So, last week I handed in my dissertation and that marked the end of my undergraduate education. After 15 years in full-time education my academic career has finished for the time being. Anyway, the point of this thread is just to ask how other members feel about finishing a certain phase of their education, whether it is finishing GCSEs and moving onto A-Levels/College, finishing A-Levels and going to Uni, or, as in my case, finishing Uni and going out into the big wide world.

It's a very wierd feeling, because at that moment in your life, the shift from one level of education to another is probably the most radical lifestyle change you'll have experienced, and for me it's something that is quite overwhelming. It feels very anti-climactic in a way, as I handed the essay in I just felt drained and exhausted, and ultimately really confused. I've had a fairly odd experience of university over the last three years, yet nevertheless I'm left feeling a mixture of relief and sadness. Relief at not having any more terrifying deadlines hanging over me, but also sad that it is has finished. It's a bizarre feeling, as I feel like I need to grow up and get a job and work, but at the same time I really don't want to finish learning things (however stressful the assessments can be). I definately intend to pursue further study at Master's level in the next few years, and currently hope to become an academic librarian, as I am keen to remain in an academic and intellectual environment where I feel I can still carry on learning, but still, it's strange and sad to feel that I'll never really have the opportunity to discuss and explore literature in the depth that I have throughout my university life.

Anyway, with my self-indulgent little rant out of the way I'd like to open this up to everyone. How do you feel when you come up to a big turning point in your academic life? And more to the point, how do you deal with it?

Hmm...thinking about moving from school to sixth form and soon, onto university it's more the lifestyle and other changes that I think about than anything else. Academically I think that the nature of where I am now means that the only really change was a better standard of teaching and slightly less formal, more of an open discussion type environment, which is the side of the academic part of uni I think I'll enjoy. Lectures, on the other hand, I cannot see myself consistently getting anything out of. Occassionally I can get into a sort of compulsive note-taking mode but it's a rarity.

Then there's the whole aspect of supposedly being left to yourself more often to do research and the like, which I think I'll be ok with. Not the best at pushing myself to get work done but now, doing english/history joint honours, both subjects I'll be interested in whilst at the same time not being bored to tears with the depth with which I have to study it.

Small matter of A-level exams first, of course

The only academic turning point i've had so far is graduating KS3 into GCSE. That was pretty cool, I dug meeting new peeps in different classes and shit although you miss the familiarity a bit. Finishing my GCSE exams next next week though. How do I feel? *bleep*in happy cuz my summer is longer by about half a month now. What am I going to do? Go drinking.

quote The Shape

Then there's the whole aspect of supposedly being left to yourself more often to do research and the like, which I think I'll be ok with. Not the best at pushing myself to get work done but now, doing english/history joint honours, both subjects I'll be interested in whilst at the same time not being bored to tears with the depth with which I have to study it.

Sixth Form to Uni is probably the biggest academic change there is, but mainly due to the huge number of non-academic things that change at the same time. For most university also means moving out and becoming more independent. It's great fun though, you just need to try and remember to keep working as well as having fun. Most lecturers aren't going to bother chasing you up, and if your grades slip then it's pretty much down to you to sort it out. It can be incredibly rewarding though if you put in the effort, and English and History should be a great course, escpecially if you can choose modules on the courses which complement one another.

Oh, and this thread makes me feel old.

I haven't had any real academic turning points except for leaving Elementary school and then Middle School. I probably won't have one until I graduate from high school and then go to college.

The transition from junior high to high school was pretty overwhelming in the first few months. The workload towered like crazy, which resulted in lower grades. Since then I got my act together.

Well going from Elementary School (K-5th) to Middle School (6th-8th) was a pretty big deal. I went from being the oldest kids in the school to the youngest, we would now have periods and switch classes, have our own locker, and stuff. I was only ten or eleven so I though it was a huge deal.

Then there is going from Middle School to High School. My high school is a catholic private school as opposed to my previous public schools, I only knew a handful of kids, I was going to wear uniforms, I was going to be a freshman and all that stuff. It turned out pretty well. Workload wasn't too bad or anything.