Overwhelmed by master's thesis and work

[ebruening]

I'm presenting/defending my master's thesis on Dec. 3rd. I've worked really hard on gathering and organizing all of my research and completing my data analysis every weekend - usually averaging 8-10 hours of work per weekend - from the beginning of August. However, I'm starting to panic. I feel like I'm never going to finish it in time. For those of you who worked full time and earned your master's degree, how did you handle it when it came time to complete your thesis? I'm feeling totally swamped right now, and I can't afford to quit work, or take a personal day from work, because that will only create MORE work for me. Any advice would be appreciated!

[AshleyJordan]

I worked f/t for most of undergrad and all of grad school. . . and finished my thesis(es), (how do you pluralize that word?) both times! It's hard, but feel free to PM me to discuss.

You're doing what I did-- breaking it into chunks that are more manageable. I think you're doing fine ;)

When's your next holiday off from school? Could you use that? Or, could you call in sick just one day?

[winneythepooh7]

Fortunately for me, a lot of my thesis was based on papers I had written my last year of grad school in my practice class. I was able to combine some of them together, or go back to some of the articles I used for previous papers, and incorporate into my thesis.

Honestly, I did end up just taking off about a week from work for my own sanity. I could probably still have gotten it done though.

Another thing that worked was getting up mad early in the AM and forcing myself to only focus on my paper for about 4 hour clips. I really did end up getting a lot written during those early morning hours, with still enough time to get in some personal "me" time.

Hang in there sweetie!!! It'll be over before you know it.

[AshleyJordan]

Also, focus on writing the paper/just getting your thoughts down on the page! I know that analysis is important (my degree is in Urban Planning, and a LOT of demographic/economic analysis went into my papers,) but once you have a good sense of what the data suggests, and you already have your thesis, start plugging in some of that analysis into your outline. . . as you flesh out individual sections, you can always go back and do even more analysis to illustrate your point. But I'm sure that, for this stage, you have enough information, (and a strong enough thesis statement,) to start building indl. sections of your paper!

[yankeeyosh]

First of all, I had no idea you were even close to finishing, Erika...congrats!

For me, I spent my entire grad school career writing my thesis...I didn't have a second job, as I was taking classes throughout, but it wasn't easy. I would say that on average, I would work 70 hours a week. There were weeks (and months) where every weekday, I would get in the lab at 10 AM and not leave until 2 in the morning other than a couple of hours of dinner/gym. So it's tough, and while there are people out there who don't take grad school seriously and still pass, for those of us who still value our education, this can be grueling...no doubt about it.

That said, I really think the best thing to do is to find a happy "medium". Reserve a block of time each day (and one longer period on one of the two weekend days) for yourself, and when you reach the minute of that time block, cease work immediately and have fun! It's not easy, but just hang in there another few weeks, and you'll be done! :)

[ebruening]

First of all, I had no idea you were even close to finishing, Erika...congrats!

Thanks Mark, Winney, and Ashley. I'm finishing my ELL internship on top of finishing my thesis, but after those classes are done this term, I'll only have one more class left to take next spring. My program is accelerated and specifically works with teachers' schedules, so all of the classes are offered either on the weekends, during the evenings, or 8:00 - 5:00 p.m. during the summer. I ended up taking classes for all but two weeks of my "summer vacation," so that's why I'm able to finish my master's (hopefully) in two years, while still working full time.

I'm an absolute perfectionist, so if I feel like something won't be perfect, I'll procrastinate, while I think of ways to make it the best it could possibly be. I feel like I'm doing that with actually writing the individual sections of my thesis. It's driving me nuts! :eek:

Thanks, Winney, for suggesting getting up "mad early" in the mornings. I will try something along those lines, except that I'm much more inclined to do those things at night. I'll try spending 2 hours or so Monday through Thursday nights working on my thesis.

[winneythepooh7]

I personally am much more focused in the mornings. At night, I am super lazy and the last thing I want to do is think about anything majorly complex. I was NEVER one to stay up all night working on a paper in college. I'd end up just falling right to asleep!

[ebruening]

I am so excited, I just had to post this:

As of 15 minutes ago, I finished my thesis and my abstract. Now, I only have my Powerpoint presentation to finish :D After working solidly for nearly 4 months, and devoting every weekend and at least 1 full 6-hour evening a week to my thesis, I am done with the "hard" part of the process.

(Yes, I still need to revise a few sections of my thesis, and edit it once those revisions are done. However, that process has never proven troublesome for me.)

My bf and I are going out for a late lunch/early dinner to celebrate :D

Did anybody else feel an overwhelming sense of relief when they reached the point where they were nearly finished with their project?

[winneythepooh7]

First off, congrats!!!! Second, yes, I've been there and it's an AMAZING sense of relief. Congrats again!

[CityGal]

Congrats. I know you'll do fine.

[ebruening]

I presented my thesis a few weeks ago, and it went very well. I got a special little certificate, too :D It feels SO nice to be done with it. Only my internship, and another online class to go...thanks to everyone here for your support and encouragement.

[winneythepooh7]

Yay! That's great news. Congrats again!

[TinyDancer]

Congrats! Do you feel like. . . "what the hell will I do with all my free time now!?!?" :D

[ebruening]

Congrats! Do you feel like. . . "what the hell will I do with all my free time now!?!?" :D

LOL. Kind of, yeah...except that I'll probably spend most of my free time trying to plan my wedding...which, like my thesis, is something I have no clue how to start.

Thanks for the congrats. Best wishes with your master's program as well.

[TinyDancer]

LOL. Kind of, yeah...except that I'll probably spend most of my free time trying to plan my wedding...which, like my thesis, is something I have no clue how to start.

Thanks for the congrats. Best wishes with your master's program as well.
Oh, I finished my masters a few years ago. . . and I was spoiled and had a non-thesis program. ;) Thank God!

Good luck with the wedding planning. . . yeah, I guess you can't claim that free time just yet!!!

[yankeeyosh]

Congrats Erika!!!!! :) It's an amazing feeling, isn't it?