Phd students

[giantimi]

Is anyone on this forum currently in a phd program or going to be in the next academic year?

[LiquidMidnight]

Currently awaiting to hear if I've been accepted or not. I think I'm supposed to know either way by sometime in April.

[giantimi]

are you going to quit bass if you do the doctorate program?

[LiquidMidnight]

I'm currently out of state doing an internship for my Master's. I haven't touched a bass since I started. It was a good thing, though, because I was totally burned out. I was gigging about 9 to 10 times a month, plus working two day gigs while doing my course work and writing my thesis. What I do with music when I start doctoral work is going to be contingent upon a number of factors, including the day gig situation and what the music scene is like upon my return. It was hurting quite a bit when I left with clubs cutting back entertainment.

[giantimi]

yea, that sounds rough. I have already been accepted to a program and will probably go, but I'm starting to reconsider my recent purchase of a new bass ( I put it on layaway actually). Like it will be a sweet bass, but I really don't know how often I will be able to use it ( for gigs or personal enjoyment). When you were gigging during your Masters, was all your free time spent gigging?

[SoonerMatt]

I was looking at a PhD program until I started working on my masters program. The behind the scenes bureaucracy and red tape behind science procedures couples with the clashing egos, arrogance, and war for grant funding made me realize that I do not want to deal with that. Now I'm prepping for the GMAT and looking to go into an MBA program after this and working with energy management, MIS, biotech, and/or international business.

[Vorago]

Maybe, maybe not. Applied for a grant in march.

Having second thoughts now, do I really want to spend 4 more years behind a desk?

Plus, in the past, a phd meant job security at the university where you phd'ed, now with recent budget cuts, that certainty is gone.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

You have to really do it and love what you are doing, I was quite lucky and managed to fit in a bit of an odd niche.

Completed a BSc (hons) in Biochemistry, then took a big chance and jumped into a MSc in Nanotechnology & Microsystems (Primarily Physics and Engineering). When I was working away at my masters I looked around at a lot of PhD's. I had a solid undergrad degree (upper second) and the fact I was currently doing the masters did help. Applied to a fair number of PhD's, 55-60. Had a fair few interviews at different levels. (The closet I got with all those was when I was down to the last 4 people being selected. It was a pretty brutal 4 hour interview, though sadly didn't get that one!).

I was lucky in that the supervisor of my masters project received funding for a PhD student while I was going my masters and I was basically offered a PhD position. It's in the field of Biophotonics (branch of Physics), which makes good use of both of my degrees. My supervisor was looking for someone who had my experiences and qualifications (in both the biological and physical sciences), and she must have been impressed (for some reason) with my work during my masters project.

Downside of doing a PhD? Say goodbye to a social life, well, not goodbye, but it certainly becomes diminished. I've seen many times where I've been hitting up 60-70+ hour weeks in the lab and there is always more work to be done when you get home, catching up on literature and trying to keep up with various assessments. I'm lucky enough to be getting a fairly decent stipend which covers all the costs of living and then some. The sad thing is, with my current qualifications etc, I could be earning more than twice what I am with half the hours. But that wouldn't be as much fun! And it's true, the competition on completing a PhD is pretty tough too, though it will vary depending on what field you work in. You do have the big bonus of a PhD looking incredible on the ol' CV. If you decide not to stick to academia, there are always plenty of positions where they'd be happy to take someone on with a PhD, (but anyway, you don't do a PhD for the money, you have to do it as part pf a passion for a subject )

I can try and help with any questions you have, though I'm aware the systems in the US and UK for PhD's are pretty different.

- Will

[LiquidMidnight]

Originally Posted by giantimi

yea, that sounds rough. I have already been accepted to a program and will probably go, but I'm starting to reconsider my recent purchase of a new bass ( I put it on layaway actually). Like it will be a sweet bass, but I really don't know how often I will be able to use it ( for gigs or personal enjoyment). When you were gigging during your Masters, was all your free time spent gigging?

Well, if you don't think you'll need the money for the bass for other things, like food and shelter, then I don't see any harm in getting the bass. It will still be there when you're done with your studies. I actually bought as a gift to myself a bass when I graduated college.

As far as my free time - I wouldn't call it "free time" when I was gigging, because it wasn't free time. It was a responsibility that I had just like any day gig. Most Saturdays were spent on stage. A good portion of Fridays were on stage, and a Sunday gig happened about every six weeks. Pacing is everything. One semester, I was working a 20 hour assistanceship, working another job that took about 10 hours a week, gigging, and carrying 15 credits. I paced myself pretty well. I got papers down at the beginning of the semester even if they weren't due until the end. I managed time well. I got a little burned out towards the last two weeks, but I managed pretty well. The hardest part was seeing my girlfriend. She lived two and a half hours away, and she's actually a faculty member; so her schedule was just as crazy as mine, only on the professor side of things rather than the student side. Of course, I haven't seen her for almost two months now while I'm off on an internship, though we will be meeting each other halfway this weekend to spend a few nights together at a hotel.

I can only speak for myself, but the time sacrifice was definitely worth it for graduate study. Of course, my bachelor's is in a field in which you're almost required to go to grad school if you want to do any meaningful work, so it was really a no-brainer about the question of graduate study.

[giantimi]

Originally Posted by LiquidMidnight

Well, if you don't think you'll need the money for the bass for other things, like food and shelter, then I don't see any harm in getting the bass. It will still be there when you're done with your studies. I actually bought as a gift to myself a bass when I graduated college.

As far as my free time - I wouldn't call it "free time" when I was gigging, because it wasn't free time. It was a responsibility that I had just like any day gig. Most Saturdays were spent on stage. A good portion of Fridays were on stage, and a Sunday gig happened about every six weeks. Pacing is everything. One semester, I was working a 20 hour assistanceship, working another job that took about 10 hours a week, gigging, and carrying 15 credits. I paced myself pretty well. I got papers down at the beginning of the semester even if they weren't due until the end. I managed time well. I got a little burned out towards the last two weeks, but I managed pretty well. The hardest part was seeing my girlfriend. She lived two and a half hours away, and she's actually a faculty member; so her schedule was just as crazy as mine, only on the professor side of things rather than the student side. Of course, I haven't seen her for almost two months now while I'm off on an internship, though we will be meeting each other halfway this weekend to spend a few nights together at a hotel.

I can only speak for myself, but the time sacrifice was definitely worth it for graduate study. Of course, my bachelor's is in a field in which you're almost required to go to grad school if you want to do any meaningful work, so it was really a no-brainer about the question of graduate study.

Well I have lucked out because I will have enough money to buy the bass and enough extra to carry me over in my transition from living at home with the parents to doing a phd. I was just worried if buying this bass was even worth it. I am going to do a phd in electrical engineering at an American university. When I went to visit the university, the grad students did mention their general lack of free time and social life. Fortunately I will be receiving internal funding ( tuition and stipend ) while I am there. But from the looks of it, I guess I'll have to give up bass for a while . Did the rest of you guys have to do that?

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I wouldnt give it up.

Do I play as much as I used to? No. But, IMO, you REALLY need to keep some interests outside of your studies, or you will go nuts, from personal experience anyways

[giantimi]

@i got a mohawk

How far are you in your phd?

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Still early on, currently just getting into writing up my 1st year appraisal.

But the learning curve and the difference between a PhD and a taught course, like an undergrad or masters degree is pretty phenomenal. Even had students working under me til a couple weeks back. Needed to train people up on things, been to quite a few conferences and whatnot, waiting to hear back about an abstract I submitted to a bit conference over here too. Also aiming to try and get a paper published after this 1st year appraisal is done and dusted

[Eric Perry]

I'm hoping to start mine in September. PhD in Counseling.

[giantimi]

I think I might hold off on bringing my bass gear for the first semester. Home won't be very far away so I can always get it later. But playing my bass might be a better use of my free time than going out to a bar , or doing anything that wastes money in general. Crap, I just realized how poor I am going to be.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Join one of the university sports clubs if you can aswell. Thats a good way to free up your mind a bit

[giantimi]

How was your first semester as a Phd student? Any surprises? Was the workload unforgiving?

[i_got_a_mohawk]

The first semester for me was pretty dull to be honest. A lot of administritive work, getting things organised, getting my office sorted and whatnot. Spent the first 3 months or so doing an extensive literature review.

I wouldn't say it is unforgiving. A lot of it comes down to what you are doing and who your supervisor is. Mine is great. I've got quite a lot of flexibility around my hours and whatnot. No problem cutting out in the middle of the day to spend an hour or so at the gym, as long as I get the work done, which often means staying later and whatnot. Dare say, only really see my supervisor once a week or once a fortnight (other than bumping into her in the corridor).

The biggest jump is more to do with you basically being left to your own devices, having to push yourself to get the work done, figure out what needs to be done and how to go about it etc.

[Eric Perry]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

The biggest jump is more to do with you basically being left to your own devices, having to push yourself to get the work done, figure out what needs to be done and how to go about it etc.

That's my biggest concern. In Grad school it was pretty much all me, but weekly meetings with advisors and faculty helped immensely in keeping me on top of my responsibilities and papers / projects due.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Originally Posted by Eric Perry

That's my biggest concern. In Grad school it was pretty much all me, but weekly meetings with advisors and faculty helped immensely in keeping me on top of my responsibilities and papers / projects due.

Again it comes down to supervisors to an extent. You generally aren't babied through any of it. Though you will get some that point you in the direction they want you to go, tell you what mini-projects to do and whatnot.

Also, I dare say it could come down to what field you work in. I only really have experiences in the hard sciences.