How to tell my parents I want to drop out of my masters degree?

2

I’m starting the second part of my masters degree and I want to drop out. I hated the first part of this year and was hoping my grades wouldn’t be good enough to continue. However, I passed with the minimum marks so I can’t use that excuse. I have started the second part and I still hate it and it’s making me miserable all the time and the grade I’m currently getting isn’t worth me carrying on. I want to tell my parents this weekend but I’m scared of disappointing them or making them feel I’m doing this to be lazy. Any advice?

Reply 1

University of Salford Student Rep

Official Rep

13

Original post

by Hazman67

I’m starting the second part of my masters degree and I want to drop out. I hated the first part of this year and was hoping my grades wouldn’t be good enough to continue. However, I passed with the minimum marks so I can’t use that excuse. I have started the second part and I still hate it and it’s making me miserable all the time and the grade I’m currently getting isn’t worth me carrying on. I want to tell my parents this weekend but I’m scared of disappointing them or making them feel I’m doing this to be lazy. Any advice?

Hi @Hazman67

I'm sorry to hear you're not enjoying your masters. First have you looked into possibly changing the course you are on, to something similar but that you might enjoy more. Some unis allow people to transfer courses that way your not dropping a masters just redirecting.

Alternatively, have you looked at what you might do once stopping your masters. Having a strong plan could make it easier for your parents to accept. Hopefully the fact you aren't enjoying the course, and that it's showing in your grades would be enough. But if you're not sure it will be, then being prepared with what you will do instead could be helpful. It will also minimize any chance they think you're dropping out because you're lazy.

I understand that it can be nerve wracking to tell your parents that you don't want to continue in the education that you planned, (I was on path to becoming a psychologist before I stopped and swapped to TV and Radio Production). It's hard when you think you might disappoint them. However, this is your life. A masters degree will put you more firmly on a set career path, which if you're not liking the masters you likely won't enjoy the job. So sometimes you have to do what is best for you.

Hope this helps, and good luck if you decide to tell them this weekend,

Eleanor
University of Salford Student Rep

Reply 2

Kingston Eve

Official Rep

13

Original post

by Hazman67

I’m starting the second part of my masters degree and I want to drop out. I hated the first part of this year and was hoping my grades wouldn’t be good enough to continue. However, I passed with the minimum marks so I can’t use that excuse. I have started the second part and I still hate it and it’s making me miserable all the time and the grade I’m currently getting isn’t worth me carrying on. I want to tell my parents this weekend but I’m scared of disappointing them or making them feel I’m doing this to be lazy. Any advice?

Hey @Hazman67,

I'm sorry to hear you haven't enjoyed studying your Masters degree.

Before speaking to your parents, I would recommend trying to come up with a rough plan for the next year or so in terms of education/employment. After dropping out of your Masters degree, do you intend to work full-time/part-time or pursue a different degree elsewhere? Showing you've thought a lot about your decision will help your parents feel more comfortable with your choice.

Best of luck and hope all goes well,
Eve (Kingston Rep).

Reply 3

Emma:-)

Entertainment Forum Helper, Careers Forum Helper

19

Original post

by Hazman67

I’m starting the second part of my masters degree and I want to drop out. I hated the first part of this year and was hoping my grades wouldn’t be good enough to continue. However, I passed with the minimum marks so I can’t use that excuse. I have started the second part and I still hate it and it’s making me miserable all the time and the grade I’m currently getting isn’t worth me carrying on. I want to tell my parents this weekend but I’m scared of disappointing them or making them feel I’m doing this to be lazy. Any advice?

Is there any way of you changing course?
Just tell your parents that you arent enjoying it, like you hoped you would do. I am sure they would rather you quit now, than carry on and be mirserable.

Reply 4

threeportdrift

Careers Forum Helper

20

Original post

by Hazman67

I’m starting the second part of my masters degree and I want to drop out. I hated the first part of this year and was hoping my grades wouldn’t be good enough to continue. However, I passed with the minimum marks so I can’t use that excuse. I have started the second part and I still hate it and it’s making me miserable all the time and the grade I’m currently getting isn’t worth me carrying on. I want to tell my parents this weekend but I’m scared of disappointing them or making them feel I’m doing this to be lazy. Any advice?

First of all - what Masters? is it a clear pre-requisite for a career, or is is just an added extra?

The grade isn't so much of an issue - very few employers care, so you don't need to put it on a CV. For the vast majority of employers a) they don't care about you having a Masters, or b) you've either got one or you haven't. It's really only academia/research where a Masters grade matters, and if you aren't enjoying a masters, you aren't cut out for those routes anyway.

But from your parents perspective, the roots of their concern is that you are doing something useful with your life. So you need to find an alternative plan and make it more substantial that just 'I want....'. So I'd slog on with the Masters for a bit longer, but focus on using the Uni careers service and finding an alternative route. Speak to your parents when you've got a credible plan in place. Then add in dissing the value of the Masters for that route.

Reply 5

ErasistratusV

21

Finish it up. 2-3 years is nothing in the scheme of things and you'll look back and be proud of your achievement in the end. You have obvious ability if you're getting the necessary marks without even particularly enjoying your time on the course.

Reply 6

Kallisto

Entertainment Forum Helper, Life & Style Forum Helper

22

Original post

by Hazman67

I’m starting the second part of my masters degree and I want to drop out. I hated the first part of this year and was hoping my grades wouldn’t be good enough to continue. However, I passed with the minimum marks so I can’t use that excuse. I have started the second part and I still hate it and it’s making me miserable all the time and the grade I’m currently getting isn’t worth me carrying on. I want to tell my parents this weekend but I’m scared of disappointing them or making them feel I’m doing this to be lazy. Any advice?

If your parents are open minded for a conversation, try it with honesty. Making your parents proud is the one thing, being unhappy with your masters studies the other one.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 7

hallamstudents

Official Rep

18

Original post

by Hazman67

I’m starting the second part of my masters degree and I want to drop out. I hated the first part of this year and was hoping my grades wouldn’t be good enough to continue. However, I passed with the minimum marks so I can’t use that excuse. I have started the second part and I still hate it and it’s making me miserable all the time and the grade I’m currently getting isn’t worth me carrying on. I want to tell my parents this weekend but I’m scared of disappointing them or making them feel I’m doing this to be lazy. Any advice?

Hi there,

This sounds like a tricky one for you.

Before speaking to your parents it may be a good idea to have a look into what you might be able to do next, and then when you go to them to tell them that you are thinking of dropping out, you have a plan in mind to be able to tell them so it sounds like you have got something sorted. I think that they will take it a lot better if you have thought about what you could do next, rather than not having a set plan and then they won't think that you are lazy at all!

As others have said, is there any way you could continue the course? If it is only a one year course, and I am assuming that you might have paid for most of it so far so it might be worth seeing if you could finish it. I know it is hard doing something you don't enjoy, so if you are really struggling then it isn't worth it, but it is worth thinking about at least.

Again, as has been mentioned on here, would there be any way that you could transfer your credits and go onto another course? You may not be able to but it could be worth a look and see if you can as this could be something that you might enjoy better.

You are not a failure at all if you do decide to drop out. You won't be the first, or last so don't worry as I am sure something that it meant for you will come along, and I am sure that your parents will be proud of you and happy for you regardless.

I hope some of this helps,

Lucy -SHU student ambassador.

How to tell my parents I want to drop out of my masters degree?

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