You become a master cake-maker and your house is always tidy--due to avoidance of work I quite like being able to tell people I'm doing a PhD, and there being no need for further explanation! It's quite nice to be doing something so obscure that, when you start explaining it, you can see people tuning out. It feels like you're living in an alternate reality.

Being a bit negative here, but perhaps it depends on the university or department as well. For my part, it's no fun at all, for various reasons. But that will increase the likelihood of a complete buzz once it's all over, simply because it was so tough.

I must admit I do feel an almost evil buzz being able to dazzle people into confusion by telling them what I am doing my PhD on! Err...even if I don't understand it myself

Cryogenics!

Sounds like you've got it pretty rough! and on top of it all you're sober! bummer

Oh! and just to clarify - I didn't mean make up results! no no no no!

I meant lie to people about what you do for a living, god forbid you have to explain what your PhD involves

S

At least it pushes me to get stuck in and not waste valuable time.

Haha, i understand what you mean about making up results

I enjoy telling people that I'm doing a PhD. If ever I need to make an excuse for not attending a social function that I don't feel like going to, I just say "You know, the PhD..." and nobody ever wants to hear anyhting further.

It's also fun when I start trying to explain my project and nobody even understands the title of my thesis, let alone anything else. All I get is "Wow". It makes me feel special

When I told my mum over the phone the title of my PhD, she got me to spell it to her because she couldn't understand what I was saying. Even now her eyes glaze over when I start to talk about. My dad, bless him, tries really hard to understand what I'm doing! It's cool telling people about your PhD- they have no idea what you are talking about and don't really care after you have rambled on about it for long enough!

Reading this has just made me feel socially superior to all the chavs in Croydon who have difficulty opening a train door. "That's right you Burberry-clad, muppet-features, push the pretty glowing button..."

I was born in Croydon, my parents were born in Croydon and my grandparents still live in Croydon. not everyone from Croydon is a chav and I definitley have no problems opening train doors

"Reading this has just made me feel socially superior to all the chavs in Croydon who have difficulty opening a train door. "That's right you Burberry-clad, muppet-features, push the pretty glowing button..."

Hypothesis, you sound like a stuck up, arrogant idi**. Perhaps you're not, but that's what it seems like if you provide statements like this.

First to SillyBilly: I said "chav". Not "everyone in Croydon is a chav". There is a (subtle) distinction. I'm sure that you, your parents and a vast majority of Croydon are very nice people. Just not the drink fuelled a**holes out on a Saturday night rampage.
To jouri: perhaps I do, perhaps I am. Who knows? It was my opinion as was your opinion of me!

Incidentally, before anyone else jumps down my throat: the initial post was said in jest. Don't anyone take it personally

As it's still early days, I like being able to go off and learn about all sorts of new things, as long as I think it will help my research.
In a workplace you are usually told what computer systems / programs / languages to use; I am free to look around and see what might suit me best and take some time to learn it. I'm also sure that developing some new skills will make me more employable.

For me it was having 3 years to really focus on something I loved. I was basically paid to investigate something I was fascinated by.

The politics were crap, as are the crappy employment prospects, but you HAVE to be in love with the subject or its going to be a miserable 3+ years.

To be straight ... doing a phd, everyone agrees upon that, will limit your career opportunities. If you look at it this way, as i did, if you spend the 3 years in industry or in a normal job you, instead doing a phd that is to say, you will be promoted and your salary will rise accordingly. Therefore the salary you get from your post-doc will propably be more or less similar. What I am tyring to say, and i am not forcing my views here, that stoping at BSc or MSc level will be wiser that cary on doing a phd ... cos you waste 4 valuable years in your career live. If i have the chance to go back with time i wont do it but due to social pressure from parents, friends and undergrad sup. to prove to them i am capable of doing it. I always advice my students to reconsider if they want to do a phd ! the best thing about phd that u will keep the title Dr. for whole your life and even after .. but job wont last for ever !!!! you get respect and recognision with it. Enjoy it.