>Compare this to a lab science PhD, in which you basically do the project your advisor tells you to do, and you succeed or fail in part based on whether your ad

>Compare this to a lab science PhD, in which you basically do the project your advisor tells you to do, and you succeed or fail in part based on whether your advisor chooses a project that works out This is a complete crock of shit. A situation like this only happens if you let it happen. If you are active as a grad student in directing your training then you'll have all the freedom you could ask for.