======= Date Modified 01 May 2011 03:43:13 =======
Dear Zaracer,
I can relate to your situation. Before starting my PhD, I was also required to do a second master although I had already received my MSc from my home country. The reason is that the PhD program that I enrol in is an integrated program in which I have to do both master and Phd although my original intention was only to do PhD. I had already checked about it with my supervisor before coming, and he told me that I only needed to do PhD since I already had an MSc. But, when I arrived here, it was a different story....
Feeling so dumb and maybe cheated I did my second master in the university for 1.5 years. I passed the subjects/ classes, attended an internship (which was part of the program and didn't know about it before coming), but my master research was hellish. I didn't get much guide/ support from the supervisor, I was condemned brutally during my viva, my final paper (which was submitted to the panels) and slides were not checked by my supervisor and he was not even there during my presentation. But thank God I passed due to the reason that the work was accepted in an international conference. Then I continue to pursue my PhD and now, I am in the 3rd year PhD (4th year of the overall graduate studies in this university).
I am delayed from starting/ getting my PhD, still suffering from the lack of supervisor support, feeling lagging behind, having not much progress, no one to refer to/ discuss with in this lab, and now, facing the earthquake and nuclear problem. All these years have been really painful, but I choose continue my PhD because I really need it badly. I do cry a lot, have been on sleeping pills every now and then, have been wanting to quit so many times, been picturing myself jumping in front of a moving train, and really don't know whether I will be successful in getting this PhD, but here are some of my efforts in coping with the situation:
1. My 'strategy' is to just fulfill my university graduation requirement which are besides the thesis and viva, I have to publish 2 journals. So I am only going for the 2 journals, then the viva will be easier for me.
2. Just try to do the work and send it to conference/ journal. By this I can get some feedback form the reviewers and it is a bench mark that I have achieved something although not much. It also motivates me work/ catch the deadlines.
3. Meet the counsellors.
4. Get enough rest and avoid from being burnt out.
5. Visit this forum/ read others' stories to get some support/ motivation.
From what I read in this forum, there are many people who quit, move on with their lives and happy. Some also quit but return for the 2nd time and successful. Perhaps it is better if you take some rest now and make the decision when you are more 'sane'/ rational.
From my experience and what I read, the first year of PhD is usually slow with nothing much achieved. However this will get better in the second/ third year.
There are also times when people do not have progress/ do not do anything for months, but it does end.
In case you choose to continue, perhaps you can also try to send and present papers in conferences to get some confidence from the research community outside your university.
