I just started my PhD. Last semester my primary supervisor has read and sent comments on my proposal, my secondary supervisor has interviewed me online. So I thought I had a good start. The moment I walked in for our first meeting, my primary supervisor said "you were doing X and Y, right?" and I said no and explained my research questions again and showed them my abstract and table of contents. My primary supervisor then said it is very narrow, not very interesting and that I should shift to something else. Now I'm doing only one part on one of the initial research questions and looking from a new perspective (not the government but the end-user's). Rest of my proposal and research questions have gone to waste and I feel unprepared for this new subject. Is it common among new PhD students? I worry that they think they made a mistake by choosing me :(

How is your doctorate funded? Well, your supervisor is only trying to suggest things, but do consider their views, as they know what bit of your research has been 'done' before and how you can potentially add originality. You are so early in your PhD that you have to realise that your research proposal may have changed *100 times by the time you hand it. It's all normal and no need to panic.

Mara Sp.

This is my story :( ....and I can very well relate with you! But I think this is also very common because I have never heard about a PhD case that went freely flowing. Welcome to the group of hardships and challenges :)