I'm going to quit doing an MSc

[Garson007]

Just remember that IT and Bus Adm are almost completely removed from each other.

Which is handy since a large part of my current job is bridging the gap between business and IT. Of course, I'll only pursue an MBA after I'm in management myself.

 

[Picard]

Which is handy since a large part of my current job is bridging the gap between business and IT. Of course, I'll only pursue an MBA after I'm in management myself.

Or after you've learned to manage yourself.

Incidentally this is the most important lesson I've ever learned from the greatest sales trainer ever. As soon as you've learned to manage yourself ... then you can manage other people.

I have heard this lesson although unfortunately I haven't integrated this into my own life.

 

[tsume]

He must have because it is not possible to register for MSc without an undergrad degree


Part-time MSc should take you about two years. Full time it's a year to 18 months. But what the OP is doing must be by research only where they more or less let you set your pace as long as it's reasonable, but >3 years is pushing it a bit.

I guess this really depends on the school and the university. For me, MSc is 2 years. Engineers at my university do 18 months, but thats because the first year its coursework and 6 months left is a research.

 

[Arthur]

Oy, Garson. You're in a tough place, man. Sorry about that.

My advice is speak to your supe and negotiate a break for a month or two to recover and gather strength.

You already know you're going to push through and finish this thing and get it behind you once and for all. Apart from the creds and the sheer satisfaction of doing it, you also know only too well that if you don't finish now you'll spend the rest of your life regretting it. Sorry to be so blunt, but you know that already.

Finish!

 

[Taranis]

Which is handy since a large part of my current job is bridging the gap between business and IT. Of course, I'll only pursue an MBA after I'm in management myself.

That's probably what's causing you grief. Swapping between Business and IT is very taxing (scuse pun ).

 

[Cius]

Thesis only, indeed. I would have loved to lecture and ****, but the field I'm in is overstocked on postdocs so it isn't realistic. Theoretical physics, for those who might care.

I've done a lot of work, but my heart and head was never in it. I only started because it was natural progression and time constraints during honours year was such that you can't really work up much of a proposal for yourself - so you go with whatever the supervisor thinks you should be doing.

There has been some stumbling blocks, but ultimately it's mostly the psychological toll up to this point that's been eating at me. A psychological toll I'd prefer not to further prolong. I've never taken emotional pills and I haven't been to a therapist since I was like 8.

It's a monkey I just need to get rid of, and at this stage of my life and the progress of the thesis I think it's best for me to end it. The anxiety, avoidance and guilt cycle is just not something I should continue to advance, when it's coming from almost day one.

I did an M.Eng where the project is only 2 of the 12 credits. Difference is you only have 6-8 months to wrap it up. I ended up doing a project from hell that I derigistered for eventually trying to finish it over a second year and even that was not enough as the supervisor was basically pushing it towards being a full thesis. I eventually walked away from that project, picked a new one that had work backing, and clocked it easily in 6 months as I could use some work time to complete it. Some projects are just bad apples and are better to walk away from. I was still able to finish my M.Eng at least but perhaps some time and perspective will help you. Sounds like this project is making you very unhappy either way. You can always leave it off your CV.

 

[R13...]

At the university of Pretoria when you apply for post grad there is a section where they ask if you have ever registered for a post grad degree before and if yes, completed it? It must be because of the fact that they see a number of people dropping out halfway through the course so they'd rather give places to people they feel will be committed to complete.

 

[Picard]

People that have registered for a postgrad degree before know what they are in for and probably won't make the same mistakes again.

First time students don't have this kind of knowledge.

 

[Eaz-e]

I'm employed in IT as a data analyst for a business intelligence division (working with SQL Server mostly). The career trajectory, if kept, is pretty good. It's not what I would get as a quantitative analyst, but I'm pretty sure I won't have financial problems twenty years down the line (especially given that I won't have kids).

I'm also thinking of going into management consulting in the future, for which an MBA (and my current job) will mean a lot more than an MSc. However, when it comes to that I still have a lot of time.

Why did you not do your honours in Computer Science. I believe you had that as major as well?

 

[CrazYmonkeY159]

People that have registered for a postgrad degree before know what they are in for and probably won't make the same mistakes again.

First time students don't have this kind of knowledge.

Had my MSc spec just after I handed in my Honours thesis. It helps tremendously, obviously this spec changes as you do lit reviews and extra research but all in all my spec is basically the same. I am due to hand in initial thesis on 1 June, Final thesis end of July for August submission.

Basically 20 months