Hi all, I’m in my mid-50s and about to restart a PhD in Civil/Structural Engineering. I’ve completed two advisor interviews and need to decide within two weeks, but I’m stuck. Hoping to get some advice from those with PhD experience.

A bit about my situation:

I don’t need financial support (I qualify for tuition waivers, and my research aligns with my current job, which is very supportive of my education).

I will be a full-time employee while pursuing my PhD.

My biggest challenge is coursework and passing the qualification exam, as I’ve been in the industry for years and have forgotten a lot of theory and math.

I have extensive design and construction experience and hold a California PE/SE license.

I am particularly interested in new research areas in concrete structural engineering and already have some research ideas.

My two advisor options:

1. Well-known, reputable professor – Highly respected in the field, great personality, and very supportive. However:

His research area doesn’t fully align with mine.

His advising style is more hands-off—he expects students to study hard, figure things out on their own, and only provides help if you seek it and if he knows how to help.

He won’t fight for me if I run into issues with coursework or qualification exams.

2. Lesser-known professor in my exact research area – Can provide hands-on experimental research guidance, which is valuable. However:

He is hot-tempered, difficult with students, and very frugal—but I am older or similar in age, so I can stand my ground if needed.

He will transfer as much coursework as possible from my previous unfinished PhD, helping me complete coursework early so I can start research sooner.

He may fight for me during qualification exams and coursework if needed—not necessarily for my sake, but because I am free labor for his projects.

Both have agreed to support my research since I won’t require funding. My main concern is navigating coursework and the qualifying exam, which will be my biggest challenge.

I’m leaning toward an advisor who can help me through that stage, but I also wonder if a good advisor-student relationship and a professor’s reputation in the field are more critical in the long run.

For those who have gone through a PhD, what factors would you prioritize in my situation? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

I am planning on applying for a PhD soon to the US and I was wondering what do PhD students do the whole day. Especially for Finance and/or Social Sciences. Do they teach? (I am super shy and I would never stand in front of a class to teach), Do they do "research"? Help their advisors/professors to grade papers? Sit in an office watching sitcoms all day long? Are there any lectures?

I submitted a paper to a well known open access journal in the field of electrical engineering. Three reviewers were appointed and their reviews are as follows.

1. Reviewer 1 made general comments about the paper, nothing concrete. He essentially didn't point out any issues in the paper. Rather, he just said that the method should be compared with ten other methods, which are clearly outside the scope of the paper. He suggested coloring the paper with some other contributions such as AI or cybersecurity. On the grading scale, it looks like my paper is the worst paper he read in his life.
2. Reviewer 2 said that the core of the paper is already well established in the literature. He said that there are three core references the paper is based on that should be added, all of which are already cited in the paper.
3. Reviewer 3 was satisfied and just asked to add some intuitive explanations to a few equations.

I've discussed the comments with my colleagues, all of which were left baffled with the review, as they have read the paper. Should I write to the editor with point by point responses to the first two reviewer comments, or just submit the paper to another journal?

as the title says

Is there a legitimate, practical and academic reason why doctorate programmes in social sciences and humanities in America and Canada are on average 8 years, and anywhere else is like 4-5 years?

I ask because ultimately they all end up competing for the same jobs as phds. So it doesn’t seem to make much sense at first blush.

I am working on a PhD in the United States and it's been rough.

I decided to do an 180 and change research directions after obtaining my master's. I independently came to the conclusion that the project I was working on at the time wasn't good enough to use to obtain a PhD, mainly because I didn't think it through enough.

My chair allowed me to abandon the project to find a new research topic and research gap that my dissertation could address so I could then write my dissertation proposal. However, that was the beginning of a MAJOR rut. I was so stuck and kept going in circles; reading a few papers and thinking that I "found" it, but then shortly realizing that "it" was not actually "it". It was extremely painful because I was reading and jotting down ideas every day; I was working extremely. hard to get no where very quickly. It's like those memes where a man sits at a desk trying to write a winning novel, only to throw away the first and only page every day.

I am finally out of the rut and I am now about to work on the design of the study. I feel relieved but I also feel extremely despondent about it; I am depressed about how long I spent in that rut. I am watching a youtube video about someone else's experience being in a rut while working on their PhD -- there main take away that it's genuinely a part of the process but I think I am sad that I had to go through this process alone. I didn't know that I was in a rut until now and I wish I had sought psychological support about this part of the process.

I didn't feel like I could reach out to my advisor because they don't like discussing ideas -- they like to only discuss final products (in this case, a whole proposal describing the rational of what you want to study and why); so I was always too afraid to ask them for guidance because I could feel their frustration even when they tried to hide it. Even another lab mate CALLED me to essentially tell me "woah, she kinda turned you down when you asked for a meeting"

I know I am going to experience future ruts while completing the PhD, so I am curious about other people's experience about being in a rut -- how do you/did you feel about the experience and how do you/did you manage it? Did you advisor provide any type of support when you were stuck?

I came across this post in r/Professors. Obviously it's anecdotal and selection bias, so not a random sample. But it seems a number of academic departments are still struggling to fill their TT positions. Most of the commenters were from a business or CS program, where they have to compete with high-paying industry jobs for applicants. But some of them even mentioned being in biology or social sciences. This all in the face of the looming enrollment cliff.

I've heard that the TT job market is really competitive and just outright brutal sometimes. But if that's the case, why are some schools still unable to find candidates?

[US] Just started my second semester in a PhD program that I am really found of. My PI is one of my favorite people I have had the pleasure of working with and does a fantastic job supporting me, especially considering I am his first PhD student. I live for my area of study (non-STEM, let’s call it business-adjacent) and have great relationships with those in my department. First semester was certainly an adjustment in terms of time management and teaching for the first time and while it was a lot, I genuinely am pretty happy in my role. That being said, with the current happenings in the US (exacerbated by my existence in a red state), I feel increasingly like I want to leave the country. I have always wanted to experience a different culture, but feel like with everything going on, I should take some steps towards actually making it happen. My program is typically 3 years although I have an option for a 4th and the walls feel like they have been closing in the last few days, I have no clue if I am actually going to make it. My wife missed out on foreign citizenship due to a paperwork technicality when she was born, so neither of us have direct routes abroad at this point. It seems like my options are (1) stick it out, maybe don’t die, reevaluate in 1.5 years, (2) find some path to the UK/Ireland/Canada using my masters and ditching my PhD entirely, or (3) trying to transfer to a program abroad? My discipline is not tiny, but a good bit more popular in the US than elsewhere. Man I don’t know what to do and it hurts. I just want to be happy with my program, wife, and dog but I feel so panicked. I’ve spent the last 3 days perpetually feeling like I am going to throw up from the stress around me. Fuck. I really appreciate whoever reads this.

I already have a great career as a teacher/ dual credit teacher and military member (now currently U.S. Air Force Reserves). Why am I getting this? One for the love of research and 2 because it makes me so happy. I know what’s expected, and it’ll be okay. That’s all 🙂. Stay motivated guys 🙌

These STEM projects in Sweden are very similar and skills and background align with all three of them. Do you think it's okay to apply to them or is it some sort of a red flag in a candidate who applied to more than one project?

Hello, everyone. I want to have a great writing skills even before writing my own articles. Writing a copy of nice article is a good idea?

Anyway, it was a beautiful second semester. Time to head back to work.

Looking to either pursue an MPhil or PhD direct entry from a Canadian institution. I’m in second year, have a 3.7 GPA and would be pursuing graduate studies in English.

Would it be worth taking grad courses as an undergrad for PhD direct entry? Or should I try to secure an internship instead? Nearly all research positions in English are reserved for graduate students so I’m not sure how to get in.

I worked as a developer for six years and have a master’s in computer science. Thinking about going to Canada on a working holiday to get some job experience there.

Seems like most people recommend Canada… There’s probably a reason so many Indians are there.

Getting my period every two weeks, my personality’s a mess, and now I’ve lost all my real female friends—except for the guys who just like my looks.

Feels like I’ve lost touch with reality, just chasing dreams like an idiot. Self-loathing kicking in… and I’m getting poorer by the day.

I’ve been interested in one particular lab for about a year now, and reached out to the PI in the fall. Since then, we’ve had a few unofficial meetings to discuss mutual interests and current research to see if their lab would be a good match, and everything went well. My official meeting is this week with the PI, another member of the lab, and a third person from another lab.

Do you have any tips or advice to give? I used to be confident in public speaking but I’m worried that I’ll be too nervous to sell myself well.

Edit: based in UK

I'm doing a masters in molecular biology right now. I'm 50/50 on whether I want to do a PhD or not afterwards. After this masters I will have very little savings and I am getting sick of living life scrimping and saving and not being able to afford anything. I'm 25 and have a long term partner who I would very much like to get married to, buy a house and have kids with. It feels unfair to her to put all that on hold so I can do a PhD. Is it at all realistic to pursue these goals while also doing a PhD?

I wish I could live two lives, one where I enter the work force and one where I do a PhD and work in research. Obviously I can't do that.

Edit: For context I live in a relatively affordable part of the UK.

I’m planning to apply to around 1,000 jobs and go to whichever foreign company hires me.

I’ll just finish with a master’s in computer science.

I am currently a senior at the University of Tokyo in Japan. I am considering pursuing a PhD program in the United States, both to conduct research and to acquire new technological skills.
My ultimate goal is not to secure a high-level academic position but rather to establish a startup based on my research. At my current university, I am unable to explore the areas that interest me most, so I feel I lack sufficient expertise to start my own company. However, some universities in the U.S. offer laboratories that align more closely with my research interests, which is why I am thinking of continuing my studies there.

I am also hoping to connect with potential partners who could help me launch a business.

One concern I have is whether I could take a year-long leave of absence from a PhD program to focus on founding a start-up as an international student.

Would the U.S. government and the university permit such an arrangement? Additionally, how would this affect my visa status if I were on leave from my PhD program?

Additionally, from a cultural perspective, is it generally acceptable in the United States to take a year off from a PhD program in order to found a startup, especially as an international student?

If anyone has experience with or knowledge of this situation, I would greatly appreciate your advice.

Thank you in advance.

PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THIS A POLITICAL THING

I am graduating soon with a B.S. in Chemistry. I have research experience in analytical chemistry and organic synthesis, will be published by graduating, but want to skip going for master's and get a PhD.

The issue is, I'm a woman and the U.S. federal government is freezing NSF, NIH, and other STEM funding and is threatening to cancel anything they consider DEI.

So I need advice:

Should I apply here in the U.S. or should I start looking into programs in Europe? I speak 3 languages currently and would be open to integrating into a new culture and learning a new language so I am open to outside of the U.S. and Europe as well.

Thank you!

I’m American and I’d like to spend the next few years studying in Germany particularly but I’m open to other options in Western Europe. I have a life science undergrad and a tech related masters. I’ve been thinking about taking a few bioinformatics related masters classes, maybe obtain a masters level certification. I don’t have any research experience though, but I’ve worked in pharma for a few years. Do I stand a chance at getting into a PhD program over there? Any recommendations?

I grew up in the countryside, mostly playing with a few neighborhood friends. I first realized my social awkwardness in kindergarten when I preferred playing alone, worrying my teacher.

In elementary school, I had a couple of friends but barely spoke for a year or two. Coming from a poor family, I never had formal training but was good at drawing and focused well, so my grades were high. I wasn’t disliked, just the quiet otaku kid who occasionally drew for others.

In middle school, I started making friends through academic competition, feeling social fulfillment for the first time. High school was full of smart, hardworking students, so I stayed quiet again but made a few friends. Eventually, I got into a decent university in Seoul.

College was full of volunteer work and AI research, but I barely spoke in my department. Later, I worked briefly in the U.S., which led to a job at a big Korean company. I was social at first but soon became silent again.

Then schizophrenia hit. I had a breakdown at work—screaming, cursing, and needing police intervention. Not long after, I jumped from 12 meters.

Thanks to Korea’s strong healthcare system, I recovered almost fully. Now, I’m doing fine.

Still, thanks to the good image I built afterward, I managed to get into a great company and a PhD program. But almost every day, I think about wanting to disappear.

A few friends in the U.S. want to help me, so l'm considering staying there for a while. I just want to quit everything.

My arms, legs, pelvis, and face-pieced back together after breaking-look normal on the outside, but inside, I'm a mess. The fear of social stigma keeps me pretending everything's fine, and honestly, as long as I act normal, no one seems to notice.

This might just be a social trend, but it feels like everyone wants to leave their home country.

Is it kinda like how people in big companies say, “Don’t join our company,” and grad students say, “Don’t go to grad school”?

Don't know what I would do without my Mom.

I work as a RA in a UK university (a top 10 uni) and applied for a PHD after encouragement from my colleagues. I just got an offer from the school and a full scholarship for 4 years.

However, I’m unsure if I want to pursue one. Academia gives me a lot of anxiety as growing up I wasn’t not one of those typically smart kids! I was one those who bunked school to hang out with friends.

I’m wondering if doing a PhD will be a bad choice and it would add to my anxiety. Also, that in the future that people will find out that I didn’t belong in the first place.

Any advice is welcome.

Update: it will be in social science and I don’t intend on staying in academia. I would like to move to policy and advocacy after this. A PhD is not a must, but would really help when working in the Global South. In addition, it will also be something for me.

Ah… kinda feels like I messed up. Back then, quitting a job or leaving to study something I actually wanted seemed so cool. Way better than being stuck in some corner of Seoul, commuting back and forth.

Maybe I just hate getting older, or maybe it’s something else—I don’t even know. It’s late at night, and here I am, overthinking… turning into the kind of 30-something woman I used to dislike.

That self-loathing feeling is creeping in.

Hello, I’m currently in a biomedical masters program and am looking to do my PhD in reproductive health specifically studying stillbirth/miscarriages. I’ve look at the Edinburgh option but does anyone have a suggestion I haven’t seen on the East coast?

Thanks for the help!

I’m a Hispanic trans guy in the U.S. (currently at a R1 in California) about to enter my last year of undergrad. With everything going on politically, I’m going to apply to some PhD programs out of the U.S. in addition to schools in blue states. What countries/universities would be a good idea to start looking into (with consideration for local politics)? I’m going into ecology and evolutionary bio