Donzy,

As sad as it is to say- it's SOOO refreshing to hear that you have experienced those feelings as well....I find it's very easy to get isolated and then let your feelings/thoughts overwhelm you!

I never know this journey would be as difficult and emotionally rattling as it is. But if it was easy, then everyone would do it, right?

I am glad you posted this, it's nice to know that these are common feelings and not to jump to an assumption that this is the wrong choice!

I am sure we have all considered the option of quitting!

Good luck on your viva!

Thank you, Human!

It is nice to know that someone else has experience with a supervisor. I know it is difficult to learn how to handle students and adapt to a range of learning styles, so I am trying to give him slack- but it's starting to come at the expense of my own work.

I find balancing the correct political dynamics between my advisor and myself, and myself/advisor/committee. I am very aware of the power structure and the implications.

I love the idea of talking to someone within the department for advice. It is unfortunate that we don't have a 'handbook', as I think this would be a great source of information for myself AND him!! I think we are both unclear of each other's roles and the dynamics which should be taking place. I certainly understand him not wanting to 'hold my hand', but I get the feeling that it's not for my benefit that he doesn't want to do it- but more because he doesn't want more on his plate!

Thank you again for the advice! I hope your situation clears up!!

I think you bring up such a real concern for students today, and something which is completely disregarded by supervisors and committees. I am sure most of us feel the "get in and get out" attitude. I am in Canada, and have been told that the average time is 4 years to complete your PhD. Within those 4 years, you are to be a conference and publishing mill to beef up your CV. I think that's fantastic and applicable to academic jobs, but I feel there is not enough of a push to apply for practical placements and work opportunities during that time.

I have pushed to get more practical experience, and have gone against my committee's wishes to take on 5-6 hours of actual 'work' directly related to my field. I feel that without it, I will be entering a job market with no "skills" that would make me an ideal candidate. I think there needs to be a shift in thinking, and pressure needs to be put on a more rounded student that has experience outside of publishing and presenting.

I hope it works out for you, and that at some point you look back at your PhD as a positive or learning experience.

Hi Vthebee,

I am in a somewhat similar situation, as I am completing a PhD in an area that is not my background, so like you, I had to read a massive amount of literature and basically teach myself the foundations to the discipline, theoretical frameworks, etc. However, reading and reading and note taking often doesn't leave you with something that you can show as a finished product to your supervisor or committee, so it can leave you feeling a bit unproductive. I think it's important to look at this as a long road that you're not going to finish in a couple of months, and it's a road that is different for everyone. It sounds like you're doing a great job and situating yourself in the right spot. Once you get to the point of writing, you will have a strong foundation and understanding of the literature. I think for something like this, it's hard to set up common expectations and goals- you can't compare yourself to other students, as we all have different working styles and will experience different bumps and challenges along the way.

And to be honest, I think 97% of graduate students feel they are behind and could be doing more- I think it's in our personality!

Hello Forum,

I have spend a couple months watching the forum and have found it extremely helpful knowing that I am not alone in this process. Thank you to all!

I have a question about the student/supervisor dynamics that others have experienced, particularly around the idea of "hand holding" or over guidance.

I am having a lot of difficulties pinning down an outline for my first comprehensive exam. My committee has decided that it will be in the format of a written/publishable paper, however the topic and focus has sent me running around in circles for the last 5 months. Five months ago I sat down at my annual committee meeting, and hashed out my first comp direction. As per direction, I created a more solidified outline and brought it to my supervisor for feedback and the stamp of approval- however, that's not how it went. My supervisor said that he wanted to go a different route (because he felt his background was different than my very interdisciplinary committee, and he knew better)...since then, I have created 6 different comp outlines based on discussions with him, and each time I take him the "revised" outline, he says a mixture of "too narrow", "too broad", "to big of focus, with too much detail", "needs more detail"....which has inevitably sent me running around in a circle, spending hours reading irrelevant articles and getting no where.

We have finally solidified a comp outline that is vastly different than what my committee agreed upon, and have sent it to my committee.....however the response has not been good. My committee is confused and unsure of my direction, which has left me in a state of panic. I have an up coming meeting which I know will result in me being thrown under the bus and left to defend why I do not have anything to show them.

Throughout this process I have voiced my frustration to my supervisor, and he simply tells me that this is a PhD and he is not here to hold my hand. I am having a hard time not feeling guilty, as he makes me feel that I am requiring too much guidance and cannot work 'independently'...but at the same time, I feel he provides very little concrete advice, and has left me with no way to gauge the focus, depth, and scope of what my comp should be.

He is a very new professor, and I am his first student. I am in my second year, and since me, he has taken on several other students which he is co-supervising with a more senior professor. I am trying REALLY hard to sort out my frustrations and understand the expectations of this relationship. I feel he has a rightful lack of experience, but refuses to devote the time/effort to make up for it.

I know a lot of students have felt that they receive little guidance from their supervisor, how have they gotten past this so that it does not impact their productivity? Should I submit an outline I've created on my own and defend it to my committee regardless of my supervisor? What should my expectations be from him?

Thanks!