"Washout" Thread

December 15, 2018 defense. That is firm.

 

Don't drop out

https://www.usnews.com/education/online-learning-lessons/articles/2018-06-01/how-to-avoid-dropping-out-of-an-online-college

 

My post-secondary journey so far, with drop-outs:

Humber College, 2008, Computer Engineering Technology. Dropped out right before mid-terms.
Social Service Worker, 2011 - 2013. Graduated!
Trent University, 2015, Psychology. Lasted one semester.
Athabasca University, 2015. Took one course, withdrew right before the deadline.
Durham College, 2016, Business - Accounting. Lasted three semesters, dropped out and picked up a Business - Fundamentals Certificate.
Athabasca University, 2017 - 2018, Human Services. Graduated!

 

I attended Westmoreland County Community College on and off for two years. I did well in a psychology class and a sociology class, but nothing else. This was due to a number of factors. I had no one advising me on class selection, my professors didn’t seem to care, and my depression pretty much took care of the rest. When I finally gave up, the school never seemed to notice.

I’m in a much better school now—West Virginia Junior College. So far, I’ve finished six classes, with an A in all of them. The professors make it clear that they want us to come to them with problems. My program director has actually changed my life for the better, which never would’ve happened if I had never worked up the courage to confide in her. The “me” who attended Westmoreland was not the real me. I know that now.

 

First. This is probably my favorite thread of degreeinfo. Love reading the stories of people's struggles and how they left a situation that wasn't right for them and then eventually found the perfect spot for themselves.

Second. I can finally sort of contribute here. I took one class at Harvard Extension School this spring, loved it, got an A, but I'm not going to continue taking classes and applying to the program. I really enjoyed the class and I'm sure I would enjoy the program. Can't say enough good things about my minimal experience here. However, I just can't justify paying almost $30,000 for a master's degree in extension studies that would really only be used for personal enrichment and wouldn't benefit my career at all. Perhaps I'll go back some day.

 

destigmatize failure

http://news.mit.edu/2019/mit-students-organize-fail-conference-destigmatize-failure-build-resilience-0528

 

After working in academic institutions for a number of years, I changed direction and got a job in the "real world" in a telecommunications company. I had been considering further study and thought that an MBA may be useful in the industrial environment. I started a part time MBA course at Anglia Ruskin University. I did not find it very interesting and did not get very far with it. Also, after a few months I was offered a better job than the one in I had in the company at a university. I subsequently completed an MSc with the Open University.

 

We shall try again...December 31, 2019....I think firm...

 

I started a DL MBA with Heriot Watt.. and didnt find it interesting or well supported, and didnt get very far with it (completed 2 classes).. so I transferred to Anglia Ruskin.. and really enjoyed their program, the course material was interesting, the professors were reasonably engaged, etc.. I finished up with them back in 2014..

Different strokes for different folks I guess.. I found ARU's program was very well suited for my needs..

 

Let's try December 2020. This is getting annoying

 

Graduated undergrad (BA) at 35 years old from The Ohio State University after more than a decade of on and off college coursework. I had a paper route at the time- family and friends supportive but not sure what to think of where I was in my trajectory. Applied for MBA program soon after graduation and was accepted-started MBA and was immediately overwhelmed- dropped out a couple of weeks into the MBA. 13 years later decided to do my M.S.

 

What is the primary cause of the delays?

 

CHAIR!

 

I started a BA in religion from Oxford Brookes many years ago out of personal interest. No complaints with the program but life interfered and never went back in that direction.

 

Any update, will COVID delay things any more? It sounds like your dissertation is written and you're just waiting to defend?

 

Hello!

I have dropped several courses in my life. However, there is a pattern: I mostly dropped courses I started from the wrong reasons (vanity, hubris, and, why deny it, because they were offered at a discount rate so high I could not resist).

Best regards,
Mac Juli

 

The University of Oklahoma Price College of Business and their Master of Science in Finance program. It was geared towards working professionals but I found myself putting in 25+ hours per week and I could not make that work.

 

Ted, a family member has an MBA from City. What do you think?

 

What classes fell in that last category (price!) for the curious?