friesandwater

Progress in a PhD program comes in waves, rather than as a steady torrent. I've had some months where I've cranked a lot out of data and made progress towards publishable data (journal publications are the currency of PhD progress in my sub-field). There have also been stretches where I flagged. Or where I ran a lot of experiments but had only negative results to show for it. 
The point is: you have 5 or so years in the PhD program. One slow year doesn't signify doom! You have one productive year under your belt...so that means you're capable of being productive when balancing stuff like teaching and applying for grants. 
Part of the challenge is to manage (self)-expectations and keep your internal/external voices calibrated. What might be "useless research" and "no progress" inside your head could well be "cutting edge research" and "good progress" to onlookers. There are some advisors who will always be under-satisfied with research progress (I don't know if your advisor fits into this category, but there are plenty who do). The fact he's giving advice about the Masters' thesis is a good sign he thinks you can improve your research output (if you were a lost cause, why would he bother helping you?!).
I know that the classes will be a challenge, but enlist as much help as you can. Consider hiring a tutor or bribing a calc wiz you know with lunches/coffees for their assistance. Make eager use of the office hours. Ask your colleagues to see if anybody can lend you their old notes/textbooks/practice problems/past exams. 
Bottom line. Dropping out is an over-reaction. Keep swimming!

I would have to say a lot of people feel the way you do, they just won't admit it! Why did you enter a Ph.D program? I think the masters thesis option would be a great idea. That way you have an "out". My boyfriend left grad school because he was unhappy with the research (he was in a geology program too). I feel like having a masters allows you to have a lot of options to work in the field. I just recently completed my undergrad in geology. But you have accomplished a great deal! You should be proud! And I know how you feelab out physics....

I'm sorry you feel like a failure. This has been called impostor syndrome. A lot of graduate students have it. Please continue your therapy. I would consider the thesis option. For one thing, once you are done with classes, you are going to have to write a dissertation, and that is a huge, lonely process, full of more opportunities for impostor syndrome to flourish. But when it hits, you will have a masters degree to point at and remind yourself of all you have done. And you have accomplished a great deal. Don't compare yourself against some ideal - it's a waste of time. And don't minimize the value of what you have done. The job of your school is to get you to the point where you are an expert in your field. If you were already an expert, why would you go to school for it, after all. Good luck in your classes. Please keep venting here, if you find it helpful. We care.

Thanks for the feedback.  I don't know why I set such ridiculous goals for myself.  There aren't even many reasons for me to go on to a PhD except that I enjoy doing my own research and it's a huge accomplishment.  However, I have no interest in teaching which is a big reason why people go the PhD route.  I think I need to learn that I'm not super human.  And one thing I'm trying to focus on more is being happy while getting through all of this rather than thinking that as soon as I finish all of this, I'll be happy. 
Apogee: I'm all too familiar with imposter syndrome.  I thought that I had it under control, but it was obviously just hiding.  Our brains are funny things. 

Ummm... if you enjoy doing your own research and want to make a career of it, you may very well need to do the PhD. Check out the CVs of researchers in your field and/or do informational interviews with them to be sure.
Also, I just want to share something. When I started my PhD, I had no interest in or plans to teach after graduation. Now, I teach and I love it. Could I see myself doing it forever? No, but I think that's true of just about anything given how diverse my interests are. Is it fun for right now? Most of the time, yes. My point is that your ideas about what you want to be doing can change, especially as life and the job market change around you. Keep your options as open as possible until you figure out how to position yourself for your dream job.

I'm not going to repeat what other have said. I agree with their advice and I also think you should a. focus on your sessions, b. highlight your achievements, c. think long term. 
I was a little stroke by this comment. Unlike undergrad, grad school is up to you. Your advisor probably feels that he/she thought you'll be able to manage the "freedom" or autonomy but clearly you needed someone to accompany you a little closer, at least for sometime. This is not rare. Based on what you tell us, it feels that you are doing a better job than you think. If it takes a little longer, what's wrong with that? A very close friend of mine is a similar situation as you. He always gets very harsh feedback from his advisor (which turns out to be very useful) and I have seen him cry numerous times because EVERY TIME he gets an e-mail he thinks he should quit. 
Part of grad school is to grow, and growing hurts a little. Just take a breath, gain perspective, and then make small decisions that will help you stay on track and gain your PhD. 
Good luck!

I sort of felt that way the first year of my MA (eons ago now). Then, I got some good advice from more senior grad students: your experience will be as challenging as you want it to be. If you seek out opportunities to go beyond the coursework, get involved in more research, learn to be a better teacher, etc., then your master's can and will challenge you. But if you don't do that and complain about the program, you really only have yourself to blame. Instead of saying you feel pigeonholed, seek out the things you think are cool, new, or interesting. Go to office hours to talk to profs about them. Read up on them on your own. See if anyone will take you on as a RA to focus on one of those topics. Your education in grad school is driven by you so make the most of it while you can.

I kinda feel the same way. So far, I find my MSW quite easy. The only thing that I find challenging is not having the research process go exactly as planned. But I am trying to get opportunities to challenge myself, I got a fellowship for the health and social Policy instiute at my uni to do work on my MSW research topic next year + I applied to be a TA as well while working on my dissertation. I've also tried to be a member of research groups to meet other researchers and know about the opportunities to present in my field (for example, I am going to a conference in France this summer). 
But I agree with you, overwall to me, my MSW is easier than my BSW and I kinda hear a lot of people say the same thing around me. 

Yeah.. it happens. I found my Master understimulating and getting high grades was fairly easy for me. So I did a lot on the side. Including:
- Editor for a student Journal
- Lab assistant for 16 hr per week
- Extra research projects
- TA-ing at some point here and there (helping with grading mainly)
- Internship in consultancy 2 days per week (OK at that point I overdid it haha)
- Read a lot of extra material unrelated to my classes, just because I liked it certain topics (which then helped me with writing proposals, again making thigns easier, but OK).
Was helpful for getting a PhD - they were 'very impressed' by my experiences. 

2 weeks from when we receive the official email from grad studies (which I haven't gotten yet- also worth noting I was accepted the second round I think, not first) 

Congratulations @friesandwater

Congratulations! 

This wait tho.... BRUH

This wait tho.... BRUH

Wow I still haven't received an email from them. I wonder if that means I'm rejected 

@Teochew I learned how to sell ice to the Eskimo and I was set. I have no experience in public health, I can take just about everything I've done in past few years and pitch it to them as if these are skills that transferable. Talk to a career counsellor about creating a cv that highlights this and you'll the idea will become very apparent if its not already.

e.g. I land sponsorship for a charity event through awesome proposals, speaking in front of large audiences, and great applications. These skills could easily be applied to a public health research context for grant applications or addressing audiences.
 
Research experience - volunteering and paid
4th year thesis
volunteer manager for yearly community charity event and other volunteer stuff in community
awesome references that you work closely with and maybe did more than just take a class or two with them
See career counselors and they'll have shape up your cv and letter of intent

Anybody know when schools like Queens or Waterloo will be sending out their second round of offers?

Hey there,
The SOI for the Queen's MPH application appears just after the "Resume" section and before the "Departmental Questions". The way that it shows up is kind of confusing but there is a separate text box for the SOI, hope that helps!

I've heard from people who previously applied that certain schools like U of T or McGill can be very picky about following their guidelines for the application such as word count, I would contact the school directly just to double check with them

Question about MPH Distance education program at Lakehead U.    I am currently an undergraduate with a degree in Environmental Studies and I wanted to know what you can tell me about the program.  I am not a nurse or have any background in health related field. Do you think this program is for me? Is the distance education program only for professionals? What kind of students are enrolled in this program? Is this program designed for nurses and doctors who are enrolled to move to admin position?   I just ran into some information and was unsure if this program was for me. I really like the MPH field but I got just a little blindsided by this new information I got.    Best, Amna 

Hello, 
 
Long time follower, first time poster here! I just wanted to update anyone looking to this forum for updates that I was on the waiting list for UOFT's SBHS program and I received a recommendation for admission today at 3:30pm :)! 
 
If you're on the waiting list hang in there! You're maybe next, wishing you all luck!!
 
To anyone enrolling this September, EXCITED to see you all there :D!!

hey!
sure, I'm currently completing my BHSc majoring in Health & Society and my GPA is a 3.4 for past 2 years - so probably on the lower end of the competitive side. I've been working as an RA since summer of 2nd year and currently completing my honors thesis, through this research I have some conference/presentation experience. I also do some volunteering with local organizations (mostly passionate about working with vulnerable populations, ie. forensic youth & adults with a disability) & have some leadership experience with being on exec team of a university started healthcare improvement network, (I'm very interested in Canada's HC system & quality improvement). Feel free to msg me if you'd like to know more  (oh, and I'm a Canadian student)
I submitted my Sask application just a couple days ago I don't think they've entered in my CV and LOI as submitted yet so it still just says processed. Is Sask the only school you applied to? & whys that? my main issue was looking into this a little too late this missing early deadlines, such as the December one set out by UofA. do you (or anyone else) have any thoughts on UBC vs USask for MPH?