At first I thought I feel so bad because of the misunderstandings with the RA. I was ready to fight for my PhD and thought I won't let him bully me out of my PhD but then realised, I have other choices, I can do other things, have time for friends and family and not essentially devote my health and best years of my youth to something that is just a matter of curiosity and ambition.
This PhD, and especially the atmosphere around it seriously harmed if not killed my love for science and my curiosity. I realised the world of academia makes me feel sick and I don't want to spend my life like this. I was ready to stay and finish my Phd, if there was something else waiting for me at the end. But looking at other people working with me I realised it doesn't get any easier.

It was a difficult decision but the only one I could take because the amount of stress was influencing my health and I am still getting over it. It is the first time ever in my life that I quit something, I was always determinate and persistent, ashamed to show my weakness by giving something up. I am glad I decided to quit and I don't see it as a failure.
Only sometimes I look back at it with a sentiment because it was such a big dream that turned out to be a nightmare and mistake. It was everything I wanted only, I didn't have time to live life and enjoy the fact that my dream came true.
It's my first year out. I didn't decide what to do yet. I can't think of getting a job in the area, PhD made me hate it. I work in customer service at the moment and try to decide what next.
Good luck to all of you, those pursuing and those in similar situation as me.

Thats exactly what I'm terrified of starting. This is an amazing PhD offer I have from a very well reputed (is that the word?) institute, he best in europe. this PhD would be the key to me getting into medicine, and getting into neurology and research, both of which I want to do eventually.

But the lady who would be traingin me is not english, and communication is severely hard, my supervisors are consultants and not always available, and everyone around me will be successfull people doing what I want to do, and I will be slowly plodding along. There are also not many other PhD students there.

But I HATE quitting. I think I'll give it my best shot and see how it works out. If it gets so bad I will probably quit. It would be such a shame to have wasted their time as well as mine. I just so wish I could fast forward 3 years.

Like all previous posters, it certainly is refreshing to hear that there are others out there doubting what they intially thought was a "DREAM COME TRUE!!" I'm only 3 months into my PhD and I'm just not feeling it. To be honest, if I hadn' received a fat scholarship (which I'm very greatful for having received) there is no way I would have started a PhD. The financial stability is pretty good though.. I'm fortunate enough to have such good funding.. and it's scary to consider the alternative. My story is even more ludicrous in that I'm seriously considering quitting my PhD to try and make a living as a professional musician. Imagine running that one by your supervisor/family/friends. Tell me I'm crazy!

There were many times during my PhD when I wanted to give in. Let's face it, research salaries are low and often on 1 - 2 year contracts. It is a lonely experience totally unlike first degrees, often in a very cosmopolitan environment, which takes getting used to.

Valid reasons for continuing are: loving your subject, wanting a life in academia, wanting to do research for a living.

Poor reasons to go through the experience are: wanting to use Dr on your credit card, nothing better to do, avoiding working, for the bursary.

Personally I'm pleased to have done one, but don't expect to enjoy yourself or have fun.

"Valid reasons for continuing are: loving your subject, wanting a life in academia, wanting to do research for a living."

I completely disagree on number two and three. I can answer both with a clear NO and still think that I have valid reasons to complete a PhD. You forget that many people actually want to leave academia for good after completion as there is a real world out there and more opportunities than one might think.

Additionally I am planning to use the Dr on my credit card application, as well as on my business card and as a general show off. Call it inferiority complex but people display their BA (Hons) or MSc, so why not show the world that you suffered three years (or more) for a bloody research degree?

I want to do a PhD to help me get a good clinical research post as a medical doctor. I want to do medicine after a PhD. But I'm starting to get stuck....I haver been offered a really great PhD here in London, but we're still waiting on funding and that may not be until Jan 08 at the latest...and I cannot start until that comes through to pay my fees and salary. Argh...tha problem with having clinicians as you're supervisors is that they're not always very clear and not always willing to share whether they are honestly optimistic or not. I don't even know whether I should be worried and start applying for other PhDs. Anyone here also?

I totally agree with Otto - I'm not planning to stay in academia or continue researching after my PhD... but I do love my subject. For me it's a great chance to do something purely for yourself for three years, the only chance we'll get to be so selfish! (and get paid for it And the first thing I'll do is change my title on my bank cards etc and generally show it off!

But what would you do afterwards??

I have about 12 months until I plan to submit so I'm only just starting to seriously look at what's available, but the plan is to work as a practitioner and expert witness in my field (criminology). Although a PhD is definately a must for credibility in this kind of work, the main reason I started was because my funding application was accepted and I really enjoy my topic (and a challenge!)

I too was in a similar situation but mid last year. After many months of little productivity I decided that the Ph.D was not for me at least not now (the reasons were personal - the department and the advisor were great but there wasnt any progress off late) and talked it out with my advisor. He as always was very helpful and suggested that I take a leave of absence instead and I could always come back if I wanted to and so I took a years leave starting july last year. I initially thought that I would get back but have lately realized that my original reasons have still not changed and also my passion for doing a ph.d has greatly dimnished (though not for science) and so have decided to leave the program.

I quit my program after nearly 3.5 years (it usually takes 5 yrs or so in my dept.) but the project was new since I had switched groups after a getting a masters under a different advisor. I spent a year after that with the new advisor. So things haven't really worked out the way that I wanted it to and I have also not revealed my decision to my family. They were sort of hoping that I would be the 1st doctor but it's not to be. I stressed a lot on having to do this after so long into the program and this forum would have really helped but I didn't come across this until now. I am still not sure about the job situation and how I am going to sell this but I have made a decision to switch fields to management (do an MBA perhaps) since I don't see research as a carreer and most positions in my field require a ph.d. Hopefully someone will see this and respond with their experiences of career changes after leaving the program. All the posts have really helped, thanks to everyone!

The title of this thread is a bit like Jerry Springer or Thrisha show titles

I think one of the hardest things about quitting is the lack of support people give you, and the invalidating comments people make about "not cutting it". A close friend of mine quit her PhD (we started at roughly the same time), and she has gotten a fantastic job that is decently paid and secure and related to what she was interested in. She quit because she was sick of the isolation, the petty rivalries, and the constant hastle from her supervisor, not because she was deficient in any way.I felt bad for her as she got so much stick when she was making the decision from the department and our academic social circle "for not being able to hack it".

I would point out that it takes wisdom and bravery to know when to retreat and cut your losses, rather than just "staying the course" out of intertia. Not everyone recognises this.

I have met many cleverer people (than PhD students) with a BSc, in industry. Research is just another way of working. It doesn't suit everyone. Some of the most successful people drop out of their undergrad degree.

Qualifications and salary are inversely proportional There's certainly no reason to go beyond BSc level if maximizing income is your goal.

The reason I did a PhD wasn't for the money, rather it was because I wanted more freedom to think about things of my own choice that were interesting to me.