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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:
groundcontroltomontydon · 22/08/2021 09:02

No - my masters is one of the very few non-disastrous things in my life! Not sure how though: did a f/t LLM while working four days a week and commuting the best part of a thousand miles a week. Two decades later - caring responsibilities having put paid to my career - I'm now stuck in a brain-rottingly awful entry level job. A mature student/retraining space would be most welcome!

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 22/08/2021 09:04

I thought this was going to be a humorous posting by a dog! Blush

burnoutbabe · 22/08/2021 09:05

I am starting a masters in September having just competed a second degree.
I chose it as I don't need to do any dissertation :-) I knew I'd hate that bit!

I will be working one day a week like I did during my degree, even that feels a bit much at times but just means I work weekends on the study.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Higher education
IheartJKR · 22/08/2021 09:05

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

I thought this was going to be a humorous posting by a dog! Blush
Grin
Edmontine · 22/08/2021 09:31

We have a lot in common, groundcontroltomontydon ...

Could anyone here who would like a Mature Study board please say so on that thread?

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

MNHQ probably need a critical mass of potential posters to make it a possibility.

Original poster
Sattherelikealemon · 22/08/2021 09:33

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

I thought this was going to be a humorous posting by a dog!

Grin Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
Sattherelikealemon · 22/08/2021 09:34

Wine Flowers Cake to all of those who have got through it or are soldiering on!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Sattherelikealemon · 22/08/2021 09:37

burnoutbabe I identify with your name! It's good you've found a format that works for you. I picked mine as it was coursework/ dissertation only. I know I can thrash out an essay at short notice but couldn't face exam prep around work. Even though I am pig sick of the dissertation, I am really grateful for that decision now! Good luck with it

OP posts:
changingstages · 22/08/2021 09:40

I love mine - am doing online, part time (with full time job) and just going into the final project/dissertation section. BUT it has been about a hundred times more difficult than I expected. I was ill at the end of the block before last and had to get an extension which meant I was working on finishing one assignment while doing the next and it was so gruelling. I am terrified about the next stage.

WeAreTheWeirdosMister · 22/08/2021 09:42

I'm currently writing my final hand in and the whole thing has been a bit crap, we had industrial action that nicely led into the pandemic, so not one semester was taught as it should be.
I find one-on-one zoom calls incredibly cringe so haven't taken advantage of office hours and feel like I should have deferred this year, but too late now!

Durbeyfield · 22/08/2021 09:48

I wouldn’t say I hated doing mine. I was working full time as a single mum to one child though which made it harder. I didn’t aim for top marks - just to pass - which is what I did and I was quite happy with that. It undoubtedly helped me get my current job and the one I had previously so it was well worth it. You’re doing well so push on!

MulticolouredPostItNotes · 22/08/2021 10:00

I liked the course but I hate my bloody dissertation. It’s not going well, I wish I’d done something different, and I’m just hoping I’ve done enough to pass at this point. I’m gutted as it should have been a great opportunity to show my skills but instead it feels like a massive pile of “will this do?”

I’ve had no childcare over the summer so I’ve written it while doing that too and neither child nor dissertation has fared well as a result. And it pisses me off that my summer has been so shit for no reason.

Sarahlou63 · 22/08/2021 10:05

@TwoLeftSocksWithHoles

I thought this was going to be a humorous posting by a dog! Blush
I thought it was going to be a rebellious post by a submissive! Grin
MilduraS · 22/08/2021 10:11

I work at a university supporting part-time masters students. It's a slog for almost all of them. They are already in higher level jobs that can be mentally draining, most are in relationships and many have children. Trying to motivate yourself to study when you're knackered and without neglecting the rest of your life is tough. I'm in awe of what you do because I know I couldn't do it myself.

Direwolfwrangler · 22/08/2021 10:20

I don’t hate mine yet, but it’s hard work! Also working full time and expecting another baby soon. I’ll add my support to the separate board suggestion too.

burnoutbabe · 22/08/2021 10:46

Well hats off to you all doing it with kids and full time jobs.

I am fortunate, no kids and doing it for interest (it's on computer game laws) rather than any career objective, still working one day a week for old employer but they are very flexible around which days I work.

CMOTDibbler · 22/08/2021 11:01

I work very FT and am doing an MBA at the moment - fully online over 2 years. But only two modules in (of 8 taught ones) - first was great, recorded lectures, feedback on weekly non graded assignments. This one has been rubbish tbh, no lectures, an uninspiring set text so it just felt like guided reading with assignments which were not clearly defined (the formal ask, the guidance, and the mark scheme don't align for any of them). I'm on MN while I faff about the assignment due in tomorrow which at least is the last of this module.
I'm dreading the dissertation phase

Edmontine · 22/08/2021 11:14

For me, the face to face interaction with my fellow (half my age) students during my MA was just as important as the tuition. We had to collaborate on aspects of the work, but even beyond that, the constant conversations with them really catapulted me into the 21st century. I’m much better equipped, now, to absorb, (even if I don’t agree with,) and respond to ideas and attitudes that simply didn’t exist when I was taking my undergraduate degree in the 80s, or professional qualifications in the 90s.

So I’m not sure how I’d manage with a purely online course. (I tend to wander away from most of the MOOCs I sign up for.)

Original poster
Sattherelikealemon · 22/08/2021 12:43

edmontine I think that would have really helped, I did another big exam last year and went to prep classes- the momentum of the group definitely helped with that and it went really well! I don't know about anyone else studying online but I felt quite isolated, and convinced everyone else must be doing great and I'm the only one struggling to get through it which doesn't help!

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 22/08/2021 13:16

I would prefer to have more interaction - it really is lacking for me, and as there isn't a cohort you don't even get to know anyone from the discussions (though only a few people do them). But I couldn't commit to anything with any fixed times at all, let alone in person, so it was no interaction or not doing the course at all.

MulticolouredPostItNotes · 22/08/2021 13:35

I knew when I did mine that I could never be motivated enough to do a distance learning course. And then bloody Covid happened and I did it all online anyway! But even so, tutorials over Zoom or Teams were still better than message boards you post on and never hear a reply.

MulticolouredPostItNotes · 22/08/2021 13:36

And actually in some ways for me I got to know people better because we were all remote. Otherwise I'd be a part time student running off to pick kids up the minute lectures end. When everyone else is full time and going to the pub.

goldenlilliesdaffodillies · 22/08/2021 13:38

I started off loving everything about my MA course, then the pandemic struck and it has been really, really hard, juggling work, children and the MA. The only way I can get through all the assignments is by staying up really late when everyone is in bed. My tutor wasn't terribly sympathetic, just bangs on about self care (which is impossible when juggling everything!). I am rather dreading returning in September.

Nutsabouttopic · 22/08/2021 13:48

I thought this was going to be a thread alout 50 Shades never considered it was going to be an educational thread, shows how my mind works Grin

AlexaShutUp · 22/08/2021 13:51

Yeah, I did an MBA while working ft and I hated it. Fucking hard work to juggle all that with family and I didn't enjoy the assignments at all tbh. Glad I have it now though, and I reckon it probably helped me quite a lot when I was subsequently made redundant!