Problems after prelims - how to complete my thesis

F

Hi everyone, this is my first forum post and I've found this site really insightful and helpful. Thank you.

I am a doctoral candidate at a major U.S. university, in my fifth year of the PhD program. I have passed all coursework and both qualifying and preliminary exams without problems and I have a very good committee with top professionals in my field (which is related to information science). My dissertation proposal was accepted without revisions (and with very positive comments) last year. I generally believe in my topic, I think it has potential to make major contribution and it is exciting. In principle.

However, there are problems. Due to my unfavorable loan terms, I have to pay back my loan now and work to meet monthly payments - I have a contract with my employer that I work four days a week. I hate my industry job. My research is not progressing at all, I should be collecting data via experiments (user testing) which involves a lot of planning. I've been diagnosed with depression. I feel desperate and I have lost focus and I feel my topic is way too trivial, I have hard time believing my committee when they say this is actually super cool and important.

I have made two publications along the years (at minor but legit conferences), one of them is kind of related to my research. I have been a research assistant for four years, however mostly at a private research facility affiliated with the university, so I was not allowed to publish anything, and it didn't contribute to my (thesis) research. I needed to get the tuition waiver so I didn't really have a choice! Now I fear that this arrangement and current situation either prevents me from completing my PhD or at least prevents a real academic career (postdoc, tenure etc.).

It has been a very long road to get this far. I don't want to quit. Please offer some advice. I'll be happy to answer any questions.

T

Sounds difficult. When do you see yourself finishing? Can you do the PhD part time? Do you have enough data to write up now?

F

Quote From TreeofLife:
Sounds difficult. When do you see yourself finishing? Can you do the PhD part time? Do you have enough data to write up now?


Difficult to give a timeline, but as soon as possible... Part time is the only possibility. I don't have the actual data yet, except for a small pilot study that I did last year (which was the basis for the dissertation proposal). However I am in the process of gathering that data via user testing in the following months, assuming I am able to pull it through.

N

sounds really tough. I'm not experienced enough to advise. can you talk to your supervisor /grad student support advisor about the possibility of switching to part time to allow you finish and still work to pay off your loans.

A better solution would be if you could negotiate with the bank for an extension on your loan repayments.

Seems like you have come so far, and are a strong candidate, I hope you find a solution.

F

Quote From newlease36:
sounds really tough. I'm not experienced enough to advise. can you talk to your supervisor /grad student support advisor about the possibility of switching to part time to allow you finish and still work to pay off your loans.

A better solution would be if you could negotiate with the bank for an extension on your loan repayments.

Seems like you have come so far, and are a strong candidate, I hope you find a solution.


Well I am not really researching "full time" at the moment. This is the best I can do I think. Also I have already negotiated with the bank, it used to be worse.

Thank you.

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