So...I took a wild, mid-life career break to pursue what I thought would might a life-changing switch to pure maths. Finished an OU degree, got myself on a Masters and now...I'm falling over. Can't get my head round stuff, spending hours on the simplest problems, suffering from a constant sense of panic and fear. It's to a certain extent my own fault - I went in gung ho on a difficult topic and got stubborn with it, and I don't think I've approached it in the most effective way, but here we are.

I'm trying to figure out whether I struggle through, and potentially fail (this is a real option - everyone's saying 'stick with it' but I'm honestly nowhere and about 80% sure it's going to be a disaster), or gently back down and return to 'real life'. I've a decent CV in my original career and even a bit of freelance experience, it's not like I'm doomed I think. Just wondering what's going to look worse, ultimately...

Hey MattG242

There is no shame in stopping now if you really think that there is a big chance that you are going to fail and would rather not go through with it (or for ANY reason - there is no shame in changing your mind about doing something). I'm sure you already know this, but just to say it anyway. Try not to care about what others think. People will always find something to criticise! And it's not like you even need to tell people the reason behind your decision. It's your life.

Re the course itself. Have you just started it? Do you think it is perhaps just a massive learning curve, or that it is a particular module that is particularly challenging but you might get on better on others? If you know that it is none of those things but genuinely the wrong course for you then perhaps quitting now will save you time and money.

Best
Tudor

It is a massive learning curve, I've got a rather severe supervisor and I haven't really been able to get to grips with the material - or, wierdly, convince him that I'm not getting to grips with the material.

I'm about half way in, six weeks from submitting an interim dissertation, four weeks from a presentation and even as I post I'm sitting in front of a blank document and a bunch of papers, notes and textbooks with the honest sense that despite putting in what seems like hours and hours of reading, approaching problems etc., I know no more about it than when I started. If you put me in front of a blackboard right now I'd just clam up and, quite possibly, start crying.

Hey MattG242,

Do you think that giving yourself a bit more time will help you? Perhaps you just need a bit more time to understand the topic better?

Another thing is, could it be an issue of incompatibility with topic/supervisor? Have you perhaps considered changing to a different topic or supervisor instead of quiting?

The last possibility is that if you feel really bad and hate doing this degree, maybe it just isn't for you? Perhaps deep down inside you know that you prefer working than further studying... I do agree with Tudor-Queen that you could choose to stop if you feel that is for the best. Ignore other people's comments. It's your life, so your decision.

Have a bit of time to think some more before deciding what is best for you. Good luck.