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Seriously distressed about school.

slugg

slugg

Diamond Member
I'm in a 5.5 year masters program. All I have left is the rest of this semester and one more semester. I'm doing a thesis and my research is fully funded, which is the only way I can afford school (tuition waiver).

Things have really begun to pile up. I'm taking 3 of the 4 hardest classes available in the program, plus my professors are demanding more and more from me with the research. Damn if I do, damn if I don't: if I spend my time doing classwork, I don't get the research done, and vice versa.

Research gets me my funding. But to be eligible for the tuition waiver, I must maintain a minimum GPA every semester. Well, I seriously doubt I can reach that GPA this time around. I'm getting owned in my classes no matter how hard I try. But that's part of the problem; I can't seem to try hard enough. I feel so damn burnt out of school.

If I switch to a non-thesis option, I'll have 9 credits already wasted (9 are for thesis), so I'd be in school for an additional full-time semester (grad school full time = 9 credits). But that's also coupled with the fact that I'd then have to start paying for school, which is absolutely impossible with the money I make. Selling even both my cars won't pay for one semester, so that won't help. Plus, how would I get to school?

I'm overwhelmed and I'm not sure what to do.
 
How much money have you/will you save in total once it's all set and done?

It can always be worse. You could be busting your ass and still end up with a mortgage like loan and no job in sight like many kids these days.

It can ALWAYS be worse, trust me.

You will have to bust your ass. Nothing is easy.
 
Short anwser - Suck it up.

Long anwser -

Just put in as much effort as possible, and keep at it. Masters and docterate programs require much more than a bachlros program, because you delve deeper and mroe concentrated in your studies. So it is no surprise it may feel overwhelming. You just have to realize and push through it that (A) You already put so much time in, you should finish it with some motivation in knowing all the work you did previously becomes wasted if you change/give up now. and (B) College, as is a good place to learn important schlorastic studies, is actually more of a stress and networking test. Most of what you learn in school will never be used, or is too basic to be applicable in most industries without additional education that you pick up on any job. So professors will keep pushing, to your breaking point. To see if you have what it takes to get things done when it feels like there isnt the time to. Yes you may have to cut back on social activities, and sleep and what not. But that is part of the responsible growing process in life. So you need to keep at it, and just give it all your effort.
 
do you have a guidance counsellor-type person with whom you can discuss your issues?

can you take a sabbatical?

what options are there for possibly dropping some of the courses?
 
Vdubchaos said:
How much money have you/will you save in total once it's all set and done?
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Like $25k or so. Rough estimate.


blackdogdeek said:
do you have a guidance counsellor-type person with whom you can discuss your issues?
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My professor... Who definitely wouldn't want to hear it.

blackdogdeek said:
can you take a sabbatical?
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No.

blackdogdeek said:
what options are there for possibly dropping some of the courses?
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If I drop a course, I lose my tuition waiver.
 
Classic case of biting off more than you can chew. Everyone wants to be the "I finished early" overachiever, but few can actually handle it.
 
Well, it seems to me you're almost done. Just do your best, and handle any fallout as it comes. What else can you do?
 
slugg said:
Like $25k or so. Rough estimate.
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That's a lot of money. That alone should be your motivator to work as hard as possible and some.

You know the old saying? Nothing is free?

Your current situation is how you will pay for above (and yes it will effect your stress levels/health).

Just do your best and in the end it will pay off.
 
Just buy a big stack of nootropics and a couple cases of energy drinks - you'll plow through everything like a champ! You won't sleep much, but you'll get more done.
 
You could go the non-thesis route, and <*gasp*> get a student loan to cover the extra semester. A student loan for one semester isn't the end of the world.
 
DrPizza said:
You could go the non-thesis route, and <*gasp*> get a student loan to cover the extra semester. A student loan for one semester isn't the end of the world.
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That would be for TWO semesters, which would be roughly $25k.
 
slugg said:
Get a job? Eat meat and potatoes instead of Ramen and rice?
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You're a war campaign away from finishing. People assaulted foreign countries, shot people, and slept in the mud. It was then all over, and they went about their lives with more strength and competence. School is certainly easier than that, no?
 
Dude, you are so close, knock that shit out.

I can't say much more then that .... I work full time, and take 3 classes at the U of Minnesota every semester and one in the summers, and run my side company.

Time management baby!
 
I'm curious what type of master's program requires you to take 3-4 courses per semester when you're 5 years into it already?

My impression from my grad studies at my particular school and a few others in the "state" for my program (me me me) was that you'd do your courses up front, then research in later years. Then again, my master's program full-time was 1-2 years long, maybe 3 years max.

If you're this deep in and so close to finishing, I'd say blank out the pain and do your best.

But more importantly, start talking to people WHILE you keep doing your best. Talk to your research advisor, program administrator, dean, whatever, and tell them your situtation. If you built any relationships in 5 years (hard not to?), they'll have some sympathy and work something out with you. People get special treatment all the time just by asking through personal relationships... and most don't even require sucking or blowing.

And I feel ya. I did my "pussy master's" part-time (no research required, but I chose to do a huge project in place of two courses) while working full-time. Almost every minute of downtime I had at work and school went to school. I plowed through it, somehow managed a 4.0-ish (7 A+, 2 A, 1 A-?) GPA, and finished it... I burned out after I finished, surprisingly. Six months after finishing, I have no energy or willpower for anything. I can't imagine doing it for 5 years.
 
Imp said:
I'm curious what type of master's program requires you to take 3-4 courses per semester when you're 5 years into it already?

My impression from my grad studies at my particular school and a few others in the "state" for my program (me me me) was that you'd do your courses up front, then research in later years. Then again, my master's program full-time was 1-2 years long, maybe 3 years max.

If you're this deep in and so close to finishing, I'd say blank out the pain and do your best.

But more importantly, start talking to people WHILE you keep doing your best. Talk to your research advisor, program administrator, dean, whatever, and tell them your situtation. If you built any relationships in 5 years (hard not to?), they'll have some sympathy and work something out with you. People get special treatment all the time just by asking through personal relationships... and most don't even require sucking or blowing.

And I feel ya. I did my "pussy master's" part-time (no research required, but I chose to do a huge project in place of two courses) while working full-time. Almost every minute of downtime I had at work and school went to school. I plowed through it, somehow managed a 4.0-ish (7 A+, 2 A, 1 A-?) GPA, and finished it... I burned out after I finished, surprisingly. Six months after finishing, I have no energy or willpower for anything. I can't imagine doing it for 5 years.
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I guess I was a bit confusing. The program is that after 5 years, you're awarded with a bachelors and a masters at the same time.
 
Drop the hardest class (or two) and replace the credits (because I believe you have to take a certain amount of credits to be eligible for tuition waivers) with independent study research class (which will take into account the work you're doing with the research projects where your funding is coming from). Talk to your advisor about it. If you are honestly overwhelmed they will understand. You will graduate a semester or two later but at least you won't have to go insane.
 
Don't do any major decision making right now. Stop doing all your course work. Post on ATOT with all your newfound free time.
You can always use ATOT as a reference in applications at a later date too.
 
I think you're thinking too far ahead of yourself and beating yourself up in the meantime won't help. How can you possibly work the problem, when you already decided their can't be a solution?
 
After 5 years you should end up with a PhD, not a Masters. Don't know what kind of program that is.

Either way, you should be able to handle it -- don't you chill out with your cohort? That is a great support network.
 
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