Dissertation grade due and convinced I've failed:(

[PumpkinPie2016]

OK, I realise there is nothing anyone can do but I'm so stressed out and just need a vent 😔

For the last 2 years, I have been doing a taught MA online. Part time on top of a young son and a full time, full on job.

I have done well on the course up to now - merit and distinction grades all the way through.

Handed in my dissertation in August. Grades are due this week and I am so utterly convinced that it's crap and I have failed 😥😥😥😥

I did try to implement feedback from my supervisor as well as I could. He never said 'PumpkinPie2016 this is totally awful/you're way off the mark/I'm concerned you may not pass'.

However, as I said, I work full time in a demanding job so my time was limited throughout the course. I felt it was a bit of a rush at the end and I am so sure I have failed. I feel it did tie together from lit review to the conclusions I made. I don't know, I just feel my conclusion wasn't as strong as it could be/I could have linked to other areas.

I can resubmit if I have but obviously that's not ideal. I just want it over with 😔

Has anyone been in a similar situation and been OK? I flit between massive anxiety and just refusing to think about it.

If you've been doing ok so far, it's unlikely you're going to fail this. The one thing you can't change is that it's done and handed in and you will get your mark soon. I wish you all the luck in the world

What is your subject / diss. project? Hard to tell otherwise!

I’m sorry your supervisor was so unhelpful. It’s only ever ok to say such things if the supervisor can give a clear map forward to address the issues. Also, most things feel rubbish when handed in.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and been OK?

Every single time I've ever handed anything in! And I've never failed any academic work since leaving school (school was dreadful, but I went back to education later and have carried on as and when).

If you've done fine so far, and have followed advice to improve your dissertation, which you say you have, then you are highly unlikely to fail.

Im about to submit. I feel the same. Except my supervisor has never seen it because i hadnt done it and theyve been off the past 4months! Im so screwed and also so exhausted! Take heart - when you look at the marking criteria it wont seem so bad! And also - resubmitting is cheaper than deferring and having to pay the increase in fees! Best of luck! I too am in the why did i do this to myself phase! You are so bloody brave to put yourself out there again in education. Be proud X

I go through this with every assignment. Here is my pattern from start to finish:

i can’t do this
fine, I’ll just write something
this is rubbish
I’m going to fail
maybe I’ve done enough to scrape a pass
fuck it, if I fail I’ll read the feedback, make changes and resubmit

results have all been merit or distinction but the imposter syndrome is real. You’re not alone!

I still have 14 months left and cannot imagine a time when it’s complete and I graduate. Feels impossible so I’m just taking it one step at a time.

@TeenLifeMum yep, exactly the same pattern for me. I am always convinced I have failed.
Never have to date but for some reason I really am sure I have failed this 😕

Can't even allow myself to think about the possibility of passing. Just keep thinking 'I'll read the feedback and resubmit'.

It's so hard isn't it?

Should find out in a few days.

I handed in my MA dissertation yesterday and feel exactly the same. Not in a faux “hope it’s passed” way but genuinely worried because I just ran out of time at the end to triple check everything. Most of it is a creative piece too so I’ve convincing myself it is objectively shit,

fingers crossed for us both!

@RosaElize good luck!

OMG I bloody passed (got a merit!) Relieved doesn't even come close 😂

Thank you for all of the support and very good luck to everyone else awaiting grades/submitting 😊

Well done! What are your plans to celebrate?!

Congratulations PumpkinPie! If it helps I'm a senior Russell Group Professor. Pretty much every single exam I've ever taken I've been convinced I failed. It probably drove me to actually work for those exams but yes, imposter syndrome, we all have it

Thank you! copious amounts of wine initially haha not sure yet - I was so convinced i'd failed that I didn't even think about celebrating 😂

Massive well done 🎉🥂🎉

That’s amazing- with merit too! Congratulations

Well done!