Quitting my PhD

OpenToSuggestions · 8 Sep 2012 at 08:18

Hey all.
I have made various threads over the last year on how I have been disliking my PhD. The topic is in sustainable design and will be big very soon, but I have decided to throw in the towel. I enjoy my wardening role, but the PhD is not making me happy - I find that i have a severe lack of motivation and my supervisor is a ****. I have tried it for a year and want to get out.

I am in talks with my placement compay (big UK manufacturer) about returning as a design engineer.
My supervisor and people who work in my office have no idea I am going yet as I feel it would be daft to say anything as I may not get the job I am after and need money to live.

Over the last year I have learnt a lot about sustainable design, people skills from the wardening, and also about myself.

This thread is to thanks those who have helped me in the last year. I feel much better just having made a choice to leave here

.

[FnG]magnolia · 8 Sep 2012 at 08:28

Huge life choice but one you almost had to make. Kudos.

timmy85 · 8 Sep 2012 at 08:45

everything happens for a reason! all the best in the future!

Nitefly · 8 Sep 2012 at 08:46

I remember your original thread! Yep, no doubt about it a PhD can be a gruelling and unrewarding slog - if it's not for you it's not for you.

Best of luck with the potential new job

sbi5ar · 8 Sep 2012 at 08:53

I didn't see the original thread, BUT what I will say is that all Ph.D degrees make you feel like you want to quit and give it up. They are horrendous! If they weren't then everyone would end up doing them (much like degrees today).

If its not for you then its not for you, but be 100% sure. I've felt like quitting mine multiple times. My 2nd year was a very low point, thinking of quitting every week, experiments not working, no data be gathered etc...

Check to see if you can write up what you have done so far as a masters so it hasn't been a complete waste of time so to speak.

Good luck! In the end I'm glad I stuck with it, but at the time I think I felt close to what you are feeling now

OpenToSuggestions · 8 Sep 2012 at 09:03

sbi5ar said:
snip

I have felt like this for the entire year.

I came into a PhD because if I was a warden I got a free flat and the PhD was paid so I was getting paid to learn. Seemed to be a win-win situation. Clearly I went into the PhD for the wrong reasons.

I have not spoken to my supervisor yet because I think as soon as I do I will be forced out the door that day with my funding stopped. I am 99% sure I do not have enough for an MPhil as they are typically 2 years (well 2 years of funding anyway you must force yourself to finish in that time), but my potential new employer would pay for me to get week release a few times per year to go and study Msc modules.

In the last year I have been plain not happy and have been battling with leaving for the entire time. The thought of 2 more years of feeling like this is soul destroying.

Azza · 8 Sep 2012 at 09:05

Would you not be OpenToSuggestions?

OpenToSuggestions · 8 Sep 2012 at 09:06

Azza said:
Would you not be OpenToSuggestions?

Yes, but around what I want to do next in my life

.

meghatronic · 8 Sep 2012 at 09:16

My only comment would be to think long and hard about it, as you've denied another candidate 2yrs of funding. Very, very selfish of you to go into a PhD for a bloody flat. Clearly the interviewing process needs to be refined somewhat as, by your own omission, you went into it for the wrong reasons.

Ricochet J · 8 Sep 2012 at 09:20

Is your desire to quit partly due to underestimating the demands of the PhD? I don't mean it in a rude way offcourse.

sbi5ar · 8 Sep 2012 at 09:24

meghatronic said:
My only comment would be to think long and hard about it, as you've denied another candidate 2yrs of funding. Very, very selfish of you to go into a PhD for a bloody flat. Clearly the interviewing process needs to be refined somewhat as, by your own omission, you went into it for the wrong reasons.

I think that is very harsh! He didn't go into it for the flat, but that was one of the "bonuses" if you like (well that is how it read to me).

I also think it is a bit harsh to suggest he has denied a candidate 2 years of funding. Whilst technically correct, you can't plan for these things. If it isn't working out then its not your fault.

I went into my PhD as it was the first thing that came up after my degree, so I probably didn't go into it for the right reasons.

Yamahahahahaha · 8 Sep 2012 at 09:27

OpenToSuggestions said:
I came into a PhD because if I was a warden I got a free flat and the PhD was paid so I was getting paid to learn. Seemed to be a win-win situation. Clearly I went into the PhD for the wrong reasons.

In the last year I have been plain not happy and have been battling with leaving for the entire time. The thought of 2 more years of feeling like this is soul destroying.

You are making the right choice.
It will only get worse the longer you stay. You would be hard pushed to ever find a PhD who enjoyed doing it.

If getting a PhD not something you definitely need to progress, and don't have something very specific and worthwhile to add to the field, get out.
Get out into industry, get experience, and do your Masters then maybe a PhD in parallel to working. There's no time limit on these things. You will also find your passion for the industry which will definitely help the second time around.

Edit: Some actual good advice from semi-pro waster below.

sbi5ar · 8 Sep 2012 at 09:31

Yamahahahahaha said:
There's no time limit on these things. You will also find your passion for the industry which will definitely help the second time around.

Be very careful here... I'm not sure you will be given a second chance at a PhD. Because PhD funding is difficult to get they might give the funding to some one else whom hasn't up sticks half way through, so it may harm your chances if you decide to do a PhD later on in life.

(on a positive note, I have known someone to quit and then later on in life start a new PhD so it is possible)

Castiel · 8 Sep 2012 at 09:33

I really think the OP should talk about his concerns and intentions with his Supervisor before makoing any definitive decision.

If he really did take on a PhD just to secure a flat then I don't really know what to say about that tbh......

sjt269 · 8 Sep 2012 at 09:36

sbi5ar said:
(on a positive note, I have known someone to quite and then later on in life start a new PhD so it is possible)

I know several people who have done this, though often in a different country. I'm not saying it's common, but it's possible.

semi-pro waster · 8 Sep 2012 at 10:35

Do you have anyone else you can speak to about this who isn't your direct supervisor? It's obvious you're not enjoying it but given you're already a sustantial way through your PhD it may be possible to transfer to other related studies with a different supervisor so that you don't have to give up on the work you've already put in.

If you're completely adamant that it's just not for you then good luck with the job hunt. I'd be loathe to be as definitive as meghatronic about it being a waste of time/resources because even if nothing else you've learnt more about yourself as you've recognised - it might have been a difficult way to do so but that knowledge is valuable in and of itself.

Deleted member 77746 · 8 Sep 2012 at 10:42

timmy85 said:
everything happens for a reason! all the best in the future!

Xordium · 8 Sep 2012 at 10:50

semi-pro waster said:
Do you have anyone else you can speak to about this who isn't your direct supervisor? It's obvious you're not enjoying it but given you're already a sustantial way through your PhD it may be possible to transfer to other related studies with a different supervisor so that you don't have to give up on the work you've already put in.

If you're completely adamant that it's just not for you then good luck with the job hunt. I'd be loathe to be as definitive as meghatronic about it being a waste of time/resources because even if nothing else you've learnt more about yourself as you've recognised - it might have been a difficult way to do so but that knowledge is valuable in and of itself.

This is really good advice and exactly what I would say bar one addition the last part needs if applied to never repeat the same mistake. It is amazing how people keep doing such things. If you go into employment go into it for the right reasons not as a way out.

OpenToSuggestions · 8 Sep 2012 at 14:12

meghatronic said:
My only comment would be to think long and hard about it, as you've denied another candidate 2yrs of funding. Very, very selfish of you to go into a PhD for a bloody flat. Clearly the interviewing process needs to be refined somewhat as, by your own omission, you went into it for the wrong reasons.

What a stupid comment. Of course the flat was a bonus - I certainly wasn't willing to live as a peasant whilst on PhD funding but it was in no way the reason for staying on.

PhD is not hard to get in sustainable manufacturing. in fact there are plenty of funded places available!

semi-pro waster said:
Do you have anyone else you can speak to about this who isn't your direct supervisor? It's obvious you're not enjoying it but given you're already a sustantial way through your PhD it may be possible to transfer to other related studies with a different supervisor so that you don't have to give up on the work you've already put in.

If you're completely adamant that it's just not for you then good luck with the job hunt. I'd be loathe to be as definitive as meghatronic about it being a waste of time/resources because even if nothing else you've learnt more about yourself as you've recognised - it might have been a difficult way to do so but that knowledge is valuable in and of itself.

I have spoken to my final year project tutor and also to my warden (I am a sub warden) as both have PhDs and supervise them too.
I could change supervisor, I could stay on for another year and attempt to get an MPhil, but I just want to leave.

swillsy · 8 Sep 2012 at 14:38

If you are cool explaining to all future employers the reason for doing half a phd and quitting early then go ahead. It sounds like you at least like the subject but not the course, you will hate work more after a while. I wouldn't throw away those years spent on it already and complete it ASAP and get on with your life.