Obtaining a master’s degree is not a walk in the park, but a true demonstration of ability and willingness to work. Choosing a postgraduate course is not exempt from facing a number of difficulties.
From OUR WRITING, we have thought it convenient to inform postgraduate course candidates about the most common challenges they will face.
We divide these challenges into the following five categories:
a) Lack of motivation.
b) Bad time management.
c) Insufficient support from the tutor and / or supervisor.
d) Lack of resolution and order for the writing of the special assignments requested by the teachers, as well as the end-of-course assignment.
e) Stress due to the uncertainty of the graduation date and job opportunities.
We must also say that from the Covid-19 that will seriously affect all educational activity, now that the pandemic is coming out and is returning to normal, things will never be as before, and we will have to get used more than ever to an online activity and in the best of cases hybrid type.
But there are also other obstacles for postgraduate students that generate negative emotions in the learning and development process faced by graduate students who are going to do a postgraduate course, as well as professionals who have already completed postgraduate studies and are acclimatizing to their new job.
We refer to that sense of belonging that every person needs, when they are in a work group (team in a company) or study group (in a postgraduate course), because when they finish their studies and face the reality of the market, this sense of belonging fades and they have a kind of isolation because it’s like they’re in no-man’s-land.
This lasts for a short time, because they will be members of a department and / or team of a company, but they will still want to continue feeling part of that postgraduate group, so it is convenient to maintain contacts, be part of an educational project at school business, research, publish articles, etc.
When we talk about the absence of team identity, for example, in the middle of the postgraduate course, it is possible that those who are part do not feel mutually responsible for the objectives of the team, possibly due to poor communication, or not having predisposed the students to a participation and to help grow their sense of professional collaboration, as they should have in any job.
Also common obstacles can be a lack of interest in participation, not encouraging creativity or feeling that leadership from teachers and academic direction can be improved.
It is evident that business schools generally, knowing this problem, will do everything possible to neutralize the lack of participation, also when they observe that there is a manifest lack of creativity and that the perception of the students is that there are certain deficiencies in educational leadership, so they will seek better communication, coordination of study and research tasks, holding certain extra-curricular seminars in order to better complete the student’s training, at the same time as seeking greater integration and cohesion of the students groups, who feel that it is essential to commit to the postgraduate educational project they have chosen and that in the opposite direction the educational institution is providing them with all this support to eliminate isolation, feelings of non-participation, banish anticipated failures and, especially, eliminate all kinds of uncertainty about the future.
We have already referred in previous articles regarding financial problems and scholarships, therefore, we will focus on other aspects that also not properly managed by the business school, can become obstacles to the success of each student in that specific course that they are taking.
We refer to performance monitoring, which has to ensure regulation and compliance, both by students and teachers, in terms of materials and other educational resources made available and whose learning and experimentation must be coordinated in what refers to the application of knowledge.
Explain what they are up against
Obviously, graduate students face external challenges that end up taking a toll on emotions and feelings (let’s say internal challenges that we always face). Of course, that can manifest as something practical, such as financial problems. Or perhaps it will be something more internal, like an epic battle between the doubts that are not clarified regarding the usefulness of the chosen program and the job opportunity, or if it does not fit well with the methodology of the program and worse still, with the contents of the program.
For this reason, it is always convenient in the initial class a very eloquent description of what they are facing in that postgraduate course, but at the same time that this discourse serves as a motivating element, to see that it is not as difficult as it seems, although the level of demand is giving the feeling that it is easier to give up than to continue.
Many students decide to do a master’s degree to increase their employability. But to be successful, you must articulate why your graduate degree makes you more employable. In some ways, the answer is obvious. An additional year of education will increase your knowledge and experience in the field.
But what about all those other skills you acquired along the way?
A master’s degree allows you to further hone your soft skills, such as time management, organization, and teamwork.
It is also important to communicate them to potential employers. Another difficulty is knowing what you are qualified for. Many students decide to do a master’s degree because they enjoy their subject, not to improve their chances of a certain career.
Deciding what to do after graduation can be quite overwhelming. The best way to overcome this challenge is with a little research.
You may have already decided that you want a job. Reading about the careers you are most qualified for might help inspire you.
It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the job market to see what’s out there.
Another option is to apply for an additional graduate degree. You may decide that you need a more specialized professional degree, to enter a specific field. Or maybe you want to continue learning what you love and apply for a Ph.D.
The good news is that the options are endless. The bad news is that it means we can’t tell you what to do after graduation.
Be open to learning new things
Students who opt for an MBA generally have at least two years of work experience. Coming from an environment where you know what to do to an environment where you need to learn from faculty members and your peers, it can be challenging. So before starting an MBA, make sure you are open to learning new things and looking at things from different perspectives.
Teamwork
While teamwork is an essential virtue, regardless of whether you are in business school or in a work setting, it can be a difficult skill to develop. In an MBA program, you will need to work on individual assignments as well as group projects.
Group dynamics strongly reflect the success of a project. Therefore, it is essential that you develop skills for teamwork.
Also keep in mind that the mix of students in an MBA program will be diverse, which means they could be of diverse ethnicities, lifestyles, and with different personalities.
Developing teamwork skills will help you during the course of your MBA, as well as in the professional world.
Adapt to a new environment
You might think that getting an MBA in your own country could be an easy journey, however it is not much different from getting an MBA in a foreign country.
In both cases, you will need to adapt to new situations and interact with new people.
To overcome this challenge, the best thing to do is to familiarize yourself with the new environment.
Before your session begins, follow the university on social media to get acquainted with student life and the social activities happening on campus. This will help you feel comfortable in your new environment.
Socialize and network
While socializing and networking are two sides of the same coin, there is a fine line between the two.
During your studies for your MBA, you will meet people of diverse backgrounds and different interests, and the idea of socializing and networking can seem difficult. However, this is an essential part of your student life and should not be missed.
It is important to socialize with your peers, as they will be the ones who will help you get a better perspective on things and they may have to work together on study projects.
At the same time, developing networking skills is crucial because it will help build your professional network and boost your career.
Programming
The MBA journey can be difficult and the workload can sometimes be heavy. Your class schedule will be so busy that there will hardly be enough time for everything you want to do.
In the midst of all this, you will also have to participate in campus activities, complete assignments, and prepare presentations.
To cope with the pressures of an MBA, you must develop good time management and organizational skills.
There are many mobile apps available that can help you organize your schedule efficiently.
Some of the best mobile apps for MBA students are Evernote, Google Calendar, and Any.do.