Help please - any ideas on how to get my MBA dissertation done super quick with a 7mo DS around???

[mummyc]

I'm looking for inspiration, preactical tips or to be told firmly that it can't be done and to stop trying!!

In summary....(kind of)
.....started a work-sponsored MBA in 2002, all went well till early 2005 after the final exams but before the dissertation stage when I took on a bigger job to get promoted (which worked) but had to work 14 hour days to get there and then had a family bereavement so canned the study for a year as was going a bit mad and risking marriage etc

Re-started dissertation in 2006 with a new topic as I had another new job (internal move, and has to be relevant as work-sponsored) but ended up getting re-organised back out of the job which took about 6 months of stress and then couldn't use that topic. Then at the end of 2006 I got another internal job, one of those double-edged swords of high profile, lucky to be asked to do it, bloody impossible mess of technology and politics doomed to fail type jobs.... and then I got pregnant (I know I shouldn't moan about that and I totally love being mum to my DS but had hoped to get the MBA in first, and a house move, and work weren't too chuffed as I'd just had a raise and they were kind of hoping I'd sort this big mess out for them...)

So I tried to get it done while I was pregnant but working full time then being at a desk all weekend and driving to the college to use the library was making me ill, so had to give up. I've not been able to "just get it done in my maternity leave" as the co-ordinator at work suggested (she doesn't have kids) as apart from looking after my DS we've moved house...

Now in new house, paying for DS to be in nursery 2 days a week to get the dissertation done (which breaks my heart, he started at 6 months and I feel like such an evil mum) but the college say I only have until June before all my extensions run out and I'm not sure it's physically possible but can't stomach the idea of not finishing after all the years of hard work and always wanted to get my MBA.

Does anyone have any magic tips on working fast? Do you know if the college have to be nicer to me so as not to discriminate against a new mum (they don't seem to think so)? Do you know if I can downgrade to some kind of diploma and if I do that can I convert back to the masters later when I magic up some time?

Am feeling horribly stressed and worry that DS will end up f*cked up because I'm stressed, which is the last thing I want... and feel pretty resentful about not having time to enjoy just being on maternity leave with him. To complicate matters am due back at work in May and am returning to a different job again (I hope, because they are re-organising again...) as my boss was fairly upfront about my old job needing someone to work 60 hours a week being incompatible with me moving to 4 days a week and leaving on time every night to collect DS from nursery!

If you haven't died of boredom yet and have any sparks of wisdom to stop me (literally) pulling all my hair out please share!

am off to rattle the cage of a close friend who has done the mba and knows plenty about CAT points and the like

this is my only tip:

charge laptop and place in basket under pram
push pram round town till child sleeps
stop in starbucks or similar with wifi
type like fury until child wakes
go home

repeat as necessary, I can do twice a day

Thanks gigglewitch, will look forward to that.

MrsBadger why didn't I think of that before? I sometimes dive into a coffee shop as soon as his eyes shut for a little treat to myself but generally get bored and end up reading some crappy newspaper I find in the cafe until he wakes up. Will be lots better than sitting at my desk at home once he's in bed hoping DH will tidy the house for me (then feeling guilty for being on here instead of working ), thanks!

good one, mrsB.
lots of luck (and fast typing)MC. It really sounds like you deserve to finish it, and get the credit you deserve. Will your employers give you time during work hours to complete it?

Hi MummyC
Your story sound similar in parts to mine. I started a doctorate in 2000- got promoted, worked tons, doctorate took a back seat. Got pg, thought I'd got it cracked when got signed off work at 32 weeks pg, but had DD at 34 wks!! Then seriously ill so doctorate was suspended for 6 mths. DD went to nursery for 1 day a week from 6 months, then changed to 3 pms a week at age 2 and 2 days a week at age 3. Managed to make reasonable progress with studying when she was in childcare, but then HB job moved to Cyprus last sep so another obstactle to overcome

Tips I can offer include, set yourself a challenge of writing something every day, some days it may only be the shopping list, other days it may be 1K words. Reward studying with something good, eg chocolate, a walk, a sloppy tv prog. Don't feel guilty- you have earned it and often when you return to work you will do better work. If your little one still naps, use that time.....don't do housework, do that with the little one as they learn that things need cleaning and tidying!! Also try to blag some studying time at weekends by persuading someone to look after your little one and take them out...

As to the writing....have you got a title/theme... Set up an initial template plan on your PC and everytime you read something put the notes into the right section (Or in a byways section if you can't initially see where it fits). Then when you come to write it up its a simple job of reorganising and connecting the parts. Don't forget to set up a references page and do it as you go along....nothing worse than having to find a missing reference.

Try also to remember that a pass is good enough considering the circumstances. We'd all love to get a distinction, but realistically a pass is just as good....does anyone ever ask you exactly what marks you got??

Good luck (From someone who should be doing some data analysis but escaped onto MN for some reward time!!)

I had to complete 25K words for first draft from Jan till end Feb..panicked but doing it like this I got it done

I did this mummyc, when dd was 4-6mo. I hired a babysitter once a week and enlisted the help of my mother when I could and dh was on baby duty at weekends which is when I would go to the library. It really is just a case of getting your head down for a few months to get it done I'm afraid. There's no magic formula apart from the tips given here about getting on the computer when you can, although extended blocks af time studying tend to be more productive. You won't damage your child, your reward at the end will be an MBA (hopefully) and unlimited time with your lo till you return to work without all this hanging over you anymore. Good luck

MummyC-

Until very recently (3 wks ago) I worked as a student adivser within an advice centre at a university. I am also completing my MBA/DMS.

As an adviser I would suggest that you put in an application for Extenuating Circumstances. Obviosuly, the rules are different at different institutions. If you are out of time (at the uni I worked at it was 5 years- this may be standard) I would suggest an appeal to the Dean of Students or equvialent. Exceptionally I have known them to extend the time further, altho it would depend upon the circs. Our Extenuating Cricumstances rules stated that events had to be unforseen and unpreventable. Having a baby would ordinarily be seen as an normal life event and they would expect you to intermitt if you didn't feel you could do both. However, if your baby was unplanned, this would fall into the bracket of ex. circ. I feel that you would have a reasonable chance of arguing this. Did you submitt ex. circs due to the bereavment or intermitt?

However, on the other side of this, if it is all getting too much you could leave with a PG Diploma in Management Studies or equivalent. If you were to decide to upgrade to the MBA at a later point you would be given credit for the prior study you have completed.

On a personal note, I began the MBA in Jan 04. During this time I had a planned third child, followed shortly afterwards by an unplanned fourth. I've also stuggled with AND/PND for the last 2 years and have come to the conclusion that its not worth it. I've down sized to the DMS and am hoping to complete the 10k project on this within the next 18 months. However, i do feel a bit gutted not to be continuing with it...

Sorry for the typo's in last message and if its somewhat confused. (Nearly bedtime!!!)

Hello, I had more or less the same problem with my MA when my DS was born. I'd already had several extensions and had planned to use the beginning of my maternity leave to write up my dissertation. I finished work at 34 weeks and settled down to what I thought was a lovely 6 weeks grace to concentrate on my dissertation.

DS had other ideas and was born at 37 weeks. I'd written approximately 600 words and deadline was 6 weeks away.

I became very, very focussed. No more meandering around the topic and "researching" (ie aimlessly surfing) and I decided to go for the bare minimum required. MIL babysat in regular, short burst of 2 hours maximum so I didn't feel like I was missing out on baby bonding. I'd quite often be seen, laptop in lap, pump in hand while I expressed and typed. Looking back it was a mad, mad time but it was so worth it when I got it done.

I know others have recommended an extension but now that I am back in work I could not possibly see how I would fit in dissertation around full time work, sleeping and life. I would just go for it. Get it done and move on. It will be such a relief.

Regarding your proposed new job, I do compressed hours over 4 long days and the 5th day is great for recharging batteries. In practice I work every day to get the work done and am very strict about logging on every day. I work from home often and find that actually work is very manageable over 4 days. I just have to be very clear about objectives.

i had a break from my MBA due to work and personal issues ( I was doing it alongside work) and my time was running out to complete it too. My advice would be choose researchable topic and don't forget logistics and timescales in gathering any primary data as these may be outside your control. I underestimated how long it would take to set up interviews and get questionnaire responses.

Concentrate on doing a "good enough" job - certainly although I got a top grade for my dissertation it was completely unexpected and I was simply trying to do something good enough to allow completion of the course. You never have to put MBA grades on CVs just that you have one is enough.

Try and draft the full thing rather than perfect each section in order. Then at least you have the bulk of the words down. Don't worry about trying to find ALL relevant literature on a topic - you'll go mad. Concentrate on the key names that pop up time and time again, don't miss out any "seminal" authors but be ruthless as to what contributes to your topic. Read papers effectively- just scan the abstracts and conclusions to find out if they are useful to you. Make use of bibliographic search engines but again be selective. Make sure you take advantage of any tutor support esp with regard to setting the topic and ACT on their advice if they say your topic is too broad/narrow/whatever. They have your interests at heart. Try and make the question relevant and above all bear in mind you are writing for a specific audience and purpose - be pragmatic it isnt about coming up with any great insights into management knowledge - save that for a future phd/doctorate in mgmt!

I finished my MBA last year. I used a couple of online resources to help me be really focused about what I needed to include in each chapter for my dissertation.

Grad Coach - YouTube - They have really useful short videos and downloadable resources that breakdown how to tackle each chapter. I only used the stuff I could get for free and found them more useful that the stuff I got from my uni tbh.

I did qualitative research and this guys videos were invaluable: Qualitative Researcher Dr Kriukow - YouTube He had some really useful tips about how to get extra marks and what examiners are looking for and made it all seem much more achievable.

My son is currently writing his dissertation and I keep saying to him remember "done is better than perfect" and "you don't need full marks in order to pass".

Good luck - your situation sounds really tough and I think you're amazingly resilient to still want to keep going with it all but the sense of achievement at the end will be incredible.

@pistachioicecream this thread is 17 years old so I am hoping the OP is finished by now!

@clary - oh no - that's embarrassing and will teach me to check dates. Came up in my Active Conversations earlier.... whoops

😂 this just popped up on 'threads I'm on' and I was a bit

I wonder if @mummyc got her MBA in the end. She's probably retired by now.