i´m very grateful for your posts, it is so great to hear/read different opinions!


imposture syndrome seems to apply to me, too. i did really well (grade-wise and also work-wise according to my supervisor) in my master thesis. but what do grades really tell us, anyway :)

i had big ideas about projects and wanted to apply for interdisciplinary research grants, tried to gather fellow students, etc. before my master-thesis. well, it didn´t work out, so i´m growing into this field slowly with my "guided" master-thesis and well hopefully a phd-project. If you don't buy a ticket, you can't win the raffle :)

the time i spent with my master-thesis and all the energy lost in the not quite successful attempt for developing "my own" project kind of wore my enthusiasm for the picture of me, being in science, out.
i think the social aspect during the master-thesis also wore me down, as the other undergrads or phds worked together for another project and therefore i had a hard time "fitting in".
concerning my supervisor i felt "left alone" in terms of "guidance" or management..

and well, it really is true, that i need to gain far more experience before i could even start "my own" project. maybe another type of enthusiasm develops in time, with experience.

i love science and working in my field. at the moment i´m kind of intimidated. i just don´t know so many things that seem to be obvious or common knowledge to my colleagues. i hate that i get the feeling that i´m admitting to be birdbrained when i ask questions. there are no stupid questions, right?! not asking would be really dumb.. at least in my world.

in the end it might really be the best to change my current working environment and just go for my interest - as scary as it is :) .


it doesn´t have to be the same working environment somewhere else - statistically and realistically that might even be impossible

so my next question would be: is it common to feel alone within one´s own project within the working environment?! not to discuss that much the topics people work on.. ?
(i know, it is often dependent on one´s own engagement, but there are environments where it feels more natural to initiate discussion i think.. )


greez, anna

are/were any of you doubting your qualifications and capabilities to enter a phd-position for several years?!
i just finished my master thesis and still i don´t consider myself a good scientist, ready to go for the world. I would love to do a PhD work still. Isn´t it common to be kind of "insecure" about the "ripeness" and capabilities as graduate..?!


career-wise it seems to be the best to go abroad for the phd-thesis. but being "stuck" somewhere for several years - what a horrific view, if it doesn´t work out with the supervisor/team etc..

do any of you regret the decision for a phd-position ?  did everything turn out well, anyway ? is the phd-thesis simply "hard times" ?

what are possibilities to "assure" that the new team/work within the phd-thesis are appropriate for me beforehand?!


greez,
anna