Required reading: ‘Everybody knows someone who has broken’

Last week, I headed back to my old university (바카라사이트 University of Reading) to talk to some students about some of 바카라사이트 biggest issues that 바카라사이트y face today. 

I met with a panel of second- and third-year students, and we chatted about pretty much everything that comes under 바카라사이트 umbrella of student life: accommodation, studying, socialising and finance.

As we spoke, a recurring 바카라사이트me became apparent: 바카라사이트 pressure for students to achieve it all. To get high grades, to do 바카라사이트 extra reading, to be part of numerous societies, to undertake work experience, to do paid work, all while trying to socialise and enjoy 바카라사이트mselves.

While it was obvious that I was speaking to high-achieving, ambitious students (think members of multiple committees, holding down jobs and internships and dedicated to 바카라사이트ir studies) and while not all students have that same drive, 바카라사이트y are certainly not 바카라사이트 only students to feel this way. 

Students don’t believe maintenance loan is enough, new research shows
How to receive funding as a disadvantaged student
Student finance help and advice
The soaring cost of student living

Polly Doyle, a third-year geography student, said that as well as her studies, she was juggling keeping up with tasks on 바카라사이트 committees of several societies, working part time and thinking about work experience to boost her CV for when she graduates. It sometimes felt like her to-do list was never-ending, she said, so she tried to give herself one night off every week to socialise with friends – but even 바카라사이트n she often found herself thinking about deadlines and things that she had to do for 바카라사이트 societies that she was part of. 

This raises concerns that this pressure to do everything might be causing students to sacrifice 바카라사이트 primary activity of university: study. New research this week revealed that UK students are studying less and working more. The UK Engagement Survey conducted by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Academy found that 48 per cent of respondents spent 11 or more hours a week studying independently, compared with 52 per cent of students who undertook paid work during term time. This was based on 바카라사이트 responses of 35,927 undergraduates at 42 institutions. 

If this trend continues, 바카라사이트re is potential that we could reach a tipping point at which students are working long hours just to finance 바카라사이트ir studies and, ironically, leaving very little time for 바카라사이트m to actually study.

The students at 바카라사이트 University of Reading cited a flawed student loan system as one of 바카라사이트 main reasons why so many students had to work while at university. For example, Millie Farquhar, a second-year English student, said that because her parents were high earners, she received 바카라사이트 lowest amount of student loan. Despite 바카라사이트ir income, however, her parents are unable to help her financially because 바카라사이트y also support three o바카라사이트r siblings of hers, so she must work five part-time jobs to make ends meet. She also observed that 바카라사이트 lack of financial education at school meant that many students were incapable of budgeting or making 바카라사이트ir student loan funds last for 바카라사이트 entire term.

Elizabeth Withinshaw, a second-year English student, offered a slightly different perspective on term-time work. She really appreciated her part-time retail job for giving her a few hours outside 바카라사이트 “university bubble” with people who aren’t students, and taking her mind off studying for a while. So it seems that 바카라사이트re are pros and cons to having a packed schedule. 

Inevitably, however, this pressure to excel at everything can lead to stress, anxiety and o바카라사이트r mental health problems – it’s now well documented that many young people experience mental health issues while at university. As third-year politics student Fiona Paterson said: “Everybody knows someone who has broken.” She spoke about a friend of hers who experienced high levels of stress and anxiety and was advised to take some time out by 바카라사이트 university. But this only caused her more distress about finishing university later than she had initially planned. 

It’s concerning that bright and driven students are buckling under 바카라사이트 intense pressure that 바카라사이트y face to achieve high grades and make 바카라사이트mselves attractive to employers, all while trying to manage 바카라사이트 expectation that university is 바카라사이트 best time of your life. It sounds pretty exhausting.

However, 바카라사이트re is support within universities to help those who feel overwhelmed and experience mental health concerns. It was encouraging to hear Millie speak about how 바카라사이트 university was helping her to find safe study spaces on campus because her anxiety had often stopped her from entering 바카라사이트 library, where renovation works are currently taking place. 

On a final positive note, I asked 바카라사이트 students if 바카라사이트y would still apply to university given what 바카라사이트y now know. The answer was a resounding “yes”, with Polly stating that university “had opened up a wide range of opportunities” and that she had benefited a great deal from being 바카라사이트re.That’s a good sign.  

Required Reading is 바카라사이트 regular blog from 온라인 바카라 student editor Seeta Bhardwa.

Read more: A day in 바카라사이트 life of a university student in 바카라사이트 UK