Stay for PhD or Leave w/ Masters? Thinking of Leaving Again...

[meowth812]

I've already posted on here before about my issue, but I thought I'd give it another go after I've had some thoughts on it and some advice from a few people.

 

My situation: I'm a first year PhD student in a biology program, particularly in a physiology department. I found out rather quickly that my advisor and I do not share research interests. In fact, I disagree with a lot of what is involved with the discipline, particularly when it comes to animal care and experimentation. (Yes, I realize that this is part of biology, but the research done in my department appears to have no meaningful contribution to science, so I have a problem with it.) I feel uncomfortable, bored, and unmotivated to select a project. I love my classes, but I don't look forward to the days on which I have to do any type of research. I always feel like I should be in another department.

 

I considered leaving the program at the end of the last semester. After the advice I got on here, I talked to my advisor about my concerns, and expressed that I would prefer to get my Masters and then leave. At first, he seemed okay with it, but he then did a lot of persuading me to stay. Here's what he said:

 

- That my feelings were normal for a first year graduate student. It's a big change to go to grad school, and that within a year or so, I will feel more comfortable with everything. I should try to make some friends and get involved more on campus, and it won't be so bad.

 

- That he has everything I need to get my PhD now. He will do what he can to make sure I am funded and will provide me with the skills I need to get my degree. Trying to get a PhD somewhere else is an option, but will take longer (potentially considerably longer, depending).

 

- That just because I am doing a PhD project in one discipline doesn't mean I'm stuck doing it for the rest of my life. He was forced to do a project he wasn't interested in, but it grew on him and he ended up with a PhD, and now he does what he wants, so it was worth it. 

 

He made good points. He told me to think about it for a while, and said that we'd find a project that I liked. Unfortunately, it wasn't much longer later that he asked for my decision, and I panicked and said that I'd stay. He then told me that my project was limited to what he knew how to do (ugh) and handed me some papers on stuff I couldn't care less about to consider for my project. I am feeling less than enthused.

 

It also doesn't help that my boyfriend of a few years didn't get the job down here and just signed a two year contract back home, several hundred miles away. We haven't seen each other in over six months. He is willing to quit his career at the end of the contract to come be with me, but we both know that that is not financially smart and would possibly disrupt his career significantly enough that he may choose to sign another contract with this company. (This is complicated to explain, so I'll just leave it at that.)

 

So overall, I'm not sure if I should just take my professor's advice to stick this out to get my "scientist's card", and then live happily ever after when it's all said and done -- or if I should just get a Master's, move back to my home state and apply for more suitable PhD programs there and spend the extra time getting said "scientist's card" , doing something that I will enjoy more. 

 

I've got my professors suggesting that I stick it out, and two that even said that a Master's degree won't get me a job to fall back on. I've got my friends back at home telling me not to give up and to keep going. Then there are articles online about how a PhD can end up being a huge mess that lasts several years longer than expected, and that earnings are often not worth the extra time put in. I also have read some grad student blogs, overall with mixed messages. 

 

I'd like to get some other input on this situation. Stick it out? Or go home with a Masters and try again?  I am not sure if I should consider my emotions or go with the "smarter" choice. 

 

Thoughts? Thank you so much in advance. 

[Dal PhDer]

Yes, people do their PhD on topics they're not interested in all the time...and yes, there is an adjustment from undergard to graduate school...and yes, it's an amazing opportunity to have a fully funded PhD...BUT...in the end you have to do what's going to make you happy.

 

Think about where you want to be in 10 years...is it in a research environment? How would a Masters help you get there? How would a PhD benefit you over a Masters? What topics are you interested in?

 

I am a firm believer that happiness is essential in life and should be a top priority. There is no point in spending 3-5 years in a degree where you're miserable, only to then have to find a job in an area you hate.

 

Don't let your supervisor push you into something you don't want to do...really think about it. Talk to someone on campus that can help you figure out what you're looking for in terms of a career, and your opitions.

 

Good luck

[TheFez]

Sounds like you should get out of it to me. You may likely end up ABD if you don't.

Not Happy -> Not Motivated -> Bad Research -> Bad outcome.

[Katzenmusik]

It sounds like your advisor might not have your best interests at heart, since even after that conversation, you're back at square one.

 

In my opinion, you should apply next round to different PhD programs.  In the spring, you'll hopefully have the option to move somewhere that is more up your alley.  Or you could take the masters and be done.  It could be interesting to explore non-academic career options, like working in science museums/state parks/nature centers/wildlife refuges or being a science journalist.

 

If you stay where you are now, you'll be spending years away from your significant other, doing something you don't even want to do.  You'd end up with a degree which could be flexible at the end, as your advisor says, but could just as easily channel you into similarly dislikable positions in the future.  It doesn't seem like the sacrifice is worth it.

[Miro]

I agree, you should not stay in a program that is not going to contribute in your edification as a person.