Considering dropping out of 1st year humanities PhD program. Terrified of starving on the streets. Help?
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posted by anonymous
on May 12, 2013 -
21 answers
I am in the final year of my PhD. I suffered from many months of depression and an inability to get my writing done in a timely fashion. I am now playing catch-up. I have a telephone appointment with my supervisor next week, and wonder if and how I should disclose the difficulty I faced, and am still facing. I don't want to burden her with my personal issues. How do I, or should I, discuss this? How do I regain her faith in me?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 28, 2013 -
11 answers
I'm dropping out of a PhD program in a social science with only a masters degree. I need a real job.
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 17, 2013 -
15 answers
Defending and depositing my engineering dissertation by end of April. Strained relations with advisor and distant relations with committee. What next, and how? Please advise.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 22, 2013 -
10 answers
Are there ways for a federal research scientist to attend law school and remain a government employee after graduating?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 2, 2013 -
9 answers
So, I just started my PhD program. Are my feelings normal? I'm worried that I'm not working enough and that my ideas are bad.
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 4, 2012 -
21 answers
I was recently contacted by a recruiter and in the last month have been through several interviews, the last taking place today. Now, the recruiter's called to ask if I am ready to take the next step and has asked about my salary expectations. What?
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 3, 2012 -
15 answers
I'm a PhD student, and I'd like to do more academic networking over email. How does this work, and what should the emails sound like?
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posted by anonymous
on May 16, 2012 -
14 answers
After years of escapism, how to anchor life to meaning (or vice versa?) when almost four years of research hasn't amounted to anything?
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posted by anonymous
on May 10, 2012 -
21 answers
I am in my 7th year of a science Ph.D. at MIT and I need to graduate. I have invested an incredible amount of time and energy in this process, and I definitely have a Ph.D. level of skills and knowledge by now. 7 years is not outside the norm for my department. The problem is that a number of circumstances occurring in a row have lead to a bad/toxic relationship with my advisor and slow performance on my part.
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posted by anonymous
on May 7, 2012 -
11 answers
I am currently working on a Ph.D. but may have an opportunity to enter my field early. Is there a way I can drop out without burning bridges? When should I speak with my adviser about it?
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posted by anonymous
on May 2, 2012 -
12 answers
Do people give their graduate advisors presents following a successful defense? What would qualify?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 4, 2012 -
16 answers
My girlfriend is 5 years in to a PhD program with an abusive (verbal, emotional, and mental) PI/lab. This seems to be a common theme in academia, just how common is it?
How do you go about graduating if they seem to be working against you (assuming no fault on your part)?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 13, 2012 -
12 answers
The truth is that in 50 years or so, I'll be on my deathbed, and I can guarantee you that I won't be spending the experience ruminating about my time at the office. What kind of job should I get?
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 6, 2011 -
18 answers
I might not be smart enough for my PhD program; it is obvious from my classes that I lack certain skills or aptitudes the average student in my field has. Do I quit now?
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 28, 2011 -
32 answers
I am an advanced PhD student in an engineering discipline. I have been sent a presumably routine email from the department chair asking for comments on my research advisor's interaction with me to be submitted as an email, as a part of a multi-faceted evaluation.
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 19, 2011 -
14 answers
I suspect that my PhD thesis advisor may be writing me poor letters of reference for postdoctoral positions. What can I do to get some sort, any sort, of job?
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 4, 2011 -
18 answers
Looking for advice on possible careers post-grad school with earth sciences training.
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posted by anonymous
on Jul 9, 2011 -
6 answers
Seeking recommendations for a mental health therapist in North Brooklyn/lower Manhattan.
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 1, 2011 -
1 answer
Selling out successfully
Few months away from finishing PhD, & no interest in staying in science. Can I use my fancy credentials to try and get a high-paying big-city job? Help me chart a course.
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posted by anonymous
on May 11, 2011 -
8 answers
Is doing a neuroscience PhD useful to enhance my job prospects generally, not just in research? If I choose to leave science after graduating, what would a PhD get me?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 27, 2011 -
12 answers
Can I take 2 or 3 years off after getting my PhD to be a parent full-time without seriously reducing my ability to be a researcher (not necessarily a professor) in the hard sciences?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 23, 2011 -
15 answers
I had a rough PhD candidacy exam with a provisional pass. I have three months to "make things more specific and do an experiment." Some of my committee comments were constructive, but something seems off.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 9, 2011 -
11 answers
What are the financial implications of my girlfriend's career path (loan-funded PhD, then law school)?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 31, 2011 -
51 answers
Four days ago, my partner got an email from her #1 grad school choice that sounded good. How excited should we be? I know there are many variables at work here that neither you nor we can know at this time, but I want to know if I can be excited and happy or if I should try to calm myself down. I know many people here are phD's from the hard sciences as well and I am hoping you can provide some perspective. Here are the details:
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 22, 2011 -
27 answers
How to Be Awesome and Finish a PhD? I'm in my first term of an engineering PhD (post-bachelors and 2yrs working in industry). My work is sucking: I don't do enough homework or research. How do I get back the drive I felt in high school when I was a clueless single guy who felt he had to prove he was brilliant?
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 20, 2010 -
8 answers
My SO's PhD defense is coming up. Can you help me find small doctor-related presents/music?
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 6, 2010 -
12 answers
I just started my first year of graduate school, and I'm disappointed with my PhD program. What now?
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 16, 2010 -
12 answers
If not a PhD, then what? Am I an idiot for wanting to pursue a PhD? If I don't do that, then what would a good alternative be?
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 18, 2010 -
13 answers
I feel totally aimless and adviser-less in this, my last year of Ph.D. coursework. How did this happen? How do I fix it? Sorry if this is a bit long.
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 1, 2010 -
6 answers
A couple of years ago I was an undergrad looking for part-time research work, and a friend-of-a-friend connected me to a PhD candidate who needed help with her thesis. I spoke to her and her request set off plagiarism alarm bells for me, so I declined the project. I always doubted whether I handled it correctly, though, and I just found out that the friend-of-a-friend who referred me is still a little ticked at me for asking the PhD student these questions and then declining the work. Did I handle this alright, or was I being a jerk?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 20, 2010 -
30 answers
CrossroadsFilter. PhD or MD? I could invest an extra year into attending a one-year special master's degree program that, upon success, would pretty much guarantee admission into medical school. I'd be a 28-year-old first-year medical student. But what about babies?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 24, 2010 -
17 answers
How common is it for competitive liberal arts applicants to
enter graduate school with outside scholarships?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 6, 2010 -
11 answers
What are some ethics considerations around a PhD dissertation? And should I do anything about a former colleague who I think violated them?
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 30, 2009 -
17 answers
How do I deal with the fact that I hate teaching, or, how long do I hate teaching until I give up on grad school?
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 24, 2009 -
16 answers
My husband wants to get a doctorate in mycology become a mycologist. We don't know where to start.
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 17, 2009 -
12 answers
