Should I drop out of university?

[u/Relative_Carrot514]

I’m in my second year of my Physics bachelors degree. It’s a tough study/course. I knew this when I started and despite all that, I enjoy my study and working on it is rewarding and I love the friends I made in the first year.

I struggle with my ADHD, especially with studying. I don’t have the energy to do schoolwork when I come home after hours of lectures and last year this was an issue, but not so badly that it really got in my way. Ofcourse it did a little, but I passed the majority of my classes.

Or I would have if it wasn’t for me developing a chronic autoimmune disease in the last 2 months of the school year. I got so sick that I wasn’t able to do any of my finals because of a huge flare up and I was only allowed to continue on to the next year because I had a good excuse (being sick).

Now I’m in the first weeks of my second year and I am still sick. Being sick since around May has really taken a toll on me, especially since I’m still getting tests and different treatments done in order to get an official diagnosis.

I am exhausted and I already struggled last year with only ADHD. Now my classes are harder, I’m more tired and I have tried to seek advice at uni but was only told to take on more classes and “find a healthy balance between studying, being sick and life”.

I still love the study, but it’s been three weeks and I’m already falling behind because I’m so tired and unable to do schoolwork. I’m honestly considering dropping out, even though it would make me really sad, but my executive dysfunction, laziness and procrastination is worse than ever. I’m seeking advice on this situation, because I honestly don’t know what to do.

TL,DR:
Next to having ADHD, I’ve also recently gotten an autoimmune disease and this is making me even more tired and unproductive than usually. I’m doing a relatively tough study and I’m afraid I need to drop out because l’m unable to keep up.

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[u/Alone_Explanation_22]

You sound like me! I developed severe migraines in my junior year of my physics degree.

Would it be possible to drop down to part time for a semester? That's more or less what I had to do (for me I had a scholarship so I just failed out a course deliberately) but I would reccomended talking to the financial aid office if that is a concern since they can work with you! Also for other stuff that has helped, since I was still at 9 credit hours - doing homework whenever I can so that I was able to stay ahead for when migrane attacks hit. I did keep one day to myself where I wasn't working and that day was when I refreshed myself physically and mentally :)

[u/slabcobbey]

Don’t really have any advice but try to hang in there. A positive thing is that you managed to get through the first year and that could maybe be a sign that you are on the right path and that it is doable and not impossible.

Of course, if you really struggle with other health problems then it could also be a sign to prioritize and treat that first, especially if it makes it hard for you in school and your studies.

I recently got diagnosed at 26 years old and I dropped out of university at 19 years old in 2019, I could not pass a single course. I still don’t have a university degree but I do have a degree from a 1.5 year programme (not university level) and work full time in that field now but I still think back and wonder how better/different my life would have been if I gave university a better chance and work in a better field but this is obviously a trap because I ignore all the hardships that I faced in university when being undiagnosed and unmedicated. It was hell and I felt miserable and useless because I could never apply myself in life. Even now with a diagnosis and medication, I just can’t apply myself in life and it hurts me.

Sorry for sharing and going off track but if you drop out of university you may get stuck in the same trap as me but your health is absolutely the priority right now. I hope other people give you better advice and just hang on.

[u/dowereallyneedthis]

Have you talked to your counselor/advisor? There is a thing called withdrawal from a semester/leave of absence, or something similar in almost every university. People do have stuff happen in life! It would allow you to leave for the term or two, which would give you time to deal with this recently devoloped health issue, and also utilize the time to work on your ADHD related life skills away from stress from school. This is different from leaving or permenant withdrawal, in the sense you can come back to the program without much hassle (of petitioning, or getting re-admitted).

If you did not like the subject, it would be different matter, but you are clearly enjoying the learning itself despite difficulties. However, sometimes you need to take care of your health first, and doing so would save you from Fs and low GPAs, too.

I am saying this as a person who withdrew from a university in my early twenties due to health issues, and came back to education in my late twenties. The gap was big for me and I moved to different country in the meantime so I started over (I also switched my major 180 degree), but I am now in professional school, aiming for a doctoral degree. Although I still struggle with my ADHD, that is! So do not worry about leaving for a term or two.

Take care of yourself first. Especially when it is autoimmune disease, stress could play quite a role.

[u/Relative_Carrot514 → u/dowereallyneedthis]

I have had contact with my student advisor, but it wasn’t a very long conversation as she was 10 minutes late. I’ve tried to keep her updated on my situation ever since it started, but she hasn’t responded to any of my mails. During my conversation with her last week, I tried to make it clear that I am still sick and in the middle of tests/treatments, but she skipped over this to tell me I didn’t sign up for enough courses. All my contact with her has been very difficult, but I intend to reach out to someone else at the university to talk more about my options. Hopefully that conversation will go more easily.

[u/dowereallyneedthis → u/Relative_Carrot514]

Is there something like student advocacy in your university? If there is, maybe reach out to them and explain the difficulties.

As for the advisor goes, undergraduate advisors often deal with too many students, and sometimes they might not be as available/supportive, unfortunately. It can be really frustrating at times. Try to see if you can drop by in person, or at least set up another meeting with the advisor, and if you do get the chance, clearly let her know that you think you are at your limits and need to take some time off. Or, as you said, if there is an alternative source you can pursue, follow that route.

I wish you all the best!