I have just finished 9 years of university... AMA

For trolling?

How are you expecting to get anywhere?

If you could study all that much all over again, would do?

Do you feel inferior or less accomplished when you see people having built businesses, having had stable jobs, a partner and/or having kids, when you’ve just finished university?

If you could’ve picked any other degree, would you? If yes, which one?

Have you done your master's thesis? This will give some indication on whether a pHD is for you or not, but even then my master's thesis was a drop in the ocean compared to my PhD. Mostly in terms of the quality of academic writing.

If I was given a place in academia, I would definitely accept it and do a post-doc. But there are many challenges I am facing which means this is extremely unlikely. The reason it is competitive is because of lack of grant funding compared to the number of PhD graduates applying for funding. This means that even if one does get a post-doc, it could be anywhere and you don't have much choice in terms of places to live. My partner is graduating this year with her master's and we need to sort out a plan for the future now that my studies are out of the way. The people who I know that did post-doc from my group moved anywhere, but their partners were not working and I could tell that they were living a lifestyle below standard in terms of area that they were living in.

I also don't think that it is the PhD itself that is holding me back. Employers don't really care about it, it's just a shiny badge to them. It is more that I could not work for four years because of the PhD stipend requirements and therefore they see the lack of experience a huge problem in the real world.

That's right folks. I started my university journey in September 2012 and I still remember the day my parents dropped me off to my first university accomodation. Here we are 9 years later and I have finally finished, BSc MSc and PhD.

Since it has been my reality for nearly a decade and my whole adult life, I'm starting to think now what... and it's a very scary time for me.

Ask me anything

Wow 9 years good grief that's a very long time haha but again congratulations 🙂 well done for doing a MSc and a PhD you must be very smart haha. What was thr subject field btw haha. Why not try and get a job with the university that you have studied at haha. Always got good jobs at universities and I'm sure you'd get it or get a job at another uni because you are clearly well qualified. After completing a PhD are you a Dr now or is that just for completion of a doctorate haha sorry I'm an undergraduate first year and I'm curious.

Having a PhD doesn't mean that you are smart...

nope

I'm a music student currently in my 2nd year of undergrad planning on doing something similar (4 year BMus, 2 year MMus, 1-2 year ArtDip, possibly a PhD, still unsure). How have you found being in education for so long? What was funding like? Did you find you were able to work part time whilst doing your masters/PhD? Did you stay at the same uni throughout? What were the benefits of staying/leaving?

What was the split between theory and your results in your viva?

Was there any other path you almost followed? and if yes, what?

No there wasn't actually. Sadly as I started university, I became very attached to the lifestyle and I couldn't see myself doing anything else. It was only the final few years where I regretted and wanted to do something else.

Regretted, what did you want to do?

Well the past couple of academic years(2019-2021) was when the PhD work became very intense and we went through a long lockdown which gave everyone a long time to think about their lives. I noticed that my friends had all graduated from this university and it had just become a cohort of the next generation so it became a very lonely place, especially under the COVID lockdown. I noticed that my friends were working in industry or even changed direction from computer science and engineering and were earning enough money to enjoy and support a family.

That's right folks. I started my university journey in September 2012 and I still remember the day my parents dropped me off to my first university accomodation. Here we are 9 years later and I have finally finished, BSc MSc and PhD.

Since it has been my reality for nearly a decade and my whole adult life, I'm starting to think now what... and it's a very scary time for me.

Ask me anything

Well the past couple of academic years(2019-2021) was when the PhD work became very intense and we went through a long lockdown which gave everyone a lot of time to think about their lives. I noticed that my friends had all graduated from this university and it had just become a cohort of the next generation so it became a very lonely place, especially under the COVID lockdown. I noticed that my friends were working in industry or even changed direction from computer science and engineering and were earning enough money to enjoy and support a family. I just felt very out of place and confused about where I want to be and found it hard to accept that the past is no longer here.