Anyone have any positive experiences, at all?! From reading all these posts by fedup/broke/stressed PhD students who don't get along with their supervisors, feel isolated, regret starting it, want to quit, etc. etc. I'm starting to worry that I'll not make it either. Some reassurance would be appreciated! Also, is the postdoc stage really as miserable as everybody makes it out to be?

I love doing my PhD. It's wickid!! Ok, there are the odd stressful moments, like when I count up how many words I'll have to write per day next year to get ze old thesis finished, but apart from that I'm lovin it. I get on with my supervisors, I have more of a social life than most people I know who work, my hours are totally flexible, my supervisors take me out to lunch, all my non-PhD friends think I must be intelligent (ha ha). Why is everyone so miserable?!

We'd like to hear your positive PhD experiences too. Look at this post and you could win a £50 Amazon voucher.

Maybe it's just that all those happy people don't feel the need to chat about stuff. I don't think I'd be here if I hadn't had problems. DJ Wickid - I'm really glad you're enjoying PhD life (that's totally sincere). I DO know that it can be great given the right circumstances.

i'm sorry, i can't bring any optimism to this forum. My PhD is the most distressing thing i've done so far. Sometimes there can be good bits but most of the time it's hell. I'd recommend it wholeheartedly.

I love doing my PhD - I also know plenty of other students who love doing theirs and don't have any problems - see link

http://www.findaphd.com/students/viewmessage.asp?thread=2312&cat=3&order=1&nthreads=20

I have never been happier!! but it didn't happen easy - I started one phd, hated it, quit, and eventually found my perfect lab!