Feeling inadequate in MSc degree
I'm currently approaching the end of a one year MSc programme, and feel pretty disappointed with myself. While I haven't gotten any grades back from my project module (Which is 50%) of our final degree grade, I did not do well in most taught modules despite having a first class undergraduate BSc Neuroscience degree.
I enjoyed my undergraduate degree a lot, but as I started university during Covid my foundation with many practical skills was quite shaky. I didn't get to have much practical hands-on lab experience, except for a very short summer placement and my dissertation. In addition to this, I have several diagnosed learning disabilities, ASD, and a physical disability which makes me quite slow. I am very aware that it takes me more time, and sometimes different methods of explaining, to catch onto things compared to the average person.
When I started my master's course in a different department, Biological Sciences, I wanted to do part time study but my university did not allow it. I quickly realized lecturers were not reading my disability plan and was left to fend for myself almost the entire year, whenever I would ask questions the response I would often get is, "you're a master's student now, figure it out yourself." The reason why I did a taught master's rather than a MRES was to get more skills training and experience so I could feel confident doing research, but my course has just made me feel very inadequate and lacking in any intelligence whatsoever.
I went from being a decent student in undergraduate to having marks all over the place, in one module we had very similar assessments and one marker would give me a score 15 points lower than the other one, because they said the topic was dry and boring despite it coming from a list of topics that it was mandatory to select from. Many people in my cohort have been failing entire modules, so I know it is not just me struggling, but in one module we had an assessment where the highest mark was nearly 8 points below a passing grade. I will be lucky to come out of the taught component with a low merit, though all of the modules have nothing to do with the field I want to go into.
I am lucky to have a good dissertation supervisor who is very good at explaining things and guiding me, but my supervisor did express disappointment that I was not catching on and progressing in the ways that their previous UG students had, despite this being my first time ever handling animal models and only being given 3 months by my university to train and complete an entire project. I've also had several staff in the department making snarky comments at me about my questions being dumb, and just generally making me feel bad. Having learning disabilities makes me feel sorely unwelcome, even though I am passionate about research and want to learn.
I wanted to do a PhD but now I am not so sure, my master's has left me feeling inadequate and I've been told that ending up with a low to mid merit will severely restrict my chances at doing a PhD, even though I graduated UG with a first overall and a 76 in my dissertation. I have even had people insinuate that there must have been grade inflation in my UG program due to my grades tanking in the MSc, even though a lot of the content is not even remotely related to my UG or intended field of Neuroscience at all and is entirely new information for me and crammed into one term. I have considered giving up research entirely at this point due to my experiences in my MSc even though it is what I have always wanted to do.
I enjoyed my undergraduate degree a lot, but as I started university during Covid my foundation with many practical skills was quite shaky. I didn't get to have much practical hands-on lab experience, except for a very short summer placement and my dissertation. In addition to this, I have several diagnosed learning disabilities, ASD, and a physical disability which makes me quite slow. I am very aware that it takes me more time, and sometimes different methods of explaining, to catch onto things compared to the average person.
When I started my master's course in a different department, Biological Sciences, I wanted to do part time study but my university did not allow it. I quickly realized lecturers were not reading my disability plan and was left to fend for myself almost the entire year, whenever I would ask questions the response I would often get is, "you're a master's student now, figure it out yourself." The reason why I did a taught master's rather than a MRES was to get more skills training and experience so I could feel confident doing research, but my course has just made me feel very inadequate and lacking in any intelligence whatsoever.
I went from being a decent student in undergraduate to having marks all over the place, in one module we had very similar assessments and one marker would give me a score 15 points lower than the other one, because they said the topic was dry and boring despite it coming from a list of topics that it was mandatory to select from. Many people in my cohort have been failing entire modules, so I know it is not just me struggling, but in one module we had an assessment where the highest mark was nearly 8 points below a passing grade. I will be lucky to come out of the taught component with a low merit, though all of the modules have nothing to do with the field I want to go into.
I am lucky to have a good dissertation supervisor who is very good at explaining things and guiding me, but my supervisor did express disappointment that I was not catching on and progressing in the ways that their previous UG students had, despite this being my first time ever handling animal models and only being given 3 months by my university to train and complete an entire project. I've also had several staff in the department making snarky comments at me about my questions being dumb, and just generally making me feel bad. Having learning disabilities makes me feel sorely unwelcome, even though I am passionate about research and want to learn.
I wanted to do a PhD but now I am not so sure, my master's has left me feeling inadequate and I've been told that ending up with a low to mid merit will severely restrict my chances at doing a PhD, even though I graduated UG with a first overall and a 76 in my dissertation. I have even had people insinuate that there must have been grade inflation in my UG program due to my grades tanking in the MSc, even though a lot of the content is not even remotely related to my UG or intended field of Neuroscience at all and is entirely new information for me and crammed into one term. I have considered giving up research entirely at this point due to my experiences in my MSc even though it is what I have always wanted to do.
Well there doesn't seem to be a specific question here but in general - regarding the accessibility things your uni is supposed to do for you but isn't implementing, this is something you need to push back hard on and if necessary appeal results on the procedural basis that the university had the reasonable adjustments they were supposed to provide, then did not provide those. Your Student Union may be able to help support you with this.
Regarding continuing down the research route, I'd bear in mind that doing research at a doctoral level is, as I understand, very different from a "taught" course at either masters or undergraduate. I would expect your experience of dissertations/theses would be more aligned with this (as well as practical classes if it's an experimental project), compared to lecture based courses with exams and problem sheet style coursework to my knowledge. So if you've done well in the former stuff which it sounds like in general other than having more limited lab exposure due to COVID, I wouldn't write it off in terms of whether it's "for you".
That said the result in the masters may impact your ability to secure funding in some cases which may as has been explained to you, limit your options. That said I think this behooves you even more to challenge the issues experienced so far and appeal where appropriate results that were received after not getting the support the uni is legally obliged to provide you. As this may in fact change that to some extent.
Granted to a point there may be a truism in that as a masters student you are expected to be a lot more self directed and independent in your learning and rely less on the lecture material explaining it to you and more on just giving you an outline to go off by yourself to then independently read relevant papers//book chapters/etc, including any necessary background knowledge. Of course there should also be office hours where you can go to discuss particular problems you find in that independent reading you've done. However this still doesn't obviate the university's obligations to provide reasonable adjustments for you and for lecturers to implement those where applicable.
Regarding continuing down the research route, I'd bear in mind that doing research at a doctoral level is, as I understand, very different from a "taught" course at either masters or undergraduate. I would expect your experience of dissertations/theses would be more aligned with this (as well as practical classes if it's an experimental project), compared to lecture based courses with exams and problem sheet style coursework to my knowledge. So if you've done well in the former stuff which it sounds like in general other than having more limited lab exposure due to COVID, I wouldn't write it off in terms of whether it's "for you".
That said the result in the masters may impact your ability to secure funding in some cases which may as has been explained to you, limit your options. That said I think this behooves you even more to challenge the issues experienced so far and appeal where appropriate results that were received after not getting the support the uni is legally obliged to provide you. As this may in fact change that to some extent.
Granted to a point there may be a truism in that as a masters student you are expected to be a lot more self directed and independent in your learning and rely less on the lecture material explaining it to you and more on just giving you an outline to go off by yourself to then independently read relevant papers//book chapters/etc, including any necessary background knowledge. Of course there should also be office hours where you can go to discuss particular problems you find in that independent reading you've done. However this still doesn't obviate the university's obligations to provide reasonable adjustments for you and for lecturers to implement those where applicable.
I just finished my MRes in neuroscience. I have ADHD, so my idle animation is bizarre to outright ****** to most. People are normally polite enough to not comment on it, those who did shut up pretty quick after they knew I have ADHD. Point is, sometimes, you might need to inform them, that you have something like this, if they did not care, that's a valid ground for filing a formal complaint.
I am very curious how did your supervisor expect you to train, get a license for animal research (assuming it's a mouse model?), then conduct an animal research within 3 months, that was simply not a realistic goal. If it was a Drosophila... well, I have no experience to comment on that.
I would say, try applying for research assistant job in a lab that interests you, but far away from the current crowd. For a year or something, get that EXP, then apply for PhD, preferably with fundings. And if you absolutely hate the experience, then you are sorted, no longer need to consider doing PhD, saving yourself 4 years.
I am very curious how did your supervisor expect you to train, get a license for animal research (assuming it's a mouse model?), then conduct an animal research within 3 months, that was simply not a realistic goal. If it was a Drosophila... well, I have no experience to comment on that.
I would say, try applying for research assistant job in a lab that interests you, but far away from the current crowd. For a year or something, get that EXP, then apply for PhD, preferably with fundings. And if you absolutely hate the experience, then you are sorted, no longer need to consider doing PhD, saving yourself 4 years.
Original post by MaiValentine
I'm currently approaching the end of a one year MSc programme, and feel pretty disappointed with myself. While I haven't gotten any grades back from my project module (Which is 50%) of our final degree grade, I did not do well in most taught modules despite having a first class undergraduate BSc Neuroscience degree.
I enjoyed my undergraduate degree a lot, but as I started university during Covid my foundation with many practical skills was quite shaky. I didn't get to have much practical hands-on lab experience, except for a very short summer placement and my dissertation. In addition to this, I have several diagnosed learning disabilities, ASD, and a physical disability which makes me quite slow. I am very aware that it takes me more time, and sometimes different methods of explaining, to catch onto things compared to the average person.
When I started my master's course in a different department, Biological Sciences, I wanted to do part time study but my university did not allow it. I quickly realized lecturers were not reading my disability plan and was left to fend for myself almost the entire year, whenever I would ask questions the response I would often get is, "you're a master's student now, figure it out yourself." The reason why I did a taught master's rather than a MRES was to get more skills training and experience so I could feel confident doing research, but my course has just made me feel very inadequate and lacking in any intelligence whatsoever.
I went from being a decent student in undergraduate to having marks all over the place, in one module we had very similar assessments and one marker would give me a score 15 points lower than the other one, because they said the topic was dry and boring despite it coming from a list of topics that it was mandatory to select from. Many people in my cohort have been failing entire modules, so I know it is not just me struggling, but in one module we had an assessment where the highest mark was nearly 8 points below a passing grade. I will be lucky to come out of the taught component with a low merit, though all of the modules have nothing to do with the field I want to go into.
I am lucky to have a good dissertation supervisor who is very good at explaining things and guiding me, but my supervisor did express disappointment that I was not catching on and progressing in the ways that their previous UG students had, despite this being my first time ever handling animal models and only being given 3 months by my university to train and complete an entire project. I've also had several staff in the department making snarky comments at me about my questions being dumb, and just generally making me feel bad. Having learning disabilities makes me feel sorely unwelcome, even though I am passionate about research and want to learn.
I wanted to do a PhD but now I am not so sure, my master's has left me feeling inadequate and I've been told that ending up with a low to mid merit will severely restrict my chances at doing a PhD, even though I graduated UG with a first overall and a 76 in my dissertation. I have even had people insinuate that there must have been grade inflation in my UG program due to my grades tanking in the MSc, even though a lot of the content is not even remotely related to my UG or intended field of Neuroscience at all and is entirely new information for me and crammed into one term. I have considered giving up research entirely at this point due to my experiences in my MSc even though it is what I have always wanted to do.
I enjoyed my undergraduate degree a lot, but as I started university during Covid my foundation with many practical skills was quite shaky. I didn't get to have much practical hands-on lab experience, except for a very short summer placement and my dissertation. In addition to this, I have several diagnosed learning disabilities, ASD, and a physical disability which makes me quite slow. I am very aware that it takes me more time, and sometimes different methods of explaining, to catch onto things compared to the average person.
When I started my master's course in a different department, Biological Sciences, I wanted to do part time study but my university did not allow it. I quickly realized lecturers were not reading my disability plan and was left to fend for myself almost the entire year, whenever I would ask questions the response I would often get is, "you're a master's student now, figure it out yourself." The reason why I did a taught master's rather than a MRES was to get more skills training and experience so I could feel confident doing research, but my course has just made me feel very inadequate and lacking in any intelligence whatsoever.
I went from being a decent student in undergraduate to having marks all over the place, in one module we had very similar assessments and one marker would give me a score 15 points lower than the other one, because they said the topic was dry and boring despite it coming from a list of topics that it was mandatory to select from. Many people in my cohort have been failing entire modules, so I know it is not just me struggling, but in one module we had an assessment where the highest mark was nearly 8 points below a passing grade. I will be lucky to come out of the taught component with a low merit, though all of the modules have nothing to do with the field I want to go into.
I am lucky to have a good dissertation supervisor who is very good at explaining things and guiding me, but my supervisor did express disappointment that I was not catching on and progressing in the ways that their previous UG students had, despite this being my first time ever handling animal models and only being given 3 months by my university to train and complete an entire project. I've also had several staff in the department making snarky comments at me about my questions being dumb, and just generally making me feel bad. Having learning disabilities makes me feel sorely unwelcome, even though I am passionate about research and want to learn.
I wanted to do a PhD but now I am not so sure, my master's has left me feeling inadequate and I've been told that ending up with a low to mid merit will severely restrict my chances at doing a PhD, even though I graduated UG with a first overall and a 76 in my dissertation. I have even had people insinuate that there must have been grade inflation in my UG program due to my grades tanking in the MSc, even though a lot of the content is not even remotely related to my UG or intended field of Neuroscience at all and is entirely new information for me and crammed into one term. I have considered giving up research entirely at this point due to my experiences in my MSc even though it is what I have always wanted to do.
I am so sorry that you have such a bad experience in your masters, my masters lecturer were all very helpful, especially my thesis supervisor who gave me extra meetings sessions for my thesis. While I have no learning difficulties, English is not my first language and I have depression but I have been going for counselling after my thesis supervisor recommended.
Honestly I do have the interest in pursuing a PHD because I am passionate about the environment, I did my BSc in Economics and MSc in Ecological Economics, and I have the same issue, thinking I am not "smart" or "talented" enough to apply/study towards a PHD.
Honestly I would suggest applying to supervisors that are seeking for a PHD student in a certain topic, most UK institution provide funding for local/EU applicants, I think MRES is also a good exposure if you are thinking about pursuing a PHD, at least you can test if you would like the PHD life. Or get some experience in the industry before pursuing a PHD. I have actually worked two years in the investment industry, which is completely unrelated to sustainability but here I am!
Don't let your self-doubt impede your passion !
Original post by MaiValentine
I'm currently approaching the end of a one year MSc programme, and feel pretty disappointed with myself. While I haven't gotten any grades back from my project module (Which is 50%) of our final degree grade, I did not do well in most taught modules despite having a first class undergraduate BSc Neuroscience degree.
I enjoyed my undergraduate degree a lot, but as I started university during Covid my foundation with many practical skills was quite shaky. I didn't get to have much practical hands-on lab experience, except for a very short summer placement and my dissertation. In addition to this, I have several diagnosed learning disabilities, ASD, and a physical disability which makes me quite slow. I am very aware that it takes me more time, and sometimes different methods of explaining, to catch onto things compared to the average person.
When I started my master's course in a different department, Biological Sciences, I wanted to do part time study but my university did not allow it. I quickly realized lecturers were not reading my disability plan and was left to fend for myself almost the entire year, whenever I would ask questions the response I would often get is, "you're a master's student now, figure it out yourself." The reason why I did a taught master's rather than a MRES was to get more skills training and experience so I could feel confident doing research, but my course has just made me feel very inadequate and lacking in any intelligence whatsoever.
I went from being a decent student in undergraduate to having marks all over the place, in one module we had very similar assessments and one marker would give me a score 15 points lower than the other one, because they said the topic was dry and boring despite it coming from a list of topics that it was mandatory to select from. Many people in my cohort have been failing entire modules, so I know it is not just me struggling, but in one module we had an assessment where the highest mark was nearly 8 points below a passing grade. I will be lucky to come out of the taught component with a low merit, though all of the modules have nothing to do with the field I want to go into.
I am lucky to have a good dissertation supervisor who is very good at explaining things and guiding me, but my supervisor did express disappointment that I was not catching on and progressing in the ways that their previous UG students had, despite this being my first time ever handling animal models and only being given 3 months by my university to train and complete an entire project. I've also had several staff in the department making snarky comments at me about my questions being dumb, and just generally making me feel bad. Having learning disabilities makes me feel sorely unwelcome, even though I am passionate about research and want to learn.
I wanted to do a PhD but now I am not so sure, my master's has left me feeling inadequate and I've been told that ending up with a low to mid merit will severely restrict my chances at doing a PhD, even though I graduated UG with a first overall and a 76 in my dissertation. I have even had people insinuate that there must have been grade inflation in my UG program due to my grades tanking in the MSc, even though a lot of the content is not even remotely related to my UG or intended field of Neuroscience at all and is entirely new information for me and crammed into one term. I have considered giving up research entirely at this point due to my experiences in my MSc even though it is what I have always wanted to do.
I enjoyed my undergraduate degree a lot, but as I started university during Covid my foundation with many practical skills was quite shaky. I didn't get to have much practical hands-on lab experience, except for a very short summer placement and my dissertation. In addition to this, I have several diagnosed learning disabilities, ASD, and a physical disability which makes me quite slow. I am very aware that it takes me more time, and sometimes different methods of explaining, to catch onto things compared to the average person.
When I started my master's course in a different department, Biological Sciences, I wanted to do part time study but my university did not allow it. I quickly realized lecturers were not reading my disability plan and was left to fend for myself almost the entire year, whenever I would ask questions the response I would often get is, "you're a master's student now, figure it out yourself." The reason why I did a taught master's rather than a MRES was to get more skills training and experience so I could feel confident doing research, but my course has just made me feel very inadequate and lacking in any intelligence whatsoever.
I went from being a decent student in undergraduate to having marks all over the place, in one module we had very similar assessments and one marker would give me a score 15 points lower than the other one, because they said the topic was dry and boring despite it coming from a list of topics that it was mandatory to select from. Many people in my cohort have been failing entire modules, so I know it is not just me struggling, but in one module we had an assessment where the highest mark was nearly 8 points below a passing grade. I will be lucky to come out of the taught component with a low merit, though all of the modules have nothing to do with the field I want to go into.
I am lucky to have a good dissertation supervisor who is very good at explaining things and guiding me, but my supervisor did express disappointment that I was not catching on and progressing in the ways that their previous UG students had, despite this being my first time ever handling animal models and only being given 3 months by my university to train and complete an entire project. I've also had several staff in the department making snarky comments at me about my questions being dumb, and just generally making me feel bad. Having learning disabilities makes me feel sorely unwelcome, even though I am passionate about research and want to learn.
I wanted to do a PhD but now I am not so sure, my master's has left me feeling inadequate and I've been told that ending up with a low to mid merit will severely restrict my chances at doing a PhD, even though I graduated UG with a first overall and a 76 in my dissertation. I have even had people insinuate that there must have been grade inflation in my UG program due to my grades tanking in the MSc, even though a lot of the content is not even remotely related to my UG or intended field of Neuroscience at all and is entirely new information for me and crammed into one term. I have considered giving up research entirely at this point due to my experiences in my MSc even though it is what I have always wanted to do.
I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling this way. It sounds like you’ve worked hard under challenging circumstances, and your passion for neuroscience still shines through. If you need any help catching up on remaining lessons for this quarter, please don’t hesitate to reach out—I’d be happy to support you.
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