What is the expectation? (Warning: may sound like rant)

[Tall Chai Latte]

Hey Grad cafe,

My prelim is just around the corner for me. Based on our program requirement, all prelimers should propose a topic of their own choice outside of their own field of interest and past experience. This will become a 10-page writeup, and we defend it in front of a standing committee. Our own PIs are only allowed to give very limited assistance, given that this is an exam.

So I'm doing my best here, proposing a topic entirely outside of my comfort zone. It ain't easy as I have to learn lots of biology in 3 months' time (I was not a biology major during undergrad), at the same time I'm expected to do bench work and take classes, totally unrelated to my writeup. The bench work is even not a part of my thesis -- it's an on-going paper that's been dragging for 4 months already (at its final stretch to completion). On the one hand, I'm in the midst of preparing for the prelim and don't really want to spread myself too thin over all these other tasks that the PI wants me to do, but I realize that whether I pass or not depends directly on the PI, implying maybe I should probably get things done the way he likes.

On top of the stress induced by prelimania, and all these different things on the side, it really wears me down mentally. Lately I've been having the thought of quitting altogether for some reason, maybe it's just the stress speaking. So what is your experience when you take your prelim/quals/comps? It feels like a lot of work, but being able to produce research simultaneously is a normal expectation?

[ktel]

Although I'm only in a Master's, my department is somewhat similar. In our first 8 months we have to do course work, typically 2 classes per semester, and at the end of each semester we have to present on our research to date. I'm also TAing and playing a sport which is very important to me at a pretty high level. It's super stressful and after each of my presentations I've been told that I haven't been making as much progress as I should. It's a bit frustrating as I'm trying to keep up with everything and do my best and the expectations of what is "good" progress haven't exactly been made clear to me. I totally understand I need to pick it up, and will be doing so even more now that I'm done coursework.

[UnlikelyGrad]

Yes, they typically do expect you to do research simultaneously, though my advisor did back off on her expectations a bit (only a bit). I had actual written exams, but several of my officemates (in a different program) have the sort of non-thesis proposal thing that you describe.

I got a week off for my actual exams, but was more or less expected to keep up with stuff otherwise. So I'd try to spend an hour or two studying each day--usually in the morning, when I think best--and get into lab afterwards. Sometimes I'd be running a kinetics experiment in which I'd take time points every couple of hours or so; in this case I'd study in between time points. I felt like I was juggling fifty things at once and on the verge of dropping them all.

[juilletmercredi]

So I'm doing my best here, proposing a topic entirely outside of my comfort zone

I don't think "outside of your own field of interest and past experience" means you have to pick something completely out of your comfort zone.

I've taken the first of my qualifying exams and am in the middle of studying for my second set (which I am taking in the second week of May). Yes, it is a normal expectation that you be able to produce research simultaneously. I think it's expected that you slow down a little bit, especially if you have other obligations (TAing, for example), but you are expected to keep your research agenda going.

I also took a week off for my qualifying exams the first time - I basically lived in the library and/or in my bedroom studying. I also intend to take a week off this time, and scheduled it during the undergrads' finals week to give myself the time (I'm TAing this semester).

[BassAZ]

My paper is due on Wednesday and I'm pretty sure my oral defense of my quals will be this upcoming Tuesday - I'm right there with you. You aren't going to be as efficient. Something's gotta give. It's either going to be the quals, your lab work, your life or your sleep. I think it's just one of those hoops we're expected to go through. We HAVE to come to grips with the fact we're not made to do everything at one time. It's just another part of time management that we have to work through.

I'm curious why your PI has any say whatsoever in your passing or not. He/She most likely isn't on the standing committee and shouldn't have that much input into the process. If you don't go through this, you're no good to your PI anyway, so they should give you a little leeway to get what you need to get done accomplished.

My labmate and I did similar things: about a month to go, we reduced our work loads to about 1 major experiment a week. Took the week before everything was due off. I know I've been working on this thing 'til about 1am each night, so I chose to neglect my sleep.

All of this to say, what you're going through is normal (at least the way I see it) and there are a number of us right there with you. I empathize. Take heart. =)

[Tall Chai Latte]

Thanks guys, it's great to know that I'm not alone. I am the only grad student in the lab (surrounded by Asian postdocs, who didn't get their PhD in the States and don't seem to understand what it feels like to go through the process). They spend very long hours in lab, so it feels little awkward to take time off, but you gotta do what you need to do -- passing is very important.

BassAZ, my PI is not allowed to be on the standing committee, but the committee will ask him his opinion about me. There's a saying that goes like this: if your PI wants to get rid of you, the best time to do it is at your prelim. Though I think it is unlikely things will come to this... Hope not.

[Dal PhDer]

This certainly sounds like a different process than my department...so I can't offer advice...what I will do is send you lots of hope, luck, and 'finger crossing'...goodluck!