Signup date: 09 Dec 2007 at 10:20am
Last login: 31 Jan 2014 at 3:43pm
Post count: 206
My MSc (similarly 1+3 but not at a DTC) was extremely intense. With hindsight, I wish I had enjoyed it more, and stressed less. There was a huge amount to cover and I got very worked up about it. I wish I had taken the opportunity to explore many different areas and work out what to do for the PhD without getting in a tizz about the grades and the work and so on.
You sound pretty good at time-management (a real weakness of mine) - best of luck, enjoy!
ejc
I once was struggling with an undergraduate assignment so had a gin and tonic. It seemed to help at the time with the doing of the assignment but I got a terrible mark. I know this was not an extensive experiment but I have concluded that this approach is not for me.
As someone else said, each to their own though.
Ogriv,
What you say sounds absolutely standard to me.
Do you enjoy the group? You say you are pleased to be invited - are all MSc students invited, or is it because of who you are working with? (Or your amazing talent? :p ) Do you have a place to study a PhD?
Ejc x
Is anyone else finding this intriguing? I didn't even know some of these fields existed!
It's difficult to compare, as I've only ever been a PhD student in London.
But AFAIK most research councils offer a bit extra (~£2k pa) to PhD students in London. This might not be flagged up as ***London Weighting*** on a studentship advertisment, but if you look at a research council website you might be able to find the details.
======= Date Modified 27 Feb 2010 13:14:48 =======
There are a lot of interesting points in the replies to this post.
M_heneghan - you are asking two different questions I think.
"Is an MA easier than an undergraduate degree?" - Mine was an MSc (and my UG a BSc) not MA and BA, but speaking to others I have found my experience replicated - that the volume of work and the intesnity of a masters degree is so much higher than for an undergraduate degree. I would say, then, that an MSc is not easier than an undergraduate degree.
That "the grades in my uni where I'm studying for my master's seem a lot higher than they used to at undergrad level" is, I think, more likely related to some of the points made below, about students on PG degrees being more self-selected and harder-working than at UG level, and as you said "past the partying phase", so they work harder, and hence get higher grades despite the work being harder. I don't think the standards at PG level are lower, because I do know of individuals who took a lackadaisical approach to their MScs, and didn't pass.
Ejc
Hi Aviator
My first thought when I read your post was, as you are a pilot, are you not given so many days off for a reason? A PhD (even a part-time one) is somewhat all-consuming. I'm not meaning to slate your ability as a pilot nor your ability to manage your own time, but I would hate to be the subject of pilot error because my pilot had been slaving away on his days off and now had brain-ache, IYSWIM.
Ejc
:-( Sorry to hear that.
I don't know whether making your views known is wise? Maybe others have views based on experience, but I think you are unlikely to change the decision, especially if the places have been offered to other students. So depends if you want to make your point for the sake of potential future interviewees, or on the off-chance that places become available again.
Hope someone else has some more practical advice!
ejc
PostgraduateForum Is a trading name of FindAUniversity Ltd
FindAUniversity Ltd, 77 Sidney St, Sheffield, S1 4RG, UK. Tel +44 (0) 114 268 4940 Fax: +44 (0) 114 268 5766
An active and supportive community.
Support and advice from your peers.
Your postgraduate questions answered.
Use your experience to help others.
Enter your email address below to get started with your forum account
Enter your username below to login to your account
An email has been sent to your email account along with instructions on how to reset your password. If you do not recieve your email, or have any futher problems accessing your account, then please contact our customer support.
or continue as guest
To ensure all features on our website work properly, your computer, tablet or mobile needs to accept cookies. Our cookies don’t store your personal information, but provide us with anonymous information about use of the website and help us recognise you so we can offer you services more relevant to you. For more information please read our privacy policy
Agree Agree