Dal PhDer

For my degree you did all your course work the first year, and then you began your comprehensives. Once you pass your comprehensives, then you go onto your dissertation. However, I still read a lot of work related to my research during my courses, and also directed any course assignment towards my dissertation project. Time spent will depend on the course and program. During my first year, I would say I worked 9-5 M-F doing course work and research reading. Time spent is really going to depend on a bunch of individual and situational factors. Just be prepared for a lot of work, and you'll be fine!

Be prepared to work. Set up study groups. Get a tutor from a previous year. And just read, practice, read, listen, read, practice. If you apply yourself, you'll be fine. Grad school isn't easy, but many of us doubt our abilities and intelligence every day...one thing I have learned about grad school is often the successful students aren't the most brilliant students- their the hardest working students.

i think you've been given some really great advice here. For my MA none of my data was significant...I was upset, until my advisor gave me some really great perspective. Your masters is not about generating new data or finding something fabulous and new- it's about learning the ropes of research and taking on a project independently and completing it. This is to prepare you for future research and enable you to understand the many processes and steps that it takes to complete a project. Also, negative results are just as informative as positive- they really are...proving something doesn't work, is just as valuable as proving something does work. This may vary based on topics/projects, but in general, especially for a masters, negative results aren't horrible. I think you should really consider what you want to do in the future and weigh the pros and cons. You bring up some great points about money and finishing early, but also the fact that a thesis-based degree will open different doors for you. In my field, you almost always have to have a thesis to be accepted...but I would research the potential programs you might be interested in, and see if it matters. I would also go to your career center at your university and talk to them about your choices and what avenues you can go down with each one. This may help you make your choice. You may also want to look at this project as a pilot study....there is a lot of value in testing out a method and seeing if it works and what needs to be changed. It might not be a traditional question-answer type project, but it's still valuable. I would also talk to your advisor and your committee members and discuss your concerns. Your committee is there to add expertise and help you through this project, they've also probably seen a lot of students go through this process and can offer some great advice. Good luck!

I would say this is fundamental to any PhD program, regardless of location.

I think it has to do with a lot more than where you got your PhD. I think it's your success track with funding and publications, your topic/expertise, and more important- who you will bring to the university. My graduate coordinator told me that when universities employee you, they are actually trying to hire the people you have worked with - so your supervisor, committee member, mentors, etc. So I think to be hired, you need to fulfil various factors.

Yeah...the contingent is worrisome. It seems strange that they would know your all your pay without knowing the funding amount...hmmm...I might be a bit worried, and actually take this to someone that might know a bit more about contracts and such. Does the contract you signed have anything about there being contingency based on funding?

This is a huge red flag for me. You are right, you will need help from your supervisor- they are there to help you learn, you can't be expected to do everything by yourself...but their role is significantly less than it was during a Masters. If most students are in their 5th/6th year without much progress, I would be very worried. Firstly, I would inquire about how are funded! Self-funded for that long is very expensive. It sounds like students who are successful in this program have to be very motivated and self-directed. If you do not feel you have the ability to do that, and some students don't (which isn't wrong!), you might want to consider if you can (1) change supervisors or (2) maybe change programs. I think the thing is, we do want to help, but we want to make sure that your issues with the PhD program are not actually expectations that all students have to meet, and are actually specific issues with your supervisor/program. It might be you want to be more specific about the situation and issues you are having! good luck

Hi there, I am sorry you are having a difficult time and have been ill this past year. Working through being diagnosed and treating an illness during school is hard, stressful, and tiring. Outside your illness, there seems to be an apparent misunderstanding of your expectations and perceptions of a PhD. A PhD is never easy and is not suppose to be easy. It's a prestigious degree that takes years, many hours, tears/sweat/sanity...etc to finish. You should never regard it as being easy, nor should you think you should choose the "easy" route. A PhD is also an independent and self-directed learning experience. This is a process where you begin to learn how to do research, formulate skills, and show to your advisors and committee that you are ready to begin a career. I know what it's like to be in a situation where you feel your supervisor isn't invested in your project- but in all reality, that's not their job. The true reality is that YOU have to be invested in that project, and YOU have to continually become the expert, advocate, and progressor with it. Your supervisor is not there to hold your hand, their job is to mentor you, make you think beyond your capacity, make you question your choices in design/methods/etc., and be your supporter. I would not expect my advisor to give me literature to read for my proposal - NEVER. They might recommend me a book or article if they come across something, or I might seek out their recommendation on a specific topic if I am finding it difficult to find information, but I would never expect them to hand me a list of readings to develop my thesis on- this is your job, and a critical skill you should learn. It sounds like your first major hurtle is developing a literature search. If you are stuck on finding literature, head to your library and they can help you. You will find there are a lot of services at your institution that can help you with various steps of your degree...I have even met with additional professors to get their input and guidance on certain things or specific methodologies questions. The biggest thing to remember is this is your degree, and you have to have the initiative and motivation to take the reins and drive it to success. As ticklemepink has suggested, perhaps you should sit down and really think about what you want out of your PhD, you interest in your dissertation, and where you see this degree taking you. Best of luck

We weren't given the names in either of my programs...BUT...I would contact your admin person in the department, because I do remember getting group emails asking if people were looking for roommates as someone needed one. You could always ask if they know of any students who have contacted them regarding roommates, and perhaps keep your name if they do. In my experience, departments are normally pretty easy going about that stuff...but again, it probably varies. Also- you might want to get in contact with the student association that is linked to your program/department (if you have one)- they would be able to help, and also get you some contacts for the up coming year!

TakeruK- excellent advice! I might add that if you do contact someone that you don't know personally, I might outline what you expect them to contribute or what you think they can add to the paper. I think this might help them understand their place in this process, show that you've researched their background/expertise, and have also given thought to the idea/direction of the paper.

Hi there There's a useful thread here that might give you some good ideas/suggestions: Hope this helps

Ok! That makes more sense to me now! And is this an opinion / perspective piece, a literature review/meta-analysis, or a paper that will need data collection? One way to do it is to approach people who you've worked with before and/or know you in your own department and sacrifice writing about something that's strictly of your own interest, and maybe something that's a bit more in their area but that you can spin into a topic you enjoy. A lot of profs have data that they let students take and publish from something, or they might have contacts that they could direct you too. You could also try and apply for an RAship- they often lead to publications. Do you have an advisor or some academic contact? If you do, I would start there, and let them know that you're interested in publishing and the topic you would like to do. They could probably give you some advice. Tbh, I don't know anyone that has cold called a person and ask them to co-write something, that doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I might research people who write in that area, and contact them about the potential to collaborate and your ideas. I don't know about the politics/manners of this, but if it's done professionally and with the tone that you're an eager and motivated student looking to gain experience, I am sure it would be fine. Do you have an academic point of contact like a supervisor?

Hi there, Teaching and doing a PhD are quite different paths...while your PhD might offer you the opportunity to teach, it will be nothing like a full-time position. I think you have to figure out what your longterm goals are. Are you interested in teaching? At what level? Are you interested in research? Through what kind of institution? What are your financial plans (i.e., do you want to start making money to buy a house or are you willing to sacrifice that to go to school for the next 3-5 years?) I think this is the type of decision you'll have to make, and it's one which will require you to ask a lot of questions to yourself about what your interests are and where you would like to see yourself headed in the future. Good luck!

Hi there, I have never done that before, but I have taken advantage of the writing center at my university- you might want to try this free service. They have always been really good at editing, pointing out suggestions, and readability for me- and they normally have a quick turnaround. If I sent it off to a editor, I might be worried about scams like you said, and them stealing my work- this is only because i have no experience with any of these people!

Hi there- I have not had experience doing this, but I am curious as to why you want to have a co-author and not just submit your own. Do you have a topic? data? is this why you're interested in bringing someone in? If you have a topic and/or data, why not take the chance to get a single authored paper?!

I have always found the grading system quite odd in graduate school. I find that there's always enough wiggle room for professors to personally weigh in on whether or not they felt you were a good student- such as participation marks. I think it probably varies by degree and department, but generally if you put serious effort into your assignments, attend every class, and participate in discussion (and show you are following the material), you'll do ok. I know several student during my MA who bombed the assignments for one of our 1st year classes, but they would participate and show up every class wanting to learn and they still pulled a decent mark. This is one benefit of GS, it's not just assignment/test base and reiterating knowledge back to the professor... Here, the letter to GPA equivalents are the same in UG and GS, but anything below a 70% (B-) is a red flag. ... I think this is generally what it's like in most schools/departments. Grades do matter to some extent...your ability to get funding and support is linked in part to your grades. However, I don't think it will stop an employer in the future from not hiring you- but it may stop you from getting into a Post-Doc.

Hi Seán, Welcome to the world of grad school! Where you never quite sure of your abilities, if you're on par with the rest of your class, or if you're doing anything right! I think your concerns are what a lot of students feel like- before, during and after they graduate school. A lot of students have never taken a break to gain work experience, so I might not stress too much about it. I would suggest that you take up opportunities to get more practical experience- such as RA work or even TA work...or if there are some small part-time positions linked to your degree. From my experience in my PhD, people who have not had work experience are not at a disadvantage. However, once you graduate, you will want to have some sort of skills/experience to put on your resume for jobs- this will make you a better contender for positions. I am making the assumption that the experience you wish you had is work, perhaps you could clarify what experience you feel you are missing! In the end, I think this is a common feeling a lot of students don't have...if this is something you really want to do, don't let nerves/fears stop you

Tooo true!!!! What else would I complain about?? ...I feel a "first world problems" need to be interjected in here I certainly agree with you that you can't expect your professor to be everything..and it's really important to recognize that they have their own career, family, and life to think about- and what makes or breaks a relationship for one student, might not for another. And I certainly agree that it's difficult to re-build a broken relationship, especially with trust...I think the most important thing for a student to feel is what you said here: I think a lot can be overlooked or forgiven if a student truly feels their advisor is invested/interested in them (especially outside of their project). I have had a very interesting experience with my PhD advisor- I love him, and think he's great- but I do question his ability to get my through my degree. He's new, he doesn't have experience, and I thinnk my own personality/working style clashes with him. He does try, but I am constantly finding that he's not meeting my expectations. I do realize he's human, he's busy, and unlike in my life- I am not his number 1 priority. I still want to work with him, but I realize that I need to step up and fight for my own degree. I love that you would quietly let your advisor know you were having issues- this is something I am learning, and it's an excellent thing to know- you can tell them you're unhappy- this is a two way relationship. I guess that's one of the biggest things I would like to stress to the OP- is that your advisor is human and might not always make the right choices...but this is your degree and you have to be the advocate for it.

I am thinking this is the cause of the ktel attacks! ...but it's so cute!!!

To add onto jeffster's point about appearance...***what I am about to say is going to sound fluffy and horribly girlie***....putting in a bit of extra work on your appearance (e.g., looking clean cut, wearing a spiffy outfit that you like, smelling nice) will also make YOU feel different and results in you acting different and more confident. There is a reason why when girls are down in the dumps they go shopping for a nice outfit, go get their nails/hair done, or get dressed up- it makes you feel good to look in the mirror and say "daaaayum, I got it!!" [i know that statement is a generalization on all girls! apologies!] If you spend an extra 20 minutes in the morning putting yourself together, you will feel more confident and your behaviours/attitude will change...and after about a week of putting 20minutes in, you'll find you'll only need 10 minutes, and soon it'll just be a part of your daily routine!

Margarets, You came on here asking for advice and have gotten a wide range of useful tips and opinions. Rather than focusing on one person who you just disagree with, perhaps be more gracious and thankful to everyone (even those you don't see eye to eye with) for taking time to offer advice and suggestions. We are helping you out by taking the time to answer your question- we don't ask for thanks or cheers, but we do deserve respect and consideration. Your topic is not a cut and dry question- it is layered in interpersonal relationships and social dynamics- which will vary between individuals. In reading ktels post, there is useful advice. I don't believe they are advocating lying at all...in the real world in order to maintain working relationships with peers that you might not see eye to eye with, you will have to maintain 'working' relationships with them- relationships purely based on the reciprocity of work advantages rather than friendship. There is nothing wrong with that. Tbh, your behaviour and attitude to your peers on here is telling as to why you might have issues in your class. Try and be less abrasive and accusing, and more open and gracious.

Suggesting the OP engage in activities that he might not normally do is not judgemental, it's suggesting an opportunity for him to meet people he might not otherwise meet. And to suggest that your PhD program will likely introduce you to a like minded mate is suggesting taking a narrow path...Depending on your degree, you will be faced with labs of all the same gender, married lab mates...I would say that my experience, grad school would be the least likely place I would find a partner. The OP wants advice on how to find a girlfriend, and has asked for good places to meet girls...broadening your circle of friends and experiencing a wide range of activities (outside of grad school) is great advice. If you only stick to grad school and your lab, your are limiting your chances of meeting someone who might be the perfect match for you. Also, dating within your program is often frowned upon... [ check out advice in this thread ] Clearly the OP wanted suggestions outside of what his typically does right now...suggesting him to broaden his social circles and experiences if good advice and not judgemental.

Graduate school is all about preparing yourself for the real world, and one big skills in the real world is developing working relationships with your peers, being able to effectively work within groups, and learning how to properly hand out and take criticism on your work. Group tasks were always a huge part of my grad school experience. My very first grad school task for the second class was to facilitate/teach the class with 2 other students. What you are experiencing is grad school, so the attitude that your prof has will probably be one that you will see a lot of...simply because they want you to develop crucial real world skills. I would first try to establish some kind of study group with the students in the class. Before or after class, talk to a group of them and say "hey, I really would like to get together for an hour before/after class/on the weekend/whatever to talk about the assignments and maybe exchange work with each other" ...all you can do is suggest opportunities for students to get together and help each other out..in my experience, grad students are all very willing to do this, because just as you want help and feedback, so do they. [it's also key to remember that while grad school might seem like a competition, it's really not...you have to focus on your work, your path, and your expectations]. If you really try to generate a cooperative environment/situation in your class, and get no response...THEN go to your professor. If you do go to the professor again, be very careful how you approach it...do not place blame on the other students. Simply say, 'Listen I would like some extra guidance on this project, I feel like I am not exactly sure which direction I need to go in, and would really benefit from your advice'...if they say, 'go to the other students' say something like "I have, and I still don't feel completely confident that I am on the right track" ...you want to make sure you don't 'go crying' to the prof, you want to be professional, motivated, and stress that you want to do a good job and need clarity.

I always think about how this will pay off for graduation and how sexy and awesome I will look in front of everyone...then I remember I will be in a giant robe, where my figure will be lost under meters of fabric...at least my ankles and feet will look thin!