To leave my masters?

It’s paid for, but not by you, so it’s someone else’s sunk cost fallacy. I could not be arsed with this at all. 2 nights studying a week for something you are not interested in with no clear tangible benefit? Fuck.That. Shit.

Just noticed you first posted quite a while ago, so hope you are happy with your decision OP!

I've got a masters, it's been no use 8n my career at all. Though work paid for it. A phd on the other hand,,,

I wouldn't. I quit too.

It's paid for, grit your teeth and complete it.

I’m so sorry to hear that @Birthdaycake369 I know we never know what’s round the corner but also can understand why you feel that way. I am wondering myself if I just need to live in the moment a bit. Really hope you have some good support to help you through this difficult time

I would say spend the time with your family. I have spent the last 4 years studying in the evenings towards a degree through the OU. My husband passed away suddenly just before the end of my last module and prior to his death I had barely seen him because I was studying so much. I wish I could go back in time and prioritise us but it’s too late. Wishing you all the best whatever you decide

@BruFord it is a part time course already but over 2 years. At this point in time paying for babysitters is not an option either financially or for my child. The transition to nursery has been incredibly challenging for her and so adding babysitters to the mix would make things even harder. It may be something I could look into in the future but definitely not now, sadly it would just add more stress. We also have little family support nearby. Thank you for sharing your experience, it’s good to hear others’ views on it.

@BakedBeansMum I did my Master’s while home with young children and I’d encourage you to keep going. Pay for babysitters if you need to (I’d study upstairs while they entertained the toddlers). Is there an option to study part-time? I took just over three years to do a two-year degree.

I took six years total out of the workforce, but having a recent degree made a big difference when I started applying for jobs. Good luck. 🍀

Given that it’s a year-long course, I’d finish it simply because it’s good insurance against a rainy day. Recent qualifications look good on your CV, especially when you’re over 40.

My SIL completed her Ph. D. at 55. We all wondered why she did it, but kudos to her, it’s given her more gravitas in her field and she’s having some amazing opportunities.

Once this is done though, give yourself a break.

What did you decide Nichebitch? I’m in a similar (although not exactly the same) position. Just started a Masters in Sept and already wondering if it’s the wrong thing. It just seems that I can’t imagine how I can devote the hours I need to to it. I’m currently a SAHM so my intention was to keep my hand in in my field of work, but it’s by no means essential as I’d worked at a senior level for 5 years before maternity. I’m 40 and have a child and wondering if it’s just too much pressure? Feel a bit pathetic saying that given I don’t work but I also only have 9 hours of childcare a fortnight.

I would finish it. But I love studying and have several degrees.

It does help to have a Masters in a related area to your work, which II assume this is. Do you want promotion at some stage? Will this be an advantage?

Sounds like the majority is already paid for. I'd go for it.

Well, in my case it meant I spent a year of my life hidden away in my study instead of spending time with my family and actually enjoying myself, to learn a bunch of stuff that I have largely completely forgotten and has been of no use to my career at all. And I paid I think about £8k for the privilege. In retrospect I 100% regret it.

Learning just for the sake of it, I think, is a waste of time. Learning because you enjoy it or learning because it's going to benefit your career is fine, when it's neither then absolutely bin it off.

I guess it depends on what one thinks learning is for.

I can absolutely say that my masters was a complete and utter waste of time and money.

Absolutley. I just turned 40 and applied for a promotion for a job I knew I didn’t want, but it was “the next step”. I withdrew and do not regret it, you don’t have to prove anything to anyone, you’re clearly intelligent and hard working. If you have a job that gives a good quality of life then pause and think about what you actually want, not what you think you should do.

If it's already paid for you could ask the university about alternative awards. You might be able to do a cut down version just focusing on any modules you are genuinely interested in/would be useful to you and exit with a post-graduate certificate for example.

But if it's totally useless and doesn't interest you then drop it, you probably won't do very well anyway if you're not motivated and so it won't even look good.

I would stop and not look back. It’s too easy to think oh I might need it, or no education is wasted, when in reality it’s taking away from your life now, for no potential improvement in the quality of life in the long run. You have a masters already, forget it! You’re not here for a long time…