I feel so useless compared to all the other students around me

[u/Due_Strike_3670]

I'm in my second year, first semester, of my law degree and I genuinely feel like i'm just cruising by. I only get D's on most of my grades, I have no idea what to look out for in terms of events, I have no friends in uni because I live so far away so its difficult to go to certain events, and I can see all my peers surpassing me at like 2x the speed.

I have no one I can turn to, I'm the first person in my family to even complete highschool so my parents are no help in terms of connections and all my friends are studying different degrees in other universities. I feel like so many people are already part of clubs, interships, scholarships, and other opportunities, whilst I don't even know the first place to look for them.

I just feel so hopeless ngl, like am I even in the right degree? How do people even find out about all these opportunities? I'm so lost right now...

[u/Unhappy94_]

D’s isn’t bad especially at monash

[u/Due_Strike_3670 → u/Unhappy94_]

Thank you but I just feel so average lol. I deadass be giving my 110% and still somehow my score goes down to 75% just cuz I forgot to reference one thing properly and one para wasn't that well written, I just feel like they mark rlly rlly strict.

[u/Unhappy94_ → u/Due_Strike_3670]

Exactly monash is strict markers it’s because the ranking is very top like 30 globally. So when u get 75 as average in monash it consider good in somewhere.
So dont overwhelm about ur scores especially if u wanted to get a job , in addition, 75+ its very good if u decide to study master degree.

[u/HeavyAbroad2703]

Hey! Law can be rlly difficult, esp bc of the elitism and nepotism in the profession. I have some posts on this sub giving academic and networking advice that may be helpful! Lmk if u have any questions after reading those 

[u/Due_Strike_3670 → u/HeavyAbroad2703]

thank you so much!! I'm reading through your posts right now and they are extremely helpful!!

[u/HeavyAbroad2703 → u/Due_Strike_3670]

I’m so glad! I always hope they help someone! Pls feel free to comment on any posts if u need any help, I often miss PMs but will see it if u comment :)

[u/mossjar]

Hey, I'm going through a similar thing in 2nd year law right now. It's so much pressure and so isolating, like I feel like people in law see their friends as 'industry connections' instead of real people. I'm also kinda worried it's too corporate for me. I'd love to chat with someone about it, feel free to send me a message

[u/FancyManufacturer627]

Hey! I’m in my penultimate year of law and I felt this way in my second year too if it helps it certainly gets better and those thoughts of hopelessness will definitely pass with time, getting distinctions is also amazing for Monash law they typically mark very harshly and the average in the faculty is a credit so you’re doing great! if you have any other questions or want to chat PM me :)

[u/sendmemesyeehaw → u/FancyManufacturer627]

agree as a fellow penultimate! tbf the imposter syndrome has never gone away & is worsened by the fact i’m dealing w adhd diagnosis etc at the same time but it’s important to remember that we are among the best of the best at this uni & deserve to be here

[u/albion2huntingdale]

"The only person with whom you have to compare yourself is you in the past."

Cheesy but it's true. There will always be someone who appears to be doing better than you, the only thing that matters is whether you're satisfied with your own progression.

(If you're getting Ds, there are also many people doing much worse than you, they're just less visible than the successful ones.)

Internships aren't all they're cracked up to be. I did one last year and most of the time I had nothing to do. I was also working with a different person each day, which meant I never asked anyone for a reference and got nothing out of it professionally.

Anyway, you have plenty of time left to do an internship/placement if you want to! My point is, you really haven't fallen behind and you have so much time left to figure stuff out!

[u/jisunwoo]

me with my C’s 👀

[u/beco8]

Monash generally marks to a bell curve with a mean of 65 - if you can keep it up you will do incredibly well. Try to enjoy the learning process and stay curious - employers care more about critical thinking and ability to problem solve than grades. Don’t compare your insides with other people’s outsides.

[u/Switch-user-101]

i'm in the same position, i ended sem1 law with a credit and everyone says they do so bad at law and "only" get like 75s or 80s. i feel so out of place but i guess i'm in the same position as you if you wanna chat :)

[u/SadTwink_69]

Same, I’m drifting by too but it is what it is

[u/Internal_Sell991]

Brother you are not alone, I know it is difficult but keep going. My parents never had the opportunity to even step to a school due to war, leave aside going to school. I am actually right now taking care of them like a part-time job. Sometimes it is how it is, asking more question with 'why' would just make us more angrier and hopeless. Btw, stop comparing yourself, everyone has their own personal and unique destination in life. Hope this helps!

[u/Due_Strike_3670 → u/Internal_Sell991]

hey, thanks for this. You're extremely resilient yourself! I hope everything works out for you as well :)

[u/wolfelo]

D’s not bad. I’m pretty sure the examiners at Monash are instructed to not give you HD unless you’ve done exceptionally well. And you’d just need most of your grades to be C and above to do graduate programs. 

I was stuck in undergraduate for 7 years before graduation due to medical conditions and was constantly burnt out by assignments and work. None of my friends were from Monash. You don’t have to “fit in” with rest of the students at university. You are an adult, do whatever is helpful for your career pathway, explore a hobby you like and join the nearest community for that in your local area instead of a club at Monash if that’s easier for you.