To not want to finish my degree?

[CarbonEmittingPenguin]

I've had a couple threads in Chat about my Master's degree but the way I'm now is exhausted and feel like I can't go on.

I handed in my dissertation last week but feel like it's below par so might maybe just scrape a pass but nothing spectacular. I'm now about to finish the MA as my final report and project is due for Monday and I honestly just can't be bothered anymore. At least I tried. I'm ready to accept a fail. I just don't see how I can pass and tbh I gave it a good shot but now willing to concede defeat. Sorry I'm rambling but I've just had it and sick of it.

[Pedestriana]

C'mon, you're in the last stages. I'm working with a friend through his dissy right now. His handin is in six weeks time. What I've seen of his work may scrape a pass, and that's after I've explained how to construct properly reference paragraphs etc.
Friend in question has multiple learning difficulties (including problems with processing information), and struggles to write academically. Many times he's nearly given up.

If the marking is anything like I experienced, then it's a combination of your dissertation and your coursework combined, so you don't necessarily have to be 'strong' in one area, but demonstrate all-round knowledge.

I learned to reflect a lot. Not just to reflect on work done, but to use buzzwords/key concepts that my lecturers had. I used a LOT of google scholar to pick up from what I'd been told about, and find more contemporary papers citing them. That then let me explore pro's and con's of whatever it was, by saying "X suggests that..." or "In a study conducted by Y, based on Bloggs' theory, it was found that..." and so on.

I'm around tomorrow if you want to PM me for any hints/tips/moans/gripes/words of encouragement

[Clare1971]

It's panic. You're frightened you might fail and your brain is looking for a way to prevent you from failing so it's telling you you don't have the energy to finish as a way of avoiding failure. You won't fail. You just have to finish. Find a timer or set one on your phone for 15 minutes. Promise yourself you'll do 15 minutes. Do 15 minutes. When timer goes off if you can do another 15 minutes do it. If not, take short break then do another 15 minutes. Repeat. Keep repeating. Stop all the talk in your head about whether or not you should carry on - you should. The talk in your head is wearing you out. Stop arguing with yourself and do the work. You won't fail. You are awesome. Put the tea down and start.

[CarbonEmittingPenguin]

MelindaMay Need another 2000 words at present.

smokedkipper PhD? Fucking hell! You're a better woman than I'll ever be! This MA has finished me off!

[CarbonEmittingPenguin]

Is anyone willing to read my report when I've finished? Probably against MN guidelines but I'd be forever in your debt and will do anything to payback the favour!!

[Geraniumred]

Go,on, you can do it. It doesn't matter if you hate it. Just put one word in front of another and you will get there. Bribe yourself if necessary. Check in and let us know how the word count is going.

[Pedestriana]

I'll read it. I'm at home 'entertaining' DD; she'll be opening the last of her birthday cards and running around like a loon. I shall be trying to find somewhere quiet.

Great advice from Melinda. Definitely more manageable if you approach it in chunks.

[TheSnowFairy]

Glad you've decided to do it - you're so close to finishing.

Quit smoking again after, don't stress out about that for now.

[RevoltingPeasant]

This MA has NOT finished you off because you are finishing IT off.

You have two thousand lousy words to write - how many was your MA diss - 15k at least I should think? You can do this, and will.

Melinda is right - don't martyr yourself by working tonight. Go to bed, sleep, wake and start work at a certain time. You can totally write 2000 words.

Come on OP! You know we will all be nagging you like hell till you finish

[annandale]

You can so do this. Happy to read anything but don't have a postgraduate qualification so wouldn't be the best person. You're so nearly there and you CAN do it.

[Motherinlawsdung]

You can do this! You really can. And when it's finished you will feel so relieved. Keep going!
I'm another one that's happy to read through it for you.

[leghoul]

stumbling on here procrastinatorily (masters work due Monday morning, not yet written- total panic, paper everywhere ,word crash, tired, self defeatist, childcare failure, family crises in past week including deaths but no time to ask for extension now... 5,000 words to go..) keep going OP!

[leghoul]

I go into a useless panic mode with deadlines and get this paralysed fear and doom come over me. Anyway, I will try the timer method as I never have - & buy some teabags in the morning. While entertaining small child. argh! sorry not helpful OP but solidarity

[AimUnder]

You can do it! You are at the very final stage, finish it off, then you can never take a foot into academia :)

[Newmanwannabe]

"This is penguin
Penguin hates studying
Penguin does it anyway
And aces her masters

Be like penguin"

[Newmanwannabe]

Sorry for the FB carryover. So wrong but I thought apt

[PurpleCrazyHorse]

Rooting for you today

[sophorifichobnob]

I was the same with my masters, I basically lived on hobnobs and had a good film to watch when I finished a block of studying and treated myself to a bath and a glass of wine. Lots of treats and remember you are brilliant to have got this far.

[magpie17]

I care too! I know how tough it is, especially when you're hating every minute but you CAN do this, you can. Book a nice massage (or something else you would like!) for the minute this is over and just keep going. You are so close now.

[AndYourBirdCanSing]

How are you getting on OP?

[Sallyingforth]

I've been there OP and I didn't have the children to look after so I can only imagine how tough this has been. You have my admiration. All I can add is for you to look forward to that wonderful, wonderful feeling of relief when it's finished. And the pride of your DH and family when you are awarded that MA.
Go for it!

[WhatALoadOfOldBollocks]

"I doubt anyone on MN would really care"
I'd love to hear how you're doing Penguin. I'm studying a BSc and have tough days, so find what you're doing inspirational. Keep going. And you, leghoul. You're both so close.

My lecturer recommened the pomodoros Melinda mentioned, and I've found this method really useful, especially when I'm stuck in tears and panic mode. I have to just do 10 minutes at a time to break the stagnation, but once I've started it gets easier until I'm in the zone. They have also said wanting to give up is fear of failure, which sets off a fight or flight response. You can't fight an assignment so you're left with flight (run away from it). Breaking it down into little chunks makes it less daunting, so removes the fear (or at least redues it).

[CarbonEmittingPenguin]

leghoul That sounds horrendous. I'm pretty sure you can retroactively get an extension. Last year there was a death in my family just a couple of days before the deadline and I applied for an extension a couple of days after the deadline.

For my part, I had a good sleep and now cracking on. I had visions of working through the night but I slept at 3am without having even changed into my Pjs. I've just had my third cup of tea , I really need to buckle down.