Greeting everyone. I am new here.

A little bit of my story. Originally I am from Los Angeles. After I finished my Bsc, I decided to come to London to pursuit an Msc degree in pharmacology, which I have completed. Now I am just starting 2nd year of my PhD in London and am finding it extreme difficulty in self-motivation and interest. Before I came to this PhD post, I went through undergraduate and Msc with full enthusiasm and thinking this is exactly what I want to do with my life. After being in this PhD for a year, I find myself, like many others, completely disillusioned. Nothing is working like I previously thought. Literally nothing. Apart from having problems with the degree, I am also struggling financially and emotionally with life. The meager PhD stipend is nowhere capable of keeping up with the high expenses in London. Various recent events have shown that having a proper financial mean for survival is absolutely crucial for one's mental and physical well-beings, especially in such an expensive place. My girlfriend has left me just a week ago due to the fact that there seems to be no end to this education ladder, and I will continue to be a poor student for a very long time. She has been supportive all this time for my degree but has came to the realisation that one's earning cannot put a roof above two people's heads. A woman needs someone she can count on, not someone who counts on her for a living.

I am really hitting the bottom of the abyss now. Not much is coming out my research and my work probably won't be published until years later since the project is still in its early stage. I have lost every bit of interest in research. I am seriously thinking about another alternative for my life. First of all, make some money and be able to stand on my own feet. From what I've read from various posts and forums, an Msc degree in science doesn't seem to be a lesser degree compared to PhD in the industry, especially in the management/sales departments.

I am sure everyone has seem this sort of post before- whether PhD is worth it and such. Reasons for leaving a PhD can vary. I'd like some advice on what I can do or where I can go if I do decide to leave it behind and start a new life. For those of you who did quit, what career/profession have you turned to and are you happy?

Thanks for reading wall of text.

-Alex

Good thoughts to you Alex. If you aren't interested in your research any more, and the low pay isn't being balanced with job satisfaction then, yes, leave! Try the idea on in your head, talk about it with your friends (maybe your ex-gf if you're still on good terms), go and see the counselling service and careers advice at your uni to explore all your options, see if you can at least get an MPhil at this point. Mostly, make sure it's not just short-term emotional turmoil or something treatable, like depression, that's making you feel this way, and that it's not a decision you'll regret later. There's no shame in making a good decision to quit while you're ahead, as long as you've thought it through.

If the main issue is the money, and you can see yourself coming to be interested in your research again, can you try and get some extra teaching or demonstrating for some more cash?

My favourite quit-the-PhD story is Jimmy Doherty, who completed a PhD in entomology but quit academia to become a pig farmer of Jimmy's Farm fame! I have dreams of it myself on bad days (that, or becoming a professional knitter).

Thanks for your reply and support. I am putting some deep thoughts into it. However, I would like to ensure that I have something to do before I officially give my PhD up.

I have a different point of view - maybe you're just having a bad day?? It's crappy that your relationship has broken down but I very much doubt that it is entirely to do with your financial security - there are probably other reasons and even though it's tough right now, you may find in a few weeks, months, even a year that it was the right move for both you and your ex-g. It's easy for me to say this - and totally different for you to take it on board, but don't assume that making a big change will also make everything better. Think of it this way - what are you going to tell potential employers you were doing for this last year - how come you didn't have the stamina to finish your PhD, etc, etc?? (I'm just playing devils advocate) If I were you, I would leave it for a month or two - actually maybe even take a bit of a holiday - see if anything has changed and then make the decision really carefully and with a cool head.

Though it's totally fine to quit your PhD and you could certainly go on to great things, my gut instinct is - don't give up! But it's your decision, so good luck and let us know how you're getting on whatever you decide! ;-)

Hey Alex,

Just focus on the end goal (PhD). Having phd friends is a definite form of therapy in my books. Hang in the buddy!

======= Date Modified 17 Sep 2008 17:42:28 =======
Hey Alex

i agree with Alicat



i agree phd puts tremendous financial pressures on anyone, and specially doing it in a foreign land adds fuel to the fire

but the question you need to ask is WHY you feel like nothing is working, probably answer to this will be more complex than just being mounting never ending academic ladder



Now about quitting

You should only quit, if and only if, doing PhD is not what will not make your life more meanigful eventually

Do not quit, becuase you feel overwhelmed with problems at the moment, or things seem to be at halt



so yes, give this some DEEP thought as you said you would

Thanks for all the advices. Deep thoughts are going through my head. I've talked to everyone around me including my supervisor. It really depends on what I want to do with life because PhD is not just an academic education. It's the whole life-learning experience which decides what kind of person you will be. I am weighing the pros and cons at the moment. Will update later.

I'm in a similar position to you. I'm coming to the end of my third year in a PhD and have absolutely no interest in the topic or research anymore. My experiments are completed and finding the motivation to write is really difficult. Problems with conflicting advice from my multiple supervisors are not helping and are dragging things out longer than I expected and of course, there is the lack of finances to consider. As a result, I have decided to look for other work and I've had a positive response from several companies. I don't know if I will finish off the PhD part time or give it the boot completely, it really depends on what sort of job I get and how I feel, but I do know that my sanity, health and family are my top priorities. It sounds like you have some good qualifications that you could use if you decide not to continue your PhD, and I congratulate you on taking the time to think things through. You really need to work out what sort of career and lifestyle you want and whether a PhD is needed for it. Is a PhD something you could come back to in a few years after working to set yourself up financially? If you decide to stop the PhD remember you can refer to the work you have done so far when applying for jobs as it has given you skills such as organisation, time management, project management, communication etc. Really, I think PhD's aren't so much about the specialised topics they are on, but are about developing these skills and preparing you for the workforce. Good luck with your decision - I know it's a difficult one!

Thanks for all the posts guys. It's nice to hear opinions from people who are going through similar situations.

I have done a lot of non-stop thinking and talking to anyone I possibly can. After weighing the pros and cons, I have made up my mind to do something else instead of this PhD. I have already spent one year for this mind-numbing lab life in central London, being absolutely miserable and utterly poor, and it is definitely not something I want to do for the rest of my life. Although some postdocs do make it through, it takes way too many years and too much effort. Instead I am discovering interest in the management field. I used to be captain of sports team and for those of you who play games, I used to be a guild leader. I find more joy working with people rather than bashing my own head against pipettes and mice.

I have started actively looking for a management type of position back near home. Even though I have made up my mind, I will not jump the ship just yet because I don't want to be without a job for several months. It will be very tough to switch gears since I've worked in a lab since the beginning of my higher education. But I think if I try hard and learn quickly, I will be able to manage it.

This could be the best decision (or worst) in my life. At least I am making it now while I am still young. I am very scared and feel extremely insecure, but I think it will be a better life.

Alex,
If it feels right do it. No good being in a place or situation you don't want to be. Good luck in your new career and remember us chimps as you climb out of the jungle and back into civilization
:p

Give a shout back sometime and let us know how things are getting on. Not being negative but don't be bitter about your experience and use it as a lesson that will strengthen you.

More importantly, its the weekend so get out and enjoy it in the knowledge that you have shot that albatros that was perched on your shoulders.

In the words of the great Phil Lynott,
"Auf Wiefdersen til we meet again!"

Bonzo I take it your Irish? I say that cause Phil Lynott doesnt strike me as being very well known outside Ireland
Thin Lizzy are quite possibley the most under-rated band of all time!! Indeed there is a statue of Phil somewhere in Dublin!!!

Alex all I can say is best of look! It isnt the end of the world and Im sure you have made the right decision. I quit my PhD last december and it hasnt been the end of the world. no doubt you have a good academic record behind you, so you will succeed in your future career 8-)