This is extremely useful advice. I think universities should encourage graduates to experience industry for a while to make sure that if they return to university to do a PhD is because they really want to, and not because it's the path of least resistance after graduating. Some feedback: lower/remove the background music. Give more protagonism to your voice since we're here to listen to what you have to say and the music only distracts from that.

Wow.. you just described exactly how I feel after finishing my PhD (I feel I am 10yrs behind). Happy you continue raising awareness!

@Roostervane

2 жыл бұрын

I know exactly what you mean, it really sucks. Good luck moving forward.

Two MA’s and PhD. Absolutely regret it. Sad about it still.

Hi Roostervane, Thanks for making the video, agree that vision is so crucial! I just got my PhD a few days back and I don't personally regret it, even though I realised academia was not for me mid-way through. Here is what helped personally: 1) Getting involved in the university enterprise programmes: Especially in UK, lots of business plan competitions, and start-up support for enterprising students. Getting involved helped develop various soft skills (public speaking, grant writing, etc) and hard skills (coding), in addition to the business idea itself. 2) Documenting your journey online: Started too late but at the last year of my PhD, started putting out youtube content and building an audience. Realised this is networking at scale and the amount of opportunities that come out of it, both in terms of work opportunities and business leads, is incredible, early days but starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel already. 3) Not over-optimising the thesis and PhD work, and rationing out time to optimise for the end vision. So, yeah highly resonate with your views on doing a vision-driven multifaceted PhD!

@Roostervane

2 жыл бұрын

These are some amazing tips! If I'd done more of this during my PhD I'd have been much better off!

I quit my PhD last year.

@kelzangtentsho8533

Жыл бұрын

How does it feel to quit phd? I might as well quit mine soon.

Hindsight is 20/20!

I somewhat regret my degree. I could have done an apprenticeship in textiles design and that would have worked just fine and I would have got paid to study. Didn't know that was an option. Sometimes our teachers don't point out all the options- so we stick to tradition routes to garner useless prestige. Lucky I studied in the U.K. & don't meet the repayment threshold yet :)

I have a PhD and I also regret it

@Roostervane

2 жыл бұрын

Solidarity

Interesting

Can I use your video on my page? Pls confirm if it is copyrighted

Major does matter not a degree

To me personally, with no intent to hurt anyone's feelings, it seems just like you said "i regret my Bachelor, Master and PhD, because i feel like 7 or 8 years behind other people in life, and i could have been 8 years ahead in being world class plumber or whatever". That said, hearing your statement of regretting PhD i can only come to conclusion that you actually do not enjoy your profession, whatever it might be. Ii am in my 40s and i decided to go for PhD in order to learn how to research deeper and potentially disrupt some theories. At the same time get access to some people and materials which are much easier to get with PhD. Is it possible you stopped researching and regretting for choosing vocation you have chosen?

I have mixed feelings about my PhD. Both feelings of regret & feelings of pride. But it's actually 70% regret I got a PhD Degree & 30% of feeling proud I have a PhD Degree... Looking back for some reflection, when I first enrolled in the Chemistry PhD Program, I have this crazy immature dream that I would one day get my PhD Degree & my friends & other people whom I try to validate would title me "Doctor". I dreamt I would make others feel impressed that I got a PhD Degree, especially I thought back then it would better my chances of getting a job of my choice. Additionally, as a young & single dude, I thought by earning the PhD Degree I would impressed the ladies in hopefully getting somebody to go out on a date with. But you can see from that crazy dream of mine, it was indeed immature, foolish, & of course arrogant. I learned that the HARD WAY... I took almost 7.5 years to complete my Chemistry PhD Degree. Horrible experience of my life... Got into a toxic relationship with my Dissertation Research Advisor & it did got the University Dean's involvement to make sure no further conflicts escalate between me & my mentor. Fortunately despite the drama, I did graduate with the PhD in 2020. But due to toxic relations, I felt ashamed of myself that I did not participate in my PhD Graduation Hooding Ceremony (fortunately my graduation ceremony happened during the Covid pandemic of 2020, so NO graduation ceremony did not happen at all). Getting a job after my PhD was not easy for me either. I had difficulties trusting my dissertation advisor to be my references due to the past toxic work relations we created with each other. Eventually, I landed a job, but I realized this job I got accepted for, I could have just applied this during the time when I finished my undergraduate degree... Currently at my workplace, they issued me the work email. But I was debating whether or not for my Email Salutations I put as "Don Tran, PhD" or not (a part of me said I worked hard for the PhD so I should include "PhD" after my name, but another part of me feeling hesitated)... Especially I heard stories from other PhDs who work in industry decided not to indicate to others that they got a PhD due to fears they may intimidate others or others may portray as arrogant/narcissistic & may potentially get mistreated... To summarize, due to that feelings I have now & combined with my past experience in the PhD Program, I developed that mixed feelings (but mostly feelings of Regret) about my PhD Degree...