3 ms·
This sounds very obvious, but everyone I know who dropped out of their PhD wasn't cut out for doing one. If you are feeling guilty about reading more papers, yo
by binbag 8y ago
This sounds very obvious, but everyone I know who dropped out of their PhD wasn't cut out for doing one. If you are feeling guilty about reading more papers, you shouldn't be doing a doctoral degree.
On the other hand, when you're a post-doc I totally agree that there is more to life than the 'big fish in a small pond' world of academia. There is something particularly annoying about the academic environment - some combination of ego and insecurity.
Also, the pay is shit.
- Bahamut 8y agoAs a counterpoint, I am a dropout myself, but certainly was cut out for completing a PhD. Extenuating circumstances of a different nature affected my own ability to continue after investing 4 years and at the point of choosing an advisor. People quitting academia for random jobs isn't a new thing. The stories have been there for decades of physics PhDs deciding to quit to go into professions such as taxi driving or construction.
- asafira 8y agoWhy did people feel guilty to read papers? Seems like a strange reason to drop out. I know many more people who dropped out because of poor management than those that didn't seem to be good at it.
- jccalhoun 8y agoAgreed. I don't think anyone ever drops out because they feel guilty for reading too much.