I would agree with the others. Nobody really understands what you do unless it's another academic and somethimes only the people in your subject as there is a huge difference between PhDs! As for family and friends they don't understand what you do but I've just about given up talking about it it with them as they don't understand and the stuff they say shows it! Even some friends I went to uni with don't understand PhDs! One that is common to all PhD students is that you must be very strange to do one! That holds - I've had this discussion with other PhD students and they all agree! But as long as you enjoy it - does it really matter what other people think? The best idea is to find someone else in the same position and talk to them as no-one else will understand! That's very reassuring!

Yeah a Phd does that to you even the most optimistic of people! It just drains it out of you almost like the dementors! No happy thoughts are allowed!!!! Sometimes panic is good as it makes you more productive when you realise that you have a mountain to climb so you had better get on with it! But then too much and then it's a slippery slope if it happens too often! So the insanity begins ... or maybe it has started already ... afterall you agreed to sign away your life and take the dreaded position!! Mwwwwwwwah ha ha (evil laugh!)

Technology is evil ... just sent to try us and take up our time instead of saving it! What am I doing here?

On that note I think I'd better be going .....

Hello - Hang in there and hopefully things will resolve themselves! I've had the same problems myself so know how you feel! My principal supervisor is from a different planet too and not interested in my research! I'm lucky if I get a meeting with my supervisor and they are generally not very useful! I would probably go as far as to say the meetings are counterproductive! I do think that they either forget what it's like or they had an easy ride or the other option is you are the hired help. Don't worry about the research questions - they will come as you become more familiar with the topic and may change depending on how the project is progressing! The data collection is the tedious part as you feel like you are not getting anywhere and it takes so long! I never found out what my research questions were for a long time and felt like I was just going thorugh the motions of collecting data without really knowing why besides the fact that I hoped I could do something with it! It is very disheartening and I do feel like I've missed out and that I don't know nearly as much as I should do!! Almost like I just scraped through but I suppose everyone feels insecure as there is always more you can learn and do and not enough time to do it! Usually someone is willing to help! I've learnt that you've got to be resourceful and get help from where you can!

As for your supervisor and lack of supervison - that is sadly not an uncommon problem! Is there another supervisor (or somebody else) either in the dept or outwith the dept that you can turn to for help and advice? Can you change supervisors or have you had a word with your supervisor about your concerns (are they the type that will listen?) Depending on the person that could be the best policy of you stand up to them (maybe they don't realise they are having this effect with you) and voice your thoughts. Have you an independent supervisor/researcher in your research team that you can go to about problems with supervison/research? What about the postgrad tutor?

Finally only you can answer the question whether to continue or not. Think back to why you wanted to do a PhD - have the goals and reasons changed since you started? Do you want a different career to the one you thought you did? For an academic career I think a PhD is necessary but not for other careers, though I think it'll always help to have more qualifications! It'll certainly help with career progession. Do you like research and can you see yourself carrying it on in the future? If the answer is yes I would stick at it! Yes it's tough and certainly not fair esp on the supervisor/lack of supervision front! I feel that with a little help I could have achieved so much more! It has been a rollercoaster ride so far but I think it'll be worth it in the end so that you can prove to yourself that you can do it in spite of your supervisor!

I really hope that this has helped. It's understandable that your confidence feels like it is being eroded (I feel like that too) but at the end of the day you just have to believe that you can do it! You've got this far and you must have wanted to do it otherwise you wouldn't have applied. It doesn't matter what age you are as long as you do something you like and enjoy. Good Luck!

Wow! I can't believe this post is still going!!! I posted here years ago when I was still in the wide eyed and optimistic phase of thinking that a PhD would be the best thing in the world! Well I know better now in my 4th year and trying to write up!!!! Haven't been on since then as my life has been consumed by endless lab work or PhD work non-stop!!! It just takes over your life!!!! Glad to see the post is going!!! (up)

I agree as I do worry sometimes about how everything will get done and whether it is good enough! But I also agree with Sheena's view that you can only do the best you can in the time you've got and under the circumstances you have or else you will forever be changing it! There is always stuff to correct and improve! Sometimes you have to hope for the best when you have a lot on your plate and get on with it even though it may not be up to your usual standards! You could spend ages getting to be perfect only to find a mistake later on! Put whatever you are doing into perspective and learn to let go! But I am also awful for fiddling with stuff as that is what takes ages!

Not necessarily as there are alot of bad supervisors out there - you don't need a qualification for that! Unfortunately that's the way it is! It just means that you haven't got a very good relationship with your supervisor (not necessarily your fault if that's the way they are) though you may want to change. In that case see who else can help and don't worry about it too much!

Really good supervisors are hard to come by and if you get one you're very lucky! So the majority of us will answer no to the questions!

If possible try to get relevant work experience even volunteering as this will make you more competitive and look more dedicated!!!

No but you would never need to worry about funding for anything afterwards!!! Endless conferences, fieldtrips and you could actually get to do the stuff you want etc...

Oh yes ... it's who you know that's important! It's a waste of time when they do that and unfair to the other candidates! But unfortunately you will find out academia is inbred and networking is the key! That really sucks especially when you find out afterwards and you get the standard reply for feedback if you're lucky. Unfortunately you can't doing anything about it - just give it your best shot and you never know
what doors it might open! Opportunities come when you least expect them
so don't get too hung up on going to a particular place or project!!! You've got to learn to work the system - it's not fair! There is also some luck involved so good luck!

Sorry post was too long so read the bottom one first for it to make sense.

I am sure there are people out there who enjoy their PhDs ...

However, on the positive side it is a huge achievement to finish your project and become an "expert" in your field! Or just to know you survived the process! And "Dr." sounds good! It is not a decision to be taken lightly as you have to be 100% committed and like research! And being a little or very crazy certainly helps! I would suggest that people should think about the reasons they want to do a PhD - it is not an extension of uni! Think of it more like a full time job (and possibly more than that!) Doing a masters and getting work experience is definitely a good idea as you can see if is really for you. Master courses are intensive and fun as you are in with a group of people who are doing the same stuff as you! It may not be like this at PhD - it is very much an individual journey which you have to decide if you can stick it out in good times and bad! I think all in all that it is worth it, however, tough the journey! I just want the stupid hat at the end!!!

A lot of it depends on how much you like your project/doing research! You have to be passionate about your topic and know you will succeed however long it takes (it can be a very long time without feeling you are getting anywhere!) This is most important when you are plodding along trying to get results - it can be very disheartening! But perseverance will get you thorough! And also a lot of motivation and self-belief! You need to have an inner drive to know that you will succeed otherwise you will find it tough as research can be very laborious and repetitive especially you work in a lab!

opps meant my supervisor was ok to start with.

Some depts are better than others and some supervisors are better than others so I wouldn't worry about it too much. At least they know you are coming and October is a good time to start as there will be lots of other newbies around.

I do like writingup's idea of introducing yourself to your supervisor ;-. My was ok at the start and then it all went downhill!!! Maybe I should reintroduce myself!!!

Congrats Soon to be Dr. DJW!!