I felt completely burnt out and lost while doing my master's programme so, I decided to drop out of my master's programme today and of course against everyone's wishes (READ:FAMILIAL PRESSURE). This video is all that I needed to calm myself. I can't thank you enough Jac! :)

I absolutely hate being in my masters degree program. It is so needlessly stressful. The online zoom meetings are annoying and a waste of time and the work is constantly piled on. I am so stressed out I am now seeing a therapist. The only thing is that the career I am studying for is what I love. I've decided I will finish this degree, but after this I am DONE with Academia forever. I really can't express how much I hate this.

Not even one semester in and I’ve realized how pointless and tiring doing a Masters is for me personally. Gonna at least try to finish the semester and see if I want to quit or push through the next one.

Last year (2022), I dropped out of my master's program. The stress and workload outweighed my motivation. My only concern was not disappointing my family. I had decent grades for the first two semesters, but I took control of my life and dropped out nevertheless. Right now, I'm doing well.

I’m in this place right now. I keep failing courses, wasting time and money; causing my graduation date to be pushed back. I want the credentials, but I already have one degree, and I am struggling to get through my masters! I appreciate this video, thank you!! I may take time away for now.

I’m in a similar situation right now. I haven’t even finished my first period yet but I’ve known from the start that this isn’t for me. I’ve never been into the academic world; it always felt like it wasn’t my environment. I finished my Bachelor’s, took a gap year and worked a retail job, and decided I didn’t want to look yet for a serious job, so I decided to enroll in Uni once again. Now I realise I’m here for the wrong reasons (family pressure, thinking that obtaining a Master’s is all I am). My head is in it, I’m determined and hardworking, but my heart isn’t. I simply cannot do it. I don’t like the Master’s, I’m missing a huge amount of background and knowledge in the field, and the environment is not it for me. So thank you for this video, this truly felt like a hug and a “it’s going to be alright.” I needed that. I know the Internet is adamant on finishing such a degree but I also know that sometimes our mental health is more important than a piece of paper :)

Hey Jac, Thanks a lot for making this video. It has been very helpful. I am glad to have found the rest of the other folks who have actually gone through something like this. 🙏🙏...

"I didn't want to get a job and I didn't want to go out into the real world"...yeah, this is basically me. I didn't particularly want to do a masters in the first place, but it seemed like everyone else thought I'd be silly not to. And on paper, it does look like a good idea, but my heart is sooo not in this. The thought of spending another year enrolled on a course that I'm not passionate about, and then researching and writing a dissertation, is a bit sickening and physically headache inducing. Watching this has made me a whole lot more comfortable with my decision - Thank you for sharing!

I hope this helps anyone who may need it :)

This really helped me. I’m at a top university in my country for my master’s and…i’m miserable. I don’t want to come off as ungrateful. I don’t want to be judged or looked at as if i can’t finish things. but I know I don’t want to finish. I want to still pursue law school, i’m just skipping my graduate degree. This video really comforted me. 🥺 thank you!

Thanks for the video man. I dropped out last year from my Masters degree program in Computer Science. Amidst the COVID lockdowns here in China, the stress was just too much. It was a hard decision but I’ve decided to go home. Blessings to everyone

Great video and I can relate. Glad you can fulfil your dreams and passions regardless.

You've helped me tremendously with this video, Jac. I actually tried getting a master's degree two different times, and still never got one. First time, I had to drop out of school when I was diagnosed with cancer. I recovered from that, but instead of returning to school, l got a good corporate job. A few years ago I decided to try again to get a master's. By this time, though, I was in a different place in life and couldn't stand school. It was a miserable experience (and that's putting it mildly). Some days, I still feel like a failure for not having that master's degree. Of course at this point I realize I'll never attempt it again -- your video calmed me down and lets me know that it's OK.

I'm watching this today. This is something I needed to calm my thoughts. Thank you so much for this!

I feel very sad about dropping out of my Master's program. Due to my age, I think this was my last chance to get a MSc degree, but doing it while working 2 jobs, has made me feel miserable. I'm feeling mediocre at everything because I can't give my best. It's too much and it's messing with my mind.

Jac your videos are so so inspiring. You have such clarity and it really helps us viewers!

Thank you so much for making this video. I've been feeling exactly how you described feeling on my masters course. The only aspect for me staying is not wanting to disappoint my family but I struggle to keep my mental health together and continue. This video was just what I needed to hear :)

It is such a comfort hearing your story as a contrast to the main background noise of everyone else always saying I need to keep going, thank you so much. I'm in a bit of a pickle myself, I have a BSc in Psychology which in itself isn't worth a lot unfortunately, hence I decided to do a master in pharmaceutical neuroscience, because I felt that would give me more unique skills and a better paying job in the future. But Lord, do I hate it. I have zero motivation, I'm pretty sure I don't even wanna pursue a job in this field anymore and do something completely different (something design-related maybe), but I honestly have no idea where to go. For me personally I would love to just get to work, I just have no idea what to do or which direction to go in, so doing *something* that will at least help my resume seems like the best option. Tough situation. But the video definitely helps :)

Thank you soooooooo much for this amazing vid. You might be amazed how much this helped me and so many more.

Thanks man.. feeling shitty..now it feels good to know that our example are so relatable.

My desire to drop out of my master’s program lead me here and from what I’ve learned from other people is that higher academia is really just hazing through books. 😅 By the end of it you’ll get your letters and you’ll belong to MSW, PHD, JD, MBA, etc. A master’s degree is just pledging different houses and hell week last years. ☠️

I decided to drop out today (I have one semester left) and i related to everything you said in this video. Like our stories are basically the same lol. Why can’t I have one unique experience 😂 no but for real, thank you for posting this. I’m actually really excited for what is ahead. Nervous as hell, but excited

Im so glad to see others struggle with their Masters program. I drudged through mine and barely made it but i made it.

Your videos are so helpful btw! thanks so much for doing them

The sunk cost fallacy is on my mind a lot more these days, lots of love to you friends. It's hard when you're passionate about something but find academia exhausting and stressful to the point of questioning your path...

Thank you for this! I’ve been dreading to quit especially with all classes being online. I felt like you and I just wanna start working already and not being stuck at home doing online classes. I’ve already finished my first year and I have another year left and I’ve been thinking to quit now before the new school year starts next week.

Thank you for the great video Jac ❤️ I’m facing a similar situation so I could relate with you. It requires great courage to dropout. I hope everything goes well!

Thank you, this is really helpful, I am really miserable doing my masters and my dissertation is the main why I don’t want to do it. I think I’ll drop out despite everyone’s advise. And also I already have a job anyways so it wouldn’t impact me negatively.

I'm currently almost at the end of my second semester. After listening to your point of view, it sort of give me a smack in my face because everything that you have said is the harsh truth. it's like I have been making these excuses just because I'm afraid to enter the real world, and somehow yes, being comfortable with the uncomfortable is just a depressing habit. I hate that I can't find enough courage to fill in that drop-out form just because I don't want to disappoint others (families and tutors). I never really talk about it with my fams. 😩 I don't want to think that I'm such a failure to find the easy way out, but to finish just for the sack of finishing is just not a good reason to continue. Help 😩

I’ve never related to something so much! Finished my first year and my research assistantship in the summer fully solidified for me that I absolutely do not want to do this anymore. I’m so burned out and holding onto a hair of motivation I have but Academia is just not for me. I only have a year left and unfortunately a scholarship is what’s keeping me back so I’m currently riding out. I find comfort knowing there are so many people who are in the same boat and so glad for those who left! it’s true courage for real!

Omg thank you so much! I am in a similar situation. Finished my Bachelor last year and now I am in a master course, just finished the first semester out of three. I am doing it at a different university. But it is basically the same course and honestly it is worse than in my last university, where I could still find some enjoyment in my work, even though I've known for some time now that I actually don't want to work in that field. I just didn't know what else to do with my life, so staying in academia seemed like the „easy“ thing to do, because I was used to that. But nope.. I am not enjoying the course at all, have lost all interest in anything related to it. I'm afraid I really have some sort of depressive episode... I was actually UNDERwhelmed with the workload, which in a weird way was stressful too, as well as really unsatisfying. What I was doing felt so useless and without any meaning. I know it seems stupid to do a masters degree even though I already knew in my bachelors that I don't really wanna continue that path, still got the degree and I'm happy that I finished my bachelor. It was extremely stressful and really hard work. But the masters course is so dreadful now. I feel really ungrateful because objectevly it isn't even that bad. Thing is, the Uni I am at is like really renowned and world wide known and all that, which makes quitting seem even more stupid and I feel like everyone will judge me for it. But you described that feeling so well. My heart isn't there at all and it really feels like I physically can't do it. Like everything inside me hates it :( Strangely I've been feeling this way since the first week of the semester, but I thought to give it a try. And I did. I really gave it my best, finished all the courses from the semester with pretty good results... No one can say I haven't tried, but I hated it all the way through. I just can't do it anymore, I hate it. I hope I find the courage to quit, it's making me miserable and left me feeling utterly lost and useless. I want to get out of academia, want to make my own money, have a routine and some more peace. Just really don't know what to do with my life at that point.. so thanks for the video, genuinely

searching dropping out, as I failed Biochemistry. Here Crying.

Completed all my classes, only thing left is just finishing my thesis and defending it. I had somewhat of an interest in my first semester, but I lost my enthusiasm over the next ones, until I lost all my interest in academy and a good chunk of my field. I'm burnt out. I don't want to read papers, I have started with an overambitious thesis subject which ate up my energy early on and I think now I'd just rather focus on my job and hobbies instead of stressing myself with this misery. I realised the moment I finished my first semester that I'm not a scholar and I have zero interest in being one. I don't know. It's nice to see other people that were/are in the same ship as I am.

Hi! I dropped recently. I already have a job and my objective with masters degree was to get more recognition and later get better wage. But I started to hate it so much and was it was not worth the stress I was getting (and ton of burnout). I lost 4 months on this, still have some months to decide to get into another one that I will hopefully actually like. Now I will do what I wanted to do: *driving license lmao*, spend more time with my family, and do what I like. My mistake was not leaving, but going for this (because of certain reasons) when I wanted another one more.

I think quitting is actually a brave decision, never easy to make! That takes a lot of self-awareness and courage. Good!

Well, I couldn’t relate less. I am under the process of dropping out of masters. I could never align my career aspirations with this degree. Eventually in my life, I want to do something poles apart from what I have been learning and doing in my masters. I’ve already wasted 2 years of my life, but I will not waste a single more second on this degree. Thanks a lot for the motivation and making me even more confident in what I am doing with it. Thanks so much.

Thank you for your video. It 's really difficult to talk to friends about i dropped out of master, i'm afraid to be seen as a loser. I suffered a lot from doing this master. I dont like the course, nether the location where the university is. I finally quited it even i was so close to finish it.

I've already got my MA two years ago. This year I wanted to pursue a 2nd MA program in order to be able to study PhD. After a month, three presentations and 2 research papers, along with working as a teacher, I can't handle it anymore. Tonight I decided to quit. It's difficult, since I've always been the A student, but enough is enough. I've already got one Master's, why the hassle! I hope all the best for anyone watching the video and deciding to quit. ❤️

I understand you completely, I left my job and went to UK to study my masters. It was one of the worst moments in my life, I finish it with poor grades because I didn't have the courage to quit, since I have already spent a lot of money.

It's crazy because I am in the last semester of my thesis for my program and I am dreading it. I have no motivation to do the work and I legit get crippling anxiety whenever I have to speak to my thesis advisor, whenever I have to start my work, or whenever I have a conversation with someone about my studies. I am torn between the decision of just sticking it out (I am literally at the finish line) or just throwing away two years' worth of master's work. I have even been looking into other master's programs that will not require a thesis or capstone towards the end of the program (that's how badly I am looking for my out). I am just stuck between a rock and hard place and your video has given me a little faith about whatever decision I do decide to go with.

i've been contemplating dropping out of my MSc degree since June 2021. I initially thought that it was because I was doing a project that I had no interest in so I spoke to my supervisor and I switched to a different project. the project that I'm doing now is a lot more interesting and it's something that I thought that i would feel different. now I'm almost 6 months into this new project and i still have no motivation to get anything done. I'm obviously behind on my project and i know i should be working but i can't bring myself to do anything. grad school makes me feel so depressed and i feel like I'm not allowed to quit because I'm on a bursary, i promised my supervisor that i would stay in this project until the very end and my parents would honestly lose their minds. i don't know what to do right now 😔

Came across your video today. I finally decided to drop out of my Master degree. I felt relief but at the same time sad .

I have yesterday received the news of the need to withdraw my MSc application from university of Bristol in STEM. It was not easy at all, specially studying two semesters in my 30's. I hope that it will get easier with time digesting this shock. Part of me is relief, and the other part is eating me. The feeling of returning to your hometown as a failure isn't easy at all.. the disappointments from yourself, family, and close friends.. I hope it gets easier with time.

Currently doing my masters in a career it turns out I am not interested in at all. I am dreading every single lecture assignment and exams. I am on the final term but the idea of doing a dissertation research paper is killing me and making want to drop out considering I only have a few months left. Thank you for this video it's good to see that others have been in the same situation 😊

I love being in grad school but I’ve known people who have dropped out and it’s almost always for the better. It’s hard to do it unless you’re completely committed

I attempted to leave my masters degree. I was incredibly ill, I was dealing with a bacterial infection that made me unable to walk as my joints were in so much pain. In addition, I was extremely depressed and suicidal. I spoke to my college and they lessened my course load. They said if I quit then, that the scholarships I was under may not have been available later. I wasn't even in the right mind, so I guess out of indecision I somehow stayed, my class was online at the time and only once a week, so I somehow was able to finish the semester. It took me 3 years to finish (originally 2 yr degree). I was put on a course of 3 antibiotics and eventually made it past the infection. NY mental health got better, but it never fully healed. Honestly I am glad I finished my masters as now I can apply for jobs I was previously not qualified for and had wanted to do. However, my mental health, being constantly in academia and too stressed, never had time to fully heal. Now that I finally have my job and making decent money, I'm considering quitting. My mental health is too much in shambles. Now I do think it's time to quit.

More videos like this please!

Thank you for this video. I’m contemplating dropping out of my postgrad program right now because I feel truly so lost and unsure of myself. Similarly to you, I didn’t want to venture into the “real world” yet so I figured that a masters would be fine. I’ve always been a great student and I thrives in undergrad, but I was truly not prepared for this. To make matters worse, I relocated to another country. I thought that moving abroad while working on my degree would be fun and exciting but it has only made my stresses worse I think. I love the country I’m staying in and I wish that I could still stay after dropping out, but I think I may need to just cut my losses, go home, and not waste anymore of my money. It’s quite embarrassing since I waited for a year to begin this program and everyone back homes was and is so excited for me, I can’t help but feel like I’m letting everyone down. Thanks to this video I don’t feel as crazy or stupid for wanting to leave.

Thank u 🙏 Right now I m in this dilemma

Amazing video man!

Its better to have a degree, than to have no degree at all, thats the way i looked at it. I did not enjoy my Bsc politcal science degree, i was on the wrong course, and others i knew had dropped out, however i was resilient and knew the reward would pay off in the future, given its a very comepetitve world out there, i had no choice to keep going, and didnt want to disappoint my family. Well done me for seeing the bigger picture!!

Aww man, this is me right now. Started mine full-time, then put it on hold for a bit, came back part-time and now I'm at the point of wanting to leave lol

It's tough, never expected grad school to be this tough. I've been thinking about dropping out since my 2nd semester, but I got a scholarship at the 2nd year. So, I did my best I could to finish the study. When it's time to work on a research, they make it complicated for me, and I ended up changing my topic for so many times. Then, long story short, I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety, so I decided to go home and quit. When I slowly recover, I tried again, back at my research, progress reports, consultation and stuffs. Now I'm almost done with my research but our department head want the research to go the other way again. I think I've had enough this time, I'm in my 4th year, only have few months left, and I guess it's the end for me. It used to be my dream to work in the field of Psychology but now I wish that I could unlearn it. These days I keep looking for a reason to stay, but all I found -- including your video -- confirmed that I should drop out. I'm grateful that I found your video, and the people in the comment section, it's so comforting to me right now :)

God bless you for doing this video

I am in my final year of degree. And now going to college I am just terrified about the college professors and hella stressed. My mental health is detoriating and want to drop the degree. I am being told that if I drop this I would always be questioned in interviews and would never get a job. Please help me what should I do.

I’m pursuing my masters in physics in one of the top universities of my country. I’m dreading to even attend a lecture now. I don’t wanna go through with it. I don’t have any motivation. I’ve been offered admission in the best universities and I’m still not satisfied. I go to university but I’m involved in studying and researching other stuff. I want to transition into data analytics/data science. My parents support me for the transition but I haven’t told them yet that I want to drop out of my masters. I want to get higher education but I just want the subject to be something that peaks my interest. I don’t know how to share this with my parents.

I have a job, tried out to get a masters. Loathed it from the start, I couldn't stand anymore having to deal with bullc*** from teachers, who just sent piles of work the student's way with little to no consideration for people that tried to juggle a masters and having to work, and whose time isn't exactly an abundant resource. And that on top of being constantly tired by the end of the week and having to go to classes on saturday mornings. After some long and hard thoughts I dropped out. Best decision I ever had. Better to kill it now, then let it grow wings by the time of the thesis.

Similar to you, i drop my master degree about 2 years ago because i feel that i have enough of knowledge as well as being completely exhausted. The problem i cant keep up with routine of "fake it till you make it". The problem is my master degree school there are demand for more informal interaction which i dont feel that i can keep up with. Moreover, I just dont it same with my bachelor, no criteria, no in-dept engage on the subject too and the worst is the master degree professors being sometime very judgemental without any hint for my project progress as well as classmate whom only think for themself and see you as being a competitor than friends. While sometime i feel churning in my stomach when some of my old friends able to reach the new high with their shiny life long Gov's support for their phd, i say well i reach my limit and give up. Currently, i am chasing a complete opposite types of major (part-time). However i dont this time i will give it up that easily.

I have done my bachelors in economics, mathematics and statistics in 2020 and recently I've enrolled in masters in economics at a top university in my country but after going through the course work for 3 months, I've realized that this is not for me. Until now I thought I couldn't focus on work because I was lazy but the real thing is economics is not my real interest at all. I just chose it because it is popular . I did very well in statistics and OR during my undergrad but I've always looked down upon it though it was easiest and most fun subject to do. I have been feeling miserable for few days and today I have decided to quit my masters. I'll not do masters in statistics and operations research either because that's gonna be time consuming and costly. I've already wasted an year due too covid. So, I am thinking to prepare for statistical services exam of government, so during the preparation I can enjoy the subject and if I get selected I could take a nice paying job in the field that excites me as well as that helps in the progress of the country. thank you very much bro for this video. now I really don't feel like I am doing something wrong.

I'm watching this video after just failing a quiz in my program. I feel so burnt out. I'm not enjoying anything I am learning and I don't think this degree will help me in my career at all. I come from a mentality of "finish what you start" but at this rate, Ill be in this program for another 1.5 years and the thought of that is killing me on the inside. I think I need to walk away. The frustrating part is I already have a masters to there is no point in me doing this to myself yet I felt the need to do it at the time.

I'm currently in my first semester of the master's (1st month actually) and I really feel like shit. I feel more like applying for jobs in programming (I've taken some requisite courses) or quite literally anything. I really feel like quitting, and what I plan to do is "Apply for jobs and do that instead" rather than a master's degree where I find my soul being quite crushed pretty much daily.

At the start of my PhD I had so much going on. My childhood friends were killing themselves on hard drugs, and they hated me having anything they didn't have. The amount of gaslighting and over all toxicity pushed me to cut them out. A month later I had a friend die, and 2 weeks later I had another friend die... Made me worry about these people since I thought they'd kill themselves soon too. There was a few more things going on. I stopped doing my work and started acting very off. Being surrounded by pretentious people who are VERY much full of themselves was terrible for me. My program is ranked #1 in my field of study, so this happens. I'd show up to campus having no sleep for a few days, and I'd only get talked down to by my supposed friends. Going from toxic drug addicts to these superficial douche bags pushed me into this shut down mode where I wanted nothing because I felt I belonged no where. I stuck through it for a couple years not really getting anything done. I got good grades in all my classes I manged to take, but I still procrastinated the course work and worse my research. I'd smoke weed and drink all day playing video games, which is not like me ta all. I finally got to the point where I could focus again last year, but now I deal with people others set perception of me. I enjoy the physics again, but I really, really can not stand the people. I think I should have just dropped out at the beginning and focused on my mental health for a semester. That is WAY more important than pushing through the pain. I'm almost done, but I sometimes feel like I should still just drop out. My projects is not what I wanted it to be, and I can not stand going to campus. I'll probably just get it done, but it seems like a relief to just say good bye and move on. Soon enough I will and hopefully the PhD will be worth it in the end.

I submitted my thesis a few days ago and it was so bad I'm actually looking at a fail.. I wish I'd dropped out on day 1

Hi Jac, im currently in this sticky situation. I dropped out last week but then when I came home fell into really bad depression and guilt because I couldn’t stop thinking about what if I do my essays and assignments and give myself time to make a decision in second semester maybe. So now I have re-enrolled. And will just see how it goes. I’m wondering, when you decided to leave and accept the PGDip, did you fully withdraw straight away, or did you just continue being enrolled but simply didn’t turn in a dissertation? best wishes!

Какая же жиза, такая же ситуация. После универа тупо не знаешь что делать из-за того что до этого в жизни вели "за руку" школа-универ, не нужно самому планировать. Поступил на магистратуру и к концу магистратуры уже понял что больше не могу

I honestly hate my message program. I am in masters of social work. I got my bachelors last year I graduated and you know I love my undergrad program and social work. You know it gave me the idea that you know I can be a social worker and you know there is you know a lot of opportunities out there But really there’s no opportunity out there for people who have a bachelors degree I didn’t even wanna be a social worker when I got out of high school I wanted to go to school for digital film. That was my dream to do either animation, directing or producing or even acting because I love doing that, but my dad got in my head and was like you know you should do something where you’re not on your feet all the time because you have a disability basically. And I’m I am slowly starting to regret going straight into my masters because I hate it. I hate it so much and I am really debating whether or not I should drop out of this masters program and go into another undergrad because my plan is to go and get a mass communications degree And then find a job because they have a lot of work out there for people with those types of degrees and I really really struggling. Should I stay in my program and you know struggle or should I just drop it out. I’m already on academic probation I didn’t do well my first mod.I I was able to pull B minus but I failed my elective which I didn’t finish the elective. I ended up dropping that elective because I was failing and I guess that affected my GPA I don’t even know what my GPA is but I’m thinking I’m going to drop out of this program, because I really do not feel confident that I’m going to finish this degree

I'm planning to drop out with one class left due to the professor being the toughest grader. There's no win-win. From speaking to the students, I'm not the only one struggling. It's my second time retaking his course. He gives zeros for turning in assignments late instead of understanding like other professors that not all of us are only fulltime students, a few of us work fulltime, are married, have kids, etc. With this sort of ignorance, I cannot continue in this program and retake this class a third time whilst this professor continues to make weekday deadlines knowing some of us don't have only school going on for us. I'm out of fuel. So yes, I took an entire master's program just to fail at the very end, just because of one class and one professor. This is quite a shame.

Thank you so much, I did work before I got in the Master program, where at that state of myself when I got in was like I had almost transformed myself for real world but not a perfect version. I decided to study the master, then I realized I found myself so early on my second semester (now). I felt like I have to the decision again, and might have to deal with the feeling that I wouldn't finished something again. thank you so much.

Thx for your experience sharing! This gives me some shed of light. Anyway what's your take if the Master's course was really what you always wanted but suddenly you realized and were convinced that it could be not so worth it (you may not really use the degree attained and that the knowledge offered by the course can actually be sought out somewhere else, somewhere less overwhelming and demanding, and you would rather use your time for something else that you love more). I regretted applying to Master's (applied coz I wanted to add up another degree title after my name to be able change my career; my undergrad is something really different from the Masters) but is really scared to drop out due to the potentiality of regretting it in the future (yet I regretted going to Master's as well lol!). And not to mention that I fancy the title. But anyway, Master's degree really is making me anxious I couldn't sleep at all for days :/

I've made the decision to currently leave my program and start another. I am pretty close to finishing this one but have decided against it since similar to you, I don't have the energy to do more for a field I'm just not interested in anymore. I have a year of courses under my belt but I just can't do it anymore.

I want to comment my true feelings. I so badly wish I saw this video before starting my degree. Your story is so so similar to mine. I just couldn’t do the last semester.. I just stop turning everything in. I got an F so I’m going to fail and I don’t even care. I have no motivation.. a little depressed just so so over it. I’ve done well my entire life but I tried something and I’m going to fail. The truth is I felt exactly how you felt I was scared to go out into the real world after undergrad. I was so so scared to be an adult so I thought to stay in school.. a masters in my same field just a little higher qualification.. my same school because I felt safe there. I feel like a failure but I hope to come back to this comment and be happier.

I dropped out of two master’s programs, one half way through and the other halfway through the first class, research methods, which I’m glad I took first, because if I’d saved it till last I would’ve still quit that class never finishing the program after wasting all of that time and effort. The first program was in education to get certified as a reading teacher, even though at the secondary level you could be forgiven for wondering why high school kids cannot read, and if so why there are even there in the first place. And then secondly, I dropped out an MA in history program so ridiculous was the research methods class. In retrospect I was dissatisfied with teaching and kept attending trade schools to break out of teaching, first naval training to obtain a merchant mariner’s document, then subsequently an upgrading program at a maritime academy to become an able seaman, then after beginning teaching truck driving licensing school, then barber college. The problem with any level of academic employment is that all you’re basically doing is talking or even babysitting. So in a sense you’re really doing nothing at all, which is why poverty school districts routinely hire permanent substitutes rather than paying regular teachers a living wage or improving working conditions by for instance, expelling the criminally inclined students, diverting the illiterates into manual arts, or reassigning the disturbed to behavioral therapeutic institutes. Then at the college level since again, teaching is not a real job, they choose to rely overwhelmingly on part time adjuncts. It should go without saying that there is no point in obtaining graduate degrees if the only payoff is part time employment with no benefits. But on a more fundamental level schooling in general suffers from too much busy work and not enough reading. Were it your goal to simply learn as much as possible it would make a great deal more sense to simply read as much as possible while supporting yourself with a low stress manual job and living at the YMCA or something equally spartan.

My situation is kind of complex right now. I took an extension for one of my modules because I had a severe infection couldn't walk sit, or even sleep well because of the pain, it was upheld and literally at the last minute the head of year said that I'm now gonna have to take it in the next academic year. I also failed a progress report which was 10% of the overall grade I asked her if I'm gonna have to retake that right when I failed it and she siad "no worries it's just 10% you won't have to" and now she says I won't be able to pass if i don't pass that one... I also failed a report from another module because of the stress. And of course nobody told me I need to pay, I was expecting a price but not £3,000. I spent months trying to talk to so many people and organisation to see if there is any way I can get any funding for the postgraduate course and NOTHING. I can't get a loan, none of my family members are rich and MONEY DOESN'T GROW ON TREES! The university has been sending me emails demanding money I delayed paying the tution fee for a month not sure how much longer they'll allow me to delay. I've been looking for jobs but as you all know it takes time. My only option left is to either take a gap year which I don't know how to get because none of my teachers are responding to my emails and the other option is to drop out which I really don't want to. I'm literally at the end of my course, all my work is almost done. I've sufferred SO MUCH for this degree if I don't get anything out of it I'll be devastated and would probably think of it as a missed opportunity for the rest of my life. The HUGE problem I never realised was there was the lack on information and support of what happens if you fail. Why was there not a single lecture or session in which they would cover the cost of failing, what to do if you have to repeat a year, gap years etc... After they put a ZERO on my module which I got an extension for I was panicked didn't know what to do I had so much anxiety that I cried myself to sleep every night and scratched my face off, pulled my hair out I felt so alone. They made me feel like it was my fault for getting sick I BLAMED myself for something that was out of my control and I can never forgive what this university did to me. When I needed the teachers the most they ghosted me, my entire family didn't understand my siutation but I appreciate they were being supportive I was just too muddled to see it.

I’m 2 weeks into my masters and I’m seriously doubting my ability. My undergrad was in Education & Psych and now I’m doing Sports Psych as the career I want to go requires the masters. But as I’ve never studied sport before, I feel so behind and that I can’t do it. I feel like it’s too early to drop out but I’m worried I will just fail

I need advice if someone could help me. I'm considering dropping out of my master's program (I'm international), and applying for graduate schools in the US. Now I had no intention of leaving in the middle, but the committee head is an arsehole and won't clear my proposal which has already got the approval of the Scientific Committee. I can't waste time on a masters program when there is an option of getting straight to a PhD. So would dropping out reflect badly on my application? Also in my country there is no option of opting out with a diploma on account of completed coursework. I've got transcripts and all, but this is seriously giving me a nervous headache. Let me know what you think.

I despise my current masters course / the entire educational system in the country I'm in. My situation is a little different though. I relocated to an entirely different country under a scholarship for the masters, and dropping out would mean moving back home and starting from scratch. Aaand my home country has zero career prospects pretty much. I still don't know what to do :/ Feeling really lost.

I feel like dropping my MSW program. I have never been more miserable in my life. So stressed that it’s affecting my mental and physical health. I hate it so so so much. I can’t even read the long comments on here because I am SO. BURNED. OUT. And the university warns you if you are in therapy they can dismiss you from the program. Like what!?

I'm in my third year of a 5 year compound degree (which means I get a masters degree at the end) and I CAN'T make myself do ANY of the work... I mostly stayed this long because I didn't know what else I would do, but it's unbareable at this point :( I just want to drop out and do basically anything else... should I do it? (it's pharmacy btw, if anyone here was in the same position..)

Great video mate, I'm in a similar situation almost got 2 semesters done. But not a single part of me wants to continue and do the third. This has given me plenty to think about it.

I also just stopped with my masters, feeling weird but I think it is a good decision

Maybe some one can give some advice. I am currently in my first quarter of a three year MSW program in Southern California I thought I was set on this, but I am getting burnt out and really wondering if I see myself completing this whole three year program. It is a lot with the internship hours also. I know the MSW will open a lot of career doors, but it is also super Expensive (like 75-80k). I have been accepted to a MBM program w/ entrepreneurship emphasis (18 Months and 30k). I am thinking about switching to this program, as I also have business dreams. Anybody have any tips ?

I moved to Germany to do a masters. The system is different but nevertheless it's the European credit transfer system (ECTS). I have 240 ECTS out of 4 years bachelors and in Germany is 3 years bachelors 180 ECTS. So I have to study 2 years instead of 1. I have found myself in this really unfortunate situation where I'm studying things that I already studied, irrelevant things and the stress is unnecessarily high. It took a lot from me and I'm not so sure what I'm even getting...

Thanks for this video, Jac!! I don't feel the motivation to do my maths degree. Until uni I have done everything my parents told me to, go to this elementary school, then go to this high school, take this subject blah blah blah. And when I got time to think and examine myself first time in uni I realized I am really into literature and I wanna become a writer. Maths is diagonally opposite to that. I am currently in my 4th semester and this semester I just didn't study anything cause I can't... I just can't... It doesn't make sense to my anymore and I don't feel like even attending a lecture. I wanna drop out of college and pursue a literature degree. But my parents are like you gotta complete this first, I don't know how will I drag this to 4 more semesters I am failing even in this one. I have finals tomorrow and here I am. I don't know how my parents will react when they'll see this semester's grade sheet. Ughhhhhh. From the past days I'm getting anxiety attacks because of this. And suicidal thoughts come and go every second. I feel like a loser. Thank u very much for the video again

just started my postgrad and I am not enjoying it , I am stressed and anxious all the time, I did completely diferent course from my undergrad thinking it would help me interms of employbility. looking back I think I rushed the whole process and now I m struggling with the course. I am back to looking for gradaute schemes

I am on the plan of dropping out of my Masters currently since I can not handle the final point of completing my thesis. I have struggled throughout my Masters with severe depression and stress. I am now wondering how to represent my incomplete degree on something like my CV or LinkedIn?

very satisfying to change the uplikes from 199 to 200 :) 👍🔥

I unfortunately didn't make the smart move of dropping out. I finished my program a couple years ago, and even though I do pat myself on the back for sticking it out at the time, here I am now in a job that that I don't have a huge passion for and is super stressful. Even though the salary is ok for the most part, the multiple responsibilities plus student loan payments don't really make it worth it in the end. Not to be a Debbie Downer, I just wanted to contribute my two cents from someone on the other side, and offer my support for those who are at a crossroads cuz life is too short...

Hi please can you tell me how it effected you student finance wise?? Do you have to pay back straight away or does it come out of your salary like normal?

I wish I watched this a year ago. I dissapoint my supervisor so much but I genuinely don't have enough experience and knowledge since it was very much different from what I have learned. Me coming from a non research university makes it worse since I didn't learned any of the methods. I cried half of my time spent on this master and I'm miserable. The worst for me is dissapointing my supervisor cuz she already tried hard to supervise me.

I'm currently contemplating dropping out of my MBA program but it's hard to justify namely because the MBA is a great dual major program that would undoubtedly open more doors, I am only paying $32k total for a nearly $85k program, and I'm already 50% finished. Might just tough it out.

Feeling an urge to quit my master’s (in one of the best schools in the world in my field) but the pressure and expectations are overwhelming. Hope to figure out sth for me 🙁

Hi, I found this after looking up other people's thoughts on leaving after (or during) the first semester of a masters. I am a history masters student right now, in my first semester. I graduated in 2020, so worked for two years in a random (kind of boring but good paying) job that had nothing to do with my bachelors since I graduated right as covid hit. I gave up that job because I wanted to use my history degree for at least something history related and I had planned to become a HS teacher, but I thought, hey getting a masters/PhD means I could teach college and make more teaching more interesting stuff, so I decided to do that, and I am here now halfway through this semester, but I have realized I cannot do this for 2 years. My mental health is in disarray, as are my relationships. I have been going to therapy, and she has told me to try hard for now but if it becomes too much to quit before my health gets even worse. I basically have to drag myself through each day right now. I am making pretty decent grades so far, but I have huge essays coming up that I have to read like 20 books for, while the classes don't slow down at all. I have no passion for this, and I've basically realized this was a big mistake and that I am perfectly happy with going and teaching high school after all, since all I really wanted was to be able to help people love history like I do. I feel so guilty for feeling this way though, my advisor went out on a limb to admit me, and the scholarship and stipend make the guilt worse. Anyway, this video made me feel better and was informative, thank you for posting it. I am pretty much certain I am out in the next two months. I am going to decide between withdrawing mid-semester (I have until November 18th to do that) or trying to gut it out and just pass this one semester then leave. Any well wishes are appreciated, I am nearing the end of my rope.

I want to quit my master's degree and I am in the last year as well, but there is a huge penalty for doing so. So stuck for another 3 years, because degree completion would mean serving the bond period, it seems the way out is getting suspended somehow/failing multiple times while equipping myself with skills that integrate goals, experience, knowledge, and interest. The idea is too outrageous to put up for discussion with the department head.

I'm in my first semester in a good grad school for computer science, I'm already burnt out. I haven't slept in the last two days. I have been sleeping for less than 20 hours a week in general. I can't stand the thought of 2 more semesters of this crap. I don't know what to do. Plus I'm Indian, so doesn't help much.

I flunked my semester 2, and have postponed it - I wanna work for a year before I complete it

Hello I’m not sure if you will read this but I am hoping for advice. Just like you I am on my third semester of grad school. I want to quit so badly. It has been keeping me up at night, I am have panic attacks, and hate what I am studying (master of information system). But the thought of quitting and not getting a job kills me as I do not have a valuable bachelor degree (health studies). Everybody tells me to finish as this degree is highly desirable. I also don’t know if I be able to get into marketing as a lot of companies want business degrees and earning a higher salary so I fear I might regret….i guess what I’m trying to ask is your opinion on my situation. I am scared confused and don’t know who to ask. I wanted to ask you because you seem to be in the most similar situation I am currently in. Any advice or opinion would be helpful…thank you.

I am dropping from my masters degree and pursuing another career with a second degree

Jac Williams I have interview on health data analysis on Tuesday. Can you please post videos on health data analysis or data analysis job interview

i ve only just started and done Foundation year and tryed up still now and really making ill snapping out extra yes i am miserable and head just guna explode

I recently dropped out of my masters program. Did you take on student debt for this masters program?