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Bri · 10-14-2007, 10:03 PM

Hello all,

I don't usually like to post my thoughts on forums but I felt compelled to after reading Alex's and the rest of the comments. I'm very much in the same situation as you Alex; I only happened to come across this forum during a fit of procrastination and having googled "quitting graduate school".

I guess I'll start by telling you my situation. I completed my undergraduate degree this summer and started my Master's this fall. I sort of fell into the Master's program with no real research topic or even knowledge of the field; I am a mechanical engineer but my Master's program is in biomedical engineering. Right now, I can't say that I am hating the program, but I don't really enjoy it; I can picture myself doing many other things that would be more productive and that I would have more interest in doing.

Already I am having thoughts of quitting and going back to my hometown, where I had a engineering job lined up but turned down after I received admission to the masters program. Perhaps it's a bit early for me to decide that I want to do something else, but I have a sinking feeling that it is going to get worse before it gets better so I want to get out before I waste too much time. Realistically, what is keeping me from dropping out is the fact that I'd probably be viewed as a failure if I did. I was very successful in my undergrad, mainly because I enjoyed the material and enjoyed the industrial experiences I had with the program. Most of my professors and colleagues told me that I should pursue post graduate studies based on the fact that I had very good grades. I listened to them thinking that is what smart people should do; I also had the notion that I wanted to become a professor, in actuality I think I want to teach, but not necessarily research. In my last semester of undergrad I had toyed with the idea of going to teacher's college to see if I truly enjoyed teaching, but I withdrew my application after many of my classmates and family members said I could do better than that.

In any case, I just wanted to let you know my current experience. I hope you are able to find what it is you want to do and I wish you good luck. As for me, I should be getting back to some reading.

B.N

10-14-2007, 10:03 PM	#24 (permalink)
Bri Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1	feeling the same way Hello all, I don't usually like to post my thoughts on forums but I felt compelled to after reading Alex's and the rest of the comments. I'm very much in the same situation as you Alex; I only happened to come across this forum during a fit of procrastination and having googled "quitting graduate school". I guess I'll start by telling you my situation. I completed my undergraduate degree this summer and started my Master's this fall. I sort of fell into the Master's program with no real research topic or even knowledge of the field; I am a mechanical engineer but my Master's program is in biomedical engineering. Right now, I can't say that I am hating the program, but I don't really enjoy it; I can picture myself doing many other things that would be more productive and that I would have more interest in doing. Already I am having thoughts of quitting and going back to my hometown, where I had a engineering job lined up but turned down after I received admission to the masters program. Perhaps it's a bit early for me to decide that I want to do something else, but I have a sinking feeling that it is going to get worse before it gets better so I want to get out before I waste too much time. Realistically, what is keeping me from dropping out is the fact that I'd probably be viewed as a failure if I did. I was very successful in my undergrad, mainly because I enjoyed the material and enjoyed the industrial experiences I had with the program. Most of my professors and colleagues told me that I should pursue post graduate studies based on the fact that I had very good grades. I listened to them thinking that is what smart people should do; I also had the notion that I wanted to become a professor, in actuality I think I want to teach, but not necessarily research. In my last semester of undergrad I had toyed with the idea of going to teacher's college to see if I truly enjoyed teaching, but I withdrew my application after many of my classmates and family members said I could do better than that. In any case, I just wanted to let you know my current experience. I hope you are able to find what it is you want to do and I wish you good luck. As for me, I should be getting back to some reading. B.N