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Phd students
- Thread starter giantimi
- Start date
I am in a PhD program. I'm 8 weeks away from completing the didactic. I am in the processing of filing my dissertation, and I'm interviewing for my final, pre-doctoral internship right now as well. By April of 2011, I will have completed all the requirements and have the degree.
Good luck!
Thank you. It's been a long and exhausting road, but eminently worth it.
I finished in 2006. Why the hell would starting your degree make you quit bass? You won't have as much money for new gear, of course, but assuming you already have your stuff, don't get rid of it! The fact is that while grad school takes a lot of time, it is mostly your discretion when to put that time in -- you're not punching any clocks. If playing is important to you, you'll always be able to find a little practice time, and it will help you keep fresh when studies grind you down (as they will at times). Also, if you're able to gig out while in school, that's some much-needed pocket money.
Were you able to gig during your PhD? That would seem pretty hard, given that there will be hardly enough time to even to practice. I think I will keep my gear. I spent a lot of money getting it.
I will be starting next year, given that my grades this year are high enough. I'm looking forward to it.
I've gigged during my program. It's fun, it's a great release, and it's a good source of income.
My playing and practice time, however, was definitely affected. I've worked 16 hours a week, done consultation gigs, have been rigorous in my studies, and am completely a dissertation that will be turned into a book, (in a highly impacted field), so I've definitely been busy. I still play and make sure to make time for it, (self care is incredibly important), but I absolutely have not had the time I had before the program. But then again, it's a P-h-freakin'-D. They don't hand those things out for free. They're earned, and they're earned with hard and dedication. Sure, you balance it with as much of a personal life as you can, but there are sacrifices. At least, there were the way I did it.
My playing and practice time, however, was definitely affected. I've worked 16 hours a week, done consultation gigs, have been rigorous in my studies, and am completely a dissertation that will be turned into a book, (in a highly impacted field), so I've definitely been busy. I still play and make sure to make time for it, (self care is incredibly important), but I absolutely have not had the time I had before the program. But then again, it's a P-h-freakin'-D. They don't hand those things out for free. They're earned, and they're earned with hard and dedication. Sure, you balance it with as much of a personal life as you can, but there are sacrifices. At least, there were the way I did it.
Jazzbo, I know we talked a few years back about our education, but I was wondering where you're going for your PhD.
Yea, makes sense lol. I will have to make some sacrifices, but I don't want to give up playing the bass. Playing the bass has always been a blessing. I would even be content if all I did was noodle in my free time.
Is anyone here doing a Phd in engineering or a hard science? If so, which field? I am going to do a Phd in electrical engineering.
I gigged while in grad school in physics. Granted, I didn't belong to a rock band that practiced three nights a week, but that's hard for anybody to sustain after they get a professional career, family, etc.
Instead, I adapted my musical interests to match what was possible. For a couple years I just practiced at home. Then I played with the university symphony and some other organized groups that had manageable rehearsal and concert schedules. During my last couple years, I played gigs in town as a hired gun, keeping a tight limit on how often I played.
I was in grad school myself, albeit almost 20 years ago. But I am still pretty close to the academic scene, living in a university town with a spouse who is an academic. Workloads of 70-80 hours for grad students seems a bit far fetched. That might be necessary at certain times, and I worked those hours when I needed to crunch. But grad students manage to have social lives, get married, etc.
Instead, I adapted my musical interests to match what was possible. For a couple years I just practiced at home. Then I played with the university symphony and some other organized groups that had manageable rehearsal and concert schedules. During my last couple years, I played gigs in town as a hired gun, keeping a tight limit on how often I played.
I was in grad school myself, albeit almost 20 years ago. But I am still pretty close to the academic scene, living in a university town with a spouse who is an academic. Workloads of 70-80 hours for grad students seems a bit far fetched. That might be necessary at certain times, and I worked those hours when I needed to crunch. But grad students manage to have social lives, get married, etc.
Bizzerkely.
I've never been a gearhead. I have a 4 string fretted, a 5 string fretless, and an upright. I have a practice amp and a gigging rig. I have two cables and a gig bag. That's pretty much all I need. I will upgrade my upright one day, but other than that, I've never been into gear.
Financially though, it's been nickle-and-dime since I started the program. Had I been into gear, I wouldn't have been able to purchase much.
Same with me.
I've done lots of subbing and open mics. Also, I have a network of cats that I can ring up if I am really jonesing for a gig. No regular band, but I play when I play.
I would definitely agree. I've worked hard, very hard, maybe more so than many of my peers; but, I still do brunch, travel, have a rewarding relationship, exercise, and see my friends and family. Make no mistake, I'm busy. But, you find a way. Now, granted, I did work part time while doing a full time PhD and regular internships, so to be honest, my weeks have been regularly at 80+, but this isn't a Master's. Here's the breakdown:
- 20 Hrs - Coursework. This is an average. It varied. I took a lot of classes.
- 24 Hrs - Practicum Work.
- 16 Hrs - Waiting Tables
- 8 Hrs - Private I/O consultation to two local businesses.
- 20 Hrs - Study time, dissertation, extracurricular university programs (including committees and associations), administrative duties (practicum/internship applications, financial aid affairs, etc.)
- + Commute
This has basically been my schedule for the last 3 years. But, it was 3 years. I am officially a candidate, the dissertation is basically done, I've completed internship interviews and applications, and starting July 1, my schedule will be much lighter. It will look like this for two years:
- 40 Hrs - Internship
- 10 Hrs - Private Practice
Good luck with the internship! I certainly couldn't see me squeezing in that many hours of classes! Right now I've only for 4 hours of classes a week, don't think I could spend more time than that outside the lab!
Jazzbo, you talk about a book, are you talking just of your final thesis, or are you working on a book separate from that? (being that all successful final thesis's are hardbound and full book size!)
Jazzbo, you talk about a book, are you talking just of your final thesis, or are you working on a book separate from that? (being that all successful final thesis's are hardbound and full book size!)
The dissertation will be the dissertation, and then my chair and I are going to shop it for a book. He's well published and on the editing board of a popular journal, so he has some connection, and I feel that the topic has real merits as a book, so it will be a dissertation, then it will hopefully be expanded into book form.
I got my B.S. im Management and my M.B.A. both while being a full time employee, part time student, part time musician, and a full time single father. Quite a load of work and responsibility and I maintained extremely good grades. Eventually, I had to sacrifice the band work for a while to concentrate and finish everything and raise my kids.
After I got my M.B.A. and my kids were teenagers, I got back into a band and then lost my job through downsizing and I was 45 years old. Having an M.B.A. in this region means I am way over qualified and I can't even get an interview let alone a job offer. My band helps me pay my bills.
Back in 2002, I inquired about starting the Ph.d. in Management programs at Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh. I met the criteria but the options were not enticing since it was either pay for the 4 year program out of pocket or sign on a full time graduate assistant. Even though there was a very small salary and the tuition was paid for, it meant I would have to live in Pittsburgh or commute 2 hours each way (4 hours total) each day, give up playing again, and be even way more over qualified for a job. Therefore, I decided not to do it.
After I got my M.B.A. and my kids were teenagers, I got back into a band and then lost my job through downsizing and I was 45 years old. Having an M.B.A. in this region means I am way over qualified and I can't even get an interview let alone a job offer. My band helps me pay my bills.
Back in 2002, I inquired about starting the Ph.d. in Management programs at Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh. I met the criteria but the options were not enticing since it was either pay for the 4 year program out of pocket or sign on a full time graduate assistant. Even though there was a very small salary and the tuition was paid for, it meant I would have to live in Pittsburgh or commute 2 hours each way (4 hours total) each day, give up playing again, and be even way more over qualified for a job. Therefore, I decided not to do it.
Well, now that's a workload. Hats off to you for doing it. I guess that I was fortunate in some sense that I had a research assistantship in my advisor's lab, so I got paid to do my dissertation. Also, there wasn't much overlap between coursework and diss research in physics. Coursework was a solid 2 years, then they cut you loose to do your diss. And that took a lot longer than I had hoped, because my first project was a failure.
Now you talk about practicum and internship. Are you in a clinical field?
physics, berkeley. nearly done with my second year. i'm on here because it's spring break. 
looking forward to not taking classes for a while.
looking forward to not taking classes for a while.
