I don't know if anyone else has this problem or whether it's just me - but people from my hometown that I used to be at school with appear to be scared of me or take the mick cos I am doing a PhD - they treat me really wierd. I can't really explain it. Most of them are working in shops or factories or are doing nothing - it's amazing how many people have got stuck in such a rut. I'm glad I got out while I did..I'd hate to end up like them.

Zara, your experiences sounds so familiar:)) I am the only one from my class who has got higher education and the first in my family who will have PhD; so my family members, relatives, friends and not to talk about people in my home village think I am some kind of deviant:) And as one can espect, they do not understand what it is about, especially when I complain that it is so hard, I am depressed or not motivated...PhD in this case is really only for us ourselves:)Sometimes it makes me feel very mch like outsider. But I dont regret, in University we can meet people who do understand and who are similar:))

In my case. It is the opposite. They all think I am a genius and know everything. I still waiting till the moment everyone finds out that I am not so hot when someone has a stroke in a wedding and everyone turns round to me expecting that I would fix it by snapping my fingers.

What2DoNext

Do they think that Dr. means a doctor, i.e. medical doctor;))) or you are doing PhD in Medicine (in this case, cant blaim them:)?

I've had this problem too - people think I'm a medical expert, and ask me all their medical questions!! My PhD is in ecology and I work with birds, bugs and bacteria, but still they ask me about their health worries!! Also with this bird flu thing, becuase I work with birds, some of my aunts and others I know back home step away from me and say they are worried they'll catch something off me!!!!!!!!!!!!! Charming!!

No I am doing a PhD in Computer Science... but it is a Dr. for both so that don't see the difference... One day I went to visit this family and one of then turned round and started giving me his medical details for some liver condition. This was after I explained to them that I was spending my time doing a PhD which is like a specialised higher degree.

The only people who really understand are my immediate family and other friends/family members who have gone through a similar process.

LOL Zara

Oh and don't get me started on those dolts who say... "when are you going to stop messing around and get a proper job or get married"

I met most of my friends at uni and most of them are now doing a PhD. So doing a PhD is not seen as being a big thing and my friends can relate to it. My dad has one and my sisters husband is doing one. What I find harder to explain is why it will be much harder for us to get a permanent position (in academia) and why I have my doubts if it is really worth it all.

I agree with anonGerman. Sometimes I get the feeling that I was more qualified after my undergraduate degree in comparison with now. Especially if like me, you don't want to become a lecturer for the rest of your life. Or if you want to get back into industry.

I would like to have children, which is not very compatible with academia. I've met several people who are postdocs and are failing at getting anywhere in academia either through bed luck, the wrong lab head or their own inability to comunicate with others. Working hard and being brilliant doesn't seem to be enough. I'm going to do one postdoc and then see where I go from there.


When I talk to my mother about this she's got a carefree "it will all work out just fine" attitude that I find rather irritating.

My oh my- what a Freudian slip! That should have been "bad luck", not "bed luck"....

'I'm glad I got out while I did..I'd hate to end up like them'. Hmmm...you might want to have a look at yourself? What exactly is wrong with working in a shop or factory..its an honest days work isn't it!

I think it’s important to appreciate that neither life path [in therapy speak] is 'better' than the other. Just different. I prefer to do this. Others may find building Nissan's rewarding and fulfilling.

I don't think there is anything wrong with Zara making the best of what opportunities she had whilst most of her school-mates did not and have ended up in dead-end jobs.