I have been offered a PhD studying Alzheimer's disease. Its a good PhD and my potential supervisor is one of the top in his field, but I'm having some second thoughts. Whilst the area of the PhD does very much interest me, I'm not crazy about it...I guessed that might come when I began to get a more in depth understanding. Should this be a concern? Should I be completely in love with the area before I begin?

I'm also not sure if I would want to use my PhD after I've done it, so not sure if it would be a wasted 4 years. I think eventually I would like to be a patent attorney, which I could get into with my MSc.

Is it common to experience 'pre-PhD jitters' or does the fact that I'm having these worries probably mean my heart isn't in it. The last thing I want to do is not finish, if I start the PhD I want to know I'm fully committed to it.

I know its a fantastic opportunity, I just want to be able to do it, and myself justice.

Also the more posts I read on here the more unsure I get. Are most the posters just bitter PhD students, or is it really that bad? I'm under no illusions that it will be very very hard at times, but surely it can't all be bad?

I'm so confused about what to do. It has been suggested that I work for a year or two first to see if its really what I want to do, but I'm worried that if I start work I won't go back.

Any advice is greatly appreciated...

I am puzzled. How does a PhD in studying Alzeheimers disease help you become a patent attorney? Is an Msc a qualifying degree to practice law? Don't you have to undergo other professional training? Does practicing patent law require being admitted or qualifed before a special body?

The most popular route to becoming a patent attorney is on-the-job training. You spend your first few years learning, taking exams but also getting experience. In the area of biotechnology/biochemistry (which my PhD would be in) a PhD is quite often favourable but not a strict requirement. (Its a very hard profession to get into, so any help is good).

Don't you need a professional qualification as an attorney??????????? What country are you in?

I'm a bit confused too - why do a PhD if you want to be a patent attorney? If you really want to do a PhD, would you not be better turning you attention to an intellectual property topic? If you have no passion for your research subject, I would say don't do the PhD - remember you're committing at least 3, if not 4/5 years to this - that's a long commitment for something you only have a modicum of interest in.

Olivia, a patent attorney is not a lawyer in the UK, but a specialist who deals purely with IP matters (it's quite a nice niche job), and no need for law school.

And then do you need some kind of qualifaction additionally to do patent law? You might want to check out exactly what the qualifications are to do patent law work in your locale.

so confused...perhaps its just terminology--how can you be an attorney but not be qualified to practice law/not be a lawyer?

I have done alot of research into becoming a patent attorney, having a phd will only help my chances, not hinder them. I currently have an MSc which is good enough to get into some patent attorney firms. I wouldn't be doing the PhD just for the sake of it, I love science and I don't think I'm ready to leave it yet. It's my understanding that plenty of people who do PhD's have no desire to remain in academia afterwards?
I was dead set on doing a PhD but now I have one its all become a little scary. I am from England but the PhD is in ireland so I would have to move there (not a million miles away, but a different country none the less).
I am just wondering if other people had similar concerns or if they always knew this was what they wanted to do? I get the feeling that if I don't give it a go then I will regret it, but is that enough of a reason.

ah...the confusion arises because you're American. Lawyers are never referred to as attorneys here (well at least they shouldn't be).

Patent attorneys usually work in pharma or tech co's and will have a science background. I suppose they are the frontline for ensuring new drugs, inventions etc don't breach IP law. This differs greatly from a corporate lawyer who specialises in IP work.

In the US they are probably called something different..like a patent agent.

am4814, I think you should go with your gut instinct.

Yes, lots of people finish PhDs and go into the corporate world or industry, and as you have probably read on this forum, it can make little difference to your career chances in some areas. However, in your case, a PhD may offer flexibility as science PhDs are valuable in industry.

But you have to be passionate and committed...if there is no passion for the research, go into work for a few years and then come back to academia later. Although Ireland sounds v. tempting!!

ahhh...thanks for clearing up my confusion. Good heavens, but that is an important one to be clear on ( American English v British English) ( now craving Taco Bell worse than ever...)

I don't think anyone 100% of the time thinks that they want to do or like their PhD. That is just not a rational way to expect to feel. You love it, you hate it, you are indifferent to it, all of those feelings and more, are part of the experience, and can even occur in the same day, the same hour, or the same minute!


I am not sure I would agree the posters on this forum are in any way bitter. Rather,

I think that we have formed a supportive community, and people come here for support, that may be lacking in their immediate environment, because in part because of the sheer isolation of the PhD ( in many cases anyway!) And its a break from the drudgery of the work--and we all need breaks, etc...a PhD takes a lot of just sheer determination, no matter what else it requires, if you are not exceedingly stubborn about reaching your goals, you might become overwhelmed and swamped by the entire process.

At this point ( close to writing up) an overriding reason for doing the PhD is because it is there. I have got this far, and am carrying on because of that.

That's like saying someone needs to go into space to be a good physicist....don't do a PhD in biochemistry of you really want to go into law! :/