I have a PhD. In fact it took me close to a decade. I was an immigrant and knew no one in the entire country. In fact my first year I didn’t even know the langu

I have a PhD. In fact it took me close to a decade. I was an immigrant and knew no one in the entire country. In fact my first year I didn’t even know the language! No one in my family was super educated though my father was an incredibly thoughtful smart person. I don’t think he helped me with anything academically since maybe 7th grade though. Over the journey I made most of my friends so almost all of my friends have a PhD or quit one midway (coincidentally the smart ones quit if you ask me). My experience is that people who complain about quals like this should not be doing a PhD. Failing them at Quals is at least somewhat forgiving compared to wasting half a decade of their life.