To Thesis or Not To Thesis, And How to Handle the Questions

While not all students contemplating a master's degree have the option, many now have the choice of whether to enroll in a program that requires a thesis, a program that requires a project or a program that simply requires additional coursework. For most students, one option is as painstaking yet palatable as another. For others, however, the thought of producing anything attached to the word "thesis" is reason enough to consider forgetting postgraduate studies entirely.

Depending on the field of study, a thesis can be avoided at many educational institutions, either optionally or because it's simply not part of the master's degree program curriculum. For students who have difficulty with formulating a concentration of study, this can be an exceptional opportunity to avoid having to do so.

Of course, this evasive course of action can lead to problems, such as when potential employers enquire, "What did you do your master's thesis on?". Any answer that indicates the truth is likely to bring a questionable glance and become a cause of suspicion regarding the quality of education you've managed to obtain.

Aside from only applying for positions with employers who have human resources departments run by graduates of your alma mater, the obvious solution is to lie. It's entirely doubtful they'll ask you for a copy, and even if they do...buy one and put your name on it.

If you're going to lie, you can lie creatively about the reason you didn't undertake a master's thesis while still managing to tell the truth about the fact that you didn't. For some, this moral compromise is far more acceptable than a complete, across the boards lie and more importantly, will also keep you from having to further lie about pursuing publishing for your work.

Perhaps your college made a special provision for you based on your busy overseas travel schedule in order to work with impoverished youth from third world nations. You may have been given the choice to avoid completing a thesis because your academic understanding of the field in question was quoted by your professors as, "...light years ahead of your student contemporaries". For all the prospective employer knows, it's entirely possible that you were singled out early based on your well above average aptitude and asked to avoid producing a thesis in order to lessen the embarrassment of others vying for the same degree.

As you can see, though you may not have the wherewithal to complete a master's thesis (or maybe you're just lazy), it needn't be a detriment to your career. Now go enroll...you'll have plenty of time to think of better lies than these during the hours spent not paying attention in class, especially considering the extra coursework you'll undoubtedly be completing.





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