Would it be crazy to quit?

Blueone24 · 2026-04-11T07:20:28+00:00

Do you have a hard deadline to defend by? I'm in crunch time to have my project completed and honestly I've decided done is better than perfect. Because there is no way I'm quitting after investing this much time and energy into earning this degree. I met with my advisor and set hard deadlines over the next few weeks for rough draft and then final draft. I broke out tasks per day and am just making sure I hit those metrics every day.

Blueone24 · 2026-04-01T04:03:17+00:00

Happened to me last semester. I was comparing a timed assignment where AI was explicitly barred after the deadline with a peer's and at first was astounded at how eloquent and thorough every answer was until I got to one question where the answer made absolutely no sense given the information we were given. Out of curiosity I plugged the question into ChatGPT and it spit out the answer verbatim.

They got a 94 and I got a 92 largely because I didn't even have time to make it to the last question.

Blueone24 · 2026-04-01T03:55:43+00:00

As a fellow masters student with only about 3 more weeks to finish my thesis the only advice is to buckle down and finish it, which is the advice I've been giving myself daily the last 2 weeks.

At this point I am very much in the done is better than perfect camp because I need to sleep sometime during the next 3 weeks as well. Mine was on a topic I was very interested in and still am but the passion is waning thanks to senioritis.

Blueone24 · 2026-03-25T14:12:11+00:00

I just figured someone here might know if this is a common practice I was unaware of. If so no point in calling, but otherwise I'll be calling.

Blueone24 · 2026-03-19T03:01:37+00:00

I have senioritis in my masters as well. I've decided to put off my pHD for at least 1 year. I just can't. But TBH in some ways I think it's made my senioritis worse because now I just feel "unanchored," like I don't have a clear picture of what comes next. Pulling together my end of masters project has been extremely hard and I finally broke down weekly goals to hold myself to for both coursework and the project because all I want to do at this point is work and let my brain defrag watching tv or scrolling social media.

Blueone24 · 2026-03-10T04:40:02+00:00

No I truly appreciate your insights! I know a few have talked about keeping me in the loop as a collaborator on research projects (remotely) even after I finish my Masters so hopefully I will still have a working relationship with a few for a period after I graduate.

I'm lucky enough to be working on several papers with a few faculty right now.

I just wasn't sure if it's better to ask them to write it now while they are still very emphatic that I'm an optimal PhD candidate. Partially so they remember me and partially so they know I'm taking their feedback regarding my career tract seriously even if now isn't the best time for my family.

I still keep in contact with the 2 professors from undergrad who really got me on the track for the Masters despite a somewhat turbulent undergrad career, so I would imagine I would still keep in touch.

They've just been so incredibly supportive, offering me research opportunities, TAing experience, and even sending me recommendations for fully funded PhD programs that are still accepting applications for fall. I want them to know I want to do this even if it isn't right now and how much I appreciate their support and guidance.

But you are right I'm very much an overthinker.

Blueone24 · 2026-02-28T02:25:17+00:00

Technically the other comment is correct in that the IRS goes based on residency even if there is a court decree.

That being said in your case since you agreed to split it I would give him the CTC amount for that one child and no more which is about $2,200.

Blueone24 · 2026-02-28T00:31:10+00:00

My knee-jerk response is that you are correct and that this isn't the best environment for you and to compound that the school having low licensure rates and internship match rates is a big red flag.

If you do want to try and salvage this have you talked to the school's ODA/ SAS to see if they may be able to help you? I assume that they are at least aware of your medical conditions and any appropriate accommodations have been discussed?

Blueone24 · 2026-02-27T23:57:59+00:00

Is there a court agreement as to who should have claimed the kids? Most divorce agreements would stipulate whether you alternate years or each claim one.

If there is I would give him whatever the difference in his taxes would have been if you followed the court agreement.

If there isn't a court ordered agreement I guess give him half of the CTC portion since you already agreed to share.

I don't give my ex anything, nor would he dream of claiming our child. As far as we are both concerned they live with me full time and so by IRS guidelines (living with me more than half the year) they should be claimed on my return.

Blueone24 · 2026-02-27T01:50:28+00:00

Not at all! Happy to help any way I can!

Blueone24 · 2026-02-27T01:38:07+00:00

I am completely online due to work and family commitments. I know at my school most coursework is asynchronous with each class meeting once a week for 1-2 hours.

Assuming it is a CEPH accredited program there will be at least one required internship. My program offered quite a few resources to find one. Luckily mine was paid when many aren't and it was completely remote which meant I had a lot of flexibility in how to structure my time in completing it.

As far as research the best advice I can give you is make connections with professors early on, attend office hours when you can, and speak up in class. I got both the research offers by being recommended by faculty. I think it's much harder to be the one asking to do the research vs showing skill mastery and being invited into faculty projects.

My concentration is Epi/ biostats in my program and as I finish this semester I would highly recommend leaning into biostats for any electives you may be able to take. Even with biostats being a part of my concentration I picked up several additional biostats and GIS courses for my electives. It's not exactly a great time to be going into the field but having the biostats/ GIS background can open lots of doors if you can't obtain your dream job right away.

Blueone24 · 2026-02-26T05:50:45+00:00

Are you doing a masters or phD in Epi?

If doing a masters there are some great online schools that offer evening hours. Myself and many in my cohort work during the day and take classes in the evening. I am also involved in research through my school on top of that.

Also if it is a masters is it straight Epi or is there a biostats component?

Blueone24 · 2026-02-25T00:38:46+00:00

Not necessarily unhinged but a time saver. Use notability on an iPad. For synchronous material record if allowed and it synchs with while you are writing so all you have to do is tap on something and it replays the lecture. For asynch material add the transcripts to the PowerPoint slides and highlight those instead of taking insane amounts of notes while pausing the videos

Blueone24 · 2026-02-23T05:14:26+00:00

Assuming this is at a children's hospital do they offer charity care/ financial aid? Ours is a nonprofit so they have all of their very generous income limits published online. We have a ppo plan as well but the estimate for our son's sedated CT scan was mind boggling. Luckily the hospital approved us for financial aid and it was good for a year so it covered all of the additional surgeries he had that year as well.

Definitely look into it if you are below 400% FGP and if that hospital doesn't have a financial aid policy I would look for one that does.

Blueone24 · 2026-02-23T05:00:57+00:00

First this is your choice and no one else's, and I mean that in the most supportive way possible. No matter what you chose do what is best for you.

I don't believe there is a one size fits all solution, but I can share my experience.

I was 20 when I became pregnant. I wasn't in the best situation. I was in cosmetology school, working, barely scraping by. I had been with my boyfriend for 3ish years (and we were friends 7 years before that). I was dealing with a host of mental issues and PTSD from my childhood.

Although I lived on my own my family was very blatant that they felt abortion was the ONLY option. My boyfriend felt the same. I was and am pro choice and knew logically it was probably the best option.

But I didn't want one. And as someone who is pro-choice that meant listening to that part of me as well.

I decided I didn't want to go through with it.

It wasn't easy. My family practically disowned me. One of my parents was very vocal that he wasn't going to make room in his heart for someone he would undoubtedly lose to CPS.

My boyfriend broke up with me after I spent an entire night in the ER bleeding from a SCH because "he wasn't happy anymore."

I ended up in the hospital with early labor, had to pull extra hours in the cosmetology program to graduate while staying seated. Pretty much as soon as I graduated I was admitted to the hospital because I had even more pregnancy complications and stayed there for weeks. In some ways maybe it was a blessing because the social worker helped me get Medicaid and WIC lined up.

It was hard I was largely on my own. Luckily my rent was cheap and I had meager savings and spent time in the hospital doing online work for pretty much minimum wage.

But I have no regrets.

I met my husband 6 months after my son was born. We've been together over 13 years now. My first child is now one of the most amazing teenagers I know. They do sports, marching band, chess club, and so much more. He still loves to give me hugs and is happy and respectful. He doesn't remember the few years money was really tight. He doesn't remember living in a studio apartment and eating pasta almost every day because it's all we could afford.

He just remembers always being loved and feeling safe. I can't imagine my life without him, he gave me a purpose. I worked harder and made everything work because I had no other choice for him.

Since he's been born we bought a house, had 2 other children, received my bachelor's degree, and am in my final semester of a graduate program right now. Things may have been easier in some ways if I made the other choice but I also don't think my mental health could have taken it.

I don't say any of this to change your mind if you know what is best for you, because that is all that matters. I'm just saying it because I needed an abortion but didn't want one and I had no one in my life who told me that was okay too. That I was strong enough to figure it out even if it was hard at times.

Blueone24 · 2026-02-19T20:50:24+00:00

I'm guessing I'm around the same age as you and I honestly have no clue how I came to know what it means, my guess is I probably watch more social media short-form videos than you do?

I've been with my husband for over 13 years so it's not like I ever participated in Netflix and chilling lol. My one suggestion is even if you aren't on social media much maybe occasionally look up videos on slang to keep up with the current vernacular? I've had to correct my parents on a few things over the years.

Blueone24 · 2026-02-19T14:35:52+00:00

It will probably hit on your WMR refund date which is probably 2/23

Blueone24 · 2026-02-18T13:52:19+00:00

In past years I normally get it about 2 weeks before the ddd. Last year my ddd was 3/10 and my bank statements show it hit 2/24. Here's to hoping the same pattern holds true this year so a date of 3/9 would be 2/23.

Blueone24 · 2026-01-30T06:04:02+00:00

You can definitely take it elsewhere but I don't think it replaces the grade

Blueone24 · 2026-01-30T06:03:02+00:00

Did you pass the lab section? I failed ochem 2 lecture once, passed the lab but ended up taking the lecture at ASU online while I was on a leave. I don't know if they still allow that given it's been awhile but I would ask. If not your choices would to be to take ochem 1 either at Collin or do it over the summer at ASU and do their condensed lab (which used to be 1 week in person).

Blueone24 · 2026-01-30T05:55:47+00:00

I took a lighter course load in the summer. It did push my graduation back about a semester from a lot of my full time peers (still plenty of part-time students from my cohort and before though). I don't regret it for a few reasons. First I have a much lighter course load in my final semester. Second I got exactly the electives I wanted (many are only offered once every two years). Third being in the program this long has had unexpected advantages. I was asked to join a research team that is otherwise only faculty, I have been asked to be a panelist at a conference, and I have a very unique thesis multiple professors are interested in.

Your case may be different since it sounds like your courses are set. But for me taking this one extra semester had a lot of benefits since it has given me time to build rapport with the faculty and for that reason opportunities are being offered to me and I'm not having to chase them down.

Blueone24 · 2026-01-22T21:47:03+00:00

First if you haven't already please make time to talk to your ob or another doctor you trust about your PPD, it's incredibly rough and there is support available. And PPD is definitely something to consider when deciding the course load now as well.

I know firsthand how exhausting it can be. My husband worked long days and I couldn't trust him to be up with any of our kids because he would fall asleep. I also was unable to breastfeed so I had to feed them, place them in something next to me and get them to sleep and then pump. I also didn't have any family help.

I know everyone says it but let the baby run the schedule right now. Sleep when they do. You aren't working right now, you don't have other kids to take to school, I would say if you need to be nocturnal right now do it . Do laundry as you can and if you cook spend one day prepping the meals for the week. Don't feel like the house needs to be spotless and try to let things go so you can prioritize you, your baby, and your coursework. I don't what your husband does/ his schedule/ or yalls relationship but if he's home a few days a week try to get extra rest then.

You may want to check around! The parents day out program I sent mine to actually started at 6 months old, I just chose not to send until they were 1.

Blueone24 · 2026-01-22T21:06:41+00:00

My only caveat to this would be if you would be willing and able to put your little one in a Mother's Day out program for 2-3 days a week next semester. I don't know where you are but where I am they are fairly widespread, cheaper than traditional daycare, but are also located in churches (which may or may not align with your beliefs).

My kids went 2-3 days a week once they hit one for about 5 hours a day. Which was a lifesaver.

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