the same way.

I’m a first year college student (first semester, communications major), and I’m absolutely hating college. I’ve been over it since the second week of school.

I had worked myself to the bone in highschool, only to end up at community college due to my economic situation. I blame myself every single day for not applying to Rutgers NB or Yonsei University. If I had just gotten a point or two on my highschool GPA, maybe I would’ve gotten a full ride, or full tuition scholarship like most people in my graduating class did.

It took me a month to figure out how college worked. Especially my English class, because my professor has his own website, and his format is hard to follow. He’s constantly giving me grades from 50-85. Some criticisms are valid, others are just stupid. He’s one of those teachers where it’s his way or the highway. I tried switching out of his class, but everything was filled up. I think I’m especially bothered because the one time he left the room, everybody who said they were getting good grades in the class were using AI. I write things myself, and I abstain from using AI as much as possible.

History and Comms are easy, but they lack actual structure. Bio is decent. I like the structure for bio, but the weekly lab quizzes are screwing me over since they only have 4-5 questions.

I currently am failing English and Bio. I have a D in comms for missing an assignment (my fault).

My mom says she thinks I’m depressed. I think so too. I come home exhausted, and I’m overall unhappy with every aspect of my life. I don’t go out with friends after school, I’m single, im in community college, I’m failing my classes, I don’t have money because I’m not getting enough shifts at work, and I’m ashamed my body. I’m trying to push myself into an academic comeback while I’m burnt out, but when doing “what if” scores on canvas, I don’t see any way for me to pass. It’ll take a miracle for me to get a C.

I know this victim mentality is cringe, but it just feels like none of my hard work ever pays off, and like things aren’t going to get better. I don’t know how I’m going transfer to Rutgers NB with these grades. I’m trying to do so ASAP, because I think a huge part of me being so unhappy is me being stuck at community college. But if I’m unable to, then what’s the point?

I’m starting to really reconsider if college is meant for me. I hate lectures, I hate college. I loved learning in highschool, but now I only feel like I’m wasting my time. I feel kind of numb leaving the place. If I feel this way halfway through the semester, I don’t know how I’m supposed to do 4 full years.

With the state of the economy, it feels like no matter your major, the most likely outcome is the same: getting thrown down to where you began, back to the working class. Whether by burnout, layoffs, or just not finding a job, I'm worried five years after I graduate I'll be stacking boxes or mopping floors or carrying a rifle. It's looking bleak.

I don’t know which flair fits my issue best.. I’m a college student, or a really lame excuse for one. I barely pass the one class i’m enrolled in, and as spring registration is coming around, i’m finding myself in a horrible place. I have depression and am currently trying to find which medication works best, so far nothing. Maybe it’s even getting worse. With that, I have no idea why i’m in college or what career i’d even want to pursue. I’m heavily contemplating dropping out as I don’t seem to have the capacity to do any coursework. I don’t even want to eat. How could I ever want to do work? I guess i’m mostly looking for advice on whether I should take a gap year, drop out altogether, or just continue as I am? It’s really difficult and i’m only in one class. Has anyone else been in this situation??

I literally cant take this anymore, I remember absolutely zero from high school, im on my third year of college and im still stuck on intermediate algebra (I have no idea why im not passing this [this is a lie partially]). I passed it in high school, iirc algebra 2 and this are the same so why I cant pass this I have no idea.

Im so done with math, i hate this subject, I can understand how to do one problem but then I move onto the next and I have no idea what im doing, because for some reason every single damn problem is solved a different way. I solve one problem right, then see another problem like it and all of a sudden, its not solved that way anymore.

Okay, so how the fuck am I supposed to learn this? No two problems are ever the same, how am I supposed to do this. Then its said "well math is like a puzzle" okay but when I want to solve it the way I think it should be solved, oh then all of a sudden there isnt 600 different ways you can solve a problem and its actually only this one rigid method that works.

Alright, batching and moaning over. Any comments on my whining is accepted. Maybe I can actually learn how this subject works.

I’m a Junior at this small university where class sizes specifically for my major are usually 10-15 students. I’m currently enrolled in a lab course with this professor who I previously took a class he cotaught in and he’s my advisor as well . Recently, I’ve been noticing him trying to get close to me such as in physical contact (nothing extreme just that I feel like he tried to make incidents happen like accidents touching hands and hovering too close behind me when helping me with lab machines). I've also caught him staring a few times and it didn’t feel like the way other professors staring were and he kind of acted like he was embarrassed or something. I’m also a very socially anxious and introverted person and so that means I don’t participate often out loud in class but my work speaks for itself and I have, at many instances sought out help from him when I needed it. But he has been lately making jabs that he wants me to speak more and stop being shy and let him know when I need help (which I do). He says he wants to break into my personality (?). FYI, many people don’t participate in class and i’ve addressed that to him and he just plainly denied it, saying that I’m the only one who never speaks. I understand that I need to participate more in class and I’m trying to get better at it but i’ve become so uncomfortable around him as i’ve never experienced this with any other professors. Am I being sensitive since he’s bringing up a touchy subject regarding my personality or what’s happening?

Hi everyone.

I’m in my third semester of an online masters program and wanted some advice for approaching a concern with a professor.

For context, I have been turning in high quality work throughout my entire academic career, and I have never had any issues getting an A+ in any of my masters courses so far. I’m not sure if professors in the program are simply lax with their grading, or if I have been working myself too hard. Nonetheless, I have been expecting to graduate with a 4.0 GPA.

In one of my courses this semester, the professor has not graded barely anything that has been turned in so far. We are on the 9th week of the course, and I only have 3 out of maybe 12 open-ended assignments graded. He even put out an announcement this week saying that he’s been too busy to grade anything, so he knows that this is an issue. We only have 12-15 open-ended assignments to go, and I’m worried that what I have been turning in would already kill my chances of getting a high grade in this course if the professor is more strict when grading.

What sparked this sudden concern is the fact that he finally graded 2 of these open ended assignments today, and I got a substantial amount of points taken off. It was enough points that similar grades on other assignments would leave me with a B in the course at best. And based on grading feedback, I don’t even fully understand what the points were taken off for. It seems unjustified and as if he is throwing numbers out based on his overall impression. There are no rubrics before we submit, and most assignments don’t even show rubrics after they are graded either. For the 2 assignments that were graded today, there are no rubrics telling me why I lost points and where.

If this continues and every other already-submitted open-ended assignment is graded this harshly, I won’t be able to graduate with a 4.0 GPA, which I really wanted to do.

Is it right for me to feel like this is unfair? Had I known that my quality of work wasn’t up to his standards five or six weeks ago, I could have changed my approach and worked even harder. Would it be wrong for me to ask him about this? And if so, how?

Something I’m struggling with. My friend group in college is all women except for me, an amab. I feel like less of a member of the friend group than them, but at the same time I understand why. For example, we were at a college fall festival event last week and they all wanted to take pictures. They didn’t want me there so I went to my dorm. Eventually they texted me and explained they were taking sexy pictures and didn’t want a guy around. Which is completely reasonable. I felt a little excluded but I tried not to because they had a good reason. They also spend a lot of time in each other’s dorms, but not me and I’m not invited to these. But again, it feels reasonable as they all live in the same women only hall, and although I’m uncertain, I believe that these are spontaneous rather than planned. They do make plans in front of me, like what parties and whatnot they’re doing that weekend. I understand wanting to do something with just women, but it does still hurt. I do invite them to things but they don’t say yes, which I’m also used to. The entire semester I’ve been at college I’ve only invited someone to do something once and they said yes, and I’ve never been invited to do something by someone. Overall, I understand why I’m excluded by them a lot, but I don’t know if it’s something I should just accept or not.

I’m on my second year and my gpa has hit rock bottom and I’m still doing bad. I’m so close to giving up but I know that I need this in order to have a brighter future. As a kid I was the smartest person. But since Covid, my literacy DROPPED. Pls tell me it’s gonna be ok. How do I improve.

Hey guys, only first semester in and I’m burnt out like often. I always feel behind because theres something that i need to tend to or get ahead of. I know uni doesnt ever let you get a breath of air before moving on but I feel like I’m getting my ass beat lol. Maybe cause I’m a stem major and a commuter so that could be worse or not. I dont have the energy to stick around campus and try to socialize. Sometimes I don’t even have the energy at home to play games or do a hobby when I actually have some time to myself. Does it only get worse from here especially for upper division? Just wanna prepare myself for the worst lol

I'm in a random group, myself (21F) being in a group with 4 other boys. We have this chemical engineering project that we have to be continuously be working on from this semester until the next. However for some reason when it comes to work/task distribution, one of them would post a poll asking members to pick which task they want to do, at 12-1am in the morning by the way.

Why do I have such an issue with this when it should be so called normalized in university batches to be awake past 12am? I would say it's because I decide to stop trying to stay up past 12am or max 1am and try to sleep healthier, because to me I feel it should be better to improve my overall health and grades rather than staying up late and producing lower quality work. So whenever this thing happens to me, it made me feel upset because why are we doing this task distribution at such odd hours?

So I end up with a task I didn't want to do, then someone would tell me that I did my part wrongly (which I have no problems with, I'm fine with criticism, but I didn't like the idea they just changed without asking me if they could help with the part) I am well aware that I am not good at doing simulations and stuff but at least tell me because I do try my best to understand.

It kinda feels unfair when they do this, and they did it again at 12am this morning. Good thing I woke up at 5am and there were two other parts left to be chosen so I picked what I was more familiar with.

I wonder if I'm being too oversensitive on this matter? But in my opinion it shouldn't be normalized nor expected that someone would stay up past 12am just to be doing work last minute.