What’s on your mind?

I started studying math and I'm kind of scared that AI will give us much fewer job options and especially less attractive jobs. I don't want to put up so much effort just to have a mediocre job. And I also don't want to become a teacher. I don't think that we will all be unemployed but I'm scared that math won't be worth much. Can someone relate?

I am really struggling with the first semester of physics bsc. I think I could somehow manage if I studied consistently but I have done almost nothing for weeks. Throughout school I have never been able to go home, do my homework and enjoy the rest of the day. I just procrastinated until the very last moment and until I was anxious enough. Even during the matura, I sometimes started studying the morning of the final tests because I couldn’t bring myself to do it sooner. This is a pattern I want to get rid of for years now. I feel like I tried everything: deleting social media/games, changing my environment, going to libraries or public places, making to-do lists and deadlines for myself, studying with others to keep myself motivated, getting up early, etc. Nothing really worked for more than a couple of days. When I see the effort others put in to keep up with the lectures, it stresses me out so much that it becomes even harder for me to start studying. I don’t want to believe that it is too late for me in this semester yet but how can I actually build routines and stick to them? Does anyone know that feeling or a strategy to cope with this problem that has worked for them?

I’m in my first semester of physics bsc. I wanted to ask if it’s normal to spend 2-3 hours on one question in Analysis? Meaning not just looking at the solution but effectively trying to understand every step of the proof. It takes me so long to finish an exercise and i don’t know if im doing something wrong. Obviously I learn something at the end but in the next paper it’s the same thing again, every question looks like something I’ve never seen before it’s impossible to solve it without having seen something like it before. Anyone has the same issue?

Do you feel like people sharing their positive experiences/achievements is helpful in times of difficulty? I personally see two side: on one side there is the "light at the end of the tunnel argument", seeing people overcoming difficulty gives hope On the other side when I am feeling particularly down seeing other people manage what I can't manage can send me in a downward spiral because I feel like I can't overcome a problem that everybody else can. Not sharing positive experiences creates an echo-chamber that selects only negative thoughts though, and that is particularly unhealthy. What do you all think?

5th semester math student here. I still struggle with even simple proofs and any type of "show that..." exercises. It's not that I don't understand them, but I struggle to come up with the (right) ideas. Somehow I still manage to pass the exams, but I've never had the feeling that I can actually prove anything by myself. Can you relate? Is there anything that helped you to start getting ideas without external help? Is there something like a turning point after which one develops a feel for proofs, and if so, how did you get there?

How do you deal with depression? Depressed episodes and still getting stuff done and finding joy a bit? Also if it’s just a few days being depressed? Or quick mood and energy swings?

For the people who study at hönggerberg: Which cafeteria is better: fusion or food market? I have been arguing this with some friends for a while.

It’s my first semester at ETH studying physics. I had mentally prepared myself for the stress and I don’t really struggle or need to force myself to be able to study. But I really wonder if it’s expected of me to spend this much studying or if I’m just doing too much or doing it wrong… I study every single day, after school and often also during breaks. I also spend my weekends revising the materials and solving all the questions. I still make a few hours time in the evening for hobbies etc. But for now I can’t even imagine taking a day off… and even with all this time I’m spending I’m barely making deadlines and catching up. I don’t spend too much time on exercises unnecessarily, the time I spend studying is me effectively trying to understand the topic/exercises. I’m just worried that maybe I’m spending way too much time and draining myself, does anyone feel the same? Or anyone been through this and has some good advice ?

Started my studies three weeks ago and have the feeling I belong nowhere, a lot are older than me or already have a friend group and and I don't know I I fit in. I tried a lot during the first weeks, I talked to a lot of people but nothing happened. I don't want to continue my studies as I am so exhausted and just want to go back home where my families and friends are. I thought about doing a gap year before I started studying, and now I am thinking about stopping my studies and doing that gap year. I know maybe I should try some months more but I don't know whether anything will change and if nothing changes I prefer to stop now to have time to go working and maybe travelling. Should I follow my intuition and stop studying and try next year somewhere else?

Hope someone can relate but I feel so behind. I started my bachelor in math and I have the feeling im not made for it. Physics im just not good at it and in math I have the feeling im to slow. is that normal ? does anyone have tips on how to learn efficient.

Question to TA‘s: how do you prepare your lessons (Physics preferably) efficiently? And do you write on the blackboard or just show slides or beam your tablet to the wall and write there?

Do you get lonely living alone? Living away from home, without friends, in a place where you could disappear and no one would notice for days? How do you deal with it?

How to get motivation to study? During and after lectures, and at the uni I feel somewhat motivated, I plan what topics to go over again, etc., but the second I get home it is gone. I didn't do any studiing related thing at home this week, and I know that, this is clearly unsustainable.

Are any math/pysics/any corse of study students out there, who search some vegan friends to?

How do you deal with imposter syndrome?

wie geht ihr damit um, wenn eine bestimmte Situation bei euch eine körperliche Reaktion (wie ein Engegfühl in der Brust, Kloss in der Brust) hervorruft?

How do you deal with fomo while studying?