Daughter Struggling At Uni

[HongKongphooey]

My Daughter is in her second year of a Sociology Degree at a Uni in the Midlands. Last year she was doing fine, but this term she has struggled and is convinced she is on course for a fail. She has asked her tutors over and over again for help and they just keep saying they can't help her as each essay she submits goes towards her final mark. Even though she wants help just with the structure of essay writing (she thinks shes getting it wrong) they still refuse to help her. She is constantly in tears, and keeps getting headaches, which her doctor says are stress related. I can't afford to get her a tutor. My friend contacted a Sociology lecturer at another Uni who she knows and he said again that he is not allowed to help her (unwritten rules about help from other Uni tutors) Her marks on her essays have been getting lower, but apart from a few lines of feedback, none of the tutors seem to want to know when she asks for help. I know she is working hard, she's never been into going out to parties much. None of the other kids on her course are struggling and don't want to help her. I am really worried about her. Can anyone give any advice?

[Ellipsis]

The first year of University can be about mostly about getting students up to the same academic level - not too academically challenging. That, combined with the novelty of being away from home and (in many cases) that you're living on campus can make it "fun".

The second year is a different matter. Booted off campus, costs mounting, the academic side gets much harder too and it's not "fun" any more. This may be enough to put off less committed students or cause a few mental "wobbles".

So there may be a little more going on here than meets the eye. The reported attitude of the tutors and the fellow students does not ring true - I don't believe it. You need to uncover the real issues before you can address them, because I strongly suspect you're not there yet. It sounds to me like your daughter wants to drop out of her course, probably because the course and and/or life generally has become much tougher this year, or maybe for another reason.

[boxtops]

Coke, every university will have a student support unit - that's where she needs to be seeking advice. Encourage her to do so - and you should be able to find contact details for the SSU on the University website.

[jim360]

Like I said earlier, I'm amazed that there is apparently no support from the University. Just out of interest, have you been able to contact the University directly, or is all of this information coming from your daughter? My offer of yesterday still stands, though Ellipsis' post might be close to the mark.

[Scarlett]

Practically speaking, my best friend is an English lit lecturer and has a PhD. She helped me with my dissertation (structure and layout, content and clarity etc) and she may well have a look at your daughters work as a favour if you think it would help? Your daughter is not allowed help in the sense of someone telling her what to write content-wise, but she is entitled to have it proof - read and receive advice on how to make it make sense/be clearer/answer the question/ bring in arguments etc. Let me know if you think that might help?