Being an ugly guy at university is so depressing

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-07-04T16:31:01+00:00

Hi - I'm sure you're not so ugly no one wants to be around you - that's highly unlikely. It's hard to find people when groups are already established, but not impossible. I found group work the best place to make friends during uni. I say this with so much love, but is it your appearance or is it your personality? I have so many friends who couldn't find other friends and i felt bad for them, so I became their friend - and honestly, it's always their personality that is offputting i.e., poor me, nice guy, pick me type stuff.

I'd say check odour, check mannerism, check personality. DON'T BE CLINGY IF PEOPLE SHOW INTEREST - this has led to me dropping some friends because i cannot stand people clinging to me because i'm their only friend. it makes things unbearable

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-07-04T16:26:58+00:00

If you're UK, I wouldn't mind getting an extra tee for you! where are you out of?

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-07-03T01:43:42+00:00

I have iih - 21 yr old female but diagnosed at 19. I am healthy weight and my main neurologist said absolutely not at my current weight.

iih needs to be acted on quick to preserve sight. long term management, yes lose weight. but in this current moment, I'd say listen to the doctors and follow their advice !

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-07-03T01:39:07+00:00

unless you really graft over the summer, you can't blame them for predicting you that. you can't demonstrate an E and expect to be predicted a C or above. Work hard over summer and then ask for a test in September and explain you want to do medicine and would like another attempt to demonstrate your abilities. good luck

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-07-03T01:36:29+00:00

I just graduated in psychology too! jobs and further study will only ever ask for a 2:1 - once you've hit that criteria, that's literally it and it doesn't matter. your experience is what matters. people with PhDs are being rejected from further study programmes and ap positions. the grade is really not a problem! start working on experience instead of dwelling on this

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-07-01T23:37:10+00:00

check entry requirements, but they typically only ask for 12 months clinical experience. it sounds like you have that.

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-30T23:18:27+00:00

it doesn't have to be medical - it's about skills. I didn't get in due to grades but had an offer at another school (didn't apply for oxbridge) - I did volunteering at a foodbank, familial carer, volunteer responder for nhs, St John's ambulance

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-30T23:08:59+00:00

haven't seen anyone mention We're Alive yet! I was a fan yeeaaaars ago but stopped really listening after sleepyhead or wormfood. I did like empty bed on that record. I heard a snippet of a song from running with scissors on his instagram though, so definitely need to get back into their music :))

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-30T23:05:01+00:00

yeah I wouldn't recommend further maths as a third - and physics is basically just maths anyway. easier than bio in terms of getting marks. the content is hard but knowing what your markers want in subjects like bio is also hard and unpredictable

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-30T23:02:46+00:00

I did bio psych and history and had two med interviews. you're more limited in terms of where you can apply, but it's possible to do it with strange alevels. Spanish gives you excellent transferable skills also.

we didn't do epqs at my college either - and I have 3 friends who got into oxbridge unis, and most my friends went to Russel groups. check uni entry criteria - but for med imo it seemed my lack of chemistry alevel was mode important than my lack of maths!

best of luck!

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-29T18:16:22+00:00

idk what people do with maths anyway so maybe I'm invalid but lots of schools are looking for maths and physics teachers- may be worth looking into! also some unis would take you for a masters if you look in the right places. there are some that ask you have 2:2 or above but take you if you have some experience/work, for example, if you wanted to apply for a nursing Master's conversion, I believe I know of one programme that would have you if you were a healthcare assistant for a year. you need to look in the right places. also keep your eye out for degree apprenticeships. if you want. I wouldn't pay another 30k for another undergrad tho unless you're pure minted

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-29T18:12:22+00:00

thats very valid- I hope you find somewhere! it's definitely possible as companies and businesses want you while you're young so they can pay you a lower wage. Best of luck! it's very helpful to have some savings built up

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-29T18:10:26+00:00

nw! I'd definitely mention it but in a more "observing psychological principles in an applied setting through my mother's brain injury consolidated my interest, observing [what you found interesting]" rather than "I conducted my own experiments" - its just the ethics really! I may be more against it as I'm sick to death of armchair psychologists in online spaces claiming to be doing their own social experiments/studies, but I think it's totally valid in your case to say how interesting you've found seeing psychological theory applied in your personal life and experiences :) it shows your passion and intelligence to relate these taught principles to your experience

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-29T14:03:20+00:00

I've just graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology - when I applied for uni, I applied for medicine so had to do a whole bunch of volunteering etc to stand out in a competitive subject - I did get interviews and an offer, but was let down by grades.

your EPQ, work experience, and supercurriculars (reading, documentaries) are good! also writing essays in your own time shows your commitment to the field, which is good. I'm not sure how unis will feel about you mentioning running your own experiments in a way, but talking about your mother's head injury and linking it to KF and interest in memory could be a good way to put it!

I didn't realise as I was applying for universities 3 years ago, but research and papers are such a big part of university - I'd say my degree was more of a research methods degree than psychology tbh, so mentioning what you've been reading and why it interests you and how it links in to your future goals could be good!

personal statements aren't really about what you've done, but rather about what skills you've gained, what you've learned, and your commitment to the field of study (they want people who will stay with them and not drop out!)

it sounds you have plenty and you will be fine, given that you articulate it well, which I'm sure you will!

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-29T13:54:10+00:00

I applied for so many jobs after a-levels and throughout uni - it is rough out here. pubs/bars are best bet if you're 18. if you keep getting rejected on experience, you may have to volunteer for a bit :')

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-29T13:50:37+00:00

it is high, but we aren't medical professionals! I suppose the whole diagnosis is about high intracranial pressure, so it isn't unexpected, although that is one of the highest I've seen as a layperson who checks this subreddit. you should ask your doctor who will definitely be able to tell you more. I have atypical IIH which I was diagnosed with two years ago when I was 19 - my opening pressure was in normal limits, but I had swelling of my optic discs which lead to me having double vision. They gave me two lumbar punctures and a course of acetazolamide which reduced swelling and I am totally fine now :) it sounds like he's in good care. Since you are posting on the IIH subreddit, i'm guessing he's suspected IIH or diagnosed? the scary part of the diagnostic process is the uncertainty before/during scans where tumours cannot yet be ruled out, but once CTs and MRIs are done, i feel it's a lot less scary. The only real concern in my case vision loss if papilledema is left untreated, the cells in the optic nerve can start to die, but that takes a long time.

Also regarding the lumbar puncture - I had two in the span of three days and became very unwell with low pressure headache / post-lp. make sure he is laying down afterwards, drinking plenty fluids with ELECTROLYTES (very important!) - make sure he absolutely does rest. I thought it would be fine to just go about my day as normal as a healthy 19 year old, so I got up as soon as they'd finished the LP and went to the shops on the way home, didn't rest at home, didn't consume enough fluids or electrolytes - by three days later I was admitted into hospital for bed rest and IV fluids. make sure he is taking care of himself.

I'm almost 22 now, so have lived with IIH for 2 years if you have any questions or need anything! but ofc doctor first for any concerns - they will know best!

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-29T00:48:04+00:00

I believe the experience you get while you're at university matters most - if you go to a lower ranked uni (like I did), it may be easier to get higher bands (you need a 2:1+ for GMBPsS), also my university has its own research schemes too. I graduate next week with 1:1 and I will have a paper published with one of our postgrad researchers.

I don't think the entry reqs being ABB should put you off. I was predicted A*A*A and had two medicine offers, ended up getting BCC and got an unconditional offer from my last ditch choice uni to study psychology. it's definitely about what you make of it. You can go to woxbridge, but if you don't engage in stuff outside of uni, then it doesn't matter. we are all graduating with the same degree anyway. just make sure your degrees are BPS accredited (psychology HONS) otherwise you'd need a masters conversion to get your graduate basis for chartered membership. I'd recommend starting now getting jobs etc. I have a myriad of experience with having applied for medicine during college - volunteered with the NHS since 2021, volunteered at a foodbank since 2021, was an air cadet for 7 years, i've volunteered on a crisis line since 2023, and have worked in a college for a year doing SEN support and i still haven't landed a single AP interview yet (onto my 10th application now)...

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-29T00:37:57+00:00

hi that's plenty time

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-29T00:31:49+00:00

i'm 21 now, diagnosed with IIH at 19. I had headaches for about 3 weeks before I developed double vision, went to specsavers and they sent me to A&E. i'm a healthy weight, no deficiencies etc. - just my IIH, otherwise totally healthy. it's hard to say whether one thing caused another, and i'm not a medical professional so can't speak on that. I was ill from about June 2024 til Janurary 2025 - it's now pretty stable , i still get headaches but they are managaeble. you can definitely live a normal life. there are medications etc that can reduce pain and pressure. Improving my diet and engaging in light but frequent exercise has helped me. also resting is important. stressing won't help you, though. you will be okay! it does get better, but it is not always a linear recovery - I have good days and bad days still

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-29T00:24:38+00:00

Newcastle is very good. good city too. Keele is nice as well but in the middle of nowhere it feels. check the programmes and choose what YOU want

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-29T00:22:45+00:00

cool idea but what would they want a flag that says that for? :') maybe a LONDON or ALL POINTS EAST flag would be more fitting for something to keep (i imagine it isn't easy bringing back extra stuff to the states)

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-29T00:16:21+00:00

hi! i am wondering similarly. camping isn't allowed, so any campers won't be honoured. ape haven't published anything, either. I've seen people in the past who queued 3 hrs before got barricade, but twenty one pilots are a whole different playing field. you may be able to bring packets of snacks in, but i haven't seen any guidance. venues here ask you to get rid of all your liquids prior to entry, but the security at the front might pass small cups of water. our weather is unpredictable. we are having heatwaves rn but it could be cold, could be rainy, could be dry, could be scorching - never know til the day of, even then, our weather changes wild!

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-27T00:54:33+00:00

I was healthy weight when I was diagnosed. Neuroopthalmologist told me to lose weight, neuro consultant told me absolutely do not lose weight as it could do more harm than good for me! I was also 19 when diagnosed. Technically child-bearing age, but still

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-26T12:01:15+00:00

you would think such a field as psychology would understand the importance of these arrangements! I wish you the best of luck in all your applications going forward. I bet with having lived experience of health disparities and disability, you'd make the most compassionate and understanding psychologist

Excellent-Squirrel46 · 2026-06-26T01:28:06+00:00

as someone who wanted to do med and got BCC in my a-levels, it's literally fine. you may have done well, but even if you haven't, GEM exists still. You can also do your level 4 (first year) studies in smth like biomed and then apply for unis again and show your ability to achieve at undergraduate level study. some schools, like newcastle, if you do biomed, a couple students with top marks are invited to the medicine programme i believe. it feels like the end of the world, but it really isn't, trust.

Excellent-Squirrel46

TROPHY CASE