Back at Uni and Hating It! - Writers Forum

Lacrymosa · 07-22-2008, 09:24 AM

Uni went back yesterday, got an email from the admin saying because I failed to pass VPA104, Intro to Visual Design (by the way I'm doing a double degree in BA photography/graphic design) I can't do VPA105 because it was a prerequisite to VPA104 and I need to enroll into a different course. So on top of failing Intro to Visual Design, I failed VPA101, a.k.a Fingerpainting 101, and GRP104, Graphics. But I managed to pass the Bachelor of Arts core subject VIS101, which is like Art Theory, and I JUST passed the exam. And now since I failed VPA104 I have to talk to the head of photography in which I don't like him. They screwed up the timetables completely on the first day back, saying the online version (i.e.) said I was in group 1 for VPA105 and the wall in the performing arts area was saying that I was down for group 3 for VPA105, well, looks like I'm not doing VPA105 now *cries* this university thing is costing me a fortune. Charles Sturt University, by the way, for the people who know what university it is, not going to reveal the campus site.

Relationship is going great though, it seems like everybody I know are breaking up with their partners except for me.

JosephB · 07-22-2008, 10:37 AM

I majored in graphic design. Not to sound like a jerk, but if you aren't passing these courses, maybe you are looking at the wrong field. Much of design talent is innate. The classes hone your skills, and hopefully teach you how to apply your talent in the real world. But if you ain't got it, you ain't got it.

Most of the folks I know who flunked out did so for a reason. They weren't very good designers. This could be the case for you, or perhaps you just aren't working hard enough. If the later is the case, well, you'll have to bust your ass to establish yourself once you graduate. School is a church picnic compared to what it will be like in the working world. So if the work ethic isn't there, forget it.

lisajane · 07-23-2008, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacrymosa

I failed VPA101, a.k.a Fingerpainting 101

So in other words, you can't fingerpaint.

No one likes failing, but you're sounding very arrogant and blaming the uni for you failing the courses... maybe you should reconsider your options, or get your act together.

Malone · 07-23-2008, 02:40 PM

I think you suck at school. I didn't know it was possibly to fail intro to art classes, let alone fingerpainting.

Cipher2 · 07-23-2008, 06:24 PM

Most people who were failing when I was at Uni did so because they thought you could just turn up to lectures and not work in between, and that the clever people would pass and the thick people fail. The clever people worked between lectures. The people who failed would just keep talking about how stressed they were all the time and never went to the library.

Malone · 07-23-2008, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Most people who were failing when I was at Uni did so because they thought you could just turn up to lectures and not work in between, and that the clever people would pass and the thick people fail. The clever people worked between lectures. The people who failed would just keep talking about how stressed they were all the time and never went to the library.

I must be the exception to that rule. Showing up for class helped, but I rarely did that either unless it was mandated in a small class. Just showing up is pretty much a guaranteed B.

Sam Winchester · 07-23-2008, 07:00 PM

I'm currently doing a degree on a two-day week basis with my local college. Last year, I missed half the classes and still got the top score in the class. Since the two classes were just Maths and English, it was pretty easy to get away with that. This year, though, will be different. Now we get to do all the fun stuff - Psychology, Sociology, etc ....

This is where I must now buckle down and start really paying attention. Last year was a walk in the park compared to this year.

Cipher2 · 07-23-2008, 07:08 PM

I used to like getting up and leaving a full exam room halfway through the time allowed. Moments like that were what I lived for at Uni.

Malone · 07-23-2008, 11:21 PM

I hated that. It always made me feel like I had fucked up somehow if I finished that much earlier than the rest.

Sam: sociology and psych are easy. You won't have any problems with those if you could handle math.

OtherWorlds · 07-23-2008, 11:34 PM

I agree with Malone. I've always had a problem with subjects like math and science, but Psychology, English, anything that's actually interesting to me is a breeze.

Lacrymosa,I haven't really been where you are, but I have a feeling I would be having a problem with the types of classes you're taking too. My brain just doesn't like things that involve computers. Not to seem unsympathetic, but are missing a lot of classes, or are you actually working as hard as you can and still not making it?

Lacrymosa · 07-24-2008, 12:20 AM

Well it's my first time out of home and on my own, as I am a first year uni student and now it's the third term, and I've promised myself that I'm going to pick upi my game because I thought before I was indestructable and all. And now I've realised that I'm not. I think I've just underestimated university completely and I think I'm used to high school standards of stuff.

Remedy · 07-24-2008, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Winchester

I'm currently doing a degree on a two-day week basis with my local college. Last year, I missed half the classes and still got the top score in the class. Since the two classes were just Maths and English, it was pretty easy to get away with that. This year, though, will be different. Now we get to do all the fun stuff - Psychology, Sociology, etc ....

This is where I must now buckle down and start really paying attention. Last year was a walk in the park compared to this year.

If your sociology course is anything like mine was, don't worry about it. Just think stereotypes and you've got it. Most of it is fairly common knowledge, really, at least in the very beginning. The only part I ever actually had to look at was who came up with what terms; I tended to not remember them all.

JosephB · 07-24-2008, 12:39 AM

Quote:

I think I've just underestimated university completely and I think I'm used to high school standards of stuff.

Oh, I did my fair share of fucking around in college. Just remember, you've got to produce good work to make the grades and later, for your portfolio. You are nothing without a good book, even if you have straight A's. You can't bullshit your way through an interview, it's all right there.

Lacrymosa · 07-24-2008, 02:41 AM

Thank you all for hearing my groans and moans about university, I do appreciate it, it's a way that I release stuff, that and writing

Malone · 07-24-2008, 03:23 AM

I didn't realize this was your first year. If you're really ready to try now, you'll have no problem. It can be a weird transition for some. My roommate freshman year finished his first year with an F average and was put on academic probation, but he turned around and graduated with a 4.0, honors, and now is attending medical school.
Once you get the hang of it, it's not that big of a deal. It is drastically different than high school, though. Specifically because no one is there telling you to work and go to class and study.