Hoping they have done HS totally different, since uni is such a boring grindfest.
It is so looooong with 12 credits required, I usually opt for the max 4 at a time so that I only have to do it on 3 repeats (I rotate away between semesters so that it is not a constant rinse and repeat job). I also make sure to group my sims up so that I can take a number of them through it all at the same time.
For certain jobs I really do want my sims to have degrees, but it is becoming so yawn-inducing.
I use & recommend Peri_shorteruniversity: https://www.patreon.com/posts/41632608 The 8 credits version works best with normal lifespan in my opinion. I hear it's a bit finnicky when you aim for more a single degree, but cannot tell you details, because I didn't need that function so far.
Alternately you could rule that some careers require "some college". The sim would work towards 2-4 credits and instead of a degree they'd get the "Connections" reward trait that lets them skip to level three of a career (cheat the required satisfaction points if needed).
In my own game it's less of a problem, because I play rotationally with aging off. My students take an orientation week (1 main class + 1 elective), then do some practical learning depending on their major, then they spend a long time unplayed and by the time I rotate back to them resuming uni doesn't feel like a chore. Just like you I group them together in the same household for uni, but that's less to cut down on the time requirement and more for socializing/micromanaging.
I play the max credits, but I agree with you. It's very boring, the pack was fun to play in the beginning but now when I have seen most of it all activities and organizations feel pretty boring.
Reading 4 courses is not too difficult once you know what to do, but the problem with that is that you just end up doing tasks over and over again, and that's not what The Sims 4 is good at, the game is good for creativity and building relationships etc. not do tasks, and if you live in the dorms then you will just end up being annoyed at all the roommates who are useless.
It's also one of the packs that I feel suffered a lot from The Sims 4 not being open world.
When I allow myself to play with mods, I use the faster homework mod. That helps me have a balance of school work and social life.
I'm going to look into this shorter university mod. I've been looking for one.
But for the past year I've been playing a vanilla game. Then I just do 3 credits per semester and pause aging for a week or 2. Or do 4 credits and buy the moodlet solver potion to cram all the school work on the last day.
Editing my original post as it came off as too negative because I guess I was in a bit of an academic rut. But yeah Uni is waaaaay too academics focused and the parts that does add more college life are too shallow, like the clubs and the secret society.
I am playing tonight. So right now it's Friday and I sent them to Britechester campus to the student commons and things suddenly got more interesting. Right away I saw that one of the dormies that came along was brokenhearted. That's all Edgar needs to know. She's single now. Time to chat her up.
Also, students from past rotations are still in the clubs I formed and they hang out here in the commons. So there are more sims going about commons activities.
This dormie is Angelina, and she has no interest in Edgar at all.
Poor Sofia used a pranked toilet. She's a High Maintenance sims and this really set her off. I had to work to calm her down. I added a basement to the commons for more things to do.
Unfortunately, a NPC mixologist will not spawn for the bar, and currently there is no one working the cafeteria, so I just have my sims operate it for each other.
And a perfect opportunity for Edgar to get to know Nozomi better.
There is going to be a romance happening before the weekend is up.
There are a lot of things to do in my custom dorm. I just need to take lighter loads to enjoy them. Unfortunately I am trying to get the rest of my sims through Uni quickly. Or at least I was, until High School Years was announced. Now I will spend extra time in their High School years. I've taken to taking pictures of my sims and the dormies.
The sorting wall, I think these three capture Edgar best, but I will go with the framed one.
It's for the wall. My sims are on the top. My favorite dormies are on the bottom.
Next week is their final week I will try to alternate days between operating from the dorms and operating from the student commons to mix things up and get some of that campus atmosphere.
When they graduate, they will go back to my prep school, which is a rotation point for groups of sims taking turns at Uni. There are currently three high school students back there waiting their turn to rotate into Uni, after they graduate.
I use the shorter university mod. A week makes more sense when taking the Sims entire lifespan into account. Also it's much easier when you play via rotation.
I played with University once I quickly learned there was nothing to do besides homework did a quick save and played my main household so I can't even say I played one play through of it because it was just that bad.
I can see the discussion during the creation of this so-called expansion... First developer: What can we add to make University fun and immersive for the player Second developer: Let's not do that homework and rabbit holes they will love it! oh and toss in a bike only adults can use
So glad the high school pack is everything University should have been
I use a mod that helps with the homework and stuff so it doesn't take as long. The hardest part is grinding up the skills required, otherwise I just have my sims not live in the dorms, but maybe that would be okay too, not sure.
I think 12 credits is WAYYY too much considering they gave us a pack that is all about the most boring, tiring, and repetitive parts of uni. There is so much studying that needs to be done, homework, and exams that it makes it so impossible to do anything fun at all. My sims are always uncomfortable, tense, or angry it really is frustrating and I have no idea what thought process was going through their minds when they decided to create a pack like this. IMO TS3 did an amazing job with the university expansion I was so excited for this pack when it was announced because I thought it would be very similar.
The only way I can get my sims to complete their degree is by using a mod that makes it so I only have 6 credits for them to do. I usually do 2 units at a time so they only have to go there 3 times which is better. It also makes it so I can through keg parties more often and actually have my sim have time to be in the organizations and do actual gameplay things.
EDIT: What I have noticed when using a mod like this however is that when I get my sim to work in a career that is based on their completed degree their skills are not as high as they would have been when doing the vanilla 12 credits. It is a little annoying since my sim just became a scientist (never done this career before even though I've had the pack since release) her handiness skill is only level 4 so some of the equipment she needs to use to check the boxes for work can't be done because she can't do specific things if her skill is lower than needed.
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