I've been struggling with my MSc in political science since the start of the programme. The programme isn't what I expected. And I did an undergraduate degree in finance and already hold an offer from a top financial services firm.

I now have two months to finish my dissertation and I want to quit.

I hated my programme with a passion. I had 0 prior political knowledge (the course description says it doesn't require it but I think it's very wrong) so I've been struggling since day 1.

I've already failed three modules which I'll have to resit after November. I failed because I didn't understand the content. It was out of my depth. Moreover, with FT work and the professional exams which I will be studying for, I won't have time to study for the resits.

I also hate my dissertation topic. I addressed this issue to two supervisors but they didn't seem to think it was a concern. Again I came up with the topic with very little background knowledge and without knowing it's actually not something I'd like to do. I've been trying to re-concentrate on my dissertation for a week with no success (I have been working on my dissertation for over a month now). The more I read for my dissertation, the more I dislike it.

I've already contacted my firm and they said my employment with them would not be affected if I did drop out or failed. I've talked to my tutor too and she was very sensible and has given me both reasons to stay and quit. I don't want to quit but I struggle to continue. I am scared that dropping out would severely impact my career even though it's not a masters which would help if I did pass.

It's affected my life severely and I have pre existing depression for years which my school knows about.
Please give me advice

Hi Autumn

Really sorry to hear the tough time you are going through. It sounds like you want to quit BUT...

Based on what you have explained, I see no reason why quitting would affect your career. It certainly does not affect your shorter term prospects (e.g., you've got a job lined up and they've confirmed it doesn't matter). In the long term, if you suddenly discover a passion for political science, you could take it up again. This in no way would be a be all and end all. On the contrary, what impact is continuing having, even though you don't want to? From what you have said, it sounds like it is pretty bad. I would make my decision on that basis (personally, I would leave).

I hope this helps.

Thank you for your advice.

What I'm worried the most is how recruiters would make of my dropout. I don't want to come across as someone who made a bad judgement call and quit, tho I am sure we've all been there at some point in our life. I'm scared that I would become an unworthy candidate.

If you won't have time to study for the resits then it would be pointless carrying on as you are garaunteed to fail again. As for recruiters? I wouldn't worry about it. Simply don't put it on your cv or record it as 'incomplete', due to career. If anyone asks - simply say you felt your time would be better suited to studying for your FT professional exams that were relevant - just don't fail them :)

But... if you are near then end why not just get it over the line? It's a few months of hardship to get an MSc - which will help your career. It will demonstrate a level commitment other candidates might not have, even if it is not in your chosen field. No one ever asks what the pass mark was for a MSc - so you could dribble over the line and poeple will still see you have a MSc.

I can understand the idea that the sunk costs might compel you to finish, and certainly if it was just the dissertation to do I might advise powering on through. But if you've got a job lined up in a field you want to work in, you don't want to be distracting yourself with this, particularly if you have professional exams to sit.The worse thing would be to try to finish the MSc, not succeed, and simultaneously get off to a bad start in your chosen career through spreading yourself too thin.

One thing - can you get a PG Cert out of the modules you have already passed?

The fact that you have a new job lined up and they don't mind about the MSc goes a long way. Assuming that job goes well and you pass your professional exams, the MSc (or lack thereof) may cease to be relevant. One can even frame it positively in terms of having the awareness to know when something is no longer worth pursuing and when one's efforts can be better concentrated into something more productive.

Whatever you decide, good luck!

You really don't need to worry about that. You can either be open or you can just omit that fact. A friend of mine just quit their PhD near the end of the first year. They now have a job. They didn't even mention that they had been doing a PhD. It just looked like there was a gap between their Masters and getting the job. If , however, they had asked, my friend would have just explained (without going into great detail) that it wasn't for them after all. It turns out that they didn't even ask.

I do agree with what AOE26 and HazyJane have said though. If any recognition can be salvaged out of the work you have put in already, then by all means, try and get it. Hope this helps.

Thank you all very much for your advice.
I have talked to my academic department and they said they don't offer any other postgrad certificates at the moment.
I struggle to make sense of moving on. I'm not sure spending a month and a half to get a pass in my dissertation is worth it not knowing that if I would have time at all to resit those three failed modules. Three modules are a lot. I only took three modules in my first semester (I had 7 modules in total plus dissertation) and there's no way anyone can pass three modules while work FT and study other exams. And to think I spent three weeks alone writing one of the failed assignments.
My sensible side is telling me to let go but my depressed size is telling me something bad will always happen if I dropped out.

Another thing is, although the job offer I'm holding at the moment is an excellent offer, it was my insurance choice back then. I'm planning on applying for other jobs once I start with my current employer. I'm scared that I will experience immediate impact of my dropping out, because when I get to the interview stage, I would have only started with my current employer a couple of months and I would have less opportunity to showcase my skills. And I would have to explain why I dropped out.

If I dropped out now, I would use the remaining time to continue treating my depression, revisiting my financial knowledge and maybe travel for a bit. Back in December I was highly suicidal so in April and May I spent about seven weeks to be with my family and travel solo. I feel that if I told future employers I dropped out because of illness, they would discriminate against me and would ask my mendical history.

What do you guys think?

Hi Autumntimes
Try not to let the worry drag you down. Are you getting any support for the depression right now? I only say that because it sounds an incredibly stressful time you're going through. Your wellbeing is much more important than any degree.
Best.
Tudor