Is anyone else doing a masters dissertation in lockdown? Some support needed.

[Trampauline]

Just finding this very lonely and surreal. Am working four days a week (at home now) and trying to do this dissertation as well. Getting really stressed. Is anyone else in a similar position?

@Nordstrom @Trampauline
Thank you both. My brain worked like that too. A certain point in the day and it would turn to candy floss. Not easy to focus with dc homschooling and constantly being home. I think we've all done well in bonkers circumstances!!

How's everyone getting on? I'm so behind and very demotivated right now. 6 weeks until my deadline and the time is going wayyyyyy too quickly!

I'm 1/3 through the 16000 word count with 30 days to go. Very very hard to concentrate and feel like I'm just waffling!

I'd say I'm about a third of the way through too. Neck deep in thematic analysis with some lovely regressions waiting for me once that's done. This mountain feels too high right now. I just need time to slow down and someone to write my whole dissertation, not asking for much 🤣

I'm about one-third through 12,000 words. Think I've got writers block and paralysed by a lack of confidence. Is due 25 Sept. I put in a claim yesterday for extenuating circs for covid related reasons. Wish me luck. Has anyone else asked?

I’ve got a Writing MA disertation due in in about 3 weeks. It’s all drafted out and just tidying up to do but I’m a) fed up with my own voice, b) fed up with my characters, c) fed up with feeling guilty when I need to do other things in my life!

Can’t wait to hand it in!

@Trampauline ooo, interested in applying for more time if Covid is an acceptable reason. Can you let us know if it's accepted?

DD just had an extension request approved. She was given two weeks. I've been unwell and she took time off to look after me and in turn my father who I usually care for full time. Covid only came into it because that means we couldn't get an external carer in. Anyway, they were great, no questions asked. I think even if your request is not covid specific, in the current climate with no disadvantage policies and the like, they'll be flexible and accommodating.

She also had extensions earlier on in May and June which were more closely related to covid, stress, lockdown, moving back home, change in routine, loss of library etc.

Well I hope they will be sympathetic. I don't suppose I will hear anything for a while so I have to carry on aiming to submit in seven week's time!

I've heard back already. My claim for ECs is supported! I'm so happy and relieved! The team met this morning to review claims. I only submitted it on Friday! This means I have an automatic extra two weeks till 9 Oct. If I can't meet that, I have to let them know in advance and I get till January.

I'm actually freaking out now, I've nine days til submission - I can make sense of my results the lit review is a mess and my methodology is questionable at best 😢😂(manic laughter) I feel like I've forgotten how to put sentences together never mind arguments and critical thinking. No-one in real life gets it either, they keep saying "oh you'll get there, you always do well" etc. I know they mean well but it increases the pressure. I have to pass this - my PhD funding depends on it.

Just needed to offload - hope you're all going better than me!!

Not long now, Remember you are aiming for completion not perfection!

I finally got mine done and in. I asked about extenuating circs and was told 2 weeks was the most available if o still wanted to finish w my class. That wasn’t going to make much difference so I took unpaid leave from work and knocked down for a month or so to get it done.

Good luck in these final days.

I've just started the second year of my part time masters so will be doing my dissertation this year. Reading this thread has made me really anxious about it all but I was already feeling that to be fair. I think it's going to be a similar situation with the coming year.

Well done to all of you is all I want to say!

Just adding my usual tip of checking out the Academic Phrasebank from (I think) Manchester Uni.

Lots of ideas about structuring and sentence starters etc for when you've got a mental block.

Good luck everyone!

@ElsieBobo, well done! You must be so relieved. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel now but it is faint! I am getting to the end of my results and analysis, then will start the discussion. My lit review still needs quite a bit of work at the same time though.
@sociallydistained. Just start early. Don’t put it off like I did.
@onlymyselftoanswerto1 You can do it. Not long to go now. Let us know how you get on. Good luck with it.

@blueskys72

Just adding my usual tip of checking out the Academic Phrasebank from (I think) Manchester Uni.

Lots of ideas about structuring and sentence starters etc for when you've got a mental block.

Good luck everyone!

Thank you for this. I’m just about to start a healthcare related Masters. Whilst working frontline NHS. During a pandemic.

Talk about great timing!

Hey all, I got my my dissertation submitted eventually and got my results yesterday. I got a 68 have never been as shocked as I had myself convinced I'd failed it miserably. Drank way too much red wine last night to celebrate so I've a sore head this morning.

Thanks to you all for your encouragement and the feeling that I wasn't alone. Start my PhD on Monday so I'm looking forward to that (glutton for punishment)

How did the rest of you get on?

Well done @onlymyselftoanswerto1! That’s a really good mark. I would be very pleased (and amazed if I got that). You must be so relieved. Are you doing your PhD full time or are you working as well?

I am still plodding through mine. I have till January but I want to be done with it before Xmas.

Thanks so much @Trampauline I honestly never thought I'd get anything near that mark, I've never been so convinced I'd failed an assignment. I'm just so relieved it's done now, been a long two years. Doing the PhD full time, it's about domestic violence disclosure schemes and follows on from my masters.

I hope yours goes well, you'll get there. Let us know how you get on 😊😊

@onlymyselftoanswerto1

Thanks so much *@Trampauline* I honestly never thought I'd get anything near that mark, I've never been so convinced I'd failed an assignment. I'm just so relieved it's done now, been a long two years. Doing the PhD full time, it's about domestic violence disclosure schemes and follows on from my masters.

I hope yours goes well, you'll get there. Let us know how you get on 😊😊

Well done! That's a fab result ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Can I join? I've got 8 weeks. I've darted around for too long. Done my results and discussion but it's not quite right. I've not quite put my finger on the key issues.
Also my reference list is all over the shop, I stopped using refworks at some point and now I'm filled with so much regret.

Thanks @HoollyWugger - I couldn't believe it. If I've worked it out properly it means I get 63 overall and a pass with commendation (I had a few modules I didn't gel with). Am just ecstatic to have passed it tho and keep checking my score in case they've changed their minds 

Good luck @Tyranttoddler - you'll get there!!. Referencing is the bane of my life! Cite this for me was a pretty good help to me tho

Well done Onlymyselftoanswerto! You must feel great!
I’ve had my results back now too and did really well in the end, I actually got a high distinction. I was quite surprised as I ended up significantly rewriting a lot of it in the final week. I was lucky in that my topic was original and very relevant and topical.
Those of you who are starting on phds - how does it all work? Were you invited to think about it? Are you researching something linked to your masters? I wouldn’t be adverse to the prospect, not now but in a year or two. Where does one start?

That's amazing @ElsieBobo well done!!

WRT PhD, I originally started the MRes with the aim of going on to do PhD. I knew what I wanted to research and spoke to my original masters supervisor (I ended up with 2 as I went from full time to part time) who put me in touch with someone who knew my area of study better. She was happy to come on board. She supported me and helped me with my application and the funding application as well. My PhD builds on my MRes dissertation but is also significantly different.
I think if you have a strong idea of what you want to do it's worth approaching academics in your research area. Mine too was original and relevant so I think that gives real strength to any chance of funding. Sometimes opportunities come up for PhDs in an area you're interested in so it's worth keeping an eye on findaphd.com too.