We've wined, we've waited, now it's time to celebrate 2016

[Need Coffee in an IV]

Honestly bread is bread to me! I pretty much love all the carbs. And I'm trying to avoid buying things since that will be less stuff to move. My house has a front porch, I can't wait to have plotted plants and chairs.

[Need Coffee in an IV]

@Cat_Robutt I've tried to say that no finals would be an excellent graduation present unfortunately I was unsuccessful!

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

Is anyone else terrified of the looming depression that is PhD work? Every grad student I've talked to has told me not to get a cat because I won't have time for it... a CAT! They also told me I'll be spending 80-90 hours a week at school... I guess to some extent I knew that, but I'm still terrified

[Neist]

42 minutes ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

Is anyone else terrified of the looming depression that is PhD work? Every grad student I've talked to has told me not to get a cat because I won't have time for it... a CAT! They also told me I'll be spending 80-90 hours a week at school... I guess to some extent I knew that, but I'm still terrified

I'm not going into a PhD program, but I look forward to the work load!  

Getting to spend 80 hours a week exclusively on what I love? Sounds fantastic!

I'm such a nerd.

Edited May 2, 2016 by Neist

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

2 minutes ago, Neist said:

I'm not going into a PhD program, but I look forward to the work load!  

Getting to spend 80 hours a week exclusively on what I love? Sounds fantastic!

I'm such a nerd.

 no shame! Maybe I'm just burnt out because it's the end of the semester.

[Neist]

Just now, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

 no shame! Maybe I'm just burnt out because it's the end of the semester.

Well, I've been working 40 hours a week for years now, so some of my enthusiasm is simply because it'll be refreshing. 

I'm also feeling a little burnt out, but the only thing I have to do after next Thursday is grade some papers. Just one more week.  

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

Just now, Neist said:

Well, I've been working 40 hours a week for years now, so some of my enthusiasm is simply because it'll be refreshing. 

I'm also feeling a little burnt out, but the only thing I have to do after next Thursday is grade some papers. Just one more week.  

Fortunately I haven't had an outside-of-school job for a couple of years, but I'm getting tired of pulling all-nighters at school... and part of me knows that that's exactly what graduate school is going to bring. Siiiigh.

I'm with you - one more week! I graduate on Friday and then leaving for Ithaca Friday night! Woooo! Though on a side note, who knew how expensive moving was?!

[Neist]

51 minutes ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

Fortunately I haven't had an outside-of-school job for a couple of years, but I'm getting tired of pulling all-nighters at school... and part of me knows that that's exactly what graduate school is going to bring. Siiiigh.

I'm with you - one more week! I graduate on Friday and then leaving for Ithaca Friday night! Woooo! Though on a side note, who knew how expensive moving was?!

I'm really glad I'm not moving (going to a program at the same school). When I was weighing my options, moving was going to cost at least a thousand dollars. 

So expensive.

[hippyscientist]

@Neist that book sale sounds incredible! 
 

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny right okay. 80 hours a week. Nope. Not happening (well maybe towards deadlines but otherwise no). When I was visiting schools (before I'd even applied) I told them my work-life balance was important. That I'd do the work, but I wasn't going to be in the lab all hours, and at least one day a week anything related to university work was going to ignored. My new advisor actually respected me for it. This PhD is a job. I refuse to let it take over my life. Yep I'm very excited about starting, and about learning and researching and getting involved, but equally I know I need a bit of me time each week to function at my best. So you won't catch me pulling 80 hrs here - it's unsustainable in the long haul, and I'm in this for the long haul. It's all about time management and priorities. Also, I have never pulled an all-nighter and I don't plan to start. Organization, and preparation are the key. Also yes, moving - disgustingly expensive. 

[winterstat]

2 hours ago, hippyscientist said:

@Neist that book sale sounds incredible! 
 

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny right okay. 80 hours a week. Nope. Not happening (well maybe towards deadlines but otherwise no). When I was visiting schools (before I'd even applied) I told them my work-life balance was important. That I'd do the work, but I wasn't going to be in the lab all hours, and at least one day a week anything related to university work was going to ignored. My new advisor actually respected me for it. This PhD is a job. I refuse to let it take over my life. Yep I'm very excited about starting, and about learning and researching and getting involved, but equally I know I need a bit of me time each week to function at my best. So you won't catch me pulling 80 hrs here - it's unsustainable in the long haul, and I'm in this for the long haul. It's all about time management and priorities. Also, I have never pulled an all-nighter and I don't plan to start. Organization, and preparation are the key. Also yes, moving - disgustingly expensive. 

 

I completely agree with you @hippyscientist Especially after reading this study that basically said that working more than 55 hours a week doesn't really add to your productivity, I'm going to try and keep my working hours below 55 a week (which would still come down to 11hr/5days or 9.6hr/6days). Here is a short summary of the study. I've also read so many people's experiences on this forum and the people that seem happiest usually adhere to the "a PhD should be treated as a job" philosophy.

Also, just wanted to say that I greatly enjoy reading the posts in this thread! It comes closest to a natural conversation that just flows from apartments to books to crumpets to working hours etc.

[jlt646]

@hippyscientist, I'm definitely the same way- I need the balance! It's important to me that I have the space in my life to cook, and exercise, and hang with my cats and my girlfriend, and whatever else. My life needs all parts in order to work! I know some people say that grad school is an impossible time-sucking nightmare, but I refuse to let it take over my life. Research is fun and I love my subfield, but I also love being a human person who lives in the world. 

 

[Neist]

7 hours ago, hippyscientist said:

@Neist that book sale sounds incredible! 

@Pink Fuzzy Bunny right okay. 80 hours a week. Nope. Not happening (well maybe towards deadlines but otherwise no). When I was visiting schools (before I'd even applied) I told them my work-life balance was important. That I'd do the work, but I wasn't going to be in the lab all hours, and at least one day a week anything related to university work was going to ignored. My new advisor actually respected me for it. This PhD is a job. I refuse to let it take over my life. Yep I'm very excited about starting, and about learning and researching and getting involved, but equally I know I need a bit of me time each week to function at my best. So you won't catch me pulling 80 hrs here - it's unsustainable in the long haul, and I'm in this for the long haul. It's all about time management and priorities. Also, I have never pulled an all-nighter and I don't plan to start. Organization, and preparation are the key. Also yes, moving - disgustingly expensive. 

I thought about the book sale, and it makes sense. We're a college town, and the only used book stores we have here heavily limit what they buy. They usually only buy what they sell, and that's not usually costly, academic press books. The books get donated to the library and/or other charitable organizations, and we reap the benefits.

In regards to an 80 hour work week, I imagine humanities graduate students have vastly different experiences than STEM graduate students. Most of my work is going to be reading, and I generally enjoy what I read. In that sense, my hobby is my task. However, if I had to work a lab for hours and hours on end, I think I'd have a different opinion. I'd definitely want to take breaks.

If you count my reading time, I probably already log 80+ hours a week, or at least close to it.

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

I think the 80-hour workweek is more for first year students... and hopefully since I won't be TAing or doing research my first year, I'll have more time to stay at home with my (hypothetical) cat. The cat I've already bought a self-cleaning litterbox, expensive automatic feeder, and cat tree for... hopefully this time next week it won't be a hypothetical cat anymore!

[Neist]

11 minutes ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

I think the 80-hour workweek is more for first year students... and hopefully since I won't be TAing or doing research my first year, I'll have more time to stay at home with my (hypothetical) cat. The cat I've already bought a self-cleaning litterbox, expensive automatic feeder, and cat tree for... hopefully this time next week it won't be a hypothetical cat anymore!

If you don't see the cat often, you should name it Schrödinger.  

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

Just now, Neist said:

If you don't see the cat often, you should name it Schrödinger.  

Brilliant

[Danger_Zone]

49 minutes ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

I think the 80-hour workweek is more for first year students... and hopefully since I won't be TAing or doing research my first year, I'll have more time to stay at home with my (hypothetical) cat. The cat I've already bought a self-cleaning litterbox, expensive automatic feeder, and cat tree for... hopefully this time next week it won't be a hypothetical cat anymore!

Well now I'm scared! I wholeheartedly love the idea of going to grad school but I need down time. I already have a cat (it's my boyfriend's but he will be bringing her) and have been dreaming of getting a dog for years, so I hope I have time for that! Dogs definitely need more attention.

I don't know if this would help at all (might not if the cat you get isn't playful/easily entertained) but there are a lot of automated cat toys out there that you could invest in. You could either leave the toy(s) on during the day to keep the cat busy while you're not around, or you could leave them on at night to tire him/her out so he/she will (hopefully) sleep during the day while you're gone. I think lots of toys in general are helpful, so you don't have to worry about not being around sometimes (at least once the cat is used to the house), and they seem pretty good at amusing themselves. 

Edited May 2, 2016 by Danger_Zone

[Pink Fuzzy Bunny]

6 minutes ago, Danger_Zone said:

Well now I'm scared! I wholeheartedly love the idea of going to grad school but I need down time. I already have a cat (it's my boyfriend's but he will be bringing her) and have been dreaming of getting a dog for years, so I hope I have time for that! Dogs definitely need more attention.

I don't know if this would help at all (might not if the cat you get isn't playful/easily entertained) but there are a lot of automated cat toys out there that you could invest in. You could either leave the toy(s) on during the day to keep the cat busy while you're not around, or you could leave them on at night to tire him/her out so he/she will (hopefully) sleep during the day while you're gone. I think lots of toys in general are helpful, so you don't have to worry about not being around sometimes (at least once the cat is used to the house), and they seem pretty good at amusing themselves. 

That's kind of my hope! I'll be adopting one hopefully next Monday... that way I have a week to stay home with it before I need to start working. I hope to go with an older cat (older meaning ~3 years or so) so that they don't need to be entertained all day like a younger cat. I'd love to have a cat that is content with napping in the sun for 12 hours a day, and then will cuddle with me when I'm home. That's the dream!

[hippyscientist]

17 minutes ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

That's kind of my hope! I'll be adopting one hopefully next Monday... that way I have a week to stay home with it before I need to start working. I hope to go with an older cat (older meaning ~3 years or so) so that they don't need to be entertained all day like a younger cat. I'd love to have a cat that is content with napping in the sun for 12 hours a day, and then will cuddle with me when I'm home. That's the dream!

wow I can't believe you're starting this soon! I mean it may be totally different disciplines but I just find 80 hrs a week crazy. I've been pulling 75 hr weeks in my masters for 4-5 months (it's finally easing off) but I've been told by multiple sources (including one who's been through the PhD I will be going to) that it eases up the intensity. Like the work's still challenging, but if you're doing more than 50 hr weeks something isn't right. Sorry, I don't mean to sound like I'm ranting at you, I'm ranting at the expectation that 80hrs a week is okay regularly (even if it is just for first years). I really hope that you're not doing 80 hrs a week so you can play with your (hypothetical) cat!  

[Neist]

19 minutes ago, hippyscientist said:

wow I can't believe you're starting this soon! I mean it may be totally different disciplines but I just find 80 hrs a week crazy. I've been pulling 75 hr weeks in my masters for 4-5 months (it's finally easing off) but I've been told by multiple sources (including one who's been through the PhD I will be going to) that it eases up the intensity. Like the work's still challenging, but if you're doing more than 50 hr weeks something isn't right. Sorry, I don't mean to sound like I'm ranting at you, I'm ranting at the expectation that 80hrs a week is okay regularly (even if it is just for first years). I really hope that you're not doing 80 hrs a week so you can play with your (hypothetical) cat!  

I admit that it doesn't sound that bad today me, but I've worked some pretty horrible schedules in the past. There was one point in my life when I worked two jobs for 70 hours a week, and I was taking a full course load on top if those jobs.

Yay for scarring histories that alleviate normally horrendous expectations!  

[Cat_Robutt]

1 hour ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

I think the 80-hour workweek is more for first year students... and hopefully since I won't be TAing or doing research my first year, I'll have more time to stay at home with my (hypothetical) cat. The cat I've already bought a self-cleaning litterbox, expensive automatic feeder, and cat tree for... hopefully this time next week it won't be a hypothetical cat anymore!

Oooooh I would love to hear more about this litter box! No, I'm not joking 

As for the work/life balance, there's the solid 50/60/80 hours, but some of it depends on how efficiently you work––I like to take breaks, grab coffee, and walk around; some of my classmates in grad school would just sit for 6 hours, not eat, not leave their desks, to write. So their 6 hours was more like 9 for me. However, making time for yourself is very important––cutting back on sleep, some form of relaxation, exercise, etc. can leave one feeling ill, which takes even more time away from efficiently working! It can turn into a vicious cycle quite quickly. Even though it seems most first-years are pushed to reach exceedingly high standards (sometimes impossibly high), be sure to carve out time for you even if you have to force yourself to take care of yourself!

On an unrelated note, a professor for my program emailed me a class recommendation....feminist comics and cartoons 1970s-2015! This prof saw it, knew I would be interested, and was kind enough to send me a note about it...it really made my day and made me feel like this program really cares about my academic area of interest. 

[Neist]

1 minute ago, Cat_Robutt said:

On an unrelated note, a professor for my program emailed me a class recommendation....feminist comics and cartoons 1970s-2015! This prof saw it, knew I would be interested, and was kind enough to send me a note about it...it really made my day and made me feel like this program really cares about my academic area of interest. 

Wow, that sounds interesting!  That's the type of class I would have loved to take as an undergrad. Don't have the spare hours in graduate school I reckon, but it sounds interesting!

[Cat_Robutt]

@Neist luckily it is part of my focus! I wrote my thesis on gendered portrayals in comic book film adaptations, and have written on comics, so this course will help reintroduce me to current scholarship I've missed the past two years as an adjunct teaching Public Speaking instead of researching!

Ooh.....when we all start our semesters, how cool would it be to discuss what we're learning? We would have to break it down and make it simple as if we were prepping for a conference! (Maybe only I am excited by that?)

Edited May 2, 2016 by Cat_Robutt
I had another thought....

[Neist]

3 minutes ago, Cat_Robutt said:

@Neist luckily it is part of my focus! I wrote my thesis on gendered portrayals in comic book film adaptations, and have written on comics, so this course will help reintroduce me to current scholarship I've missed the past two years as an adjunct teaching Public Speaking instead of researching!

I'm interested in the representational bias of scientists and technical professionals, so I'm not completely far from your interests.

I'd probably take the class, too.  

[Danger_Zone]

You guys have really great research topics! I enjoy hearing about what other people are interested in.

@Cat_Robutt I would love to be able to read/research comics all day! Maybe I chose the wrong field.

[Danger_Zone]

1 hour ago, Pink Fuzzy Bunny said:

That's kind of my hope! I'll be adopting one hopefully next Monday... that way I have a week to stay home with it before I need to start working. I hope to go with an older cat (older meaning ~3 years or so) so that they don't need to be entertained all day like a younger cat. I'd love to have a cat that is content with napping in the sun for 12 hours a day, and then will cuddle with me when I'm home. That's the dream!

My old cat was like that. He was about the most chill living creature to ever exist. I have two cats at the moment (family cats), and my older one has gotten much more relaxed over the years, but my younger one is the complete opposite. I don't know how much can be said about cat breed "personalities" but I'm sure there are probably certain breeds more known to be relaxed. My boyfriend's cat is apparently one of the most "wild" of breeds and she is definitely living up to this! But all cats are different, I hope you end up getting what you're looking for.