What PhD students find out too late [Top mistakes]

[@vans4lyf2013]

You're spot on, most of the scientists in academia are very methodical and have a lot of self-discipline, that's the biggest predictor of success rather than inspiration.

[@notequalto5179]

Reminds me of some really tough classes I took. Lots of people ended up doing really poorly on their grades. The biggest 2 things I did differently: ask a lot of questions, and show up to class every time.

[@DirkaDirka-n9j]

Agree. The successful ones are very self-disciplined.

[@lee403]

I started doing this (making weekly powerpoints of what I did or read) independently this semester and essentially told my advisor that I'm taking control of my education, I'm sendimg you either an update every week or we are having a weekly meeting (or I have a meeting with another faculty /postdoc) to get advice on my progress, ask the questions I need to progress the next week, get feedback on figures whatever. I figured this out on my own because my advisor said to me 'a lot of students don't like having weekly meetings'. we'll thats on them. I understand thats a drag but I feel like it keeps you on track.

[@papa_pt]

good on ya

[@kennettearboiz5844]

I'm currently a master's student now. Honestly, I find your content so beneficial. Thanks, man.

[@DivineRedwood]

100% The complete and utter lack of guidance took me completely off guard. I was expecting weekly meetings and reviews. I had to fight for every encounter and most of those talks went nowhere, because they showed zero interest in what I was doing.

[@UtenaXenite]

Finished my Cell Biology PhD 9 years ago and have mentored many graduate students since. This advice is absolutely spot on. Definitely going to send it to some of my mentees!

[@rajlal2384]

The last point was spot on. Once I figured out all the PhD advisor is a letter of recommendation - the whole experience became so much better. Another suggestion, most academics have so much on their plate they generally can only remember the last week's update. The single most important thing dealing with a boss is get as far ahead of them as you can. Show 1 or 2 updates each week. I did a postdoc where at one point i was 2 months ahead of where my advisor thought I was. Meant i was vacationing ~quarter of the entire position

[@drshell2]

There should be a website like glassdoor for supervisors where you can see their ratings. Current or past PhD students can rate their university program and supervisor on that website.

[@lucforand8527]

Persistence and hard work. The further you go, the more effort it takes. Keep your goal in mind and work for it. It is your goal not that of your supervisor, your parents or anyone else.

[@simonebrioschi6822]

I'm forwarding this video to my students... they can find here better advises than I could give them... maybe I'm too busy... or maybe I'm just a bad supervisor and I should have followed this channel before getting a postdoc position.

[@DrAndyStapleton]

Thanks for sharing, Simone. I'm sure you are not a bad supervisor if you care enough to share this info with them.

[@simonebrioschi6822]

@@DrAndyStapleton thanks! I know it might sound off topic... but would you like to make a video for postdocs to outline the mandatory steps to build their future? Some postdocs can feel very lost as well.

[@DrAndyStapleton]

I'd love to help out! I'll add it to my video list.

[@radiant92023]

Thanks🙏

[@spinebuster9490]

Dr Stapleton your passion for academia always shows. I think you will return to academia some day. Great video.

[@sheika_mc]

Such amazing advice (as always!) these were all things that I did and decided to make changes but this is comforting to know even after the fact

[@kevinmarrs3372]

I’m currently a PhD student in chemical engineering at university of Toronto. Nice to see my school represented here

[@mogosdebesh7956]

I don't know how to explain you. Always I get a new idea when I watch your video. I hope others feels the same. Thank you very much Andy.

[@simpublic89]

The idea to keep notes as powerpoint slides is BRILLIANT, thanks for making the content you make!!

[@MusangKing-b3o]

A PhD in basic science makes you have the license to practice science. A University scientist/researcher/academia/professor is just a special extension of Government employees. If the "Government" wants you, you will be hired to start as an assistant professor. Then all these factors will dictate your research and academic career for the remaining of your life: number of publications, citations, impact factor and government research grants.

[@archaeoem656]

Wow - this video really came at the right time for me! Thanks Andy, excellent advice, I particularly like your thoughts on personal accountability and not waiting for that flash of inspiration.

[@Chompchompyerded]

From a professor emerita of Cambridge, I must say this man is spot on.

[@Huffman_Tree]

Love the lack of intros on this channel. Just dive right into the first point. Very refreshing.

[@RSA0209]

Can you make a video of your fortnightly presentation? I think it would be a very beneficial tool for most of us!

[@cheikhdiop7223]

Your content is so motivated... 👌

[@sahakoi]

Thank you so much for making these videos! Can we have a video on effective note taking?

[@Majid-Maleki]

Your points are extremely important. Thank you so much!

[@marohs5606]

Your content is very important and helpful... thank you so much

[@ZaksLab]

07:32 haha, I thought about the future career so early on that I pulled the ripcord at the masters degree and got into the career I wanted (admittedly with a lot of luck) .

[@gregoriusrafael8001]

Dr Stapleton, it seems that I am going to do a PhD and this is something important to know beforehand rather than being too late 😊

[@flaguser4196]

what your supervisor frequently claims to be difficult may not actually be and is just a matter of actually trying. and then if you are able to do it, your supervisor will have another achievement to brag on his name, so be careful.

[@victormurphy3511]

So I watch your videos and god they are so informative. Especially over the last few months. Although I am still struggling to get the PhD program.

[@NanningPunk2025]

This fortnightly PowerPoint is a dope idea!

[@tiffingpoints]

Very insightful! Thank you sir!

[@andrewm852]

Note taking: Readcube Paper's changed my life for managing the hundreds of papers in my archive! I'm not sure if you've covered it in your videos but I use it every day now.

[@KakashiBallZ]

That is the most majestic beard I have ever seen.

[@OntologyofValue]

I can’t agree more with these points! If I could turn back time, I would also take the statistics and chances for success in academia into account and plan to the strategy for my PhD way ahead. Namely, I would treat PhD as the last stage of my education process and focus on building and honing a number of strategic skills rather than publications. BTW I didn't know that Andy was studying at Flinders Uni! @DrAndyStapleton + @TaraBrabazon on one panel would be a great discussion!

[@Mathemagical55]

Doing the same thing every day is doubtless very important for an elite athlete in training but it's a very bad model for intensive brainwork. Having a day off when you feel like it is a perk of being a PhD student and won't harm your progress in the slightest.

[@ayodejimatuluko]

Insightful advice. Thanks for sharing!

[@larissacury7714]

Thanks!

[@PaulGaither]

0:22 - missed opportunity to use the term "accoutabilabuddy"

[@davidwilkie9551]

If you have respect for the genius we have in common, the academic system is "designed to fail", meaning that all supposition is required to be tested in the fires of criticism, (or critique, if you have responsibility for the teaching and learning techniques ongoing). What is the history of Doctoral Candidacy, and why has is continued if not because it is how culture is continued that matters most. Ie according to the innate "genius" of Gold-Silver Rule Mathematical Disproof Methodology.

[@BuJammy]

"The networking that you should have begun doing in your third and fourth years is going to take a long time to catch up on"

[@MoneyR8]

3:14 this is key

[@zodd0001]

My supervisor exactly get angry because I did by my own not staying there asking continously for help.

[@asmasiddiqi1]

Supervisors should be accountable to PhD candidates. Students are not supposed to work in a vacuum without any feedback from supervisors. Please don't encourage the "self-made" PhD concept. It is a useless "American Dream" kind of attitude.

[@sindhusekar1]

Yo Dr. Stapleton. I discovered your channel towards the end of my phd. I have recently completed my phd 😊😊. I find your videos useful for future research endeavours. Cheers.

[@ishannande7763]

Did you do your PhD from any of the CSIR labs?

[@shaankumar2636]

From where did you do your phd?

[@meemsultana5299]

Thanks Andy 😽

[@chattySam00]

Would love to know more how you take notes

[@tylercriss6435]

What future does someone have who struggle with keeping themselves accountable? I always get into analysis paralysis, freeze, and fail to push through the barrier. What future is left for me if I can't hone myself??

[@bolao7386]

any video on effective note keeping?

[@bogusmcbogus2637]

Honestly, if you haven't learned how to be self-accountable and you get accepted into a PhD program, then something has gone wrong. You shouldn't be there. Or your school sucks. Using your Olympic athlete analogy, that's like me getting to sprint the 100m after only practicing by walking to the freezer to get my ice-cream. Also, PhD students probably learn too late that they made an enormous irredeemable sacrifice in life maybe without realizing it, as their 20s and idk part of their 30s have gone by and there is no family. No kids (probably?). and maybe not a lot in the bank. Thinking about where you want to work after your PhD can't be done without thinking about what all you'd have to postpone in life to do a PhD.

[@chriso.6296]

Hi @Andy Stapleton, Thanks for your posts; they are always very informative. One question please, Can holders of a 'Professional Doctorate' use the title abbreviation: 'PhD' behind their names?

[@nurulfakriah3514]

I always enjoy your video! Thanks

[@DavidReilly7]

I dropped out of the master's program for the same reason.

[@cwcarson]

Making your PhD 1% better every single day. PhD in 100 days. Sweet.

[@0xstuff625]

Postop treadmill? Sounds uncomfortable

[@nlssvdr7107]

what was the book of Olympic athletes?

[@ultiumlabs4899]

Which level cause baldness most? Master or PhD?

[@DrAndyStapleton]

Phd

[@rashedulkabir6227]

Can you tell name of that book you have read about Olympic Athletes?

[@unugwaabochuma6728]

I recently completed an MSc in parasitology. The dissertation was a straight forward cross sectional study. It was strictly up to me to make things happen. I absolutely did everything without guidance. It was an excellent work in the end.

[@gold9994]

If you get a tenure, good for you.

[@Modj-j5m]

The first think PhD students find out too late is that they wasted valuable years of their lives !

[@TUXMAN06]

Is a PhD worth it?

[@viktorramstrom3744]

I am only in my last year of highschool but I am thinking of doing a PhD in pure mathematics. I am particularly interested in category theory.

[@MK_ULTRA420]

If you have to think about it don't do it. You'll be competing with literal geniuses.

[@rainerdeusser]

Disagree with ultra. You're not competing if you are fascinated by what you are doing. That said, your interests will change as you move through undergrad class so there's no need to assume you'll follow a specific area of interest.

[@MK_ULTRA420]

@@rainerdeusser You can disagree all you like but mathematics doesn't care.

[@rainerdeusser]

@@MK_ULTRA420 which doesn't negate my statement, but this is not a zero sum game.

[@marcpadilla1094]

Want always outpaces need in the marketplace of America.

[@almam.6880]

"Do the boring activity every single day as an Olympic athlete would do". I don't think that Olympic athletes perceive their daily training as a "boring thing they have to do" though :D

[@justjacqueline2004]

It doesn't make any MONEY!

[@DavidSmith-hy8zx]

As they say, it’s post hole digging.

[@Followmybliss777]

That having a phd doesn’t matter? Lol

[@michellehanes8136]

More and more its like college is useless.

[@berniefynn6623]

That they are really thick and brainwashed???????????????

[@abudulekanseun3068]

Insightful Thank you Dr Stapleton