Could you complete a PhD? The 3 attributes you need!

[@NicholasDayPhD]

I would also put the completion of my PhD down to these factors! Perseverance through the disappointments and setbacks (self-belief helps; knowing that you have the potential) and consistent daily habits (not perfect; but trying to get the best out of a day) enabled me to finish my thesis. Great recommendations, Andy!

[@PhDCoffeeTime]

If you get out of a PhD feeling as motivated as if you just started grad school, you're a successful PhD :) PhD program requires one's ability to rediscover the joy of reading, writing, researching, and work most of the time ALONE! So I guess if you are introverted (people who thrive in the lockdown!), PhD is a wonderful period when you get the space and time to think deeply about a subject and perform independent work. Discipline is so important, I couldn't agree more! Congrats on passing 16k subs, Andy! Keep making PhD more manageable with your thoughtful video/newsletter/resources!

[@DrAndyStapleton]

Thank you, PhDCoffeeTime! Completely agree with you!

[@ColinPaterson295]

You are right that much of the work is alone, but I also spent a LOT of time during my PhD discussing my ideas with others. I finished with a PhD which I enjoyed and a good number of friends who I still collaborate with. There are also many PhD programs starting now which accept a cohort of PhD students with an expectation that they will work along side each other, whilst studying related problems (e.g. AI in healthcare) this means that where overlap exists you can learn together. I personally think this is great for those who fear the perceived isolation of PhD study.

[@sirmclovin9184]

Actual research shows that introverted people are having more trouble with the lockdown than extroverted ones.

[@ronwilliams4184]

@@sirmclovin9184 when you say 'actual research'' nobody asked me, an actual introvert. I love the spacing and lack of contact.

[@sirmclovin9184]

@@ronwilliams4184 Don't generalize to other people. These are overall trends.

[@Secret_Troilus]

I’m not a PhD student, but I am in a program to earn a Master of Letters/MFA in Shakespeare and Performance. When you mentioned building one’s thesis brick by brick that really resonated with me because I’m currently working on my MLitt thesis and i gave myself a daily research goal. It has been extremely helpful to do research every day (even if its just a little) going into the last year of my MLitt. My supervisors say ”no work is ever wasted” and “any writing is still writing”

[@sirmclovin9184]

I loved that one "they enjoy the literature review, if they're in another discipline [than STEM]"; I'm in STEM, and it's so true!

[@cameronbaird5658]

The third attribute, "putting theory into practice," is EXACTLY how my lab mate functions. I would like to be more like him as my PhD continues...I am a first year student and getting a lot of ideas from your videos :)

[@emulus4000]

I'm going to have a pre-PhD chat tomorrow with a former tutor (she was also one of my undergraduate dissertation supervisors). I've since completed a Masters which had a module entitled Research Practice. I won't say it explained everything fully but I think it was a good start and the research element is what I really enjoy. Learning new stuff excites me. Anyway, my former tutor contacted me directly to see if I was interested in doing a PhD. I've always been interested in doing one, but I've heard a lot of horror stories about PhD students being taken advantaged of, especially in terms of teaching. I'm hoping to put some of those fears to bed tomorrow. Andy has been helping me with these videos, so thanks for that Andy

[@johnraycotino1311]

I've been a silent viewer of your videos and I learned the importance of preparing for PhD. It is indeed the highest degree that you could possibly reach and it is not an easy journey as what they thought. I just graduated this year with my Master's here in the Philippines, and I think I need more time to contemplate in pursuing PhD. Definitely I will start my PhD in the right time.

[@DataProfessor]

Great tips and Congrats Andy on 16K! I agree that the joy of doing something no one has done before and also playing with new algorithms or new technology and its application to research is also really fun.

[@krisanthonysilveira8244]

I lack the activation energy to learn R :( Its a very depressing cycle. But learning to cope with it day by day.

[@SamirWise]

I learnt the R basics with "swirl" when I absolutely couldn't be bothered otherwise. Give it a go :)

[@krisanthonysilveira8244]

@@SamirWise I am definitely going give this a shot. Hoping to break through bRickwall soon 😂. Thanks a lot tho

[@DataProfessor]

When I first started out learning to code (from a biology background) I find it more engaging to use the research problem at hand as the source of motivation that I set out to tackle. Then I would find resources available online (book chapters, tutorials, youtube, blogs, etc.) to help solve this problem. When you can successfully apply R to solve a small task of your research, the joy that follows may help to add extra activation energy to want to use it more.

[@krisanthonysilveira8244]

@@DataProfessor Woaaah !!

[@arianvc8239]

Try Python. R can be unfriendly sometimes.

[@anazajec41]

Thank you! This video came up just at the right time for me. It's really nice to know this gap you talk about is a real thing and it is not just me who experiences it. Sometimes this state of being just thrown into research without really knowing how to approach it can be really overwhelming, and it is comforting to know it's not my fault not knowing how to do research and that I'm not alone in feeling this. 🥰

[@iroulis]

Lead with #2, and you won't have to worry about #1 and #3. Make sure you LOVE what you're doing. It shows, and in reality; that is the only thing you can control.

[@Spaski1234]

Could not agree more Andy. Well done on more great and real world insights. Success is the multiplicity of recovered failures.

[@thetiffingpoints]

"Failure is not fatal". Thank you for this. I'm not going to let this failure have power over me.

[@jimibhatt4945]

Thank you for this 🙏

[@bu4459]

Found your channel, thanks to KZbin algorithm... Great content, enjoyable listen and, magnificent beard; subscribed. See you in the next video! -Billie

[@LuckySunbear]

Thanks, Andy. Keep up the good work!

[@rashayellow560]

I’m really bad at doing my own research but really good at helping a supervisor do research. I think that means a phd isn’t really for me. Right now I’m doing my masters thesis and I’m dying - it’s making me so depressed and it’s a huge struggle. I can’t explain how I like doing other peoples research tasks (like being given a task to do) but struggle so much with my own papers and thesis - so I don’t think an academic life and a phd are for me. I’m upset at myself to be honest - like I hate doing my own research but like being given a research task to do for like a project

[@SheridenGoldie]

in the process of developing my project for a PhD (in the lead up to applying/developing a proposal) - your thoughts on the gap between learning and doing really struck me. That learning-doing gap really addresses the biggest struggle I had during my research masters - and it really helps me frame the gap in knowledge that I want to address in my PhD in a way. I'm applying for a Creative Writing PhD, and I'm really interested in the gap between learning the craft and techniques through to the implementation and completion of creative projects - so in short Thank You!

[@janakidevi9177]

Teach me also Sheriden

[@immaculatelum5102]

Thanks for the advice

[@C3yl0]

Summarized in a quote: “I know that I know nothing.” ~ Plato 😒🥺🥺😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@kenaddoh4693]

Great advice!

[@nicky_bee]

This is so helpful!

[@Stevo5397]

Hey Andy, I wanted to mention that the undergraduate program (in Canada) I went through had an optional research component where we could explore an independent project for 8 months. During my MSc at a different university (in Canada as well) it looked like the same optional research opportunities were offered to undergraduates. Is this different from what you have experienced elsewhere? Perhaps it may be helpful for other people if you did a video directed toward considering international studies and what people should consider (based on your experience) when making their decisions. Overall great video and I love your work on this channel since it has personally helped me a great amount during my MSc and will continue to benefit me in my PhD which I start in Sept.

[@reyhanehosseinzade1838]

I would love to see some ideas on how to decide on the dissertation topic. I have so many ideas and no clue how to pursue them!

[@rhodium8159]

1) Read articles reviews and try to find a gap that no researchers doing in it 2) Based on these research gaps you found, you can decided which one is more you like which is more beneficial for the world 🌎 for the environment 3) which one is more realistic and you can finish it on suitable time because if you stay long time on PhD program you will be less motivated Good luck for your PhD journey

[@edwinaabam3305]

Execution is the main deal. True!

[@holawatkins7673]

Having watched this. Video my inner power ignites so strongly.I Broadly speaking 🔊 all these components described fit into my Space X elements ready to be lifted the ground. I I have over 25 years of experience in Management, contributed to Governance and Policies Published. I desire to convert my work to the PhD or just do a year to perfect the and continue to Fellowship. What's your take on this move

[@a.a.dagestani7620]

long time and I'm trying to learn stata but still feel I'm not doing it the right way

[@wenhui5921]

It seems that I would definitely be able to succeed my PhD 😂😂😂 fingers crossed

[@michaellilly2550]

Do these three elements work the same for PhDs in the Humanities/Arts as well as for the hard and social sciences, or is there a significant difference in the third element between the Arts and the Positive Sciences?

[@billrichards2952]

Where to sign up for the newsletter? I have just started a part-time PhD

[@DrAndyStapleton]

andrewstapleton.com.au/newsletter

[@janakidevi9177]

@@DrAndyStapleton Janaki devi

[@perseoeridano4182]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@bjrnhjortshjandersen1286]

I totally recognize....😂

[@casuallistening2389]

Hey Andy. I had given my email and subscribed to your newsletter, but didn't receive your mail. It isn't in the spam folder either.

[@fp6656]

Thank you for this video! I'm still deciding if a PhD is something I want to pursue. Would you say a masters project gives a good idea of what a PhD would be like? I'm getting an MChem degree in a couple of months and I liked my project a lot, so if its anything like what I have been doing this year, this might be a good route to take.

[@turtlesonpancakes]

Hi friend! Just chiming in with my thought(s) on your comment. By no means am I an expert, but I am a current PhD student. If your current master's program is thesis-based, then I would say your program will give you a pretty decent idea of what a PhD would be like! If you love research and are familiar with, or at least comfortable with, independent research (i.e. having someone give you feedback on your ideas and projects rather than giving you step-by-step instructions and helping you carryout each experiment), then I think a PhD would be a great option for you! Having a masters in general, either course-based or thesis-based, I think makes you, as a student, more mature and capable of handling the PhD coursework and research. I earned my masters before entering my PhD program and I think it really helped bridge the gap between undergrad - professional student lol. My mentor actually said they prefer students with a masters just because they are more mature and confident in their work. Best of luck!!

[@Matlockization]

And finally, the 4th attribute is the greater the beard the greater chance you have of achieving a PhD. As you move your mouth its like your beard is starched moving in sync. Almost as if your beard is an organism. A brown organism.