What was Helen’s mind bogged down with in chapter 20 of The Story of My Life?

Helen's mind is bogged down with all her studies.
She'd always been so excited at the prospect of going to Radcliffe College. But her romanticized ideals of what higher education would be like soon collide with the day-to-day reality of college life.
Helen is somewhat bewildered by the teaching methods used at Radcliffe. All the emphasis seems to be on processing an endless stream of information in this incredibly fast-paced learning environment. Much to Helen's disappointment, there appears to be no time in the academic day for calm reflection and the exercise of one's imagination. Everything appears geared towards teaching and assimilating facts as quickly as possible.
Under the circumstances, Helen can be forgiven for getting more than a little bogged down by her studies. She's not enjoying the experience because it's not what she expected. Nevertheless, she will learn to adapt in due course, eventually gaining her degree. But for now, it's all a bit too much and Helen's floundering somewhat.