{"id":103758,"date":"2019-10-02T14:34:38","date_gmt":"2019-10-02T12:34:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=103758"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:24:29","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:24:29","slug":"the-time-i-spent-on-settling-down-is-backfiring-at-my-study-progress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2019\/10\/02\/the-time-i-spent-on-settling-down-is-backfiring-at-my-study-progress\/","title":{"rendered":"‘In Psychology, there\u2019s a lot less pressure’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Starting academic education can be tough. Whether you come straight out of high school, switched from a different study programme or from an entirely different culture, you will have to get used to new ways of studying. A Dutch first-year, a study switcher, and an international student share their thoughts about their first month.<\/p>\n

\u2018Big age gap in class\u2019<\/h2>
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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEkaterina Shakarashvili<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Pepijn op de Beek, 18, Dutch History student: \u201cEven though I finished high school here in Rotterdam, university life still turned out to be quite novel. One of the biggest differences is that the classes aren\u2019t limited to one age group. For example, I have a classmate who is 46 years old. Obviously, that\u2019s a big age gap, but we\u2019re pretty much on the same page when it comes to opinions. She is really cool, I find her very interesting and friendly. Her presence gives the group a nice vibe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnother difference between the university and high school would be related to the campus itself. At high school, we did not have any space where we could study in silence. So, I really enjoy studying at the university library now. It\u2019s quiet and beautiful. I haven\u2019t explored all other buildings just yet, but I appreciate the environment everywhere I go. Small details, like art, for example, create a comfortable atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m happy with my classmates. Although we all share the same interests, there are some people with very contrasting opinions. I think that makes classroom discussions and debates more interesting. I can already see myself here next year. In fact, I want to try to do a double degree with philosophy, let\u2019s see how that works out.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Less pressure than in Medicine\u2019 <\/h2>
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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEkaterina Shakarashvili<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Lisanne Brouwer, 19, Dutch Psychology student: \u201cI was born and raised in the Netherlands. I went to a Dutch high school and then applied to study Medicine at Erasmus MC. After a year, I decided to switch to Psychology, because I was more interested in having conversations with patients as a doctor or even a psychologist. I want to specialise in clinical psychology \u2013 I hope to become a therapist.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I compare my previous studies to my current one, the first thing that comes to mind is pressure. In Psychology, there\u2019s a lot less pressure, not just study-related but also personal. I don\u2019t want to badmouth anyone, but in Medicine, people are being too hard on you, the academic expectations are unrealistically high. Whereas, in the first few days in the Psychology programme, all I saw was the caring and nice atmosphere. I didn\u2019t think about this beforehand, so I was pleasantly surprised.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI noticed there is a misconception that psychology is easy and more accessible \u2013 I don\u2019t agree. Psychology is a science, so it is interesting but not that easy. I like the lectures in our programme a lot. They are not too difficult to understand, and they spike your interest. My thoughts hardly ever drift off.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Settling down is backfiring\u2019<\/h2>
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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEkaterina Shakarashvili<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>

Priyanka Shrivastava, 26, Indian Economics and Business student: \u201cIndia has a very different study and work culture. I am not just from a different country, I\u2019m from a different continent. And so, I\u2019m absorbing a great deal of various information every day. The study load becomes even heavier when it\u2019s combined with the culture shock and all the little details you have to take care of as an international student, like finding a room or opening a bank account.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe first week that I spent on settling down is backfiring at my study progress now. The study pace is very fast, which makes the process quite difficult and hectic, so I\u2019m already stressed about the upcoming exams.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore my arrival, I had done some research online about the relationships between Dutch professors and students, so I knew what to expect. They are very approachable, friendly and patient. You don\u2019t have to have an important question to ask, nobody will laugh at the silly ones either. And as an international student, you will have a lot of questions to ask. The detailed study plan that we are given at the beginning of the course, provides me with guidance not only on what to study, but on how to study also. Despite all this, sometimes I catch myself questioning if I\u2019m doing it right. But I have this mindset: I believe if I can achieve this, I can achieve anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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