PhD Student Advice | 5 Hidden Aspects of the Doctoral Journey

Embarking on a PhD journey is an exciting and challenging experience, but there are some hidden aspects that you might not be aware of.
In this video, I dive into the 5 lesser-known aspects of pursuing a doctorate that could help you make an informed decision and better prepare for the adventure ahead.

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▼ ▽ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – expectations
2:10 – varying pace
3:33 – relocation
5:21 – staying up to date
6:50 – post PhD turbulence

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[vulpes]

One of the hidden aspects for me was how alienating and even childish the academia can be: professors with ridiculous rivarly mindset and many professors are simply INCAPABLE of learning anything new. They can truly see themselves as gods, and it is ridiculous.

[bhangrafan]

In response to some of your comments, PLAN WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO FOR THREE YEARS! I am amazed if anyone doesn't do this. It should go in your introduction anyway. In my old subject, molecular biology, which is so labour-intensive, it used to take about 5 minutes to think up five years' worth of lab work.

[samsonsoturian]

What surprised me most was how condescending people were... Almost as if they secretly think they're not as smart as other people in the program

[e.m.marina]

0:12 I'm starting my PhD in August and it scares me to not know what to expect. I've been binge watching you, and it has somewhat mentally prepared me - at least prepared me to expect it haha😅

[enockhavyarimana]

I worked as a research assistant then got promoted to a scientific officer role in academia before starting my PhD. I am about to finish my PhD and everything you say is spot on. You are a blessing to the next generation who will resist the system and hopefully drive some kind of change

[oxford_zakk]

I absolutely agree with the nomadic scholar lifestyle choice. While it might be nice to choose your place, you will be severely limiting yourself professionally. I didn’t know I’d end up in Asia for the majority of my career (thus far). But being an applied linguistics, the flexibility I have had in the past 5 years has helped my career immensely; and I think I can speak for my colleagues, almost all of whom are global scholars, that it has greatly facilitated their career goals as well.

[tankgrl]

Something else no one tells you is that PhDs in the states are generally twice as long as PhDs in Europe, even when you have a master's degree. Another thing is you cannot change programs. You will have to start over so make sure you really like the program you're in or you will have to start all over again somewhere else.

[md]

Can you also talk about phd and adhd? Especially because phds are done at later ages wher adhd gets worse for example only one year into phd i knew i had it because it became so obvious it is standing in my way in so many ways, and other people think you don't get it or are lazy not just a bit slower than the rest

[bhangrafan]

I tried and failed at a PhD in molecular biology/biochemistry, a very labour-intensive branch of laboratory science. I would argue that it was due to factors beyond my control. Even at the time I was fully aware of things that were not in my favour, but could really do nothing about it. I have a number of points to make. 1) If you go into a labour-intensive, practical, lab-based PhD like Biochemistry or Molecular Biology, you need to realise you are cheap labour and will be going flat out in the lab from day one, basically doing what your supervisor tells you. (I am actually fine about this, it is exactly what I expected. Also being led by someone who knows what they are doing is how you learn and get the right experirnce rather than floundering around) So do not expect like some other more theoretical or literature based subjects to sit in the library for six months researching and writing your 'Introduction'. That you do in your 'spare time' (?!) If you did that you would run out of time to get the experimental results you need anyway. 2) I have observed that the PhD students who do best are those whose project can be broken down into a series of sub-goals, which lead up to the main goal. This is good for thes tudent because if some parts of the process fail, you still have results you can write up for the other parts. When like me, you supervisor lands you with a big grand-slam project that only gives you any results to write up after 2- 3 years, you could be in big trouble, as I was. 3) Your supervisor owes it to you to have regular update meetings. I would recommend that once a week, say Friday lunch time you have a regular 'chat over a sandwich' during which your supervisor looks over your notes and data to give you advice and feedback. It is in the supervisor's own interests, however slippery, or busy they are, and it is part of the comittment of taking on a PhD student. 4) Obviously you use the expertise of others around you in the lab, not just in your own research group, but everyone. Avoid doing a lab-based PhD where you will be on your own, without other experienced labworkers surrounding you. They are a key part of the educational resources at your disposal.

[JohnVianneyPatron]

Moved 5 times through 3 countries between Assistant and Tenured Professor. It wrecks your social life for sure. But there are often no jobs or one needs to escape a toxic culture.

[s.]

You guys need to know US PhD, in Europe at least you have time limit and almost you’re guaranteed to get the PhD. The US you have teaching, classes, exams and research.

[bernardronitsebastine]

Yeah, I got draught for 2.5 years in beginning, but I managed to get things done in my finale years 😅

[Wombo_combo]

I'm a page away form finishing my dissertation. I'm feeling the turbulence alright haha.

[rosehosking]

I have had a similar internal dialogue "Can't do this because then what was the point of the phD" but, I * think* have reached a stage where I have shed that thought. I am in the final months of completing my PhD and am looking at opportunities (outside of academia) that I would never have even thought of if you asked me, even 2 years ago. I can't speak to the post-PhD turbulence just yet, but it is certainly apparent in my answers to the inevitable "what's next" questions -could be anything, anywhere. Which is exciting, and terrifying.

[jcw]

Why can't you just ask the supervisor, "what are your expectations?"

[rosenhale]

Hi Andy, I was diagnosed with cancer only 12 months in to my PhD. I'm on medical leave for treatment, except I fear my supervisor doesn't want me to come back. She is trying to convince me to get a job and leave my PhD as she doesn't want to deal with all my health issues. I even heard her say that if she'd known I would get so sick she never would have taken me on. I really want to continue my PhD, I don't even care what project or what supervisor at this point. I don't want to let cancer take this away from me, I love research so much. I'm in Australia - any advice?

[ariannahernandez]

I've been watching all of Andy Stapleton's videos warning about going for a PhD and they've only made me want to go for it more. I want that experience.
Other viewers of Andy Stapleton's channel: What are y'all's opinions on undergrad researchers going for a PhD without a Masters?

[hiredgoon]

My sup loaded us with project work that kept me in the lab for over 130-140hrs per week, usually running 36-48 days (measured from sleep to sleep). And that was just for the funding side of the project not my PhD research, no wonder I burned out and left the program before writing thesis.

[bhangrafan]

In response to your comments, the normal way of 'staying up to date' is to 1) talk frequently to your supervisor about developments s/he has heard of. 2) talk even more frequently to the other researchers in your lab, in your group and others 3) attend all the internal weekly seminars. There may be a ''journal club' for those in your field to present papers they have read in your field recently 4) attend all the talks by outside speakers, you will hear a lot of general chat about developments when so many scientists gather 5) Obviously attend as many of the conferences in your field as you can. If you can't, then speak to those who did attend and try to see what notes, materials etc they brought back from the conference. Scientific research is actually a lot like business, social networking with others in your field is all important! 'Preprints' of the most up to date work often circulate in this way. Social media and the internet should make things like this even easier nowadays.

[epotnwarlock]

Im interested in a phd at a uk school with a campus in south east asia, i live in the US, i know very little about phd applications, its about ~$10k/yr, what can i do to increase my chances of being accepted?