Returning to study - or not

Post Reply New Topic

I'm seriously considering returning to studying next year - I'm tossing up between Law or resuming my Honours degree [for Americans, it's the bridging year between a Bachelor's and a research Master or PhD]. While I'd like to return to university, I'm not sure if it's a good idea. Should I go back?

What's holding me back are these issues:

a) Attendence. My attendence has never been good during my time at university, at times I become so anxious that I can't enter the classroom.

b) Presentations. I abhor making presentations in front of the class, I had to obtain special considerations to avoid presentations during my last year at university. Again, it's anxiety. I thought it would go away with practice, but I've done many presentations during my time at university and my anxiety has probably increased over time.

My grades were never bad at university, I work best when I don't have to directly interact with others. However, university involves a certain amount of interaction.

During my Honours year, I had a really nasty meltdown and I would REALLY like to avoid that situation again.

Can anyone relate, and has anyone overcome these issues?

I get nervous before presentations, but I actually love to give them. I love having all eyes on me and having everyone's undivided attention. Last semester, I had to give a presentation and I stayed up the entire night before, doing anything but getting ready for the big moment. I had gathered all the notes and made a nice powerpoint, but I had rehearsed it maybe once. I ended up getting a perfect grade.

By the way, if possible, I always present last. That way, people are tired, bored, and ready to go home, and, if you can work some jokes into your show, you can go out with a bang.

I can't really interact with other people either. I have a hard time socializing and working at the same time. If I try to be friendly, I'll lose my focus and have to remember what it was that I was working on.

It depends on what your major was before.

I double-majored in Political Science and History [not sure how I ended up with the History major, but it's on my record ].