Help me pick up the pieces.
February 23, 2010 11:39 AM Subscribe
Help me find guidance in finishing my master's degree - I screwed it up big time two years ago, and I need a little help getting back on track. Much more inside!
My undergrad was in political science. After graduating, I enrolled in a post-grad program in local government administration. I performed very well, and was well-liked by the faculty and my director. I passed my comprehensive exam with flying colors. I was on the track to city management, and everything was fine.
Then came my last semester - applied research. This was supposed to be a simple matter; I just do some research on some issue in local government policy or administration issue. Most grad students have to write a lengthy thesis, but we were getting off extremely lightly! Should have been a slam-dunk, right? Well this is where I screwed the whole thing up.
A number of crappy issues sprung up and I basically disappeared from the earth for a year without doing a single bit of work on this project. This was completely my fault, but my director finally got ahold of me and gave me a second chance to do it, which I promptly screwed up again.
A long time has passed. I feel like I'm ready to finish this last bit of my education. Hell, I'm only three hours short! I humbled myself and approached my director, but he understandably refuses to let me re-enroll unless I have the work done beforehand - he doesn't want to take another risk on me.
My window is still open, but I don't know where to start. I break into a huge panic attack then I even try to get started. I think what I need is a coach - someone to help me through this, but I can't find anyone who will take the time or has the knowledge. Is there such a thing as an academic counselor? A research mentor? These are the things I had access to in the faculty in my department, but of course they're off-limits to me now. I've been to a counselor (the emotional kind) but she just offered frustrating platitudes with no practical advice at all.
I don't want to leave this undone. What's my next best step? Has anyone of you been in this situation before?
My undergrad was in political science. After graduating, I enrolled in a post-grad program in local government administration. I performed very well, and was well-liked by the faculty and my director. I passed my comprehensive exam with flying colors. I was on the track to city management, and everything was fine.
Then came my last semester - applied research. This was supposed to be a simple matter; I just do some research on some issue in local government policy or administration issue. Most grad students have to write a lengthy thesis, but we were getting off extremely lightly! Should have been a slam-dunk, right? Well this is where I screwed the whole thing up.
A number of crappy issues sprung up and I basically disappeared from the earth for a year without doing a single bit of work on this project. This was completely my fault, but my director finally got ahold of me and gave me a second chance to do it, which I promptly screwed up again.
A long time has passed. I feel like I'm ready to finish this last bit of my education. Hell, I'm only three hours short! I humbled myself and approached my director, but he understandably refuses to let me re-enroll unless I have the work done beforehand - he doesn't want to take another risk on me.
My window is still open, but I don't know where to start. I break into a huge panic attack then I even try to get started. I think what I need is a coach - someone to help me through this, but I can't find anyone who will take the time or has the knowledge. Is there such a thing as an academic counselor? A research mentor? These are the things I had access to in the faculty in my department, but of course they're off-limits to me now. I've been to a counselor (the emotional kind) but she just offered frustrating platitudes with no practical advice at all.
I don't want to leave this undone. What's my next best step? Has anyone of you been in this situation before?
There are people who will do academic counseling, but their services aren't cheap. If you're willing to put some money into this to get it done, google "dissertation coach" and look through some services there. Most will also work with master's students on projects, so don't let the dissertation part scare you off.
abd survival guide seems to be a popular resource for getting over academic hurdles and offers coaching, but I'm not sure if they work with master's students.
You may also consider joining Phinished (registration required but I've never gotten any spam or other communication from joining there), a forum where you can discuss your issues with academic progress, get recommendations for coaching, and even join daily or weekly accountability groups.
Good luck!
posted by BlooPen at 12:18 PM on February 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
abd survival guide seems to be a popular resource for getting over academic hurdles and offers coaching, but I'm not sure if they work with master's students.
You may also consider joining Phinished (registration required but I've never gotten any spam or other communication from joining there), a forum where you can discuss your issues with academic progress, get recommendations for coaching, and even join daily or weekly accountability groups.
Good luck!
posted by BlooPen at 12:18 PM on February 23, 2010 [2 favorites]
As someone who has been given (and flubbed) many second chances in the academic realm, I just want to ask - are you *100%* absolutely positively certain that you have sorted out the issues that have stymied you in the past? Make sure that you can answer that with complete confidence before you get going again.
Academic counsellors do exist (I see one every week), but you would likely need to be formally re-enrolled at your school in order to see someone there.
posted by purlgurly at 2:55 PM on February 23, 2010
Academic counsellors do exist (I see one every week), but you would likely need to be formally re-enrolled at your school in order to see someone there.
posted by purlgurly at 2:55 PM on February 23, 2010
Can you enrol in something different, and that way get access to the counselors?
posted by kjs4 at 3:23 PM on February 23, 2010
posted by kjs4 at 3:23 PM on February 23, 2010
Write for some period of time every day. Don't break the chain.
posted by notned at 3:29 PM on February 23, 2010
posted by notned at 3:29 PM on February 23, 2010
I know you said that all your counselor did was give you platitudes. Perhaps that was just a bad counselor. You might want to consider testing out someone good who specializes in anxiety disorders or avoidant personality disorder, and seeing if they have anything more useful to say.
posted by Ashley801 at 4:19 PM on February 23, 2010
posted by Ashley801 at 4:19 PM on February 23, 2010
Without knowing exactly what project it is that you have to do, it's hard to have anything specific in the way of answers about your next step, so here are some questions instead:
Do you have an in at any local government agencies who can clue you in on a problem or research question that they need answered? If you do, that's a great thing, because now you have a potential source of information an audience. If not:
Do you have any idea of what topic you want to research--what are you interested in?
What sort of data do you need for this project, and is it readily available online (most of the time, yes, somewhere) or do you have to request it from someone?
Do you have access to research databases right now?
-If not, you are really going to be hurting when it comes to doing serious research, so see what libraries/ community colleges could do for you.
What are the department policies concerning the process for the project--do you have to offer a proposal and defend after you've finished?
In some programs, the thesis is sort of ritualized, and there are a number of hoops that you have to jump through. It doesn't sound like this is probably the case for you, but find out as much specific guidance as possible for this project BEFORE YOU START. Reading this stuff over again can also help get you back into the academic mindset.
Short on ideas? Go to an online forum (MetaFilter is great for this) and ask people what about their local government makes them feel angry/ happy/ homicidal. See what sort of topics come up that might be good for your project. It's pretty key that you find something to be passionate about, because if you start off bored, things are that much more difficult.
I'm asking this stuff because unless you have a professor prompting and challenging you, it's very difficult to find a person who can help with the brainstorming/ planning portion of a research project. Once you have a general idea of what you want to do and how you're going to do it, writing a long paper is a matter of organization and motivation, which is probably where an academic coach/ online study group can help.
If it helps, you are now in the hardest part of writing. Once you get started on a strong topic, it isn't so bad. Also, good luck!
posted by _cave at 7:22 PM on February 23, 2010
Do you have an in at any local government agencies who can clue you in on a problem or research question that they need answered? If you do, that's a great thing, because now you have a potential source of information an audience. If not:
Do you have any idea of what topic you want to research--what are you interested in?
What sort of data do you need for this project, and is it readily available online (most of the time, yes, somewhere) or do you have to request it from someone?
Do you have access to research databases right now?
-If not, you are really going to be hurting when it comes to doing serious research, so see what libraries/ community colleges could do for you.
What are the department policies concerning the process for the project--do you have to offer a proposal and defend after you've finished?
In some programs, the thesis is sort of ritualized, and there are a number of hoops that you have to jump through. It doesn't sound like this is probably the case for you, but find out as much specific guidance as possible for this project BEFORE YOU START. Reading this stuff over again can also help get you back into the academic mindset.
Short on ideas? Go to an online forum (MetaFilter is great for this) and ask people what about their local government makes them feel angry/ happy/ homicidal. See what sort of topics come up that might be good for your project. It's pretty key that you find something to be passionate about, because if you start off bored, things are that much more difficult.
I'm asking this stuff because unless you have a professor prompting and challenging you, it's very difficult to find a person who can help with the brainstorming/ planning portion of a research project. Once you have a general idea of what you want to do and how you're going to do it, writing a long paper is a matter of organization and motivation, which is probably where an academic coach/ online study group can help.
If it helps, you are now in the hardest part of writing. Once you get started on a strong topic, it isn't so bad. Also, good luck!
posted by _cave at 7:22 PM on February 23, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by MadamM at 11:55 AM on February 23, 2010