I felt completely burnt out and lost while doing my master's programme so, I decided to drop out of my master's programme today and of course against everyone's wishes (READ:FAMILIAL PRESSURE). This video is all that I needed to calm myself. I can't thank you enough Jac! :)
@@AishaMhirei honestly, that’s a really difficult situation; I’d be just as confused as you. Good luck to whatever you choose. If it helps I search online if masters was worth and a lot of the sites mentioned that if masters was going open new doors for you and actually have an impact then yes but if you already have a job you enjoy and masters is purely an extra certificate then maybe it’s time to re-evaluate. Good luck ☺️
That’s how I feel it but I don’t know if I should pay the university still or keep the money ?? And I don’t no if I will get in trouble bcz of Stundet finance.
I absolutely hate being in my masters degree program. It is so needlessly stressful. The online zoom meetings are annoying and a waste of time and the work is constantly piled on. I am so stressed out I am now seeing a therapist. The only thing is that the career I am studying for is what I love. I've decided I will finish this degree, but after this I am DONE with Academia forever. I really can't express how much I hate this.
I felt the same and just got my test results back and I got tru don't worry always remember just take a day or two if needed and check youtube motivation for students and it help me and always remember it's not about motivation only its n discipline mind set and its wil save you and when just feel can't go anymore is the moment that you should have to push harder than ever your weakes moment can become your greatest success
I am going to be in my last semester in my Mathematics Master's program this Fall, finishing up my project, but I CANNOT WAIT to get the hell out of there. Once I finished my degree, I am done with Academia forever as well. It just feels like it never ends, the projects, assignments, and exams, which feels frustrating. I just cannot take it anymore and I am done with being a student. I don't care about research in any topic, so I do not want to pursue a PhD. Not spending another 4 to 8 years on a research program that I do not care about. Sorry for the rant. I just needed to voice my feelings on the matter.
I am in the exact same boat as you. Miserable for a year now + a have very disabling health condition too. I think I will love the career, but hate what I am doing now
Last year (2022), I dropped out of my master's program. The stress and workload outweighed my motivation. My only concern was not disappointing my family. I had decent grades for the first two semesters, but I took control of my life and dropped out nevertheless. Right now, I'm doing well.
I had the same experience. I love the subject, had great grades, and needed to go in a different direction. The environment was terrible because the professors were very unkind. I am contemplating coming back if I can find a school with a better work environment.
Not even one semester in and I’ve realized how pointless and tiring doing a Masters is for me personally. Gonna at least try to finish the semester and see if I want to quit or push through the next one.
I’m in a similar situation right now. I haven’t even finished my first period yet but I’ve known from the start that this isn’t for me. I’ve never been into the academic world; it always felt like it wasn’t my environment. I finished my Bachelor’s, took a gap year and worked a retail job, and decided I didn’t want to look yet for a serious job, so I decided to enroll in Uni once again. Now I realise I’m here for the wrong reasons (family pressure, thinking that obtaining a Master’s is all I am). My head is in it, I’m determined and hardworking, but my heart isn’t. I simply cannot do it. I don’t like the Master’s, I’m missing a huge amount of background and knowledge in the field, and the environment is not it for me. So thank you for this video, this truly felt like a hug and a “it’s going to be alright.” I needed that. I know the Internet is adamant on finishing such a degree but I also know that sometimes our mental health is more important than a piece of paper :)
I realize that as well. I know I can do the work, but at what cost? I don’t want to see what I look and feel like at the end of the line when I finish the degree.
I’m in this place right now. I keep failing courses, wasting time and money; causing my graduation date to be pushed back. I want the credentials, but I already have one degree, and I am struggling to get through my masters! I appreciate this video, thank you!! I may take time away for now.
YOU LITERALLY JUST EXPLAINED MY RECENT LIFE. WAS IN THE SAME SCHOOL I DID MY UNDERGRAD AND MY LECTURERS WERE SO DISAPPOINTED IN ME. I FEEL SO FREE AND READY TO MEET THE BEST VERSION OF ME❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for the video man. I dropped out last year from my Masters degree program in Computer Science. Amidst the COVID lockdowns here in China, the stress was just too much. It was a hard decision but I’ve decided to go home. Blessings to everyone
This really helped me. I’m at a top university in my country for my master’s and…i’m miserable. I don’t want to come off as ungrateful. I don’t want to be judged or looked at as if i can’t finish things. but I know I don’t want to finish. I want to still pursue law school, i’m just skipping my graduate degree. This video really comforted me. 🥺 thank you!
It is such a comfort hearing your story as a contrast to the main background noise of everyone else always saying I need to keep going, thank you so much. I'm in a bit of a pickle myself, I have a BSc in Psychology which in itself isn't worth a lot unfortunately, hence I decided to do a master in pharmaceutical neuroscience, because I felt that would give me more unique skills and a better paying job in the future. But Lord, do I hate it. I have zero motivation, I'm pretty sure I don't even wanna pursue a job in this field anymore and do something completely different (something design-related maybe), but I honestly have no idea where to go. For me personally I would love to just get to work, I just have no idea what to do or which direction to go in, so doing *something* that will at least help my resume seems like the best option. Tough situation. But the video definitely helps :)
I'm glad this helped. I feel like a BSc in Psychology is actually worth more than you think! If you want to do something design related then start designing. Setup a portfolio site and showcase your designs. If you need experience in design could you get that in a different course or maybe some work experience? My honest opinion is if you want to go into design, do it now. Don't wait for years - you got this :)
I feel very sad about dropping out of my Master's program. Due to my age, I think this was my last chance to get a MSc degree, but doing it while working 2 jobs, has made me feel miserable. I'm feeling mediocre at everything because I can't give my best. It's too much and it's messing with my mind.
I know that feeling of feeling mediocre at everything. Working two jobs is incredible though man - you're clearly anything but mediocre. Journalling helps me a lot, I think you should start writing your thoughts down every day (if you don't already). Why do you want the MSc? is it required for what you want in the future? Unless it's required, I promise there's a way to get where you want to go. Keep going my friend.
@@JacWilliamsVideo I’m on the verge of declining my offer. I want to go to medical school, this was just a stepping stone for that but my hearts does not like bench work (wet lab stuff)
I've already got my MA two years ago. This year I wanted to pursue a 2nd MA program in order to be able to study PhD. After a month, three presentations and 2 research papers, along with working as a teacher, I can't handle it anymore. Tonight I decided to quit. It's difficult, since I've always been the A student, but enough is enough. I've already got one Master's, why the hassle! I hope all the best for anyone watching the video and deciding to quit. ❤️
The sunk cost fallacy is on my mind a lot more these days, lots of love to you friends. It's hard when you're passionate about something but find academia exhausting and stressful to the point of questioning your path...
I’ve also been thinking about this sunken cost fallacy. Although I’m halfway through, the first half I did with the end goal in mind and feeling like I could accomplish anything. Now that I’m looking at the other half I’m wondering… Do I really have the mental capacity to make it to the finish line? Especially when we all know the second half is usually killer compared to the first half that we already finished
You've helped me tremendously with this video, Jac. I actually tried getting a master's degree two different times, and still never got one. First time, I had to drop out of school when I was diagnosed with cancer. I recovered from that, but instead of returning to school, l got a good corporate job. A few years ago I decided to try again to get a master's. By this time, though, I was in a different place in life and couldn't stand school. It was a miserable experience (and that's putting it mildly). Some days, I still feel like a failure for not having that master's degree. Of course at this point I realize I'll never attempt it again -- your video calmed me down and lets me know that it's OK.
You've already achieved more than any masters degree and I'm really glad you''re now healthy. It takes a great deal of courage to admit when something isn't right for you and we've both done that.
i've been contemplating dropping out of my MSc degree since June 2021. I initially thought that it was because I was doing a project that I had no interest in so I spoke to my supervisor and I switched to a different project. the project that I'm doing now is a lot more interesting and it's something that I thought that i would feel different. now I'm almost 6 months into this new project and i still have no motivation to get anything done. I'm obviously behind on my project and i know i should be working but i can't bring myself to do anything. grad school makes me feel so depressed and i feel like I'm not allowed to quit because I'm on a bursary, i promised my supervisor that i would stay in this project until the very end and my parents would honestly lose their minds. i don't know what to do right now 😔
Hi Nsuku. I am sorry that you are feeling this way. I can only imagine how much of a toll it has taken on you. I think if you are unsure, ask your supervisor and sponsor for a small break just for you to recollect yourself. Although there's nothing wrong with quitting, I suggest you step back and thoroughly think it through before committing to any decision. Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best and take care. 😘
What you do is DO, DON'T THINK. You're overthinking it. Just do the tasks that are required, as if you're a robot. You don't need to have opinions, feelings, and thoughts about it, or even about anything! Just jump through the hoops one at a time, like a game. You don't have to enjoy it. Just get it done like a chore. You don't have to resent doing a chore--that just compounds the suffering because you're resisting it. Don't resist, just do it like you're completing a trifling task.
@@Phantom.1 I don’t really know that’s the best way to approach this. Because having this mindset on multiple, multiple “chores“ could leave you even more dispirited.
My desire to drop out of my master’s program lead me here and from what I’ve learned from other people is that higher academia is really just hazing through books. 😅 By the end of it you’ll get your letters and you’ll belong to MSW, PHD, JD, MBA, etc. A master’s degree is just pledging different houses and hell week last years. ☠️
Thank you so much for making this video. I've been feeling exactly how you described feeling on my masters course. The only aspect for me staying is not wanting to disappoint my family but I struggle to keep my mental health together and continue. This video was just what I needed to hear :)
I love being in grad school but I’ve known people who have dropped out and it’s almost always for the better. It’s hard to do it unless you’re completely committed
I understand you completely, I left my job and went to UK to study my masters. It was one of the worst moments in my life, I finish it with poor grades because I didn't have the courage to quit, since I have already spent a lot of money.
I attempted to leave my masters degree. I was incredibly ill, I was dealing with a bacterial infection that made me unable to walk as my joints were in so much pain. In addition, I was extremely depressed and suicidal. I spoke to my college and they lessened my course load. They said if I quit then, that the scholarships I was under may not have been available later. I wasn't even in the right mind, so I guess out of indecision I somehow stayed, my class was online at the time and only once a week, so I somehow was able to finish the semester. It took me 3 years to finish (originally 2 yr degree). I was put on a course of 3 antibiotics and eventually made it past the infection. NY mental health got better, but it never fully healed. Honestly I am glad I finished my masters as now I can apply for jobs I was previously not qualified for and had wanted to do. However, my mental health, being constantly in academia and too stressed, never had time to fully heal. Now that I finally have my job and making decent money, I'm considering quitting. My mental health is too much in shambles. Now I do think it's time to quit.
Thank you for this! I’ve been dreading to quit especially with all classes being online. I felt like you and I just wanna start working already and not being stuck at home doing online classes. I’ve already finished my first year and I have another year left and I’ve been thinking to quit now before the new school year starts next week.
I am a middle-aged male who is eligible for retirement. I can simply walk in labor relations tomorrow and say, see ya later. However, I'm thinking about getting my masters simply because my job will pay for it, and it will be the educational coda for me. Especially having been told that I would never graduate high school. To be honest. I'm just not feeling too motivated to grid out anymore brain cells unnecessarily. Thanks for sharing.
I decided to drop out today (I have one semester left) and i related to everything you said in this video. Like our stories are basically the same lol. Why can’t I have one unique experience 😂 no but for real, thank you for posting this. I’m actually really excited for what is ahead. Nervous as hell, but excited
Hi! I dropped recently. I already have a job and my objective with masters degree was to get more recognition and later get better wage. But I started to hate it so much and was it was not worth the stress I was getting (and ton of burnout). I lost 4 months on this, still have some months to decide to get into another one that I will hopefully actually like. Now I will do what I wanted to do: *driving license lmao*, spend more time with my family, and do what I like. My mistake was not leaving, but going for this (because of certain reasons) when I wanted another one more.
It's crazy because I am in the last semester of my thesis for my program and I am dreading it. I have no motivation to do the work and I legit get crippling anxiety whenever I have to speak to my thesis advisor, whenever I have to start my work, or whenever I have a conversation with someone about my studies. I am torn between the decision of just sticking it out (I am literally at the finish line) or just throwing away two years' worth of master's work. I have even been looking into other master's programs that will not require a thesis or capstone towards the end of the program (that's how badly I am looking for my out). I am just stuck between a rock and hard place and your video has given me a little faith about whatever decision I do decide to go with.
Drop out. Put your master's degree on your resume. During the interview explain that you decided to leave instead of writing your thesis due to quality of life, or because of a job opportunity, or something else assertive that you feel they would respect and understand as a fellow huuuman. Interviewers are humans, like you! Believe me, that's what I did... dropped out in my 3/4 semester!
I'm currently almost at the end of my second semester. After listening to your point of view, it sort of give me a smack in my face because everything that you have said is the harsh truth. it's like I have been making these excuses just because I'm afraid to enter the real world, and somehow yes, being comfortable with the uncomfortable is just a depressing habit. I hate that I can't find enough courage to fill in that drop-out form just because I don't want to disappoint others (families and tutors). I never really talk about it with my fams. 😩 I don't want to think that I'm such a failure to find the easy way out, but to finish just for the sack of finishing is just not a good reason to continue. Help 😩
I’m 2 weeks into my masters and I’m seriously doubting my ability. My undergrad was in Education & Psych and now I’m doing Sports Psych as the career I want to go requires the masters. But as I’ve never studied sport before, I feel so behind and that I can’t do it. I feel like it’s too early to drop out but I’m worried I will just fail
same girl, 3 weeks into my masters and im to stressed and anxious to eat... it is just much more difficult than i expected and im not sure it is for me
Same here, I did my Bachelor's of Science in Agriculture and now took Master of Arts in Agriculture. The literature writing, essay etc are out of my syllabus or education that I did before. It been 1 month and I'm feeling worried too.
Hello Same feeling man And what even if we complete our masters and then what about the jobs? I am worried and daily this thought of quitting crosses my mind
@@anialemeszew7736 I couldn’t cope with the stress and ended up changing courses. Best decision I’ve made this year honestly. I’m so much more confident and settled now! Trust your gut and things will work out
Hi there! Are you still in your program? I just started my masters in psychology. I’m about 2 weeks in and man, I feel defeated. I’m struggling the most with my writing since we have to write like a “scholar”. It’s utterly frustrating…almost like writing in another language. Anyways, if I fail my classes my first semester, I might consider dropping out 🥲
Relief and sad at the same time often means that you're going to experience so much growth soon. It sounds like you made the right choice and now you can focus on what's next :)
Honestly, I wish I hadn't done my MBA 8 years ago. I did it because I neared graduation without knowing what to do with my life or having a job lined up.
Currently doing my masters in a career it turns out I am not interested in at all. I am dreading every single lecture assignment and exams. I am on the final term but the idea of doing a dissertation research paper is killing me and making want to drop out considering I only have a few months left. Thank you for this video it's good to see that others have been in the same situation 😊
I’m pursuing my masters in physics in one of the top universities of my country. I’m dreading to even attend a lecture now. I don’t wanna go through with it. I don’t have any motivation. I’ve been offered admission in the best universities and I’m still not satisfied. I go to university but I’m involved in studying and researching other stuff. I want to transition into data analytics/data science. My parents support me for the transition but I haven’t told them yet that I want to drop out of my masters. I want to get higher education but I just want the subject to be something that peaks my interest. I don’t know how to share this with my parents.
Completed all my classes, only thing left is just finishing my thesis and defending it. I had somewhat of an interest in my first semester, but I lost my enthusiasm over the next ones, until I lost all my interest in academy and a good chunk of my field. I'm burnt out. I don't want to read papers, I have started with an overambitious thesis subject which ate up my energy early on and I think now I'd just rather focus on my job and hobbies instead of stressing myself with this misery. I realised the moment I finished my first semester that I'm not a scholar and I have zero interest in being one. I don't know. It's nice to see other people that were/are in the same ship as I am.
It's tough, never expected grad school to be this tough. I've been thinking about dropping out since my 2nd semester, but I got a scholarship at the 2nd year. So, I did my best I could to finish the study. When it's time to work on a research, they make it complicated for me, and I ended up changing my topic for so many times. Then, long story short, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, so I decided to go home and quit. When I slowly recover, I tried again, back at my research, progress reports, consultation and stuffs. Now I'm almost done with my research but our department head want the research to go the other way again. I think I've had enough this time, I'm in my 4th year, only have few months left, and I guess it's the end for me. It used to be my dream to work in the field of Psychology but now I wish that I could unlearn it. These days I keep looking for a reason to stay, but all I found -- including your video -- confirmed that I should drop out. I'm grateful that I found your video, and the people in the comment section, it's so comforting to me right now :)
If you only have a few months left, for real, then STAY IN AND FINISH IT. Just do, don't think. Don't overanalyze it. Just jump through the hoops and get it done and never look back. If you bail right at the end, you'll be super angry at yourself later. Trust me.
Thank you for the great video Jac ❤️ I’m facing a similar situation so I could relate with you. It requires great courage to dropout. I hope everything goes well!
6/7 years on and I don't even think about this any more! It was super tough at the time but we grow and adapt. You can do whatever it is you want too. Just keep going and ignore most of the opinions and listen to you. Take care
I want to comment my true feelings. I so badly wish I saw this video before starting my degree. Your story is so so similar to mine. I just couldn’t do the last semester.. I just stop turning everything in. I got an F so I’m going to fail and I don’t even care. I have no motivation.. a little depressed just so so over it. I’ve done well my entire life but I tried something and I’m going to fail. The truth is I felt exactly how you felt I was scared to go out into the real world after undergrad. I was so so scared to be an adult so I thought to stay in school.. a masters in my same field just a little higher qualification.. my same school because I felt safe there. I feel like a failure but I hope to come back to this comment and be happier.
I'm sat here 5 years ahead of you on this, and I promise you in 5 years time, you won't even care. You're not a failure you just learned that something wasn't for you. I promise you, it will get better. If you ever need a pep talk - email me. I wish someone did that for me so the offer is there. You've got this.
I dropped out of two master’s programs, one half way through and the other halfway through the first class, research methods, which I’m glad I took first, because if I’d saved it till last I would’ve still quit that class never finishing the program after wasting all of that time and effort. The first program was in education to get certified as a reading teacher, even though at the secondary level you could be forgiven for wondering why high school kids cannot read, and if so why there are even there in the first place. And then secondly, I dropped out an MA in history program so ridiculous was the research methods class. In retrospect I was dissatisfied with teaching and kept attending trade schools to break out of teaching, first naval training to obtain a merchant mariner’s document, then subsequently an upgrading program at a maritime academy to become an able seaman, then after beginning teaching truck driving licensing school, then barber college. The problem with any level of academic employment is that all you’re basically doing is talking or even babysitting. So in a sense you’re really doing nothing at all, which is why poverty school districts routinely hire permanent substitutes rather than paying regular teachers a living wage or improving working conditions by for instance, expelling the criminally inclined students, diverting the illiterates into manual arts, or reassigning the disturbed to behavioral therapeutic institutes. Then at the college level since again, teaching is not a real job, they choose to rely overwhelmingly on part time adjuncts. It should go without saying that there is no point in obtaining graduate degrees if the only payoff is part time employment with no benefits. But on a more fundamental level schooling in general suffers from too much busy work and not enough reading. Were it your goal to simply learn as much as possible it would make a great deal more sense to simply read as much as possible while supporting yourself with a low stress manual job and living at the YMCA or something equally spartan.
This is spot-on! I quit two different master's programs (one when I got cancer, and another one years later because I hated the program.) During that, and since then, I've made a good living in a non-teaching career. I did teach high school for one year and can attest to what you said about some students not being able to read properly, or even why they are there. "Babysitting," indeed. (Even guest lecturing at the college level can feel like busy work, and still more babysitting.) My stints with academia showed me that it isn't what I thought it would be, and I'm just over it.
@@larryc8348 I’m 68 now, was an assistant professor at community college running night school GED for just one six month contract. Then went to sea after wasting 7 years in education. Finished out as a barber for 20 years. In hindsight I should have skipped college to be a cook in the navy then switched to the merchant marine as a chief cook instead of being a deck ape for 8 years. Then retired to buy a fishing/hunting lodge with a diner. I love to read but oddly enough academic life is mostly busy work and not that much reading. Got lots of reading done in between haircuts and watches as both a seaman and a barber. College teaching is mostly adjunct part time or short contract with few benefits. High school teaching is totally ridiculous with all the disciplinary problems and the illiterate kids who have never finished even one book. Good books on these subjects are DOWN AND OUT IN ACADEMIA and IN THE BAEMENT OF THE IVORY TOWER by Professor X.
Well, I couldn’t relate less. I am under the process of dropping out of masters. I could never align my career aspirations with this degree. Eventually in my life, I want to do something poles apart from what I have been learning and doing in my masters. I’ve already wasted 2 years of my life, but I will not waste a single more second on this degree. Thanks a lot for the motivation and making me even more confident in what I am doing with it. Thanks so much.
I have done my bachelors in economics, mathematics and statistics in 2020 and recently I've enrolled in masters in economics at a top university in my country but after going through the course work for 3 months, I've realized that this is not for me. Until now I thought I couldn't focus on work because I was lazy but the real thing is economics is not my real interest at all. I just chose it because it is popular . I did very well in statistics and OR during my undergrad but I've always looked down upon it though it was easiest and most fun subject to do. I have been feeling miserable for few days and today I have decided to quit my masters. I'll not do masters in statistics and operations research either because that's gonna be time consuming and costly. I've already wasted an year due too covid. So, I am thinking to prepare for statistical services exam of government, so during the preparation I can enjoy the subject and if I get selected I could take a nice paying job in the field that excites me as well as that helps in the progress of the country. thank you very much bro for this video. now I really don't feel like I am doing something wrong.
I'm in my first semester in a good grad school for computer science, I'm already burnt out. I haven't slept in the last two days. I have been sleeping for less than 20 hours a week in general. I can't stand the thought of 2 more semesters of this crap. I don't know what to do. Plus I'm Indian, so doesn't help much.
I feel like dropping my MSW program. I have never been more miserable in my life. So stressed that it’s affecting my mental and physical health. I hate it so so so much. I can’t even read the long comments on here because I am SO. BURNED. OUT. And the university warns you if you are in therapy they can dismiss you from the program. Like what!?
I only have one more semester left in my MSW program, which is entirely online. I'm enrolled in Ohio University's advanced standing online master's program. At the moment, I'm enrolled in a research course and feeling quite nervous about my current grade, which is a low B. To seek guidance, I have reached out to my advisor. Once I manage to get through this semester, I am confident that everything will be okay. I am pretty burned out at the moment, so I understand how it feels.
I despise my current masters course / the entire educational system in the country I'm in. My situation is a little different though. I relocated to an entirely different country under a scholarship for the masters, and dropping out would mean moving back home and starting from scratch. Aaand my home country has zero career prospects pretty much. I still don't know what to do :/ Feeling really lost.
I have a job, tried out to get a masters. Loathed it from the start, I couldn't stand anymore having to deal with bullc*** from teachers, who just sent piles of work the student's way with little to no consideration for people that tried to juggle a masters and having to work, and whose time isn't exactly an abundant resource. And that on top of being constantly tired by the end of the week and having to go to classes on saturday mornings. After some long and hard thoughts I dropped out. Best decision I ever had. Better to kill it now, then let it grow wings by the time of the thesis.
I am on the plan of dropping out of my Masters currently since I can not handle the final point of completing my thesis. I have struggled throughout my Masters with severe depression and stress. I am now wondering how to represent my incomplete degree on something like my CV or LinkedIn?
I am in the same situation right now,I am not able to complete my Mtech final project and dessertation work, whether I will continue or quit I am really confusing.
OMG me too. I feel you- COMPLETELY! This is what I feel right now. I am writing my thesis but it gives me constant anxiety and depression. It destroys me rather than completes me. I hope we make the right decision. Let's make things that will make us happy.
I just dropped out of my masters, I was in my first semester and I was just always anxious thinking everyone is more smart than me and I can't do it even though I know it that it's not true. I have done my bachelor's in psychology and I was doing masters in clinical psychology and I just dropped because I wanted to be confident while doing it. The thing that scares me is that without this masters I will not be able to do anything in this field and now I feel that it wasn't the right decision. Now I just think that I should grow personally and become more confident maybe find my passion in this degree and then start it again. But it's making me regret that everyone in thus degree with me might be ahead of me. I would love to know what anyone reading this thinks about this.
Same situation going in my mind It was my msc 1 sem i decided to drop out. I feel depressed while thinking of doing msc. Sometimes i thought I can do but I don't want to do.I got stuck in between these two thoughts. But after seeing your video bro it would like dropping msc is nothing wrong in that. Don't think of others what they thought just do what you like.
Watching this just a month before starting an Engineering Master's. I'm passionate about my industry and want to really Master my work/craft. Thank you for this information.
Feeling an urge to quit my master’s (in one of the best schools in the world in my field) but the pressure and expectations are overwhelming. Hope to figure out sth for me 🙁
Aww man, this is me right now. Started mine full-time, then put it on hold for a bit, came back part-time and now I'm at the point of wanting to leave lol
Какая же жиза, такая же ситуация. После универа тупо не знаешь что делать из-за того что до этого в жизни вели "за руку" школа-универ, не нужно самому планировать. Поступил на магистратуру и к концу магистратуры уже понял что больше не могу
I'm currently in my first semester of the master's (1st month actually) and I really feel like shit. I feel more like applying for jobs in programming (I've taken some requisite courses) or quite literally anything. I really feel like quitting, and what I plan to do is "Apply for jobs and do that instead" rather than a master's degree where I find my soul being quite crushed pretty much daily.
I’ve never related to something so much! Finished my first year and my research assistantship in the summer fully solidified for me that I absolutely do not want to do this anymore. I’m so burned out and holding onto a hair of motivation I have but Academia is just not for me. I only have a year left and unfortunately a scholarship is what’s keeping me back so I’m currently riding out. I find comfort knowing there are so many people who are in the same boat and so glad for those who left! it’s true courage for real!
Remember nothing lasts forever - this includes the bad times! Make some plans on what you want to do after this final year, starting working towards them, and execute. Reframe this time to be a transition period into the direction you actually want to go in, you've got this.
Thank you for this video. I’m contemplating dropping out of my postgrad program right now because I feel truly so lost and unsure of myself. Similarly to you, I didn’t want to venture into the “real world” yet so I figured that a masters would be fine. I’ve always been a great student and I thrives in undergrad, but I was truly not prepared for this. To make matters worse, I relocated to another country. I thought that moving abroad while working on my degree would be fun and exciting but it has only made my stresses worse I think. I love the country I’m staying in and I wish that I could still stay after dropping out, but I think I may need to just cut my losses, go home, and not waste anymore of my money. It’s quite embarrassing since I waited for a year to begin this program and everyone back homes was and is so excited for me, I can’t help but feel like I’m letting everyone down. Thanks to this video I don’t feel as crazy or stupid for wanting to leave.
@@JacWilliamsVideo Ya unfortunately it seems like me being here is pretty dependent upon being a student. My career goals were always dependent upon me returning home after the program. Just a little disappointing to leave sooner than expected. It's a tough decision that I'm still trying to make.
@@hayley3025 Hi, I'm in a similar position as you. But dropping out means I'll have to leave the country due to visa reasons. I have immense familial pressure back at home. I know in my heart and mind I have already decided but can't pull the trigger yet. I feel like I just need someone to just say, ''Do it!'' . Anyways, I hope you find happiness in whatever you decide.
just started my postgrad and I am not enjoying it , I am stressed and anxious all the time, I did completely diferent course from my undergrad thinking it would help me interms of employbility. looking back I think I rushed the whole process and now I m struggling with the course. I am back to looking for gradaute schemes
Thank you for your video. It 's really difficult to talk to friends about i dropped out of master, i'm afraid to be seen as a loser. I suffered a lot from doing this master. I dont like the course, nether the location where the university is. I finally quited it even i was so close to finish it.
Thank you, this is really helpful, I am really miserable doing my masters and my dissertation is the main why I don’t want to do it. I think I’ll drop out despite everyone’s advise. And also I already have a job anyways so it wouldn’t impact me negatively.
I have yesterday received the news of the need to withdraw my MSc application from university of Bristol in STEM. It was not easy at all, specially studying two semesters in my 30's. I hope that it will get easier with time digesting this shock. Part of me is relief, and the other part is eating me. The feeling of returning to your hometown as a failure isn't easy at all.. the disappointments from yourself, family, and close friends.. I hope it gets easier with time.
My friend, the feeling of returning to your hometown as a failure isn't actually true. Don't value what others think about your situation more than yourself. The reality is that everyone is so caught up in their own problems that they're not thinking about you anywhere near as much as you think they are. Focus on the relief part that you're feeling. That's probably a sign that you're heading in the right direction. Take care, Jac.
I'm planning to drop out with one class left due to the professor being the toughest grader. There's no win-win. From speaking to the students, I'm not the only one struggling. It's my second time retaking his course. He gives zeros for turning in assignments late instead of understanding like other professors that not all of us are only fulltime students, a few of us work fulltime, are married, have kids, etc. With this sort of ignorance, I cannot continue in this program and retake this class a third time whilst this professor continues to make weekday deadlines knowing some of us don't have only school going on for us. I'm out of fuel. So yes, I took an entire master's program just to fail at the very end, just because of one class and one professor. This is quite a shame.
I unfortunately didn't make the smart move of dropping out. I finished my program a couple years ago, and even though I do pat myself on the back for sticking it out at the time, here I am now in a job that that I don't have a huge passion for and is super stressful. Even though the salary is ok for the most part, the multiple responsibilities plus student loan payments don't really make it worth it in the end. Not to be a Debbie Downer, I just wanted to contribute my two cents from someone on the other side, and offer my support for those who are at a crossroads cuz life is too short...
I moved to Germany to do a masters. The system is different but nevertheless it's the European credit transfer system (ECTS). I have 240 ECTS out of 4 years bachelors and in Germany is 3 years bachelors 180 ECTS. So I have to study 2 years instead of 1. I have found myself in this really unfortunate situation where I'm studying things that I already studied, irrelevant things and the stress is unnecessarily high. It took a lot from me and I'm not so sure what I'm even getting...
I'm doing my last months in the master's program, all I have left is my thesis... I have gone through so many moments where I wanted to drop out (in spite of being a great student) and the only thought that kept me from doing so was that I'd have to pay for 1,5 years worth of studies (I have all of it financed in case of a successful graduation). And you know what? I'm gonna graduate, no matter what. I don't want to feel like I've wasted thousands of euros while being a good student, it just wouldn't sit right with me, because I know I am more than capable. However, I can see why some people would choose to do that and I completely support their decision.
I honestly hate my message program. I am in masters of social work. I got my bachelors last year I graduated and you know I love my undergrad program and social work. You know it gave me the idea that you know I can be a social worker and you know there is you know a lot of opportunities out there But really there’s no opportunity out there for people who have a bachelors degree I didn’t even wanna be a social worker when I got out of high school I wanted to go to school for digital film. That was my dream to do either animation, directing or producing or even acting because I love doing that, but my dad got in my head and was like you know you should do something where you’re not on your feet all the time because you have a disability basically. And I’m I am slowly starting to regret going straight into my masters because I hate it. I hate it so much and I am really debating whether or not I should drop out of this masters program and go into another undergrad because my plan is to go and get a mass communications degree And then find a job because they have a lot of work out there for people with those types of degrees and I really really struggling. Should I stay in my program and you know struggle or should I just drop it out. I’m already on academic probation I didn’t do well my first mod.I I was able to pull B minus but I failed my elective which I didn’t finish the elective. I ended up dropping that elective because I was failing and I guess that affected my GPA I don’t even know what my GPA is but I’m thinking I’m going to drop out of this program, because I really do not feel confident that I’m going to finish this degree
I am in my final year of degree. And now going to college I am just terrified about the college professors and hella stressed. My mental health is detoriating and want to drop the degree. I am being told that if I drop this I would always be questioned in interviews and would never get a job. Please help me what should I do.
Hey Jac, Thanks a lot for making this video. It has been very helpful. I am glad to have found the rest of the other folks who have actually gone through something like this. 🙏🙏...
I wish I watched this a year ago. I dissapoint my supervisor so much but I genuinely don't have enough experience and knowledge since it was very much different from what I have learned. Me coming from a non research university makes it worse since I didn't learned any of the methods. I cried half of my time spent on this master and I'm miserable. The worst for me is dissapointing my supervisor cuz she already tried hard to supervise me.
Don’t feel bad about upsetting someone who has already made it. Those who have already made it have proven that they are willing to live within the academic realm and would like to bring new people into it. The world of academia is not for everyone. Honestly, some of us would like to just learn some skills and get to work. Some of us don’t want to learn about models and theories and templates. We simply just want to get in front of people and start working.
I'm watching this video after just failing a quiz in my program. I feel so burnt out. I'm not enjoying anything I am learning and I don't think this degree will help me in my career at all. I come from a mentality of "finish what you start" but at this rate, Ill be in this program for another 1.5 years and the thought of that is killing me on the inside. I think I need to walk away. The frustrating part is I already have a masters to there is no point in me doing this to myself yet I felt the need to do it at the time.
Similar to you, i drop my master degree about 2 years ago because i feel that i have enough of knowledge as well as being completely exhausted. The problem i cant keep up with routine of "fake it till you make it". The problem is my master degree school there are demand for more informal interaction which i dont feel that i can keep up with. Moreover, I just dont it same with my bachelor, no criteria, no in-dept engage on the subject too and the worst is the master degree professors being sometime very judgemental without any hint for my project progress as well as classmate whom only think for themself and see you as being a competitor than friends. While sometime i feel churning in my stomach when some of my old friends able to reach the new high with their shiny life long Gov's support for their phd, i say well i reach my limit and give up. Currently, i am chasing a complete opposite types of major (part-time). However i dont this time i will give it up that easily.
Hi, I found this after looking up other people's thoughts on leaving after (or during) the first semester of a masters. I am a history masters student right now, in my first semester. I graduated in 2020, so worked for two years in a random (kind of boring but good paying) job that had nothing to do with my bachelors since I graduated right as covid hit. I gave up that job because I wanted to use my history degree for at least something history related and I had planned to become a HS teacher, but I thought, hey getting a masters/PhD means I could teach college and make more teaching more interesting stuff, so I decided to do that, and I am here now halfway through this semester, but I have realized I cannot do this for 2 years. My mental health is in disarray, as are my relationships. I have been going to therapy, and she has told me to try hard for now but if it becomes too much to quit before my health gets even worse. I basically have to drag myself through each day right now. I am making pretty decent grades so far, but I have huge essays coming up that I have to read like 20 books for, while the classes don't slow down at all. I have no passion for this, and I've basically realized this was a big mistake and that I am perfectly happy with going and teaching high school after all, since all I really wanted was to be able to help people love history like I do. I feel so guilty for feeling this way though, my advisor went out on a limb to admit me, and the scholarship and stipend make the guilt worse. Anyway, this video made me feel better and was informative, thank you for posting it. I am pretty much certain I am out in the next two months. I am going to decide between withdrawing mid-semester (I have until November 18th to do that) or trying to gut it out and just pass this one semester then leave. Any well wishes are appreciated, I am nearing the end of my rope.
It sounds like this was actually a success though? You found out that you're actually happy teaching high school - which is awesome! I know it sucks right now, but it's actually good that you've found out that :)
@@JacWilliamsVideo I suppose that’s true in a way, its just that I still feel completely trapped right now. I’m so nervous to go talk to my advisor and inform him of all this, since as far as he knows I’m doing just fine. He’s my advisor and the director of graduate studies so he’s pretty intimidating and I don’t know if he will really sympathize, but I will have to face this either way between quitting now or in a few months. It’s just an agonizing choice even though I’ve basically made up my mind already.
@@JacWilliamsVideo Yeah you are definitely right, I'm hoping to do it tomorrow or early next week. Thanks for responding and for the support. Best wishes.
@@JacWilliamsVideo update, I did it. Advisor was very understanding, he is going to let me finish working as a TA for the semester, and I just won’t have to do the big final papers, so I get to just go to class and participate, then I just don’t enroll next semester. Huge weight is lifted off me now. Thanks for the support.
My friend dropped out of her geography undergrad at Oxford in her 3rd year; went to study English Lit at Glasgow - best thing she ever did. Wish I'd had her guts and taken a year out and changed my subject at Ox as well.
ah, I'm trying to gather courage to quit my degree at the third year too... That's so brave of her! My choices to change my degree to are English as a second language or chemistry....
I've made the decision to currently leave my program and start another. I am pretty close to finishing this one but have decided against it since similar to you, I don't have the energy to do more for a field I'm just not interested in anymore. I have a year of courses under my belt but I just can't do it anymore.
At the start of my PhD I had so much going on. My childhood friends were killing themselves on hard drugs, and they hated me having anything they didn't have. The amount of gaslighting and over all toxicity pushed me to cut them out. A month later I had a friend die, and 2 weeks later I had another friend die... Made me worry about these people since I thought they'd kill themselves soon too. There was a few more things going on. I stopped doing my work and started acting very off. Being surrounded by pretentious people who are VERY much full of themselves was terrible for me. My program is ranked #1 in my field of study, so this happens. I'd show up to campus having no sleep for a few days, and I'd only get talked down to by my supposed friends. Going from toxic drug addicts to these superficial douche bags pushed me into this shut down mode where I wanted nothing because I felt I belonged no where. I stuck through it for a couple years not really getting anything done. I got good grades in all my classes I manged to take, but I still procrastinated the course work and worse my research. I'd smoke weed and drink all day playing video games, which is not like me ta all. I finally got to the point where I could focus again last year, but now I deal with people others set perception of me. I enjoy the physics again, but I really, really can not stand the people. I think I should have just dropped out at the beginning and focused on my mental health for a semester. That is WAY more important than pushing through the pain. I'm almost done, but I sometimes feel like I should still just drop out. My projects is not what I wanted it to be, and I can not stand going to campus. I'll probably just get it done, but it seems like a relief to just say good bye and move on. Soon enough I will and hopefully the PhD will be worth it in the end.
I completed all my classes for grad school and took a year off. Now I have to finish my thesis and i DONT care! I’m NOT practicing in this field. At this point I’m telling myself to just finish since I made it this far but Ugh! I’m not happy and don’t care to use this damn degree at least on this stupid field
Thx for your experience sharing! This gives me some shed of light. Anyway what's your take if the Master's course was really what you always wanted but suddenly you realized and were convinced that it could be not so worth it (you may not really use the degree attained and that the knowledge offered by the course can actually be sought out somewhere else, somewhere less overwhelming and demanding, and you would rather use your time for something else that you love more). I regretted applying to Master's (applied coz I wanted to add up another degree title after my name to be able change my career; my undergrad is something really different from the Masters) but is really scared to drop out due to the potentiality of regretting it in the future (yet I regretted going to Master's as well lol!). And not to mention that I fancy the title. But anyway, Master's degree really is making me anxious I couldn't sleep at all for days :/
Very difficult! My masters was very much the same as my degree which is why I didn't take much value from it. I wasn't too bothered about the title either but I can understand how for some things it's important. I guess the other to realise is that you can always do a masters later on in life if you drop out and decide that you regret it. Whatever you decide I wish you all the best, take care.
My situation is kind of complex right now. I took an extension for one of my modules because I had a severe infection couldn't walk sit, or even sleep well because of the pain, it was upheld and literally at the last minute the head of year said that I'm now gonna have to take it in the next academic year. I also failed a progress report which was 10% of the overall grade I asked her if I'm gonna have to retake that right when I failed it and she siad "no worries it's just 10% you won't have to" and now she says I won't be able to pass if i don't pass that one... I also failed a report from another module because of the stress. And of course nobody told me I need to pay, I was expecting a price but not £3,000. I spent months trying to talk to so many people and organisation to see if there is any way I can get any funding for the postgraduate course and NOTHING. I can't get a loan, none of my family members are rich and MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES! The university has been sending me emails demanding money I delayed paying the tution fee for a month not sure how much longer they'll allow me to delay. I've been looking for jobs but as you all know it takes time. My only option left is to either take a gap year which I don't know how to get because none of my teachers are responding to my emails and the other option is to drop out which I really don't want to. I'm literally at the end of my course, all my work is almost done. I've sufferred SO MUCH for this degree if I don't get anything out of it I'll be devastated and would probably think of it as a missed opportunity for the rest of my life. The HUGE problem I never realised was there was the lack on information and support of what happens if you fail. Why was there not a single lecture or session in which they would cover the cost of failing, what to do if you have to repeat a year, gap years etc... After they put a ZERO on my module which I got an extension for I was panicked didn't know what to do I had so much anxiety that I cried myself to sleep every night and scratched my face off, pulled my hair out I felt so alone. They made me feel like it was my fault for getting sick I BLAMED myself for something that was out of my control and I can never forgive what this university did to me. When I needed the teachers the most they ghosted me, my entire family didn't understand my siutation but I appreciate they were being supportive I was just too muddled to see it.
Ended up taking a loan now and found a job but it was temp so done with that one I then found another job which I'm quitting tomorrow because I have to pay £100 for bus card monthly to take 2 busses to get there. I quit because the expenses were bigger than earnings so thought it would be a waste of my time to remain there. I passed my masters with a 3rd and will have the ceremony in December. I'm looking forward to a stressless life but adulting may not allow me to do that. IT IS POSSIBLE - BEST OF LUCK TO ALL
Thanks for acknowledge that realistically you had prior and sufficient qualifications. This is NOT a video to tell people to drop out of school randomly
I am an international student in the UK, a mum and also working, did my first exam 2 weeks ago and I did so bad in it, which really affected me I am not used to the UK education system I'm so burned out and considering this now. i won't recommend doing MSc in the UK lol one year is to much i would rather do this course over 3 years spam and at a slower pace....
Hello I’m not sure if you will read this but I am hoping for advice. Just like you I am on my third semester of grad school. I want to quit so badly. It has been keeping me up at night, I am have panic attacks, and hate what I am studying (master of information system). But the thought of quitting and not getting a job kills me as I do not have a valuable bachelor degree (health studies). Everybody tells me to finish as this degree is highly desirable. I also don’t know if I be able to get into marketing as a lot of companies want business degrees and earning a higher salary so I fear I might regret….i guess what I’m trying to ask is your opinion on my situation. I am scared confused and don’t know who to ask. I wanted to ask you because you seem to be in the most similar situation I am currently in. Any advice or opinion would be helpful…thank you.
Just remember that you're more than your degree (s). If you want to get into marketing then a company is likely to be far more impressed with you if you've done a side project and can demonstrate that you're good at marketing. It sounds like you're listening to a lot of people around you and not focusing on what you want. I'm biased in this situation (obviously) because I quit and I don't regret it at all - I've also never been asked about quitting my Masters degree quitting. I'm slightly different because I had a first class Maths degree which is what people would consider "highly desirable". My advice is to focus on what you want and less about pleasing other people. As even if you do please those people you'll resent them in years to come because you didn't do what was true to you. I hope you figure out and regardless I'm sure you will be fine if you stay true to what YOU want, all the best and take care.
i ve only just started and done Foundation year and tryed up still now and really making ill snapping out extra yes i am miserable and head just guna explode
I'm currently contemplating dropping out of my MBA program but it's hard to justify namely because the MBA is a great dual major program that would undoubtedly open more doors, I am only paying $32k total for a nearly $85k program, and I'm already 50% finished. Might just tough it out.
I want to quit my master's degree and I am in the last year as well, but there is a huge penalty for doing so. So stuck for another 3 years, because degree completion would mean serving the bond period, it seems the way out is getting suspended somehow/failing multiple times while equipping myself with skills that integrate goals, experience, knowledge, and interest. The idea is too outrageous to put up for discussion with the department head.
Hi Jac, im currently in this sticky situation. I dropped out last week but then when I came home fell into really bad depression and guilt because I couldn’t stop thinking about what if I do my essays and assignments and give myself time to make a decision in second semester maybe. So now I have re-enrolled. And will just see how it goes. I’m wondering, when you decided to leave and accept the PGDip, did you fully withdraw straight away, or did you just continue being enrolled but simply didn’t turn in a dissertation? best wishes!
Thanks for this video, Jac!! I don't feel the motivation to do my maths degree. Until uni I have done everything my parents told me to, go to this elementary school, then go to this high school, take this subject blah blah blah. And when I got time to think and examine myself first time in uni I realized I am really into literature and I wanna become a writer. Maths is diagonally opposite to that. I am currently in my 4th semester and this semester I just didn't study anything cause I can't... I just can't... It doesn't make sense to my anymore and I don't feel like even attending a lecture. I wanna drop out of college and pursue a literature degree. But my parents are like you gotta complete this first, I don't know how will I drag this to 4 more semesters I am failing even in this one. I have finals tomorrow and here I am. I don't know how my parents will react when they'll see this semester's grade sheet. Ughhhhhh. From the past days I'm getting anxiety attacks because of this. And suicidal thoughts come and go every second. I feel like a loser. Thank u very much for the video again
Depending on the country you are in, a degree in literature better be a master's degree or you'll never be able to teach, and if you have a master's only, then you can usually teach at a community college in the U.S. But a bachelor's degree in literature? Get ready for Starbucks.
Hey man a thought on suicidal thoughts, from someone who lost someone to them... People don't want to kill themselves they just want to kill that version of themselves. So if it's what it takes become a different version of yourself, then swap degree, drop out, start something crazy and unexpected, just remember your life isn't over, you have so much potential to enjoy living.
I need advice if someone could help me. I'm considering dropping out of my master's program (I'm international), and applying for graduate schools in the US. Now I had no intention of leaving in the middle, but the committee head is an arsehole and won't clear my proposal which has already got the approval of the Scientific Committee. I can't waste time on a masters program when there is an option of getting straight to a PhD. So would dropping out reflect badly on my application? Also in my country there is no option of opting out with a diploma on account of completed coursework. I've got transcripts and all, but this is seriously giving me a nervous headache. Let me know what you think.
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I felt completely burnt out and lost while doing my master's programme so, I decided to drop out of my master's programme today and of course against everyone's wishes (READ:FAMILIAL PRESSURE). This video is all that I needed to calm myself. I can't thank you enough Jac! :)
These type of comments are the reason I make videos. Thank you and good luck with your new adventure.
@@JacWilliamsVideo What if you had a fully funded scholarship and still want to drop your Masters ? Ooh God I feel lost!
@@AishaMhirei honestly, that’s a really difficult situation; I’d be just as confused as you. Good luck to whatever you choose. If it helps I search online if masters was worth and a lot of the sites mentioned that if masters was going open new doors for you and actually have an impact then yes but if you already have a job you enjoy and masters is purely an extra certificate then maybe it’s time to re-evaluate. Good luck ☺️
@@JacWilliamsVideo thank you ☺️
That’s how I feel it but I don’t know if I should pay the university still or keep the money ?? And I don’t no if I will get in trouble bcz of Stundet finance.
I absolutely hate being in my masters degree program.
It is so needlessly stressful. The online zoom meetings are annoying and a waste of time and the work is constantly piled on.
I am so stressed out I am now seeing a therapist.
The only thing is that the career I am studying for is what I love.
I've decided I will finish this degree, but after this I am DONE with Academia forever.
I really can't express how much I hate this.
Get through this time (which won't last forever) to go and do the thing you love! You got this :)
I felt the same and just got my test results back and I got tru don't worry always remember just take a day or two if needed and check youtube motivation for students and it help me and always remember it's not about motivation only its n discipline mind set and its wil save you and when just feel can't go anymore is the moment that you should have to push harder than ever your weakes moment can become your greatest success
Same, it’s destroying my mental and physical health
I am going to be in my last semester in my Mathematics Master's program this Fall, finishing up my project, but I CANNOT WAIT to get the hell out of there. Once I finished my degree, I am done with Academia forever as well. It just feels like it never ends, the projects, assignments, and exams, which feels frustrating. I just cannot take it anymore and I am done with being a student. I don't care about research in any topic, so I do not want to pursue a PhD. Not spending another 4 to 8 years on a research program that I do not care about. Sorry for the rant. I just needed to voice my feelings on the matter.
I am in the exact same boat as you. Miserable for a year now + a have very disabling health condition too. I think I will love the career, but hate what I am doing now
Last year (2022), I dropped out of my master's program. The stress and workload outweighed my motivation. My only concern was not disappointing my family. I had decent grades for the first two semesters, but I took control of my life and dropped out nevertheless. Right now, I'm doing well.
I had the same experience. I love the subject, had great grades, and needed to go in a different direction. The environment was terrible because the professors were very unkind. I am contemplating coming back if I can find a school with a better work environment.
Did you take on student debt?
Not even one semester in and I’ve realized how pointless and tiring doing a Masters is for me personally. Gonna at least try to finish the semester and see if I want to quit or push through the next one.
That is where I'm at now. Did you decide to drop out or push through until the end?
Same for me I half of the semester but I’ll quit at the end of this semester
I hope this helps anyone who may need it :)
I’m in a similar situation right now. I haven’t even finished my first period yet but I’ve known from the start that this isn’t for me. I’ve never been into the academic world; it always felt like it wasn’t my environment. I finished my Bachelor’s, took a gap year and worked a retail job, and decided I didn’t want to look yet for a serious job, so I decided to enroll in Uni once again. Now I realise I’m here for the wrong reasons (family pressure, thinking that obtaining a Master’s is all I am). My head is in it, I’m determined and hardworking, but my heart isn’t. I simply cannot do it. I don’t like the Master’s, I’m missing a huge amount of background and knowledge in the field, and the environment is not it for me. So thank you for this video, this truly felt like a hug and a “it’s going to be alright.” I needed that.
I know the Internet is adamant on finishing such a degree but I also know that sometimes our mental health is more important than a piece of paper :)
It's going to be alright :)
I realize that as well. I know I can do the work, but at what cost? I don’t want to see what I look and feel like at the end of the line when I finish the degree.
I’m in this place right now. I keep failing courses, wasting time and money; causing my graduation date to be pushed back. I want the credentials, but I already have one degree, and I am struggling to get through my masters! I appreciate this video, thank you!! I may take time away for now.
Did you ever finish your degree? Because I am currently in a similar situation and feeling so demotivated.
@@wendynhlangulela5144 same here!
YOU LITERALLY JUST EXPLAINED MY RECENT LIFE. WAS IN THE SAME SCHOOL I DID MY UNDERGRAD AND MY LECTURERS WERE SO DISAPPOINTED IN ME. I FEEL SO FREE AND READY TO MEET THE BEST VERSION OF ME❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks for the video man. I dropped out last year from my Masters degree program in Computer Science. Amidst the COVID lockdowns here in China, the stress was just too much.
It was a hard decision but I’ve decided to go home. Blessings to everyone
This really helped me. I’m at a top university in my country for my master’s and…i’m miserable. I don’t want to come off as ungrateful. I don’t want to be judged or looked at as if i can’t finish things. but I know I don’t want to finish. I want to still pursue law school, i’m just skipping my graduate degree. This video really comforted me. 🥺 thank you!
I'm glad it helped. All the best with what you decide :)
Hey I am at a v happy position and I love my masters degree now but have felt this a lot, it never goes. How are you now?
@ I'm good thank you :)
dude, your comment really comforted me :)
It is such a comfort hearing your story as a contrast to the main background noise of everyone else always saying I need to keep going, thank you so much. I'm in a bit of a pickle myself, I have a BSc in Psychology which in itself isn't worth a lot unfortunately, hence I decided to do a master in pharmaceutical neuroscience, because I felt that would give me more unique skills and a better paying job in the future. But Lord, do I hate it. I have zero motivation, I'm pretty sure I don't even wanna pursue a job in this field anymore and do something completely different (something design-related maybe), but I honestly have no idea where to go. For me personally I would love to just get to work, I just have no idea what to do or which direction to go in, so doing *something* that will at least help my resume seems like the best option. Tough situation. But the video definitely helps :)
I'm glad this helped. I feel like a BSc in Psychology is actually worth more than you think! If you want to do something design related then start designing. Setup a portfolio site and showcase your designs. If you need experience in design could you get that in a different course or maybe some work experience? My honest opinion is if you want to go into design, do it now. Don't wait for years - you got this :)
I also have a BSc in Psych and you and I are the same person! It’s not that I don’t want to do something purposeful but GOD, this ain’t it!!!
I feel very sad about dropping out of my Master's program. Due to my age, I think this was my last chance to get a MSc degree, but doing it while working 2 jobs, has made me feel miserable. I'm feeling mediocre at everything because I can't give my best. It's too much and it's messing with my mind.
I know that feeling of feeling mediocre at everything. Working two jobs is incredible though man - you're clearly anything but mediocre. Journalling helps me a lot, I think you should start writing your thoughts down every day (if you don't already). Why do you want the MSc? is it required for what you want in the future? Unless it's required, I promise there's a way to get where you want to go. Keep going my friend.
@@JacWilliamsVideo I’m on the verge of declining my offer. I want to go to medical school, this was just a stepping stone for that but my hearts does not like bench work (wet lab stuff)
I've already got my MA two years ago. This year I wanted to pursue a 2nd MA program in order to be able to study PhD.
After a month, three presentations and 2 research papers, along with working as a teacher, I can't handle it anymore. Tonight I decided to quit. It's difficult, since I've always been the A student, but enough is enough. I've already got one Master's, why the hassle!
I hope all the best for anyone watching the video and deciding to quit. ❤️
😢
The sunk cost fallacy is on my mind a lot more these days, lots of love to you friends. It's hard when you're passionate about something but find academia exhausting and stressful to the point of questioning your path...
I’ve also been thinking about this sunken cost fallacy. Although I’m halfway through, the first half I did with the end goal in mind and feeling like I could accomplish anything. Now that I’m looking at the other half I’m wondering… Do I really have the mental capacity to make it to the finish line? Especially when we all know the second half is usually killer compared to the first half that we already finished
You've helped me tremendously with this video, Jac. I actually tried getting a master's degree two different times, and still never got one. First time, I had to drop out of school when I was diagnosed with cancer. I recovered from that, but instead of returning to school, l got a good corporate job. A few years ago I decided to try again to get a master's. By this time, though, I was in a different place in life and couldn't stand school. It was a miserable experience (and that's putting it mildly). Some days, I still feel like a failure for not having that master's degree. Of course at this point I realize I'll never attempt it again -- your video calmed me down and lets me know that it's OK.
You've already achieved more than any masters degree and I'm really glad you''re now healthy. It takes a great deal of courage to admit when something isn't right for you and we've both done that.
i've been contemplating dropping out of my MSc degree since June 2021. I initially thought that it was because I was doing a project that I had no interest in so I spoke to my supervisor and I switched to a different project. the project that I'm doing now is a lot more interesting and it's something that I thought that i would feel different. now I'm almost 6 months into this new project and i still have no motivation to get anything done. I'm obviously behind on my project and i know i should be working but i can't bring myself to do anything. grad school makes me feel so depressed and i feel like I'm not allowed to quit because I'm on a bursary, i promised my supervisor that i would stay in this project until the very end and my parents would honestly lose their minds. i don't know what to do right now 😔
Hi Nsuku. I am sorry that you are feeling this way. I can only imagine how much of a toll it has taken on you. I think if you are unsure, ask your supervisor and sponsor for a small break just for you to recollect yourself. Although there's nothing wrong with quitting, I suggest you step back and thoroughly think it through before committing to any decision. Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best and take care. 😘
What you do is DO, DON'T THINK. You're overthinking it. Just do the tasks that are required, as if you're a robot. You don't need to have opinions, feelings, and thoughts about it, or even about anything! Just jump through the hoops one at a time, like a game. You don't have to enjoy it. Just get it done like a chore. You don't have to resent doing a chore--that just compounds the suffering because you're resisting it. Don't resist, just do it like you're completing a trifling task.
@@Phantom.1 I don’t really know that’s the best way to approach this. Because having this mindset on multiple, multiple “chores“ could leave you even more dispirited.
My desire to drop out of my master’s program lead me here and from what I’ve learned from other people is that higher academia is really just hazing through books. 😅
By the end of it you’ll get your letters and you’ll belong to MSW, PHD, JD, MBA, etc. A master’s degree is just pledging different houses and hell week last years. ☠️
Thank you so much for making this video. I've been feeling exactly how you described feeling on my masters course. The only aspect for me staying is not wanting to disappoint my family but I struggle to keep my mental health together and continue. This video was just what I needed to hear :)
You've got this :)
I love being in grad school but I’ve known people who have dropped out and it’s almost always for the better. It’s hard to do it unless you’re completely committed
Agreed!
searching dropping out, as I failed Biochemistry. Here Crying.
I understand you completely, I left my job and went to UK to study my masters. It was one of the worst moments in my life, I finish it with poor grades because I didn't have the courage to quit, since I have already spent a lot of money.
I attempted to leave my masters degree. I was incredibly ill, I was dealing with a bacterial infection that made me unable to walk as my joints were in so much pain. In addition, I was extremely depressed and suicidal. I spoke to my college and they lessened my course load. They said if I quit then, that the scholarships I was under may not have been available later. I wasn't even in the right mind, so I guess out of indecision I somehow stayed, my class was online at the time and only once a week, so I somehow was able to finish the semester.
It took me 3 years to finish (originally 2 yr degree). I was put on a course of 3 antibiotics and eventually made it past the infection. NY mental health got better, but it never fully healed. Honestly I am glad I finished my masters as now I can apply for jobs I was previously not qualified for and had wanted to do. However, my mental health, being constantly in academia and too stressed, never had time to fully heal. Now that I finally have my job and making decent money, I'm considering quitting. My mental health is too much in shambles. Now I do think it's time to quit.
Thank you for this! I’ve been dreading to quit especially with all classes being online. I felt like you and I just wanna start working already and not being stuck at home doing online classes. I’ve already finished my first year and I have another year left and I’ve been thinking to quit now before the new school year starts next week.
Whatever you decide you will be fine! I hope it goes well.
I am a middle-aged male who is eligible for retirement. I can simply walk in labor relations tomorrow and say, see ya later. However, I'm thinking about getting my masters simply because my job will pay for it, and it will be the educational coda for me. Especially having been told that I would never graduate high school.
To be honest. I'm just not feeling too motivated to grid out anymore brain cells unnecessarily.
Thanks for sharing.
I decided to drop out today (I have one semester left) and i related to everything you said in this video. Like our stories are basically the same lol. Why can’t I have one unique experience 😂 no but for real, thank you for posting this. I’m actually really excited for what is ahead. Nervous as hell, but excited
I'm so excited for you!
Im so glad to see others struggle with their Masters program. I drudged through mine and barely made it but i made it.
Hi! I dropped recently. I already have a job and my objective with masters degree was to get more recognition and later get better wage. But I started to hate it so much and was it was not worth the stress I was getting (and ton of burnout). I lost 4 months on this, still have some months to decide to get into another one that I will hopefully actually like. Now I will do what I wanted to do: *driving license lmao*, spend more time with my family, and do what I like.
My mistake was not leaving, but going for this (because of certain reasons) when I wanted another one more.
It's crazy because I am in the last semester of my thesis for my program and I am dreading it. I have no motivation to do the work and I legit get crippling anxiety whenever I have to speak to my thesis advisor, whenever I have to start my work, or whenever I have a conversation with someone about my studies. I am torn between the decision of just sticking it out (I am literally at the finish line) or just throwing away two years' worth of master's work. I have even been looking into other master's programs that will not require a thesis or capstone towards the end of the program (that's how badly I am looking for my out). I am just stuck between a rock and hard place and your video has given me a little faith about whatever decision I do decide to go with.
Whatever you decide - you will be okay. Good luck.
Im literally in the exact same situation rn. What did you do in the end?
Drop out. Put your master's degree on your resume. During the interview explain that you decided to leave instead of writing your thesis due to quality of life, or because of a job opportunity, or something else assertive that you feel they would respect and understand as a fellow huuuman. Interviewers are humans, like you! Believe me, that's what I did... dropped out in my 3/4 semester!
I'm currently almost at the end of my second semester. After listening to your point of view, it sort of give me a smack in my face because everything that you have said is the harsh truth. it's like I have been making these excuses just because I'm afraid to enter the real world, and somehow yes, being comfortable with the uncomfortable is just a depressing habit. I hate that I can't find enough courage to fill in that drop-out form just because I don't want to disappoint others (families and tutors). I never really talk about it with my fams. 😩 I don't want to think that I'm such a failure to find the easy way out, but to finish just for the sack of finishing is just not a good reason to continue. Help 😩
I submitted my thesis a few days ago and it was so bad I'm actually looking at a fail.. I wish I'd dropped out on day 1
How did it go?
I’m 2 weeks into my masters and I’m seriously doubting my ability. My undergrad was in Education & Psych and now I’m doing Sports Psych as the career I want to go requires the masters. But as I’ve never studied sport before, I feel so behind and that I can’t do it. I feel like it’s too early to drop out but I’m worried I will just fail
same girl, 3 weeks into my masters and im to stressed and anxious to eat... it is just much more difficult than i expected and im not sure it is for me
Same here, I did my Bachelor's of Science in Agriculture and now took Master of Arts in Agriculture. The literature writing, essay etc are out of my syllabus or education that I did before. It been 1 month and I'm feeling worried too.
Hello
Same feeling man
And what even if we complete our masters and then what about the jobs? I am worried and daily this thought of quitting crosses my mind
@@anialemeszew7736 I couldn’t cope with the stress and ended up changing courses. Best decision I’ve made this year honestly. I’m so much more confident and settled now! Trust your gut and things will work out
Hi there! Are you still in your program? I just started my masters in psychology. I’m about 2 weeks in and man, I feel defeated. I’m struggling the most with my writing since we have to write like a “scholar”. It’s utterly frustrating…almost like writing in another language. Anyways, if I fail my classes my first semester, I might consider dropping out 🥲
Came across your video today. I finally decided to drop out of my Master degree. I felt relief but at the same time sad .
Relief and sad at the same time often means that you're going to experience so much growth soon. It sounds like you made the right choice and now you can focus on what's next :)
I think quitting is actually a brave decision, never easy to make! That takes a lot of self-awareness and courage. Good!
Agreed - we don't acknowledge quitting enough. I think it takes a lot of courage to decide something isn't right for you.
Honestly, I wish I hadn't done my MBA 8 years ago. I did it because I neared graduation without knowing what to do with my life or having a job lined up.
Currently doing my masters in a career it turns out I am not interested in at all. I am dreading every single lecture assignment and exams. I am on the final term but the idea of doing a dissertation research paper is killing me and making want to drop out considering I only have a few months left. Thank you for this video it's good to see that others have been in the same situation 😊
Everything will work itself out - It just takes time.
I’m pursuing my masters in physics in one of the top universities of my country. I’m dreading to even attend a lecture now. I don’t wanna go through with it. I don’t have any motivation. I’ve been offered admission in the best universities and I’m still not satisfied. I go to university but I’m involved in studying and researching other stuff. I want to transition into data analytics/data science. My parents support me for the transition but I haven’t told them yet that I want to drop out of my masters. I want to get higher education but I just want the subject to be something that peaks my interest.
I don’t know how to share this with my parents.
Completed all my classes, only thing left is just finishing my thesis and defending it. I had somewhat of an interest in my first semester, but I lost my enthusiasm over the next ones, until I lost all my interest in academy and a good chunk of my field.
I'm burnt out. I don't want to read papers, I have started with an overambitious thesis subject which ate up my energy early on and I think now I'd just rather focus on my job and hobbies instead of stressing myself with this misery.
I realised the moment I finished my first semester that I'm not a scholar and I have zero interest in being one.
I don't know. It's nice to see other people that were/are in the same ship as I am.
It's tough, never expected grad school to be this tough. I've been thinking about dropping out since my 2nd semester, but I got a scholarship at the 2nd year. So, I did my best I could to finish the study. When it's time to work on a research, they make it complicated for me, and I ended up changing my topic for so many times. Then, long story short, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, so I decided to go home and quit. When I slowly recover, I tried again, back at my research, progress reports, consultation and stuffs. Now I'm almost done with my research but our department head want the research to go the other way again. I think I've had enough this time, I'm in my 4th year, only have few months left, and I guess it's the end for me. It used to be my dream to work in the field of Psychology but now I wish that I could unlearn it. These days I keep looking for a reason to stay, but all I found -- including your video -- confirmed that I should drop out. I'm grateful that I found your video, and the people in the comment section, it's so comforting to me right now :)
Your comment helped me, in my field of psychology as well.. so thank you 😌💯
If you only have a few months left, for real, then STAY IN AND FINISH IT. Just do, don't think. Don't overanalyze it. Just jump through the hoops and get it done and never look back. If you bail right at the end, you'll be super angry at yourself later. Trust me.
Thank you for the great video Jac ❤️ I’m facing a similar situation so I could relate with you. It requires great courage to dropout. I hope everything goes well!
6/7 years on and I don't even think about this any more! It was super tough at the time but we grow and adapt. You can do whatever it is you want too. Just keep going and ignore most of the opinions and listen to you. Take care
@@JacWilliamsVideothanks a lot Jac ❤️
I'm watching this today. This is something I needed to calm my thoughts. Thank you so much for this!
You're welcome - glad it helped.
I want to comment my true feelings. I so badly wish I saw this video before starting my degree. Your story is so so similar to mine. I just couldn’t do the last semester.. I just stop turning everything in. I got an F so I’m going to fail and I don’t even care. I have no motivation.. a little depressed just so so over it. I’ve done well my entire life but I tried something and I’m going to fail. The truth is I felt exactly how you felt I was scared to go out into the real world after undergrad. I was so so scared to be an adult so I thought to stay in school.. a masters in my same field just a little higher qualification.. my same school because I felt safe there. I feel like a failure but I hope to come back to this comment and be happier.
I'm sat here 5 years ahead of you on this, and I promise you in 5 years time, you won't even care. You're not a failure you just learned that something wasn't for you. I promise you, it will get better. If you ever need a pep talk - email me. I wish someone did that for me so the offer is there. You've got this.
I really hope you are doing better now❤❤
I dropped out of two master’s programs, one half way through and the other halfway through the first class, research methods, which I’m glad I took first, because if I’d saved it till last I would’ve still quit that class never finishing the program after wasting all of that time and effort. The first program was in education to get certified as a reading teacher, even though at the secondary level you could be forgiven for wondering why high school kids cannot read, and if so why there are even there in the first place. And then secondly, I dropped out an MA in history program so ridiculous was the research methods class. In retrospect I was dissatisfied with teaching and kept attending trade schools to break out of teaching, first naval training to obtain a merchant mariner’s document, then subsequently an upgrading program at a maritime academy to become an able seaman, then after beginning teaching truck driving licensing school, then barber college. The problem with any level of academic employment is that all you’re basically doing is talking or even babysitting. So in a sense you’re really doing nothing at all, which is why poverty school districts routinely hire permanent substitutes rather than paying regular teachers a living wage or improving working conditions by for instance, expelling the criminally inclined students, diverting the illiterates into manual arts, or reassigning the disturbed to behavioral therapeutic institutes. Then at the college level since again, teaching is not a real job, they choose to rely overwhelmingly on part time adjuncts. It should go without saying that there is no point in obtaining graduate degrees if the only payoff is part time employment with no benefits. But on a more fundamental level schooling in general suffers from too much busy work and not enough reading. Were it your goal to simply learn as much as possible it would make a great deal more sense to simply read as much as possible while supporting yourself with a low stress manual job and living at the YMCA or something equally spartan.
This is spot-on! I quit two different master's programs (one when I got cancer, and another one years later because I hated the program.) During that, and since then, I've made a good living in a non-teaching career. I did teach high school for one year and can attest to what you said about some students not being able to read properly, or even why they are there. "Babysitting," indeed. (Even guest lecturing at the college level can feel like busy work, and still more babysitting.) My stints with academia showed me that it isn't what I thought it would be, and I'm just over it.
@@larryc8348 I’m 68 now, was an assistant professor at community college running night school GED for just one six month contract. Then went to sea after wasting 7 years in education. Finished out as a barber for 20 years. In hindsight I should have skipped college to be a cook in the navy then switched to the merchant marine as a chief cook instead of being a deck ape for 8 years. Then retired to buy a fishing/hunting lodge with a diner. I love to read but oddly enough academic life is mostly busy work and not that much reading. Got lots of reading done in between haircuts and watches as both a seaman and a barber. College teaching is mostly adjunct part time or short contract with few benefits. High school teaching is totally ridiculous with all the disciplinary problems and the illiterate kids who have never finished even one book. Good books on these subjects are DOWN AND OUT IN ACADEMIA and IN THE BAEMENT OF THE IVORY TOWER by Professor X.
Well, I couldn’t relate less. I am under the process of dropping out of masters. I could never align my career aspirations with this degree. Eventually in my life, I want to do something poles apart from what I have been learning and doing in my masters. I’ve already wasted 2 years of my life, but I will not waste a single more second on this degree. Thanks a lot for the motivation and making me even more confident in what I am doing with it. Thanks so much.
When I read "I couldn't relate less" I was expecting a different ending to the comment, but I think you found the video useful? haha, thanks
I have done my bachelors in economics, mathematics and statistics in 2020 and recently I've enrolled in masters in economics at a top university in my country but after going through the course work for 3 months, I've realized that this is not for me. Until now I thought I couldn't focus on work because I was lazy but the real thing is economics is not my real interest at all. I just chose it because it is popular . I did very well in statistics and OR during my undergrad but I've always looked down upon it though it was easiest and most fun subject to do. I have been feeling miserable for few days and today I have decided to quit my masters. I'll not do masters in statistics and operations research either because that's gonna be time consuming and costly. I've already wasted an year due too covid. So, I am thinking to prepare for statistical services exam of government, so during the preparation I can enjoy the subject and if I get selected I could take a nice paying job in the field that excites me as well as that helps in the progress of the country. thank you very much bro for this video. now I really don't feel like I am doing something wrong.
I love this man. Wishing you all the best and congrats on taking that next step.
Jac your videos are so so inspiring. You have such clarity and it really helps us viewers!
Comments like this honestly make my day. I’m glad it was helpful! Thank you 🙏🏻
I'm in my first semester in a good grad school for computer science, I'm already burnt out. I haven't slept in the last two days. I have been sleeping for less than 20 hours a week in general.
I can't stand the thought of 2 more semesters of this crap. I don't know what to do. Plus I'm Indian, so doesn't help much.
what did you do?
Hi. I'm in a similar situation. What did you do about it?
I feel like dropping my MSW program. I have never been more miserable in my life. So stressed that it’s affecting my mental and physical health. I hate it so so so much. I can’t even read the long comments on here because I am SO. BURNED. OUT. And the university warns you if you are in therapy they can dismiss you from the program. Like what!?
That sounds messed up. I don't see how being in therapy should mean you are dismissed.
I only have one more semester left in my MSW program, which is entirely online. I'm enrolled in Ohio University's advanced standing online master's program. At the moment, I'm enrolled in a research course and feeling quite nervous about my current grade, which is a low B. To seek guidance, I have reached out to my advisor. Once I manage to get through this semester, I am confident that everything will be okay. I am pretty burned out at the moment, so I understand how it feels.
I despise my current masters course / the entire educational system in the country I'm in. My situation is a little different though. I relocated to an entirely different country under a scholarship for the masters, and dropping out would mean moving back home and starting from scratch. Aaand my home country has zero career prospects pretty much.
I still don't know what to do :/
Feeling really lost.
I have a job, tried out to get a masters. Loathed it from the start, I couldn't stand anymore having to deal with bullc*** from teachers, who just sent piles of work the student's way with little to no consideration for people that tried to juggle a masters and having to work, and whose time isn't exactly an abundant resource.
And that on top of being constantly tired by the end of the week and having to go to classes on saturday mornings. After some long and hard thoughts I dropped out. Best decision I ever had. Better to kill it now, then let it grow wings by the time of the thesis.
Agreed, better to nip it in the bud now than prolong the decision. Glad it worked well for you
I am on the plan of dropping out of my Masters currently since I can not handle the final point of completing my thesis. I have struggled throughout my Masters with severe depression and stress. I am now wondering how to represent my incomplete degree on something like my CV or LinkedIn?
DO you have the option of getting a postgraduate diploma? That's what I got for completing 2/3 of the course.
I am in the same situation right now,I am not able to complete my Mtech final project and dessertation work, whether I will continue or quit I am really confusing.
Be honest
Just get a tutor and finish that thesis. Be systematic about your approach to it. Namely, get a writing tutor who has experience writing a thesis.
OMG me too. I feel you- COMPLETELY! This is what I feel right now. I am writing my thesis but it gives me constant anxiety and depression. It destroys me rather than completes me. I hope we make the right decision. Let's make things that will make us happy.
I just dropped out of my masters, I was in my first semester and I was just always anxious thinking everyone is more smart than me and I can't do it even though I know it that it's not true. I have done my bachelor's in psychology and I was doing masters in clinical psychology and I just dropped because I wanted to be confident while doing it. The thing that scares me is that without this masters I will not be able to do anything in this field and now I feel that it wasn't the right decision. Now I just think that I should grow personally and become more confident maybe find my passion in this degree and then start it again. But it's making me regret that everyone in thus degree with me might be ahead of me. I would love to know what anyone reading this thinks about this.
Same situation going in my mind
It was my msc 1 sem i decided to drop out. I feel depressed while thinking of doing msc.
Sometimes i thought I can do but I don't want to do.I got stuck in between these two thoughts. But after seeing your video bro it would like dropping msc is nothing wrong in that. Don't think of others what they thought just do what you like.
Watching this just a month before starting an Engineering Master's. I'm passionate about my industry and want to really Master my work/craft. Thank you for this information.
@@muadiib sounds like you’re in a great spot. All the best!
Feeling an urge to quit my master’s (in one of the best schools in the world in my field) but the pressure and expectations are overwhelming. Hope to figure out sth for me 🙁
Focus on what you want and try and ignore the outside noise. All the best
Aww man, this is me right now. Started mine full-time, then put it on hold for a bit, came back part-time and now I'm at the point of wanting to leave lol
I feel you man!
Какая же жиза, такая же ситуация. После универа тупо не знаешь что делать из-за того что до этого в жизни вели "за руку" школа-универ, не нужно самому планировать. Поступил на магистратуру и к концу магистратуры уже понял что больше не могу
I'm currently in my first semester of the master's (1st month actually) and I really feel like shit. I feel more like applying for jobs in programming (I've taken some requisite courses) or quite literally anything. I really feel like quitting, and what I plan to do is "Apply for jobs and do that instead" rather than a master's degree where I find my soul being quite crushed pretty much daily.
I’ve never related to something so much! Finished my first year and my research assistantship in the summer fully solidified for me that I absolutely do not want to do this anymore. I’m so burned out and holding onto a hair of motivation I have but Academia is just not for me. I only have a year left and unfortunately a scholarship is what’s keeping me back so I’m currently riding out. I find comfort knowing there are so many people who are in the same boat and so glad for those who left! it’s true courage for real!
Remember nothing lasts forever - this includes the bad times! Make some plans on what you want to do after this final year, starting working towards them, and execute. Reframe this time to be a transition period into the direction you actually want to go in, you've got this.
Thank you for this video. I’m contemplating dropping out of my postgrad program right now because I feel truly so lost and unsure of myself. Similarly to you, I didn’t want to venture into the “real world” yet so I figured that a masters would be fine. I’ve always been a great student and I thrives in undergrad, but I was truly not prepared for this.
To make matters worse, I relocated to another country. I thought that moving abroad while working on my degree would be fun and exciting but it has only made my stresses worse I think. I love the country I’m staying in and I wish that I could still stay after dropping out, but I think I may need to just cut my losses, go home, and not waste anymore of my money. It’s quite embarrassing since I waited for a year to begin this program and everyone back homes was and is so excited for me, I can’t help but feel like I’m letting everyone down.
Thanks to this video I don’t feel as crazy or stupid for wanting to leave.
Obviously, I don't know the situation but if you love the country could you try and get a job out there and then leave the masters?
@@JacWilliamsVideo Ya unfortunately it seems like me being here is pretty dependent upon being a student. My career goals were always dependent upon me returning home after the program. Just a little disappointing to leave sooner than expected. It's a tough decision that I'm still trying to make.
@@hayley3025 All the best with it and regardless you will be fine.
@@hayley3025 Hi, I'm in a similar position as you. But dropping out means I'll have to leave the country due to visa reasons. I have immense familial pressure back at home. I know in my heart and mind I have already decided but can't pull the trigger yet. I feel like I just need someone to just say, ''Do it!'' . Anyways, I hope you find happiness in whatever you decide.
Did you do it? I'm in the exact situation, please let me know. @@iqracerrato1479
just started my postgrad and I am not enjoying it , I am stressed and anxious all the time, I did completely diferent course from my undergrad thinking it would help me interms of employbility. looking back I think I rushed the whole process and now I m struggling with the course. I am back to looking for gradaute schemes
Thank you for your video. It 's really difficult to talk to friends about i dropped out of master, i'm afraid to be seen as a loser. I suffered a lot from doing this master. I dont like the course, nether the location where the university is. I finally quited it even i was so close to finish it.
Great video and I can relate. Glad you can fulfil your dreams and passions regardless.
Thank you, this is really helpful, I am really miserable doing my masters and my dissertation is the main why I don’t want to do it. I think I’ll drop out despite everyone’s advise. And also I already have a job anyways so it wouldn’t impact me negatively.
That was the reason I dropped out. Good luck.
I have yesterday received the news of the need to withdraw my MSc application from university of Bristol in STEM. It was not easy at all, specially studying two semesters in my 30's. I hope that it will get easier with time digesting this shock. Part of me is relief, and the other part is eating me. The feeling of returning to your hometown as a failure isn't easy at all.. the disappointments from yourself, family, and close friends..
I hope it gets easier with time.
My friend, the feeling of returning to your hometown as a failure isn't actually true. Don't value what others think about your situation more than yourself. The reality is that everyone is so caught up in their own problems that they're not thinking about you anywhere near as much as you think they are. Focus on the relief part that you're feeling. That's probably a sign that you're heading in the right direction. Take care, Jac.
I'm planning to drop out with one class left due to the professor being the toughest grader. There's no win-win. From speaking to the students, I'm not the only one struggling. It's my second time retaking his course. He gives zeros for turning in assignments late instead of understanding like other professors that not all of us are only fulltime students, a few of us work fulltime, are married, have kids, etc. With this sort of ignorance, I cannot continue in this program and retake this class a third time whilst this professor continues to make weekday deadlines knowing some of us don't have only school going on for us. I'm out of fuel. So yes, I took an entire master's program just to fail at the very end, just because of one class and one professor. This is quite a shame.
I unfortunately didn't make the smart move of dropping out. I finished my program a couple years ago, and even though I do pat myself on the back for sticking it out at the time, here I am now in a job that that I don't have a huge passion for and is super stressful. Even though the salary is ok for the most part, the multiple responsibilities plus student loan payments don't really make it worth it in the end. Not to be a Debbie Downer, I just wanted to contribute my two cents from someone on the other side, and offer my support for those who are at a crossroads cuz life is too short...
I am dropping from my masters degree and pursuing another career with a second degree
I moved to Germany to do a masters. The system is different but nevertheless it's the European credit transfer system (ECTS). I have 240 ECTS out of 4 years bachelors and in Germany is 3 years bachelors 180 ECTS. So I have to study 2 years instead of 1. I have found myself in this really unfortunate situation where I'm studying things that I already studied, irrelevant things and the stress is unnecessarily high. It took a lot from me and I'm not so sure what I'm even getting...
I'm doing my last months in the master's program, all I have left is my thesis... I have gone through so many moments where I wanted to drop out (in spite of being a great student) and the only thought that kept me from doing so was that I'd have to pay for 1,5 years worth of studies (I have all of it financed in case of a successful graduation). And you know what? I'm gonna graduate, no matter what. I don't want to feel like I've wasted thousands of euros while being a good student, it just wouldn't sit right with me, because I know I am more than capable. However, I can see why some people would choose to do that and I completely support their decision.
Thanks man.. feeling shitty..now it feels good to know that our example are so relatable.
Thank you soooooooo much for this amazing vid. You might be amazed how much this helped me and so many more.
You're very welcome.
I honestly hate my message program. I am in masters of social work. I got my bachelors last year I graduated and you know I love my undergrad program and social work. You know it gave me the idea that you know I can be a social worker and you know there is you know a lot of opportunities out there But really there’s no opportunity out there for people who have a bachelors degree I didn’t even wanna be a social worker when I got out of high school I wanted to go to school for digital film. That was my dream to do either animation, directing or producing or even acting because I love doing that, but my dad got in my head and was like you know you should do something where you’re not on your feet all the time because you have a disability basically. And I’m I am slowly starting to regret going straight into my masters because I hate it. I hate it so much and I am really debating whether or not I should drop out of this masters program and go into another undergrad because my plan is to go and get a mass communications degree And then find a job because they have a lot of work out there for people with those types of degrees and I really really struggling. Should I stay in my program and you know struggle or should I just drop it out. I’m already on academic probation I didn’t do well my first mod.I I was able to pull B minus but I failed my elective which I didn’t finish the elective. I ended up dropping that elective because I was failing and I guess that affected my GPA I don’t even know what my GPA is but I’m thinking I’m going to drop out of this program, because I really do not feel confident that I’m going to finish this degree
I am in my final year of degree. And now going to college I am just terrified about the college professors and hella stressed. My mental health is detoriating and want to drop the degree. I am being told that if I drop this I would always be questioned in interviews and would never get a job. Please help me what should I do.
Hey Jac,
Thanks a lot for making this video. It has been very helpful. I am glad to have found the rest of the other folks who have actually gone through something like this. 🙏🙏...
I wish I watched this a year ago. I dissapoint my supervisor so much but I genuinely don't have enough experience and knowledge since it was very much different from what I have learned. Me coming from a non research university makes it worse since I didn't learned any of the methods. I cried half of my time spent on this master and I'm miserable. The worst for me is dissapointing my supervisor cuz she already tried hard to supervise me.
Don’t feel bad about upsetting someone who has already made it. Those who have already made it have proven that they are willing to live within the academic realm and would like to bring new people into it.
The world of academia is not for everyone. Honestly, some of us would like to just learn some skills and get to work. Some of us don’t want to learn about models and theories and templates. We simply just want to get in front of people and start working.
I'm watching this video after just failing a quiz in my program. I feel so burnt out. I'm not enjoying anything I am learning and I don't think this degree will help me in my career at all. I come from a mentality of "finish what you start" but at this rate, Ill be in this program for another 1.5 years and the thought of that is killing me on the inside. I think I need to walk away. The frustrating part is I already have a masters to there is no point in me doing this to myself yet I felt the need to do it at the time.
i think if you are 30+ and not intend to work in that field. Then stop the master degree course. It saves time money, and health and stress.
Thank u 🙏
Right now I m in this dilemma
Good luck with whatever you decide. You’ll be great either way :)
More videos like this please!
I also just stopped with my masters, feeling weird but I think it is a good decision
Similar to you, i drop my master degree about 2 years ago because i feel that i have enough of knowledge as well as being completely exhausted. The problem i cant keep up with routine of "fake it till you make it". The problem is my master degree school there are demand for more informal interaction which i dont feel that i can keep up with. Moreover, I just dont it same with my bachelor, no criteria, no in-dept engage on the subject too and the worst is the master degree professors being sometime very judgemental without any hint for my project progress as well as classmate whom only think for themself and see you as being a competitor than friends. While sometime i feel churning in my stomach when some of my old friends able to reach the new high with their shiny life long Gov's support for their phd, i say well i reach my limit and give up. Currently, i am chasing a complete opposite types of major (part-time). However i dont this time i will give it up that easily.
Your videos are so helpful btw! thanks so much for doing them
Glad you like them Siana :) Thank you very much for subscribing.
Hi, I found this after looking up other people's thoughts on leaving after (or during) the first semester of a masters. I am a history masters student right now, in my first semester. I graduated in 2020, so worked for two years in a random (kind of boring but good paying) job that had nothing to do with my bachelors since I graduated right as covid hit. I gave up that job because I wanted to use my history degree for at least something history related and I had planned to become a HS teacher, but I thought, hey getting a masters/PhD means I could teach college and make more teaching more interesting stuff, so I decided to do that, and I am here now halfway through this semester, but I have realized I cannot do this for 2 years. My mental health is in disarray, as are my relationships. I have been going to therapy, and she has told me to try hard for now but if it becomes too much to quit before my health gets even worse. I basically have to drag myself through each day right now. I am making pretty decent grades so far, but I have huge essays coming up that I have to read like 20 books for, while the classes don't slow down at all. I have no passion for this, and I've basically realized this was a big mistake and that I am perfectly happy with going and teaching high school after all, since all I really wanted was to be able to help people love history like I do. I feel so guilty for feeling this way though, my advisor went out on a limb to admit me, and the scholarship and stipend make the guilt worse.
Anyway, this video made me feel better and was informative, thank you for posting it. I am pretty much certain I am out in the next two months. I am going to decide between withdrawing mid-semester (I have until November 18th to do that) or trying to gut it out and just pass this one semester then leave. Any well wishes are appreciated, I am nearing the end of my rope.
It sounds like this was actually a success though? You found out that you're actually happy teaching high school - which is awesome! I know it sucks right now, but it's actually good that you've found out that :)
@@JacWilliamsVideo I suppose that’s true in a way, its just that I still feel completely trapped right now. I’m so nervous to go talk to my advisor and inform him of all this, since as far as he knows I’m doing just fine. He’s my advisor and the director of graduate studies so he’s pretty intimidating and I don’t know if he will really sympathize, but I will have to face this either way between quitting now or in a few months. It’s just an agonizing choice even though I’ve basically made up my mind already.
@@mdandrews Based on my experience, the more you put off that conversation the more anxious you will become. It sucks but you need to do it asap.
@@JacWilliamsVideo Yeah you are definitely right, I'm hoping to do it tomorrow or early next week. Thanks for responding and for the support. Best wishes.
@@JacWilliamsVideo update, I did it. Advisor was very understanding, he is going to let me finish working as a TA for the semester, and I just won’t have to do the big final papers, so I get to just go to class and participate, then I just don’t enroll next semester.
Huge weight is lifted off me now. Thanks for the support.
My friend dropped out of her geography undergrad at Oxford in her 3rd year; went to study English Lit at Glasgow - best thing she ever did. Wish I'd had her guts and taken a year out and changed my subject at Ox as well.
That's very brave and obviously paid off for her. I'm trying to be more brave going forward :)
ah, I'm trying to gather courage to quit my degree at the third year too... That's so brave of her! My choices to change my degree to are English as a second language or chemistry....
I've made the decision to currently leave my program and start another. I am pretty close to finishing this one but have decided against it since similar to you, I don't have the energy to do more for a field I'm just not interested in anymore. I have a year of courses under my belt but I just can't do it anymore.
At the start of my PhD I had so much going on. My childhood friends were killing themselves on hard drugs, and they hated me having anything they didn't have. The amount of gaslighting and over all toxicity pushed me to cut them out. A month later I had a friend die, and 2 weeks later I had another friend die... Made me worry about these people since I thought they'd kill themselves soon too. There was a few more things going on.
I stopped doing my work and started acting very off. Being surrounded by pretentious people who are VERY much full of themselves was terrible for me. My program is ranked #1 in my field of study, so this happens. I'd show up to campus having no sleep for a few days, and I'd only get talked down to by my supposed friends. Going from toxic drug addicts to these superficial douche bags pushed me into this shut down mode where I wanted nothing because I felt I belonged no where.
I stuck through it for a couple years not really getting anything done. I got good grades in all my classes I manged to take, but I still procrastinated the course work and worse my research. I'd smoke weed and drink all day playing video games, which is not like me ta all.
I finally got to the point where I could focus again last year, but now I deal with people others set perception of me. I enjoy the physics again, but I really, really can not stand the people. I think I should have just dropped out at the beginning and focused on my mental health for a semester. That is WAY more important than pushing through the pain. I'm almost done, but I sometimes feel like I should still just drop out. My projects is not what I wanted it to be, and I can not stand going to campus. I'll probably just get it done, but it seems like a relief to just say good bye and move on. Soon enough I will and hopefully the PhD will be worth it in the end.
I flunked my semester 2, and have postponed it - I wanna work for a year before I complete it
You got this :)
I completed all my classes for grad school and took a year off. Now I have to finish my thesis and i DONT care! I’m NOT practicing in this field. At this point I’m telling myself to just finish since I made it this far but Ugh! I’m not happy and don’t care to use this damn degree at least on this stupid field
Thx for your experience sharing! This gives me some shed of light. Anyway what's your take if the Master's course was really what you always wanted but suddenly you realized and were convinced that it could be not so worth it (you may not really use the degree attained and that the knowledge offered by the course can actually be sought out somewhere else, somewhere less overwhelming and demanding, and you would rather use your time for something else that you love more). I regretted applying to Master's (applied coz I wanted to add up another degree title after my name to be able change my career; my undergrad is something really different from the Masters) but is really scared to drop out due to the potentiality of regretting it in the future (yet I regretted going to Master's as well lol!). And not to mention that I fancy the title. But anyway, Master's degree really is making me anxious I couldn't sleep at all for days :/
Very difficult! My masters was very much the same as my degree which is why I didn't take much value from it. I wasn't too bothered about the title either but I can understand how for some things it's important. I guess the other to realise is that you can always do a masters later on in life if you drop out and decide that you regret it. Whatever you decide I wish you all the best, take care.
@@JacWilliamsVideo Thank you Jac, you too!
My situation is kind of complex right now. I took an extension for one of my modules because I had a severe infection couldn't walk sit, or even sleep well because of the pain, it was upheld and literally at the last minute the head of year said that I'm now gonna have to take it in the next academic year. I also failed a progress report which was 10% of the overall grade I asked her if I'm gonna have to retake that right when I failed it and she siad "no worries it's just 10% you won't have to" and now she says I won't be able to pass if i don't pass that one... I also failed a report from another module because of the stress. And of course nobody told me I need to pay, I was expecting a price but not £3,000. I spent months trying to talk to so many people and organisation to see if there is any way I can get any funding for the postgraduate course and NOTHING. I can't get a loan, none of my family members are rich and MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES! The university has been sending me emails demanding money I delayed paying the tution fee for a month not sure how much longer they'll allow me to delay. I've been looking for jobs but as you all know it takes time. My only option left is to either take a gap year which I don't know how to get because none of my teachers are responding to my emails and the other option is to drop out which I really don't want to. I'm literally at the end of my course, all my work is almost done. I've sufferred SO MUCH for this degree if I don't get anything out of it I'll be devastated and would probably think of it as a missed opportunity for the rest of my life. The HUGE problem I never realised was there was the lack on information and support of what happens if you fail. Why was there not a single lecture or session in which they would cover the cost of failing, what to do if you have to repeat a year, gap years etc... After they put a ZERO on my module which I got an extension for I was panicked didn't know what to do I had so much anxiety that I cried myself to sleep every night and scratched my face off, pulled my hair out I felt so alone. They made me feel like it was my fault for getting sick I BLAMED myself for something that was out of my control and I can never forgive what this university did to me. When I needed the teachers the most they ghosted me, my entire family didn't understand my siutation but I appreciate they were being supportive I was just too muddled to see it.
Ended up taking a loan now and found a job but it was temp so done with that one I then found another job which I'm quitting tomorrow because I have to pay £100 for bus card monthly to take 2 busses to get there. I quit because the expenses were bigger than earnings so thought it would be a waste of my time to remain there. I passed my masters with a 3rd and will have the ceremony in December. I'm looking forward to a stressless life but adulting may not allow me to do that.
IT IS POSSIBLE - BEST OF LUCK TO ALL
Thanks for acknowledge that realistically you had prior and sufficient qualifications. This is NOT a video to tell people to drop out of school randomly
Definitely NOT recommending people drop out for no good reason. I tried to make that very clear, I had a lot of qualifications at a very good grade.
I am an international student in the UK, a mum and also working, did my first exam 2 weeks ago and I did so bad in it, which really affected me I am not used to the UK education system I'm so burned out and considering this now. i won't recommend doing MSc in the UK lol one year is to much i would rather do this course over 3 years spam and at a slower pace....
Hello I’m not sure if you will read this but I am hoping for advice. Just like you I am on my third semester of grad school. I want to quit so badly. It has been keeping me up at night, I am have panic attacks, and hate what I am studying (master of information system). But the thought of quitting and not getting a job kills me as I do not have a valuable bachelor degree (health studies). Everybody tells me to finish as this degree is highly desirable. I also don’t know if I be able to get into marketing as a lot of companies want business degrees and earning a higher salary so I fear I might regret….i guess what I’m trying to ask is your opinion on my situation. I am scared confused and don’t know who to ask. I wanted to ask you because you seem to be in the most similar situation I am currently in. Any advice or opinion would be helpful…thank you.
Just remember that you're more than your degree (s). If you want to get into marketing then a company is likely to be far more impressed with you if you've done a side project and can demonstrate that you're good at marketing. It sounds like you're listening to a lot of people around you and not focusing on what you want. I'm biased in this situation (obviously) because I quit and I don't regret it at all - I've also never been asked about quitting my Masters degree quitting. I'm slightly different because I had a first class Maths degree which is what people would consider "highly desirable". My advice is to focus on what you want and less about pleasing other people. As even if you do please those people you'll resent them in years to come because you didn't do what was true to you. I hope you figure out and regardless I'm sure you will be fine if you stay true to what YOU want, all the best and take care.
@@JacWilliamsVideo thank you for taking the time to give me your advice. After reading your message I am determined to do it!
i ve only just started and done Foundation year and tryed up still now and really making ill snapping out extra yes i am miserable and head just guna explode
I'm currently contemplating dropping out of my MBA program but it's hard to justify namely because the MBA is a great dual major program that would undoubtedly open more doors, I am only paying $32k total for a nearly $85k program, and I'm already 50% finished. Might just tough it out.
Unless it's painful and you're miserable. It may be worth sticking it out - good luck with your decision.
I want to quit my master's degree and I am in the last year as well, but there is a huge penalty for doing so. So stuck for another 3 years, because degree completion would mean serving the bond period, it seems the way out is getting suspended somehow/failing multiple times while equipping myself with skills that integrate goals, experience, knowledge, and interest. The idea is too outrageous to put up for discussion with the department head.
Hi Jac, im currently in this sticky situation. I dropped out last week but then when I came home fell into really bad depression and guilt because I couldn’t stop thinking about what if I do my essays and assignments and give myself time to make a decision in second semester maybe. So now I have re-enrolled. And will just see how it goes. I’m wondering, when you decided to leave and accept the PGDip, did you fully withdraw straight away, or did you just continue being enrolled but simply didn’t turn in a dissertation? best wishes!
I fully withdrew. I'm an all or nothing type of personality and I was very much done by that point.
God bless you for doing this video
Thanks for this video, Jac!! I don't feel the motivation to do my maths degree. Until uni I have done everything my parents told me to, go to this elementary school, then go to this high school, take this subject blah blah blah. And when I got time to think and examine myself first time in uni I realized I am really into literature and I wanna become a writer. Maths is diagonally opposite to that. I am currently in my 4th semester and this semester I just didn't study anything cause I can't... I just can't... It doesn't make sense to my anymore and I don't feel like even attending a lecture.
I wanna drop out of college and pursue a literature degree. But my parents are like you gotta complete this first, I don't know how will I drag this to 4 more semesters I am failing even in this one. I have finals tomorrow and here I am. I don't know how my parents will react when they'll see this semester's grade sheet. Ughhhhhh. From the past days I'm getting anxiety attacks because of this. And suicidal thoughts come and go every second. I feel like a loser.
Thank u very much for the video again
I know it's tough but please try and remember how young you are. You have so much time my friend, you're not a loser, you're just figuring life out :)
Depending on the country you are in, a degree in literature better be a master's degree or you'll never be able to teach, and if you have a master's only, then you can usually teach at a community college in the U.S. But a bachelor's degree in literature? Get ready for Starbucks.
Hey man a thought on suicidal thoughts, from someone who lost someone to them... People don't want to kill themselves they just want to kill that version of themselves. So if it's what it takes become a different version of yourself, then swap degree, drop out, start something crazy and unexpected, just remember your life isn't over, you have so much potential to enjoy living.
Amazing video man!
Thanks!
I need advice if someone could help me. I'm considering dropping out of my master's program (I'm international), and applying for graduate schools in the US. Now I had no intention of leaving in the middle, but the committee head is an arsehole and won't clear my proposal which has already got the approval of the Scientific Committee. I can't waste time on a masters program when there is an option of getting straight to a PhD. So would dropping out reflect badly on my application? Also in my country there is no option of opting out with a diploma on account of completed coursework. I've got transcripts and all, but this is seriously giving me a nervous headache. Let me know what you think.