Grad Students: Ever changed your mind?

[Stiganator]

I should start out by saying, this is my first semester and I really like my advisor. He is a new professor and I'm his only grad student. But it just seems like I don't ever get anything accomplished. There is so much prep work involved (patch clamping, dynamic clamping, neuroscience stuff) plus all the variables that fvck things up. It's been three months now and my first project is still not yet complete, but getting there. I'm fine with failing repeatedly, but I just want to be able to get something done, some results whether good or bad.

Has anyone ever changed programs or something to that effect? Any advice?

 

[Kaido]

What job do you have in mind after you graduate? That's all that really matters. School is training for your future career.

 

[Molondo]

I don't change my mind, but im always considering something else.

 

[sniperruff]

i've worked at columbia as a lab tech for a year, and if you are considering giving up after 3 months... forget it. it takes post-doc's years to get a paper published, and 3 months is really nothing in neuro stuff. you just have to keep trying and trying until you get lucky. my lab used mice and you can't believe how many mice we sac'ed.

 

[Alphathree33]

3 months is nothing. Research takes forever.

 

[Stiganator]

I want to be a high level research scientist, working on medical imaging.

 

[Eeezee]

All the time. I'm only in my first year and I'm constantly flipping between a state of contentment and a state of resentment (for having gone to grad school).

Right now I'm glad I'm in grad school, I'm taking my PhD qualifier next Monday and I think I may have a reasonable chance of passing on the first try (it is graded so that less than 50% pass regardless of how well everyone did, you get 3 tries).

I've been thinking all year about how cool it would be to start a business. If this PhD thing doesn't work out, I'll take my master's and try my hand at that for awhile.

 

[Stiganator]

3 months isn't long in the grand scheme of things, but it just seems like this project shouldn't take as long as it is. Maybe I just need to get used to results taking a lot longer. I just wish I could go in and run experiments and know I would get results good or bad as opposed to finding out the microscopes are shaking from the HVAC in walls or the electrode holders breaking, or insert whatever random thing.

 

[Stiganator]

Originally posted by: Eeezee
All the time. I'm only in my first year and I'm constantly flipping between a state of contentment and a state of resentment (for having gone to grad school).

Right now I'm glad I'm in grad school, I'm taking my PhD qualifier next Monday and I think I may have a reasonable chance of passing on the first try (it is graded so that less than 50% pass regardless of how well everyone did, you get 3 tries).

I've been thinking all year about how cool it would be to start a business. If this PhD thing doesn't work out, I'll take my master's and try my hand at that for awhile.

If had that feeling too. It seems like with academic research you come up with this great idea, but you don't ever see anything come of it. But in business you power through and see it do something in a decent time frame.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I want to be a high level research scientist, working on medical imaging.

You should get an internship at a company that has the job you want. Then you can see what the day-to-day activity is like. If it's anything like your grad experience so far, you may want to change.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Get a real job then decide why you want to go to grad school. I think grad school immediately following undergrad is somewhat worthless.

 

[BigDH01]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Get a real job then decide why you want to go to grad school. I think grad school immediately following undergrad is somewhat worthless.

Especially true for some fields. In Microbiology, at least, most employers consider a Master's degree as being no better than 2 years at a full time job. Not sure how it is for the OP's field but it probably isn't much better. However, it can be valuable if you are trying to change careers from your undergrad.

Also, given the current circumstances, I'm not sure if it's a good idea to continue to get your PhD in a science, especially a biological one. That is, unless you want to spend the better part of your career in a post-doc position waiting for a faculty position to open up (and there will be 200 other PhDs applying for that same position). In certain fields there are simply too many advanced degrees and not enough jobs to fill. I'd make sure it was worth it before you spend the next two years working on your Master's and take doubly care to ensure it's worth it before you get your PhD.

BTW, don't always trust what your faculty advisers tell you about your prospects upon graduation. Plenty of us were lied to.

 

[halik]

I think undergrad is the time to figure out what you want to do... applying to grad school signifies that you've found something you like.

<- Finance MA Candidate

 

[Gibsons]

Three months is nothing in biology grad school, imnsho. You need epic patience and a major workaholic attitude.

 

[kedlav]

switched from PhD in math to master's in CS after 18 months of part time work. You're going to have a heaping shitpile of loans anyways, might as well do what you like, so long as you aren't two weeks from graduation

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Get a real job then decide why you want to go to grad school. I think grad school immediately following undergrad is somewhat worthless.

Most medical and pharmaceutical companies require a PhD. In scientific research a BS and even a MA will give you a moderately paying lab tech job.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Get a real job then decide why you want to go to grad school. I think grad school immediately following undergrad is somewhat worthless.

No, it's not.

 

[Eeezee]

Originally posted by: Lothar

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Get a real job then decide why you want to go to grad school. I think grad school immediately following undergrad is somewhat worthless.

No, it's not.

I believe some MBA programs require work experience (MBA programs are rated based on starting salary of their graduates, more work experience = higher starting salary, so it makes sense)

Otherwise, I don't know of any field where work experience before grad school is a good thing. Getting a master's after a little part time work is practically like starting over... no one is going to care about the work you did before your master's unless you were at that job for many years.

 

[Special K]

Originally posted by: kedlav
switched from PhD in math to master's in CS after 18 months of part time work. You're going to have a heaping shitpile of loans anyways, might as well do what you like, so long as you aren't two weeks from graduation

I hate to say this, but most, if not all science and engineering grad students have their costs fully funded by the school in the form of an RA, TA, or fellowship. In fact, my undergrad advisor specifically told me NOT to attend any school for grad school unless they could guarantee me funding.

That's not to say that everyone who applies gets a full ride, but typically people will not go to engineering or science grad school unless its being paid for by either the school or a company.

 

[Parasitic]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: kedlav
switched from PhD in math to master's in CS after 18 months of part time work. You're going to have a heaping shitpile of loans anyways, might as well do what you like, so long as you aren't two weeks from graduation

I hate to say this, but most, if not all science and engineering grad students have their costs fully funded by the school in the form of an RA, TA, or fellowship. In fact, my undergrad advisor specifically told me NOT to attend any school for grad school unless they could guarantee me funding.

That's not to say that everyone who applies gets a full ride, but typically people will not go to engineering or science grad school unless its being paid for by either the school or a company.

Yup, people who pay for grad school FTL.

 

[Fingolfin269]

Originally posted by: Eeezee

Originally posted by: Lothar

Originally posted by: Fingolfin269
Get a real job then decide why you want to go to grad school. I think grad school immediately following undergrad is somewhat worthless.

No, it's not.

I believe some MBA programs require work experience (MBA programs are rated based on starting salary of their graduates, more work experience = higher starting salary, so it makes sense)

Otherwise, I don't know of any field where work experience before grad school is a good thing. Getting a master's after a little part time work is practically like starting over... no one is going to care about the work you did before your master's unless you were at that job for many years.

You guys are all right. I didn't real read anything other than 'grad school' and should not have assumed that everyone going to grad school is not necessarily going for the MBA program.

 

[interchange]

Dropped out of grad school 4.5 years ago (in Computer Science/Engineering). Been working for a while. In August, I will be going to medical school. People grow up. Use your time to figure out who you are.

 

[ebaycj]

This:

Originally posted by: Stiganator
I want to be a high level research scientist, working on medical imaging.

Plus This:

Originally posted by: Stiganator
Maybe I just need to get used to results taking a lot longer.

= Epic Fail.


Why don't you change over to a Masters in Janitorial Services?