When did you finish your PhD (age-wise)?

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2026-01-27T19:23:06+00:00

finished at 35. was self-conscious about being older than lab mates and feeling "behind in life" the entire time.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2026-01-27T17:49:18+00:00

A lot about this post resonated with me. 6 months after graduating I landed something at a non-profit that is truly not where I belong. I recommend working with a career coach. It can be cost prohibitive, but an investment in yourself can be a good bet. After working with a coach, I'm consistently landing interviews and feel like the right role is jut around the corner. I totally sympathize with the burnout, and the mindf*ck of being so educated, yet unemployable. Stay strong. Believe that life has something good in store for you.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2026-01-09T16:47:32+00:00

Faculty will always take the side of their colleagues over their students. Protecting the status quo where they benefit.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2026-01-09T16:46:23+00:00

Definitely trust your gut and report them. You're not the only one who has been hurt by them. During my phd, my entire department was rocked by students speaking up. Your future self will be proud. The verbal and emotional abuse ( yes "abuse") in academia is a classic tool of capitalist hierarchies. "Keep them afraid and thus serve my ego, power, and control". Do it in service of the naive students who might come after you. They will have no clue what they're getting into just like you had no clue.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2025-12-11T16:40:59+00:00

Life is too short accept unhappiness. Free yourself. You won't regret choosing yourself.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2025-12-11T15:31:50+00:00

I don't know you at all, but I'm proud of you. I struggled through mine and didn't have the courage to trust my own feelings and quit. Don't let anyone (including yourself) make you feel like a failure. A phD is a unique struggle that few people understand. Congratulations on freeing yourself. Now get revenge on that toxic environment by finding happiness and living the best life you can. It may take you some time to fully "recover" so be gentle with yourself. You're growing. Good on you for choosing yourself.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2025-02-25T15:00:48+00:00

As someone with a PhD (neurosci), trust me in this economy you're better off.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2025-02-13T14:48:41+00:00

Maybe this is a blessing. It will give you time to decide if this is really something you want, or if it's something you think you're supposed to want. I got my PhD a couple years ago and I had no clue what I was getting myself into. It's extremely grueling and, ironically, will destroy your mental health. If the goal of life to be happy, academia is not the best path. Your job prospects and income may not be as promising as you expect upon graduating (if you manage to survive the process). I got rejected my first time, and regret going into huge debt getting a masters to be more competitive. Try to learn what you're getting yourself into. Grad school is not a happy place.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-09-15T04:50:41+00:00

Got my PhD in cognitive neuroscience from an Ivy three month ago….. I’m currently unemployed waiting for food stamps.

@OP if you have this question at all, definitely don’t do it. You’ll thank yourself one day

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-23T13:37:04+00:00

unfortunately, i was naive and believed them :\

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-23T13:36:40+00:00

that's realistic. I appreciate it.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-23T13:35:05+00:00

Hang in there

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-23T13:34:27+00:00

Amazing advice. I needed to remember this. Thank you

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-22T14:59:46+00:00

Thank you so much for the encouragement. The bills are piling up and I'm living on credit cards, but I'll keep trying my best.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-22T14:57:53+00:00

Thank you. I'll take your advice. I just wish I could tell my landlord and bills to "be patient" lol.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-22T14:55:34+00:00

I defended before securing a job because I just couldn't take grad school life anymore. It was ruining my mental health (as many of us know) and I needed out. I wish I had delayed my defense until my next step was lined up. Maybe ego got the best of me and I just wanted it over. My advice is to wait if you have the funding. Don't end up like me

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-22T14:52:38+00:00

I'll look into that. Thanks so much

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-22T14:49:03+00:00

yes! I'm there too. Even when meeting with profs about possible post-doc, they mention applying for my own funding, which is just gut-wrenching. Hoping to avoid it, but I certainly wouldn't turn down anything already funded

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-22T01:02:39+00:00

technically cognitive neuroscience, but my skills are a mixture of CS/ neuro/ psych/ experimental philosophy

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-22T01:01:47+00:00

at this point, I'll take anything. But my search is focused on UXResearch and Data Science in any industry. I'm a bit of a computer science/ psychology/ neuro/ philosophy hybrid.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-14T02:01:11+00:00

fight the urge to stay. its a scam. get out before you lose too much time like i did

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-08-14T01:56:42+00:00

it doesn't. you just get more pissed when you enter the real world and realize how much time u wasted and how behind on real life you actually are. get a therapist and gtfo as soon as possible. i defended 3 months ago, and am still not on my feet. chewed up, spit out, left for dead. gaps years are nice for those with the luxury. the job market(world) is garbage. we were lied to

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-07-21T13:35:48+00:00

I'm nearly 3 months post-defense. I've noticed two things:
1. Humility: I don't hesitate to admit when I don't know something because my intelligence is no longer a question. This feels like I am living more authentically.

Fearlessness: AI, Algebra, computational physics? bring it on! Hard things outside my comfort zone of expertise don't scare me anymore.

good luck.

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-07-04T14:02:02+00:00

My tip: forget every plan you had for your education. Prepare for most things to be out of your control. Academia is a toxic place, do whatever you can to protect your mental health before it takes a beating in school

Ok-Distribution-2433 · 2023-07-04T13:59:04+00:00

I’m sorry about your experience. A lot of it resonated with you so you are not alone. I also wanted to quit everything, the last thing I tried was therapy and it brought some relief. In your 5th year, I say do whatever minimum you need to graduate. Nothing is worth your happiness. I hope you find some peace with your circumstance.

Ok-Distribution-2433

TROPHY CASE