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Original poster

Did anyone else bloody hate their masters?

53 replies

Sattherelikealemon · 21/08/2021 20:31

I have just submitted a draft for my online MSc, completed over 2 years and am waiting for the supervisor to come back ripping it to shreds as frankly in sure it is crap. I'm glad it's at least off my huge to do list for now and whatever she comes back with, I can action. I just want a pass, don't give a shit about getting a high mark!

I just feel a bit disappointed in myself that I didn't enjoy having it as an academic goal etc..i set out with such good intentions of doing loads of extra reading and getting a good mark but it was such a slog all the way through, not hard topics exactly, just constantly hanging over. I only really engaged enough to do the assignments, not really anything else.

I've had a lot of challenges this last year and a lot going on at once, which hasn't helped.

Did anyone else find their masters draining like this?

OP posts:
PragmaticWench · 21/08/2021 20:33

Yes, mainly as I was working full-time (compressed into four days) over two years. It just felt too much on top of everything else. A shame as I loved the subject, my course mates were great and the teaching was very good. I feel I let myself down.

Original poster
Sattherelikealemon · 22/08/2021 07:39

I feel that way too, full time work, health related stuff (not front line) so very long hours this past year. Kind of wish I'd been able to take a year off and concentrate it mainly I just hope this bloody thing passes without too much extra work

OP posts:
Original poster
Sattherelikealemon · 22/08/2021 07:39

But yeah. Feels like I should and could have done much better

OP posts:

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Higher education
Dozer · 22/08/2021 07:44

You work full time and have done a masters in addition?

Wow!

That’s probably why it was such a slog.

Kitkatchunkyplease · 22/08/2021 07:47

I hated mine too. So much. I was teaching full time and I just had to squeeze it in around my life. I was mainly just relieved when it was over.

Biolo · 22/08/2021 07:52

Life has been weird this last year, and especially with working full time and anything else you’ve had going on, don’t be so hard on yourself.
You never gave up, you persevered to get all of your work done. You should be proud of yourself whatever grade you get and I’m sure you learnt a lot throughout the process even though to you it might feel it’s not enough. Smile

IheartJKR · 22/08/2021 08:02

I’m 12000 words into my my masters dissertation…. Only 3000 more to go and I’ve found it incredibly draining.

I’m currently carrying an extra 2 stone and have been drinking my body weight in wine.
I cannot wait until this is over in 2 weeks and I will get my life back.

My dissertation will be handed in with no feedback or supervision help- so I’m just hoping for a pass as well :(

2reefsin30knots · 22/08/2021 08:03

I enjoyed the content of mine- the learning/ reading and the residentials for lectures/ tutorials. I enjoyed having shibboleth access and still miss that.

What I did not enjoy was having an assignment hanging over me every school holiday for 3 years. I couldn't do any work in term time- it was just too much- so it piled up in the holidays.

Edmontine · 22/08/2021 08:04

It’s been a pretty grim nearly two years for everyone - the fact that you’ve managed full time work and Master’s level study at the same time is hugely impressive. You should feel really proud if yourself.

OP may I ask how old you are? I’m asking MNHQ to set up a board for mature study and retraining, as there are so many threads seeking advice or sharing experiences. (Apologies if not relevant to you.)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/site_stuff/4327788-Is-there-a-specific-Mature-Study-Retraining-board?msgid=110096218

FWIW I didn’t hate mine - but it was the hardest and most terrifying thing I’ve ever done.

RJnomore1 · 22/08/2021 08:07

@IheartJKR why have you had no feedback or supervision? I supervise masters dissertations as an associate and I know how incredibly hard that is.

Scarby9 · 22/08/2021 08:12

No, but I hated my PhD, also done alongside my full time job after the first year (in which I did very little).
I think it is fairly par for the course.
I'm pleased now that I stuck with it and finished, but it has taken me a while to get to that point.

IheartJKR · 22/08/2021 08:16

@RJnomore1

I had a zoom call in June with my supervisor.
My dissertation has to be submitted on Wednesday 8th September by 3pm.
Last month I sent her my methodology chapter but have as yet not received any feedback.
The problem is now - with only a few weeks to go and still plenty to get finished…. We it’s a bit late now right?
Even if she does get back to me - I can’t redo it now.
Both the course leader and my supervisor have sent me an email asking if I needed a chat or any support but that’s very clearly a ticking box exercise - what I need is feedback on the work I sent them both.

InTheNightWeWillWish · 22/08/2021 08:18

I hated my masters. I came really close to breaking point with my thesis. I failed my first ever exam in my masters and was close to quitting several times.

I’m annoyed at myself for not doing better. This is something that I wanted for so long and I just didn’t do as well as I could. I’m also annoyed at my university because they just weren’t supportive enough of part time students working full time. I was given an extension to my assessments on a handful of modules, with one lecturer telling me he had this day booked out for marking and he couldn’t possibly give me an extension because he’s have to give the class of full time students one too! The course worked by doing a solid week of study and then a week for assessment. So this meant I had to book a week of annual leave to do the course, then try and catch up on work and do my assessment the following week. One assessment was an exam. I was expected to finish the taught element of the course and go back to work for four days and revise enough to pass an exam. When I raised the issue they told me that a masters was meant to be challenging.

I wonder what would have happened if they’d been more supportive. I had a lot of general life stuff happening during the masters too, which didn’t help. I’m so grateful to my work at the time. I wasn’t doing the masters through them and I was on a temp contract but they still gave me several study leave days and allowed me to buy extra leave. Actually I had three employers during my masters, the first allowed me to compress my hours, the second gave me the study leave and the third was 30 hours (which increased to full time when I finished) and allowed me to work on my dissertation if it was quiet. If my employers at the time hadn’t have been so supportive I wouldn’t have finished my masters.

I desperately wish I’d done better, been able to give it my all. However, I’ve never felt prouder of myself than on my graduation day. It was a huge slog. I didn’t have the best grade in that graduation hall but I knew I worked a lot harder to get that masters than some of the people in there. Fingers crossed you have minimal corrections (they’ll always find some unfortunately) and that you get a proper graduation day. You completed a part time masters while working full time, you should be proud of yourself. To add to that, you did it in a global pandemic.

EileenGC · 22/08/2021 08:20

I’m hating the seminars and writing part of it, practical is great. Doesn’t help it’s all in a language I’m not great at yet.

I just want a pass for the academic credits and an extension on my practical ones so I can do an extra year of just the stuff I like Grin

RJnomore1 · 22/08/2021 08:27

@IheartJKR that’s really awful. I’d make a complaint; there’s usually some sort of standard on responses to emails that’s expected as a very minimum. I’d imagine this is costing you a lot in financial terms as well as time.

Good luck; bring self motivated enough to complete with no support is a massive achievement. I usually have the opposite issue - at least one student a year who won’t reply to my check in emails!

BeautifulBirds · 22/08/2021 08:33

Yeah, I'm finding it hard going. Happy with a pass. Working full time, 2 year old child, new house, and awaiting surgery to relieve considerable pain.
Keep asking for extensions on all my work as I leave it till the last month to do the work. We have 2 online days per module, I don't know any of my group, at all, and there is no support from my tutors.

Ohpulltheotherone · 22/08/2021 08:37

I really enjoyed mine but I actually attended classes on site and had the full mature student experience - albeit full time.

I did well and I really enjoyed it but I think that was completely to do with being on site.

My undergrad was via online learning a good few years ago and I hated that experience. I definitely didn’t do as well as I could have and felt exactly as you did when submitting my dissertation- just pass and don’t worry about the grade. I ended up getting a rubbish grade on the final paper but luckily my earlier work pulled my average up and I did ok overall.

I really feel for the kids doing all online now, I really struggled.

Ohpulltheotherone · 22/08/2021 08:37

Part time*

Original poster
Sattherelikealemon · 22/08/2021 08:40

Edmontine I'm mid 30s and have added to the support for that board, it is a great idea, thanks for thinking of it! I'm going on to retrain after this so would really appreciate it. The Student Room is good but tbh my circumstances are so different from the average 21 year old on there (in my experience) that it would be good to have something more relevant to me.

Iheart not getting back to you after a month is terrible, you do right to keep going and get it written however I wouldn't push for some kind of supervision. Not to be obtuse but I wonder if there's been some glitch if they've been in touch asking if you need a chat but not mentioned the draft? I would definitely take the course leader and supervisor up on that offer and ask why you've had no feedback. I'm just wondering if she ever received it (assuming you sent it online and didn't put it in her hand?) I know it might be a bit late to make massive amendments with your current deadline but if she does come back with huge changes, I wonder if this would be grounds for an extension?

OP posts:
Original poster
Sattherelikealemon · 22/08/2021 08:41

Would push** sorry!

OP posts:
OldScrappyAndHungry · 22/08/2021 08:47

I’d also love the idea of a board for mature students! I start uni next month at the age of 45 and have found most of the mature students are in their early 20s!

IheartJKR · 22/08/2021 08:51

@Sattheirlikeamelon

They’ve both seen my email as they’ve both responded but not with any feedback!!!!

I actually don’t want an extension - I’m seriously going to lose my shit if I have to keep going with this a day extra.

It’s been a tough year alright.

Flowers well done to everyone

Edmontine · 22/08/2021 08:51

Feel free to add that to the thread I’ve linked, Scrappy! Star

Windingroad21 · 22/08/2021 08:57

Oh yes! I worked F/T and did it around this. Like you, had great intentions, but it was a total drag at the end. Amazingly, I got a really good mark, so keep the faith!! It’s also really helped me in job applications.

Windingroad21 · 22/08/2021 08:57

Ps I can’t even imagine doing it in pandemic, so give yourself huge credit for getting to this stage.