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Extremely stressed about exams

My post will be disorganized since my mind is in disarray from anxiety. What I'm mostly hoping for is hearing about other people's struggle too as it is comforting to know I'm not the only one overwhelmed by these feelings.

I noticed my stress and anxiety for school has increased a lot now that I'm in third year. I constantly have a knot in my stomach and my heart won't slow down. I hate this feeling. It feels like it's to the point of being unbearable.

Currently it's Tuesday 3am in the Morning and I have exams on Thursday Friday and Saturday. I could probably pass them but they're hard and require a lot of work so it means tiring nights for the week.

Currently I'm studying for my Thursday Exam, (signals and processing; which is so terrible and abstract since Proofs will be on the exam) before I sleep
then for Tuesday afternoon and night for the Friday exam
then Wednesday afternoon and night for the Saturday exam followed by Thursday review.

December 9, 2014

19 Comments • Newest first

crazybass

Sorry to hear that, theres not much you can do when you're anxious but tough it out. I'm sure once test time comes though you'll be super focused and ready and not even remember that you even posted on this forum. <3

Reply December 11, 2014
xFaceIess

Ugh. I know that feeling. But that was the early stages of my stress at uni. It ended up deteriorating my health until I became sick and bedridden.
Fantastic times.
mm.. just know that you'll get through it. c: Put all your effort into your exams because it'll be worth it. You can do it! There's awesome days to come after those bloody exams, k?
Treat yourself to something afterwards.

Reply December 11, 2014 - edited
TrueAtheist

Sucks man but I believe in you, you'll get through it. Just think about how satisfied you're gonna feel when they're done.

Reply December 11, 2014 - edited
fradddd

@icemage11: of course...you won't believe me but I was gonna say "unless you're an engineer or some science thing". Whatever.

Reply December 10, 2014 - edited
LiliKoby

>adderall does wonders i hear

Reply December 10, 2014 - edited
icemage11

[quote=fradddd]Just remember:
-you're statistically unlikely to use your degree after college
-you went to school for 18-20 years just so you could put "degree in _____" on your resume[/quote]

that might be true for useless Art degrees but OP is in engineering. come on.

Reply December 10, 2014 - edited
nindow

don't worry, you'll make it.

Reply December 10, 2014 - edited
crazypoorer

@HolyDragon: If you've been regularly understanding the material, you shouldn't be stressed out about finals. This might sound cruel, but it's the hard truth. College is easy/manageable, assuming you fully understand the material you're taught everyday and can apply it. Of course, there are exceptions such as the arsehole professors who want to torture their students' grades, but all in all, you shouldn't stress out if you understand the material. If you're cramming however, that's entirely your fault

Reply December 10, 2014 - edited
HolyDragon

[quote=crazypoorer]@HolyDragon: You still didn't answer my question, did you attempt to understand the material during lecture and maintain it or are you just cramming?[/quote]

Sorry, wasn't sure what you meant. If you're asking whether I've been following the class, yes. If cramming means learning everything as short as possible, I am not doing that.

Reply December 10, 2014 - edited
crazypoorer

@HolyDragon: You still didn't answer my question, did you attempt to understand the material during lecture and maintain it or are you just cramming?

Reply December 10, 2014 - edited
Ecliptic

[quote=fradddd]Just remember:
-you're statistically unlikely to use your degree after college
-you went to school for 18-20 years just so you could put "degree in _____" on your resume[/quote]
That doesn't decrease the importance at all. What if he needs to do well to stay in his program?

Reply December 10, 2014 - edited
fradddd

Just remember:
-you're statistically unlikely to use your degree after college
-you went to school for 18-20 years just so you could put "degree in _____" on your resume

Reply December 10, 2014 - edited
HolyDragon

@crazypoorer
I've been going through questions covering holes in my knowledge.

@natalie
I hope I wasn't parading that. Thanks.

Reply December 10, 2014 - edited
icemage11

[quote=natalie]study at ubc (you're that engineering guy, right) with friends and try sleeping over, i know a lot of people who did it and it's fun. know that you're not alone in this and the stress will ease off. it'll all be worth it in the end, trust me. UBC ENGINEERING, I KNOW YOU'RE SMART[/quote]

I'm at the engineering building with my engineering friend even though I'm not in engineering because I can't study alone. This is my last semester of my undergrad and I have no motivation to do anything. My next exam is on Friday.

Reply December 9, 2014 - edited
natalie

study at ubc (you're that engineering guy, right) with friends and try sleeping over, i know a lot of people who did it and it's fun. know that you're not alone in this and the stress will ease off. it'll all be worth it in the end, trust me. UBC ENGINEERING, I KNOW YOU'RE SMART

Reply December 9, 2014 - edited
crazypoorer

The first thing is, are you trying to understand every lecture completely or do you just cram for the exams?

Reply December 9, 2014 - edited
LowWillpower

I had a pretty rough time with my 3rd year exams as well.

I bombed 2, but buckled down and studied and did alright on the rest.

Actually, I did great on one. Odd circumstances though; I wasn't finishing or handing in assignments in the class, and the prof e-mailed me mid semester saying assignments were mandatory. I pretty much put that aside and continued as I was. Once exams came around, I kinda knew I had to do them. I spent probably ~30 hours doing the assignments for the class, and ended up getting the best mark in the class on the exam (for some reason he emailed all our grades as a spreadsheet).

Reply December 9, 2014 - edited
betaboi101

Meds do wonderful things

Reply December 9, 2014 - edited
Sushiyumyums

I know how you feel, most recently, I've finished my HSC (essentially the final exams that you take in your final year of high school in Australia, which ultimately determines whether or not you get into university) and to be honest, I struggled a LOT. Throughout the three weeks that my exams were on, I studied my heart out and to be honest, I hated every moment of it even if it was a subject or topic that I enjoyed.

Eventually, I wanted to give up because I found that exam after exam, the stress began to build up. I just couldn't handle the pressure that this exam will determine a large part of my future. I cried from time to time, before and after exams because I knew that I had a limited amount of time to study before the next exam. I had this mentality in my head that whatever I do, I'm going to fail. But through it all, my friends encouraged me to continue and to not be afraid, and so I did. The moment I finished my last exam... <3 words can't explain how happy I felt that day.

It was because I didn't give up and it was thanks to my friends who've helped me and encouraged me that I felt so...accomplished when I walked out of those exam doors...it was incredible.

I'm just writing this to say that you shouldn't stress too much, stressing never helps! Just be calm, and before you know it, your exams will be over.

Good luck~

Reply December 9, 2014 - edited