Accepted onto MA. Can’t write essays.

[Crossroadsh]

As the thread title suggests.

I had to write a 1000 word essay as part of the application process and I’ve just been offered a place on the course.

I am a primary school teacher and the last formal academic study I undertook was my 3 year teaching degree. I got a 2:1 which I was really proud of but I have been reading about Masters level essay writing being a huge leap and after 8 years out of academia, I am really worried that I simply don’t possess the skill-set to write the essays.

The essay I wrote on my application form killed me and the fact that the course is exclusively distance learning worries me.

I have recently been diagnosed with ADHD and take medication for it.

Is there such a thing as a tutor for adults? I’d love to pay someone to sit with me and help me to organise my essay points and structure it.

I don’t lack comprehension when it comes to reading the texts and I love learning, it’s just that my academic writing skills are not up to scratch and I don’t want to pay 10k for something I’m going to quit or fail.

Thank you for reading.

The Uni will offer courses on essay writing and help for people with adhd.

You can use Chat GPT to help you with the beginnings of essays - so it produces a first draft that you can use to base your essay on - don't submit the ChatGpt version, I don't mean cheat! But it can be handy as a way of gathering your ideas abd thinking about structure

Masters level isn't what it used to be. It's sub A level at some institutions these days in terms of academic content and standards. Don't be frightened of it

Your university should have learning skills support that is there to help you with your essay writing skills, even at an advanced level. I have recently left academia and I know our (relatively rubbish) university had loads of support available for people returning to uni, or with learning differences or any sort of issue that affected their ability to read/understand/learn including ADHD.

Ask student support or your library for where to access the support. Even remotely, I'd be very surprised if there isn't someone who's there to help you.

And well done for getting on the course and taking the leap. I loved my MA, and it gave me a new career. Good luck!

Thank you for the replies. Really helpful.

I did an MA Res in education and passed with distinctions many years ago. I loved writing it. It was about seeds and plants in education, I structured it pretty much like this if it's any help;

Abstract

1Introduction and Rationale for the project
(Personal Reasons for the Chosen Research Topic)
(Plants and Seeds in Education)
(Previous Research on this topic)
(Taking a Constructivist Approach)
(Research Questions)

2Methods and Methodology
(Justification of Methodology)
(Ethical Issues)
(Methods)

3Research and Conclusions
(Results and Conclusions on the Classification of Seeds)
(Is it living? Is it a plant? Does it come from a plant? Further Classifications)
(Children's Drawings of the Internal Structure of a Seed)
(Children's Understanding of a Seeds Requirements for Germination)
(A couple more things similar to above)
(The sources of Information that Children Recall as Having Informed their Model of Seed)
(A Summary of Findings)

4Discussion
(Discussion of Results)
(Implications of the Findings for Education)
(Limitations and Future Research)

References
Appendices

Talk to student support at the uni and offer proof of your adhd. It may be possible to apply for dsa with this proof and this could yield some tutor support. Student support should guide you on this.

@Crossroadsh you may like to know there is a dedicated Mature Study and Retraining board on MN - where you’ll find several threads addressing these issues.

(And MNHQ will happily move your thread there if you ask via the Report button.)

I did a law masters recently and it was honestly no different to final year university just the topics were more focussed.

But it was still exams based on essays or problem questions. Didn't have to do a dissertation (but did a 7500 word essay on a legal issue within the video games industry which was fine just long)

I've actually just started (yesterday!) working online with a tutor for a similar reason. I'm not studying, but for my job I need to be able to write reports etc and it's something I really struggle with!

You need to apply for DSA (Disabled Students Allowance) which can fund mentoring and study skills help plus tech to help you organise yourself. Also, make yourself known to your uni disability support team.

I did an MSc. I didn't find the the essay writing a leap from my BA.

Hello, took a big gap between my bachelors and masters and it was easier than expected to get back on the horse- so don’t worry to much! Most universities do offer support for students with learning disabilities, the default is often providing an extended deadline but presumably if you asked for specific support that is something they could help with. Also most libraries run courses such as “how to write your thesis ect”. Lots of help and advice out there for students (as there should be given how expensive it is!)

i sometimes structure an essay like a business report then just delete the sub headings etc

You should not use chat gpt to help with academic essays

i would consider using it as a template, but make sure it was my writing