Need some encouragement - Masters
Discussion
I work in IT Project Management and I thought it would be a great idea to study a masters in project and programme management.
I'm just over half way through but boy am I struggling. The time it takes to research and write an essay is a huge commitment and losing my weekends for weeks on end when i have an assignment is getting to be tough. Having not attended Uni I'm also struggling with the whole essay structure elements, compounded by IT being very fact base, and so reflecting and being critical does not come particularly easy.
Having 10-15 years of my working life left, I'm note sure it will be of any great benefit over and above the achievement.
Anyone have any experience they can share?
I'm just over half way through but boy am I struggling. The time it takes to research and write an essay is a huge commitment and losing my weekends for weeks on end when i have an assignment is getting to be tough. Having not attended Uni I'm also struggling with the whole essay structure elements, compounded by IT being very fact base, and so reflecting and being critical does not come particularly easy.
Having 10-15 years of my working life left, I'm note sure it will be of any great benefit over and above the achievement.
Anyone have any experience they can share?
Having a Masters rarely seems to make much of a difference in the UK employment market... certainly in my industry it wouldn't make me employ someone over someone else who had more relevant actual work experience.
Unless it's going to guarantee you a higher wage/better employment prospect you need to ask yourself if it's worth continuing.
Unless it's going to guarantee you a higher wage/better employment prospect you need to ask yourself if it's worth continuing.
designforlife said:
Having a Masters rarely seems to make much of a difference in the UK employment market... certainly in my industry it wouldn't make me employ someone over someone else who had more relevant actual work experience.
Unless it's going to guarantee you a higher wage/better employment prospect you need to ask yourself if it's worth continuing.
And that's the rub really, am not sure it will.Unless it's going to guarantee you a higher wage/better employment prospect you need to ask yourself if it's worth continuing.
If you are a mature student, what you learn in the course of the studying is likely to be of more use than the qualification itself.
I was doing contract work usually related it the aerospace industry. Perceiving a difficulty in getting contracts due to the lack of a degree, I enrolled on an aeronautical engineering degree.
By the end of the second year I was doing really well, except in the maths. What I learned in the rest of it has proved of great value in the subsequent contracts, and I don't regret for a minute doing the course.
It brought me up to date in a lot of fields and opened my eyes to technologies Iof which was only vaguely aware.
If you can, hang on in there, but if you do drop out, you studies will still be of value.
When it comes to essays, write a paragraph or two when you have read a few pages, and record your references as soon as you've read the source document. Its really time consuming going back to re-find them.
One more thing. Learn auto indexes, auto page numbering, auto revision list compliation and use of styles (headings, paragraphs, caption numbering etc.) before you start. If you try and do it manually you will be there forever and it will still be wrong!
I was doing contract work usually related it the aerospace industry. Perceiving a difficulty in getting contracts due to the lack of a degree, I enrolled on an aeronautical engineering degree.
By the end of the second year I was doing really well, except in the maths. What I learned in the rest of it has proved of great value in the subsequent contracts, and I don't regret for a minute doing the course.
It brought me up to date in a lot of fields and opened my eyes to technologies Iof which was only vaguely aware.
If you can, hang on in there, but if you do drop out, you studies will still be of value.
When it comes to essays, write a paragraph or two when you have read a few pages, and record your references as soon as you've read the source document. Its really time consuming going back to re-find them.
One more thing. Learn auto indexes, auto page numbering, auto revision list compliation and use of styles (headings, paragraphs, caption numbering etc.) before you start. If you try and do it manually you will be there forever and it will still be wrong!
GliderRider said:
If you are a mature student, what you learn in the course of the studying is likely to be of more use than the qualification itself.
I was doing contract work usually related it the aerospace industry. Perceiving a difficulty in getting contracts due to the lack of a degree, I enrolled on an aeronautical engineering degree.
By the end of the second year I was doing really well, except in the maths. What I learned in the rest of it has proved of great value in the subsequent contracts, and I don't regret for a minute doing the course.
It brought me up to date in a lot of fields and opened my eyes to technologies Iof which was only vaguely aware.
If you can, hang on in there, but if you do drop out, you studies will still be of value.
When it comes to essays, write a paragraph or two when you have read a few pages, and record your references as soon as you've read the source document. Its really time consuming going back to re-find them.
One more thing. Learn auto indexes, auto page numbering, auto revision list compliation and use of styles (headings, paragraphs, caption numbering etc.) before you start. If you try and do it manually you will be there forever and it will still be wrong!
Yes I have enjoyed the reading element and have learnt lots from it, enough to want me to read more. I just find the essay parts very tedious. I have my doc set up with all the sources and I tend to work in the following method:I was doing contract work usually related it the aerospace industry. Perceiving a difficulty in getting contracts due to the lack of a degree, I enrolled on an aeronautical engineering degree.
By the end of the second year I was doing really well, except in the maths. What I learned in the rest of it has proved of great value in the subsequent contracts, and I don't regret for a minute doing the course.
It brought me up to date in a lot of fields and opened my eyes to technologies Iof which was only vaguely aware.
If you can, hang on in there, but if you do drop out, you studies will still be of value.
When it comes to essays, write a paragraph or two when you have read a few pages, and record your references as soon as you've read the source document. Its really time consuming going back to re-find them.
One more thing. Learn auto indexes, auto page numbering, auto revision list compliation and use of styles (headings, paragraphs, caption numbering etc.) before you start. If you try and do it manually you will be there forever and it will still be wrong!
Decide my argument
Find evidence or theory to back it up
Add the citation
So always on top of my sources.
abzmike said:
Just over half way means you’re closer to the end than the beginning... is there a study group or online group for the others on your course you can join and seek inspiration?
No not really, TBH I don't get a great deal of support from the Uni either.worsy said:
I work in IT Project Management and I thought it would be a great idea to study a masters in project and programme management.
I'm just over half way through but boy am I struggling. The time it takes to research and write an essay is a huge commitment and losing my weekends for weeks on end when i have an assignment is getting to be tough. Having not attended Uni I'm also struggling with the whole essay structure elements, compounded by IT being very fact base, and so reflecting and being critical does not come particularly easy.
Having 10-15 years of my working life left, I'm note sure it will be of any great benefit over and above the achievement.
Anyone have any experience they can share?
Not a masters, but did my Honors degree while working full time. Was hard, lots of lost weekends in spring for 5 years but I am glad I did it, just for my own self worth (never actually needed it for work).I'm just over half way through but boy am I struggling. The time it takes to research and write an essay is a huge commitment and losing my weekends for weeks on end when i have an assignment is getting to be tough. Having not attended Uni I'm also struggling with the whole essay structure elements, compounded by IT being very fact base, and so reflecting and being critical does not come particularly easy.
Having 10-15 years of my working life left, I'm note sure it will be of any great benefit over and above the achievement.
Anyone have any experience they can share?
Get your head down, its surprising how quick it goes and you will kick yourself if you dont complete it (I still have occasional dreams when I think i haven't revised and I'm going to throw it all away)
Don't give up now as you will regret it.
I did my Honors degree while working full time and it was tough. I found that I was OK when assignments were mine alone but when we had to work as a group the lackluster attitude of some of the other students drove me nuts. Giving up all those weekends and evenings was also hard work. At one point I had a total meltdown and all the papers that I was working on went out of the study window and another time I ended up sitting on the floor in the garage vowing to quit!
However, I stuck with it and the sense of achievement was strong. It also opened doors for me in work and directly led to me being promoted at least twice, some of which was down to the new found confidence I had to push myself forward.
I found that I was often massively distracted by studying. When I was studying, I was tired of it and resentful and when I wasn't, I was feeling guilty and worrying about the outstanding work. One little thing that someone suggested was a study plan, listing when assignments were due, meetings with other students, study and work time etc. I also started to include leisure time, TV, Film, pub, whatever. It was purely psychological, but when I was sitting watching TV, as it was on the plan, I didn't feel guilty anymore and when I was working, I felt much less resentful.
You'll also find that once you've finished the Masters you'll have a heap of free time on your hands which feels amazing. Keep going and if it does benefit you career wise then it's a bonus.
I did my Honors degree while working full time and it was tough. I found that I was OK when assignments were mine alone but when we had to work as a group the lackluster attitude of some of the other students drove me nuts. Giving up all those weekends and evenings was also hard work. At one point I had a total meltdown and all the papers that I was working on went out of the study window and another time I ended up sitting on the floor in the garage vowing to quit!
However, I stuck with it and the sense of achievement was strong. It also opened doors for me in work and directly led to me being promoted at least twice, some of which was down to the new found confidence I had to push myself forward.
I found that I was often massively distracted by studying. When I was studying, I was tired of it and resentful and when I wasn't, I was feeling guilty and worrying about the outstanding work. One little thing that someone suggested was a study plan, listing when assignments were due, meetings with other students, study and work time etc. I also started to include leisure time, TV, Film, pub, whatever. It was purely psychological, but when I was sitting watching TV, as it was on the plan, I didn't feel guilty anymore and when I was working, I felt much less resentful.
You'll also find that once you've finished the Masters you'll have a heap of free time on your hands which feels amazing. Keep going and if it does benefit you career wise then it's a bonus.
Finished my Master in PM two years ago ,
Did it make any difference to job - none what so ever and is not likely to either
For me it wasn't about getting promotion it was about proving to myself I could do it being dyslexic and leaving school with a couple of O grades ( diagnosed
two months before the end of sixth year )
The dissertation is killer
Working full time , a toddler to look after at weekend as partner works them and on call stuff meant very little sleep and nearly giving up but focused on the graduation and that was worth it seeing the family in the audience watching as I go my certificate
So what ever motivates you hold on to that and mind over matter and get it done otherwise you will regret it
Did it make any difference to job - none what so ever and is not likely to either
For me it wasn't about getting promotion it was about proving to myself I could do it being dyslexic and leaving school with a couple of O grades ( diagnosed
two months before the end of sixth year )
The dissertation is killer
Working full time , a toddler to look after at weekend as partner works them and on call stuff meant very little sleep and nearly giving up but focused on the graduation and that was worth it seeing the family in the audience watching as I go my certificate
So what ever motivates you hold on to that and mind over matter and get it done otherwise you will regret it
Thanks for all the advice. Am currently at 80 credits and almost done the next 20 but it needs some work. So my options are:
1. Stop and take the PGCert
2. Complete the current module and the one scheduled for June and take the PGDip
3. Crack on with 2 plus the dissertation.
At this stage I'm hovering between 1 and 2 but I'll not be hasty and give it a couple of weeks and see how I feel.
1. Stop and take the PGCert
2. Complete the current module and the one scheduled for June and take the PGDip
3. Crack on with 2 plus the dissertation.
At this stage I'm hovering between 1 and 2 but I'll not be hasty and give it a couple of weeks and see how I feel.
There’s a reason not everyone has a Masters; it’s bleedin tough!
The fact that you were motivated enough to start it stands you out from the crowd. Finish it, and you’ll feel such a sense of achievement that the long hours will be soon forgotten.
You’ll also be learning a heap of new stuff too, keeping the brain agile and healthy!
Keep going!!
The fact that you were motivated enough to start it stands you out from the crowd. Finish it, and you’ll feel such a sense of achievement that the long hours will be soon forgotten.
You’ll also be learning a heap of new stuff too, keeping the brain agile and healthy!
Keep going!!
rog007 said:
There’s a reason not everyone has a Masters; it’s bleedin tough!
The fact that you were motivated enough to start it stands you out from the crowd. Finish it, and you’ll feel such a sense of achievement that the long hours will be soon forgotten.
You’ll also be learning a heap of new stuff too, keeping the brain agile and healthy!
Keep going!!
Good advice !The fact that you were motivated enough to start it stands you out from the crowd. Finish it, and you’ll feel such a sense of achievement that the long hours will be soon forgotten.
You’ll also be learning a heap of new stuff too, keeping the brain agile and healthy!
Keep going!!
Are you paying for it yourself?
Personally I'd finish it, you've put the hard work in to this point to walk away with anything less.
Anecdotally other than potentially standing out against other candiates when applying for new roles it's not done me much good to date in my career. I did a day realease degree BEng then a MSc, got chartered and went it to projects.
Personally I'd finish it, you've put the hard work in to this point to walk away with anything less.
Anecdotally other than potentially standing out against other candiates when applying for new roles it's not done me much good to date in my career. I did a day realease degree BEng then a MSc, got chartered and went it to projects.
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