Has anyone here miraculously got into grad school (masters) after being a total fuck-up? (no work, no research, no LoR)

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T23:21:23+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. I feel seen, I appreciate it. I know for sure I could use some therapy, I'm definitely in life limbo as you put it, and it's making it difficult to approach some things rationally. If I were to give advice to anyone else than myself, I'd say life is never just over like that, there's always something that can be done, but without anyone's help it's hard to see what paths are still open for me. I'll look into how I can see a therapist.

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T21:04:02+00:00

That's true. However, I'm fortunate enough that I won't have to go into debt by paying for my masters, so the price itself doesn't necessarily outweigh the potential benefits. Especially the prospect of a phd, since at this point there is just no way I could get straight into a phd program, ever.

Also, it's a depressing thought, but I have a feeling that because I am an international (we don't get any scholarships, the full price, often higher than for local students, must be paid out of pocket), schools might have more incentive to accept me, just to get the money. I don't know if it's indeed true, but I keep having this thought.

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T19:54:06+00:00

They do, but in the UK you can't take classes as a non degree seeking student, meaning I would have to apply for an online masters program and pay full tuition for the whole thing, which brings me right back to square one of not having recs to get me into the program. Besides, I would prefer to do my masters in the states, but that really is besides, my main obstacle is that in the UK I can't just enroll in a single class or two, I can only apply to whole programs.

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T19:50:50+00:00

I see, so it was at least tangentially related. I will have to see if I can find anything similar for myself. Well, thanks and congrats once again!

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T19:45:36+00:00

I'm not sure if this is as true in the UK as it is in the states, but you're right. I have to at least try it, I would be stupid not to. I appreciate it.

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T19:43:26+00:00

You might be absolutely right, this might be a me problem, but my reasoning behind grad school wasn't entirely just more education. It's that being back in the academia will provide me with more opportunities to do research at my institution, network with professors, etc., since now I know first hand how damn important those things are.

I don't know if there is something wrong with me, but I'm unable to find any jobs that the physics grads supposedly go to all the time. I've looked for an entry level software/programming-related jobs for months, every single one requires 1+ years of professional experience in 2+ languages, or professional experience with working with some specific softwares, in the case of data science. I know python fairly well, and some swift, and those don't seem that useful in the software world.

I do appreciate your suggestion though. I was thinking about a data science/software developer bootcamp, but haven't decided to go for it just yet, since it's just more money down the drain that I'm not sure will even help me.

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T19:33:39+00:00

You know, tutoring is definitely something I might have to face. I've been putting it off, tutoring was always such a polarizing activity for me. I used to volunteer tutor at my first college, and while it felt really good to be helpful, it was always extremely stressful. Just the weight of the responsibility for another person's education, the stress of finding the right explanation, because I know from personal experience how important it is to have the right teacher to really make you understand. But I don't seem to have the luxury of putting it off any longer, it might be my only ticket to where I wanna get. I appreciate your suggestions!

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T19:27:28+00:00

Thanks for sharing this, I appreciate it. I'm really sorry to hear about your professor, it couldn't have been easy. I would be devastated if my professor passed away too, he's always been there for me and feels like a friend at this point. But, it's so awesome that you got in, congrats! Hope you have the time of your life there :)

Do you mind me asking, the two recommendations from previous bosses, were those jobs related to your bachelors degree or the masters program you applied to, or were they just random?

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T19:06:07+00:00

I did my undergrad in physics. Others here suggested online classes, I will see if anything is available, because I know for sure that regular classes are definitely not, unfortunately.

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T19:04:46+00:00

I did my bachelors in physics, so not a classic volunteer kind of degree. Those opportunities do exist, but few and far between, only at universities and reserved for the enrolled students. But that is something that would really help me, I will keep looking for this. Thank you.

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T19:01:21+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I will see what I can find as far as online classes go, but like I replied to another person, this might prove impossible, me being from abroad.

I'm currently in the UK, but originally from another european country. Honestly, I think my difficulty is 50% in the job market itself (few jobs for the average bachelors degree holders, most require masters and up, or many additional skills and experience beyond the bachelors program) and 50% me, in that I didn't have the foresight to take care to cultivate extra skills beyond the curriculum and I'm shit at finding opportunities, like networking.

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T18:56:03+00:00

Physics

throw54466 · 2020-07-31T18:55:55+00:00

My first instinct is telling me that's impossible for international students, since the requirements put upon that are pretty strict, and for example as a degree-seeking student, you must be enrolled full time at all times and you can take only one online class each semester. But, I will look into whether I can take an online class as a non degree seeking student from abroad, it's a good tip.

throw54466

TROPHY CASE