The Forums › Forums › Tools, Techniques & Treatments › College › Re: College
I am almost 29 (tomorrow), and I have been in post-secondary education on-and-off since I was 19. This year will be my first 100% successful year *ever*. For me, the biggest things have been:
– Being on medication, and paying attention to its effectiveness, and taking action when I think things might need to be changed
– Seeing a counsellor for a “check up” almost every week – sometimes we don’t even really talk about me (we talk news or politics or my school program in general), but I find it really helpful
– Having a reduced course load has probably been #1 MOST helpful. My program (health sciencey stuff – is this you too?) is designed to be full-time, but I sat down and worked out a schedule for myself to complete it in 3 years instead of two – it means I take 3 or 4 courses each semester, and 1 during the summer, rather than 7+ courses/semester. I think that even with my other modifications to my life (meds, counsellor), I would probably be failing out *again* if it were not for the reduced course load.
Some things to consider:
– Are you on a reduced course load? If you want to try, and if they try to tell you that your program can’t be done part-time, don’t take no for an answer
– Different people find different types of school work more challenging. I tend to find lab work more challenging, because there’s just so much going *on* (and I find I need to take notes to remember anything), so I can have a tougher time with that than my classmates. Or, are there more essays this semester? More multiple choice tests? Don’t feel badly if you’re encountering challenges that others are not, but do try to figure out if that is the case, and if so, what can you do about it (request extra time? maybe alternate assignment formats?)
– Are you registered with your school’s centre for students with disabilities? I have found the CSD people to be very helpful, and also to be pretty awesome cheerleaders when I need cheering on.
– Do you work part-time? Have you upped your work hours? I find that even 2-3 added hours of “stuff” each week (work or school) can make a big difference to my stress levels and ability to function.
– Do you think you might need to change your meds dosage? Do they feel as effective as they were in first semester?
Good luck with everything!
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