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Today I would like to introduce you all to a cause very near and dear to my heart: We Should All Be More Supportive and Helpful to PhD Students Thinking about Leaving Without Their PhD. 1/11
There are many reasons a PhD student may want to stop pursuing a PhD: toxic lab environments, a bad advisor, their financial situation. Or, they simply thought they wanted to get a PhD/do research and then realized they didn’t. 2/11
I very seriously considered leaving my program on many occasions and for many different reasons, some listed above, throughout my PhD. Every time, it caused so much stress that I backed off of the idea. 3/11
The majority of PhD students are emotionally and financially stressed – it’s really hard to know whether you’re making a good decision, especially such a big life decision, when you’re in that headspace. 4/11
There are many different reactions you may receive when you say you want to leave your program. Being surrounded by academics, the vast majority of the reactions are confusion - “but what will you do instead…?” – like having only a masters/bachelors is a huge failure. 5/11
It’s hard to know what feedback you can trust. Advisors want you to stay - you’re an investment. Labmates want you to stay - they’re your friends and don’t want you to leave. Your family/friends want you to stay because they worry you’ll regret the decision later. 6/11
I was met with limited support every time I thought about leaving. Most conversations were me defending my reasoning for wanting to leave to others, and them saying “But you’re so close! Just stay strong”. But would it be worth it?? Who knows. 7/11
Sometimes, we all get wrapped up in the excitement of titles/accomplishments that we forget there ARE valid reasons to not finish a PhD! Nobody ever said these words to me. Leaving your PhD program should NOT be viewed as a failure. It can be a good career decision. 8/11
So, if a Sad Grad Student ever comes to you saying they want to leave their program – don’t brush it off like they are just having a bad day! Don’t stare at them wide eyed like they have a disease you might catch if you listen to them talk about it! 9/11
Instead, treat their concerns like they are valid and help them! List the cons AND pros of leaving, push them to seek out resources, connect them to someone you know who doesn’t have a PhD and does something they are interested in. 10/11
Getting a PhD is not for everybody, and we all know it. Sometimes people just don’t figure this out until they already are pursuing one ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. -end rant-/11
