anyone else feeling overwhelmed

[vern23]

So Im a US student and Im going to canada for grad school and I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed. On top of worrying about being able to handle the academic work its all the logistics: trying to find a decent affordable place to live, setting up the move, affording the move, affording rent for two months before the school starts paying me, getting a study visa, setting up health insurance car insurance switching drivers license bank phone company, getting my pets into the country, and on and on. Then the school stuff- talking to adviser, registering for classes, going to orientations, buying books, and on and on. I just wanna scream thinking about it all. I mean I'm trying to be very organized about this and start on what I can very early. But there are so many things to do, not that much time left, and some things (like money issues) I really can't do anything about.

I mean we just finished the stress of application season and now this. Will it ever stop!? Is anyone else freaking out abit too??

[fuzzylogician]

Yes. I wouldn't say freaking out, but I am worried about everything you've mentioned. I've moved to another country for studies before so I have a pretty good idea of what it'll cost and what exactly I need to do, and I know I've done it successfully before, but it still could be a stressful time. The best advice I can give you against freaking out is to know exactly what needs to be done and have a clear plan of where you need to go and when in order to do it. Print out lists with addresses (possibly marked on a map), phone numbers, directions to- and opening hours of where you need to go. I went as far as printing out images of the buildings I was looking for, but that was a bit excessive . Some things are more urgent (like setting up a bank account and finding an apartment), others could wait a while longer (switching drivers license and even getting a phone). Have your priorities straight and be ready for the eventuality that not everything will be set up perfectly right at the beginning. But within a month of the program starting I guarantee you, you'll be all settled in and well into the program, that you'll forget all about stressing over the move.

[Tobson]

Haha, I know what you mean, I am moving to the US for my Masters. Since I am from Europe the only things I will bring are my books, clothes, computer and my camera. Any international student will face similar problems and I'd almost go that far and say any student moving more than 300 miles will be in a similar situation. Just see it as the adventure it is. About the academic stuff I don't worry about in the moment, I am in grad school right now, it can't get worse (I am working week-ends and hollydays....)

I second the suggestion of making list, especially a time table is very good - for example I have to submit homework on monday and a presentation for an international conference on wednesday - no reason to worry about anything else than that

[mlle]

I'm glad someone started this thread. I'll admit that ever since I decided on a school and sent in my deposit, I've started to enter a flaming freak-out of a completely different nature than the application process freak-out. I think the list of non-school stuff is even longer than the school-related stuff: I'm starting a master's program at an expensive private school in an expensive city that doesn't offer funding to masters students as part of their admissions package; I have some money in the bank but I'm terrified I'll still go waaaayy into debt if I don't chance upon an assistantship during my time there; I've never taken out loans before and I have to do that and have absolutely no idea what the hell taking out loans is all about. I'll be picking up with only the belongings that I can stuff into my car and wandering into a city 7 hrs away that I've never been to before and know absolutely nothing about; still haven't even started looking for housing and have no idea which neighborhood to be looking in for housing. And then there's the summer work issue. Still haven't secured any kind of job or anything to carry me over the summer after I graduate. And I won't have health insurance over the summer since my current student insurance runs out in June and my new student insurance doesnt kick in until August (I just can't help envisioning all these horrific swine flu scenarios happening to me during the period when I'm uninsured. I know it's silly but I mean, I'm already in alarmist mode to begin with about school :roll: ).

And that's only the non-school stuff, and I can go on and on and on. I'm just trying to take it one day and one week at a time, blah blah. I'm trying to not even think about what I can avoid thinking about for the time being until I get through finals, bc it's completely distracting me from studying and getting through the last stretch of the semester (but as you can see, I'm still mulling over everything.....)

[poetaguerrera]

yeah..definitely overwhelmed wondering if i will succeed... use affirmations..seems cheesy but it helps.

[student4life]

You guys will be ok.. I was at the same position last year. It's been 9 months now and I'm surviving. Just hang tough and you'll get through.

[ramprasad]

Try getting in touch with the international students / international student clubs -- I'm sure they'll help. Contacting other new students might make you feel less overwhelmed.

Also, get a GPS unit. I have a Megellan and it works in Cananda.

[ChloeLovesLife]

Goodness!

I thought I was having issues, but you are really being tested to the limit!

I can say for sure that I've never been as stressed out as you are right now but I do have a few words that might help...

It will all get done. I know it seems like "how?? How will it all get done?? And in time!!!???"... but it will. It always has until this point, after all... you got out of your undergrad and into grad school! You know what you have to do. Take it one step at a time. Not every single thing must be done in this exact second in order for it to be done. It seems like that... but it's just not true.

You're going to wake up one day in September and say "damn! What was I worrying so much about? I got it all done!".

Trust me, you will!

Best of luck!

[40404]

I am very much overwhelmed...I feel as if I had been taking my life for granted until now! I'm an intl student going to the US for Masters. I haven't lived independently, have the most supportive family, the best bunch of friends and a wonderful job. I feel as if I am leaving everything behind for a life wherein I am unsure where I am going.

To be quite honest, I am scared to live alone and be on my own. People ask me if I am excited but my first answer would be no. I guess, this is all part of life's wonderful adventures so we shall see.

[thecaitycat]

I've registered for classes and moved into a (tiny, cheap) apartment four blocks from campus, and I think I feel more overwhelmed now than I did before I had my living arrangements and classes worked out. I feel like I can't look back now even though I keep trying to, y'know?

[was1984]

I've registered for classes and moved into a (tiny, cheap) apartment four blocks from campus, and I think I feel more overwhelmed now than I did before I had my living arrangements and classes worked out. I feel like I can't look back now even though I keep trying to, y'know?

Agreed. I'm a couple of years out of school and have been reviewing the last week or two, and now I'm really scared. I have forgotten a -lot- of stuff.

[aginath]

If I wasn't before, I am now. Classes start tomorrow, but I don't have class until Tuesday. Assignments are due in both of my classes that day. At least one of them includes reading the text book and summarizing (no more than 50 words) each chapter. :shock: I only have 11 more to go. :roll:

[UnlikelyGrad]

Ummmm....

House here still not ready to sell. Husband refuses to pack quickly so only half the stuff is packed. I'm going to have to leave my family behind (may be a month or two before we're reunited).

Still have some wrap-up work to do on my research project here.

Plus I still have no place to live though I have a good friend near school who's offered me a temporary place to crash.

School starts in one week.

Overwhelmed? I guess you could say that, yeah.