Do Ph.D. programs get better/easier once you finish classes?

[BETough]

In my program, students take classes for the first two years along with starting research and then focus on research after that.  I'm finishing up my third semester, so I'm nearly done with classes, but this past semester has just been brutal.  I'm passing my classes (I could be doing better, but I know classes aren't very important and I'm in no danger of failing), and I think my advisor is reasonably happy with my progress in research, but I have been pretty much constantly stressed since my quals last summer, and the idea of putting myself through another 4-5 more years of this seems so daunting right now that I'm doubting if I can do it.  I think my research is interesting, and I do enjoy it when I have opportunities to recharge my batteries, but lately I've been constantly either doing lab work or working on projects for class. I'm so burned out that even doing things that I previously found interesting is a chore.   I try to force myself to take breaks and do things I enjoy, but even then I often find myself stressing out about how I'm wasting time that I could spend doing work.  I know that a lot of, if not most, people think about quitting at some point in their Ph.D., but is what I'm feeling normal?  Does anyone have any suggestions for how to deal with it?  Do things get better when you can just focus on research? 

[Usmivka]

For me things are a lot harder with just research. Classes provide some alternate, valid focus of time other than research. Without them, as you identified, your primary outlets are now viewed as "extracurricular" by your committee. I can only imagine things are/will be significantly more draining for you in an engineering lab. At least I get to go outside regularly for work! My suggestion is to find something that is an outlet for you but your committee (and you) will view as valuable for your professional development, such as teaching, public outreach, and regular conferences.

 

It isn't clear to me what you are asking about regarding feeling "normal." You mean feeling burnt out? Or are you spending a lot of time thinking about quitting? I've felt burnt out for years straight, as have some of my peers, so you certainly aren't alone. And we certainly think about how great life would be outside a PhD program, but I've only had two peers actually follow through and drop out (and they are both truly much happier for it). But for most of us the reasons we initially decided on a PhD counter this ideation--we want to pursue the questions that interest us and direct our own research, and a PhD is still an important step in letting us do this throughout our careers. Maybe not essential, but it opens a lot of doors. Hopefully others will respond with more encouragement and good suggestions!

Edited November 23, 2014 by Usmivka

[TakeruK]

In my opinion, PhD programs are a lot better (not sure about easier) after classes are done. Research is hard but personally, I feel a lot more motivated and excited to do research than I did in attending lectures and completing problem sets. Also, I feel that now I don't have to spend 20-30 hours per week on classes, I have a ton more time to do things I am interested in. For example, attending seminars is now enjoyable and a nice break from research (as much as I like it, I need variety!). During the first year, it's just another hour where I am stressing about research and classes in the background. I also have time to do other things that I care about like extracurriculars on campus etc.

 

Overall, my workload has decreased. During my years in class, I spend probably 50-60 hours per week working. Now that classes are over, I only spend about 40-50 hours per week on just research (to be honest, probably more like 35-40 hours of solid focussed work). 

[St Andrews Lynx]

Look at it this way: if you spend ALL your time in the lab, your net productivity is going to go down as your stress/fatigue rises. In fact, you will probably be more productive over the week if you take a day or 2 off to recharge your batteries, rather than ploughing on through. Don't feel guilty - taking breaks is really important to your future success.

 

Keep focussing ahead. I found life a lot less stressful once I got my coursework requirements out of the way and could focus more on my research. 

[biotechie]

Classes + research sometimes feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, but I wouldn't say that goes away... Because now that I'm in lab full-time, I have more responsibility. I finished my qual at the beginning of the semester, and being done with classes HAS made things better for me. I agree with TakeruK that is not easier, but better. I find seminars that I'm excited about to plan into my week so I'm not just standing at my bench pipetting, and I also volunteer to TA one 8 week class per year and mentor rotations students that come through the lab. I'll have my own summer student this summer. So my days are still broken up and are not monotonous, but I have just as much stuff filling it up. I think the reason I like this so much more is that I'm pursuing knowledge in my research area, which is way more fun than being told to learn something. Nearly everything I learn has a direct application to the research I am doing. It is a daunting task, but it is much more enjoyable.

 

I don't know what kind of relationship you have with your advisor, but I know I can tell mine anything. I mentioned when I joined his lab that I stress when I take a break and that it is hard for me to do. If he notices I'm in lab far too much, he'll mention that I should take a break, which helped at first to make me more okay with it. For a while, he even mentioned fun things he heard to do on the radio in to school to convince me I should go. Now I make sure I get a whole day off most weekends. My quality of work is much better when I am well-rested and have had some fun. 

 

If you're this stressed out, though, you really should talk to your advisor, a trusted faculty, friends, or your school ombudsman. They may just confirm that you're feeling normal things, but if you need to see someone about stress and anxiety, they may be able to help direct you.

[juilletmercredi]

In my opinion, my program got way more enjoyable after I finished my coursework.  I was able to spend my time doing what I really loved, which was research.  I liked my classes but I didn't enjoy taking coursework.  My dissertation was the best - I had a fellowship so I worked 10 hours a week to earn extra money (teaching stats to undergrads) and the rest of the time I just spent working on my dissertation doing research.  Glorious!

 

So yes, what you're feeling is normal.  I remember my first 2 years; I spent a lot of time stressing out when I was taking a break, reasoning that I could've been working.  I think most academics feel like that - the work expands to fit the available time, so there's always theoretically something you could be doing, even when you're sleeping, in the shower, eating dinner, etc.  You learn to deal with that over time - you realize that taking a break is part of balancing yourself so that you feel refreshed and ready to work when the time comes.  And oh heck yeah did I doubt myself.  You're still brand new to all of this, and you see what your professors and the advanced grad students do and you wonder how you could ever.  By the end of your doctoral program, though, you'll feel more ready.

[callista]

I'm also finishing my 3rd semester and it has been really tough.  I think part of it is, last year I was still so unaware of all the stuff I had to learn and now that I'm closer to mastering some things... I'm tired.  We are going to be OK!

[reinhard]

In my opinion, PhD programs are a lot better (not sure about easier) after classes are done. Research is hard but personally, I feel a lot more motivated and excited to do research than I did in attending lectures and completing problem sets. Also, I feel that now I don't have to spend 20-30 hours per week on classes, I have a ton more time to do things I am interested in. For example, attending seminars is now enjoyable and a nice break from research (as much as I like it, I need variety!). During the first year, it's just another hour where I am stressing about research and classes in the background. I also have time to do other things that I care about like extracurriculars on campus etc.

 

Overall, my workload has decreased. During my years in class, I spend probably 50-60 hours per week working. Now that classes are over, I only spend about 40-50 hours per week on just research (to be honest, probably more like 35-40 hours of solid focussed work). 

Yeah, research no classes, must be living the dream...

[Tall Chai Latte]

My own PhD experience so far says research + classes is easier than research only. What's difficult with year 3 and beyond is that your time becomes less structured and starts to blur together, but if you are still taking classes, there are some deadlines to keep track of. I was pretty lost for a while after passing candidacy- it was like "congratulations! you are now a PhD candidate! go for the degree!" without really a physical road map or guide. It is so easy to put on more workload than you could take and burn out. 

[captiv8ed]

As a person who probably has undiagnosed ADD, research alone has been hell. No structure, lack of built in socialization, less in common with a group of people, these things have made it more difficult now. Plus, there is not the excuse of coursework to put off research. 

[educdoc]

As a person who probably has undiagnosed ADD, research alone has been hell. No structure, lack of built in socialization, less in common with a group of people, these things have made it more difficult now. Plus, there is not the excuse of coursework to put off research.

So I can expect hard times to come... ADD symptoms here too... ugggh.

[captiv8ed]

It is so difficult. If you have the option, try to keep scheduled hours at your office on campus. It helps keep a line between work and not work. I don't have a good work space at school, so I am home a lot. :/

[GradHooting]

I am not done with my classes yet, but I have spent terms with no classes and just research.  My opinion is: 100% research is fantastic.  I have my own schedule.  I will gladly work 80 hours a week with my own schedule, my own difficulties, instead of bind myself to a fixed schedule where I have to get assignments done which might not relate directly to the progression of my dissertation.

 

So, for me, the looser schedule wins hands down.  I still have to produce results by key time frames, say, on a weekly basis, but I can completely schedule it to my satisfaction.

[ion_exchanger]

I just finished my 3rd semester, and my lab few classes and will be performing full time research now and I am extremely excited. My personal program is a bit difficult than the rest of my cohort in that my lab is not on the main campus, but I still have to attend data presentations and seminars as they do, so our experiences are similar. With that said, I am very much looking forward to just going into the lab and being able to work most of the day, without having to constantly plan experiments around coursework, especially since in my program you took two semesters of around 13-15 credits in addition to lab, so there was a serious problem with balancing lab work and research with coursework and studying. I guess I am in the minority where I prefer the freeing feeling of solely research. I am free to plan my week around all of my experiments. It helps that I keep daily, weekly, and monthly goals for myself, since I present in lab meetings once a month. This helps me stay on top of things when my time is free and open. When I am in charge of my own schedule, I find myself working crazy and/or long hours, and I am completely fine with that. Setting my own deadlines as opposed to forced deadlines makes me feel better.

 

As far as hitting a wall or feeling like quitting, it helps me to strictly stay on a schedule for working. I wrote a review for a book this semester while taking my remaining coursework and working on preliminary data for my thesis proposal, and I was EXHAUSTED. My brain was on material overload. I haven't had any feelings of hitting a wall or quitting with this lab, but I did when I was in a nightmare of a rotation while taking the hardest courseload I have ever had and being required to attend seminars and presentations, wondering if putting myself through this stress was worth it. I just had to remember why I applied to grad school in the first place, all the money, time, and worry put into my applications and interviews, and the joy that I felt when I chose my dream program and dream lab. Now that classes are over, I have put myself on a schedule to work 6 days a week, and completely rest for one day, unless I have a major deadline. This gives me the time that I need to recharge and refocus, get my errands run and keep my home in order. This works well for me, and I don't feel so overwhelmed all the time.