Signs you won't succeed as a PhD Student | 6 Fatal Mistakes

[@GradStudentTutorials]

I was terrified to watch this video because I thought it would only "confirm" an outcome that I don't want. Instead, it is a very helpful list of problematic traits that can be managed with a little self awareness. -Thank you

[@austinp3253]

good on you for being brave enough to watch the video!

[@vans4lyf2013]

Same lol but the video is sooo true and I needed to hear it!

[@fahadfardan]

Exact same here 😂😂

[@GradStudentTutorials]

... Well I'm back, a year later! And I can officially say I made it through my first year as a Ph.D student. It was very difficult. All I can say is most of these points are spot on. I thought I was above letting my emotions get the best of me. Boy was I wrong. The self dialog and inner criticisms eat away your soul. Also, everything you learned in undergrad...just throw it away. It's no good. It won't help you! LOL. No but seriously, self care and managing emotions is the most important thing, along with figuring out the best way YOU study. Also, completely forget "study hacks" and shortcuts. It's a waste of time. Roll up your sleeves and get to work. Self awareness is difficult. I made a LOT of mistakes, but I learned a lot.

[@sarahlo-a-njoe4742]

​@@GradStudentTutorialsomg I'm so happy for you🎉🎉🎉🎉❤

[@johannamartinez5463]

I actually isolate from my current lab and my supervisor. I think is a not helpful environment to grow up academically. However, I actively search and find side supervisor, good professors, new groups and new people. Thanks to that I have survived. A piece of advice for the future, choose well the supervisor and the lab. It can drain the motivation

[@AndresRodriguez__]

¿Dónde haces tu doctorado y en qué área?

[@johannamartinez5463]

@@AndresRodriguez__ Lo hice en canadá, en ecologia de bosques. Ya lo terminé y me devolví a Colombia.

[@AndresRodriguez__]

@@johannamartinez5463 Qué chévere. No es mi área. Yo soy de ciencias sociales/humanas, pero ¿Te importaría decirme cómo fue tu proceso de aplicación?

[@SC-bs7jd]

Very good advice. I worked in industry with another PhD. We both came to the conclusion that completing a PhD is more about dealing with punishment than actually being smart.

[@williamwaters4506]

Funny, it helps to be a masochist. For me it was about maintaining endurance.

[@kumardigvijaymishra5945]

The only good thing one learns in a PhD is to communicate ideas and work through publications. Advisors will suck your energy and push you to do anything they want to be done to push their careers forward up the ladder with zero participation in your success. Covid-19 isolation helped me realise how broken academia really is.

[@javierhuizar4207]

Another insight of a potentially unsuccessful PhD is that you and your advisor have different ways of approaching science or disagree often on what's important to move a project forward.

[@georgemontag64]

Just finished my master's in economics and I struggled mightily with all of these throughout my program, so much so that I consider myself lucky to have finished at all. It's finally starting to set in that a PhD may not be a great fit for me. Thanks for making these videos!

[@vans4lyf2013]

I isolate sometimes because I have ADHD and therefore a major procrastination problem so I always start things so late if left to my own devices, and by the time I need help I feel ashamed to ask because it tends to be a problem that should have been sorted out so early on, then I don't want to talk to supervisors, thinking I can fix it myself and get to a point where I will have progressed enough such that it's now acceptable to ask for help. But as you can guess, it doesn't get to that point so more time goes on and I probably haven't even got past the first problem and i'm therefore increasingly ashamed until it's too late. This is why I surprisingly love micromanager PIs as they tend to meet with me very regularly and don't let me fall off the wagon. The very frequent deadlines are so essential for someone like me lol.

[@philipoakley5498]

The need to meet regularly as part of time & commitment management is far more common that most people suggest (all those claims about being driven self-starters). A ToC video about problems in 'delivery of on-line training' highlighted some numbers, kzbin.info/www/bejne/oobNiGhsdrWioK8 regarding low success & completion rates on those sorts of courses without that cohesion element.

[@wilsoncheung9523]

Me and my son have the same problem. I am the fifth year PhD student and my son a master student with ADHD.

[@Hakajin]

Yup! I'm a MA and I have the same problem.

[@HimanshuSharma-oy9ss]

Wow that is surprisingly relatable

[@katkagajdosova5443]

Thank you, Andy, this came at the right time for me as I'm starting to recognize some of these signs in myself. Got far too distracted by side projects and it's time to get back on track. (a 7th year phd)

[@ruchipatel929]

Same

[@alexlu2520]

Me too 😄

[@kumardigvijaymishra5945]

Side projects can take up a good chunk of time, but they are a good way to enhance skill-set. Thing is PhD doesn't count side projects and one often tends to do them for satisfying advisor ego. Never try to satisfy advisor. That will suck in longer run.

[@williamwaters4506]

You are so right about having to deal with constant criticism. One doctoral committee member told me he did not like the way I wrote part of my dissertation and I needed to change it, while another committee member loved what I wrote.

[@kumardigvijaymishra5945]

It is important to have supporting committee members.

[@andreasdario327]

This is a great video and very helpful. I'm sad I couldn't have watched it many years ago when I was struggling with my PhD. I did eventually manage to beat the odds, but it took me many years to complete it successfully. I sadly had all but two of the issues you highlighted: I was a perfectionist, but also had huge doubts about myself. I lost my passion for the project so that it became a chore more than anything. I ended up extracting myself from the rest of the research community and becoming a lone wolf. The signs were sadly there any many times I listened to the demons telling me to give up. I'm glad I didn't but it was an excruciating experience. I'm now trying to follow my academic career by not doing these things that almost cost me my PhD.

[@cigdemylmaz1532]

so so true. I isolated myself and had to dig myself out of it. I got my PhD in the end but it was the hardest time of my life.

[@paolo3349]

Very true. Finishing a PhD is just the beginning. You want to use that work as the springboard to your career. Part of that springboard is the network of collaborators you build that will help you build the publication stream you need to have a successful career. So do your best to be on great terms with faculty and your fellow PhD students. Note too that faculty either are or become journal editors who can make it easier to get published. Don't burn bridges.

[@Talkathon408]

That isolation, avoiding people etc, it's quite troublesome as it's also a sign of serious mental illness. Kinda made me laugh when he then said: 'the voices (in your head) that you do need to listen to sometimes'

[@roonieh9619]

What mental illness is that? Are you a psychiatrist?

[@Talkathon408]

@@roonieh9619 I mean being a psychiatrist would help gain insights but it's not difficult to recognise the signs of serious mental illness like schizophrenia but harder to determine which mental illness the person actually has. Sadly I've seen schizophrenia develop first hand, the isolating and avoidant behaviour can definitely be signs of it although obviously just because this happens it doesn't mean the person is developing such a disorder.

[@_cjmaine2664]

Love your videos! So refreshing. I was a PhD student drop-out and I really wish your videos had been around (and had thought to watch them) before I tried to go downthis path.

[@ademolaqamar6322]

The signs sound like warnings for me, 5 months after my coursework, still struggling with the proposal and ASUU strike here. Thanks for the encouragement, nice video.

[@ernestinalefebvre5191]

I just stopped writing & editing. Each time I touch my laptop I get sleepy & tired. Passion is dead. Tired of fighting my supervisor for help. Accepted that I've carried myself this far & just need to push a bit more to exam because the PhD is a requirement in my profession.

[@ophirtu6284]

Thank you for the insightful observations. I would also add failing to be connected to and take care of yourself in the broad sense (physical and mental health and other areas of life) in parallel to the demanding research effort.

[@alexanderlyon]

Great stuff. I'll add another one: Changing focus too frequently. I saw that Ph.D. students who changed their focus every semester or so made very little overall career progress. They were excited (which is great) but perhaps too whimsical (which is not great) to stick with a project until it was published or at least presented at a conference. Instead of following through on a promising idea, they get bored of "the grind" and move on to the next. Each jump seemed to give them a rush because they'd "finally found" their "passion." But several changes later, they'd still done little more than take classes and had few if any tangible products of any sort come out of those experiences.

[@Mnogojazyk]

Having fled my doctorate, I can add two reasons. 1. Disengagement. When you turn up at meetings, class, group projects, etc., but you hardly participate if you participate at all, or your participation is perfunctory. “I’d better say something because Dr. So-So expects it.” The reasons for disengagement are manifold. One of mine was poor regard for others in the discipline. 2. Inability to think for oneself. I remember being rebuked because I followed instructions on an exercise but the results were awful. I had followed the professor’s instructions even though the instructions were contradictory from just about everyone else’s instructions and historical precedence. No matter, the professor was the boss, and the students were the underling. What did we know? Those are my two.

[@kumardigvijaymishra5945]

One has to be cautious because advisor can mislead the research direction. I understand they work under duress, but they don't know everything all the time. Besides they can be busy with their family leaving no time for research. Take their advice with a grain of salt.

[@psp_online]

I HAD to isolate on purpose because 1. My prof was loading me with a LOT of work - his academic/teaching/administrative tasks to handle, and also asked me to sit and do the simulations and write the papers for my two seniors (which I did - bcos supervisor told me to, and maybe it will help me learn), and didn't get authorship at all 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ 2. Was the "go-to" person for anything, as I could easily handle any task, literally any task - which was sucking my time out (given that I'm a mom, and need to squeeze in time during working hours as much as I could to work on my thesis). 3. The first 3 years were terrible, as I really couldn't say NO to anyone. Then COVID hit and I didn't have access to the hardware (electrical machines,etc) for a good 7 months. I did enjoy this period as I felt so relieved from the draining experiences of the past 3 yrs! Then the 2nd wave hit. Nearly 4.5 years passed, and not a single work done! 4. Back to the lab after 4.5 yrs. Realized my work was too huge to complete without any assistance from seniors who had graduated without passing on the knowledge (weren't available on the phone/emails- literally vanished once they graduated). Changed my research area to something that I could tackle on my own. Then I protected my time, energy, literally everything to ensure I get done with this as quickly as possible - bcos nobody tells you that nobody is gonna help you out, even if you do a LOT for them. Even your prof is gonna hang up on ya if you don't communicate papers (even if prof is never available for any kind of discussion). Then I went into isolation- literally worked half day from home and went to the lab only when I had meetings or work in hardware. I became silent during meetings bcos 1. When I gave an idea/suggestion for someone else's work (another PhD, now my junior), my prof would go - okay, you do it for him. Then to my junior - she will do it for you. Then my junior gets in my neck saying - prof asked you to do, better do it. So just to avoid such toxic pile ups, I stay quiet even when I know stuff. I wouldn't say isolation is bad. But when you have a toxic lab environment, better shut yourself up.

[@shirasagi9390]

there is also another common reason that wasn't mentioned : having zero guidance in the first place, this definitely leads to struggling and possibly failure

[@kumardigvijaymishra5945]

Another factor is misleading and unclear advices. My advisor was so old school, he didn't know about online meetings. Everytime I asked to meet him, he told me to meet in-person and that was extremely inefficient.

[@martybop]

Thank you. I'm trying to decide whether to apply to do one. Your points - especially the last points - are my big fears. I thrive in a system of ongoing rewards (my undergrad and master's were all continuous assessment - project and essay based) and not sure how I would fare left alone to navigate the unknown and mostly unguided terrain of a doctorate. Your video has given me a mirror to hold up to myself.

[@saraibr850]

I was so scared getting into this video 😂😂

[@user-md8588]

But the isolation is sometimes involuntary and there really is no support group for some phd students countries and cultures differ a lot. Also some supervisor are do not guide but mislead their students and waste months of their times knly giving vague irrelevent feedback or even avoid feedbacks. I have been there I know neither all academic environments are supporting nor all supervisors are able to guide students to success, some, especially fresh supervisors can kill phd projects and confuse serious studnts to the point of mental breakdown and giving up. Seen it with my own eyes

[@karismayumnam6256]

These words are very much relatable to me right now. I came with big motivation but lost my spirit. My supervisor is highly unresponsive to me. Felt misguided. Like one time, I came up with an experiment plan and he told me that he doesn't have any problem with it. Then, he asked me to call the team for the project. Then, I don't know how but he flipped and guided me that I should do in potted blueberry plants and not the actual field. The senior also said that he has contacts who can bring those potted plants. But, turns out the contact he gave me provides only potted grapes. I tried getting those potted blueberry plants, asking people who work in extension, calling up nurseries. It did not go as planned. Another thing is that I needed to upgrade the windows 7 operating system on the so called "supercomputer" to windows 8 or higher as the software I needed to use doesn't support windows 7. My supervisor told me that I should not want new things and that I should manage with what is available. I don't know why it is so difficult to just upgrade the system. I felt like my concerns are not addressed properly and that I am being ignored. Another incident is on one field day (extension program with the growers and local stakeholders). He asked me to present there. I was excited because it was my first presentation at such events as a PhD student. There was a translator to translate my presentation from English to Spanish because the growers did not understand English. He told the translator that I am a first year PhD student and it is like practice. Meaning that everything I say need not be translated. At first, I didn't realize he was humiliating me. Later, I found out that it is definitely not okay.. If he was scared that I would say something wrong, then he should not have asked me to present there..or he should have made sure with himself that I did right. Instead, he did that. Now, I am currently battling for a major decision in my life: Either to start over or to suck up and get my PhD.

[@zazor701]

Watching this video made me realize that I would definitely fail if I were to try for a PhD at this point in my life

[@pavithren]

Thanks for the tips! I have not gotten into a PhD program yet, however this information lets me have a glimpse of signs I should look out for.

[@DrAndyStapleton]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Maariu01]

Thanks Andy I like your points I have been through some moments like this in my 1st yr now im in yr2 and im still going strong I appreciate the point you made about masters students going into phd and i was like that at the begining but i realised early on and straight away that PhD is a different level with different skills that are required Appreciate all your tips and advise

[@normalizethovallesaldana1455]

Love the idea that passions are cultivated !!! It is such a powerful concept!

[@JosephJSydlo]

I am going for my Master's and will pursue a PhD afterward. My undergrad was alright, but had a difficult time. I am thriving as a grad student. I have "gaps" in my education and lab work. Simply, the professors were not good teachers and their TA's were just as bad. How do I prepare for PhD in this situation? Should I spend all this time playing "catch up"?

[@edgarrodriguez8973]

Excellent list Dr. But there is one more, very bad relationships with the advisor or the lab team.

[@pdpcycling248]

Many thanks for your video, mate. That's one great video! I actually found myself with one of the signs you mentioned a couple months before submitting my thesis and again right before the Viva. Just want to let you know that your videos inspire me in a big way. BTW, I just passed my Viva ;)

[@wilsoncheung9523]

Your success story inspired me 👏👏👏

[@mikebauer6917]

Exactly. The isolation point is spot on.

[@janswanton3631]

These days with so many of us studying remotely, isolation is inevitable. The other PhD students I speak to on line are based all over the world and none of us are researching topics that relate to other people's.

[@larissacury7714]

Thank you, Andy!

[@violetandrew1641]

Thank you, Andy. Your videos are always motivating. I will start my Ph.D. next year. Your guide has dissected Ph.D. in many segments. Thank you

[@richiebtime489]

When I did my MSc project (mini PhD?) I found the ambivalence of the university staff appalling. Affected my own enthusiasm.

[@toyl6727]

For the sabotaging thoughts, I like to use: "Greater is He that is in me than he that is of this world." (John 4:4 )

[@christopherrosado6053]

I finished my M.A. Lots of respect for student's in Ph.d programs. Wish I had the gift of insight...to that level. M.A. & Thesis work. I am at peace with for me.

[@mau345]

Passion is cultivated not found. Very good haha

[@godmakesnew]

Wow this resonated with me thank you!

[@treesart6914]

My isolation was more or less forced on me by my awful program. I wish I would've transferred.

[@BOOBOO7743]

Thx Dr, Srapleton to inspire me and motivating me evry time.

[@louisedwards3640]

I love your videos. Very good audio quality

[@BParis-kj5qo]

One thing to clarify. Leaving phd program doesnt mean that you failed. Those who left the program whom I know made conscious choices. They are well now. Succeed is hence a misguiding term.

[@niepowiem5894]

Anyone doing PhD while having a full time job as well in industry? I'm working at a place which makes me happy for a long time already and I'm doing now masters in stationary daily mode which is quite hard as it's in total around 15h of work a day but it's manageable. I'm thinking if I would manage to continue 4 years more to get PhD in the same mode

[@josephsaavedra7812]

This video is SPOT ON!

[@MohammedAli-bj9jk]

How to shut off the negative thoughts? - especially if they are real. Thank you 🌹

[@ian020881]

You might need an isolated place you can go to talk to yourself like this. It will make you look like a crazy person - but you're doing a PhD and society expects you to be quirky - so use it. Treat the thoughts as external to yourself, and physically tell them to "F*&k OFF, and go die in a hole!" with as much venom as you can muster, and really really commit to meaning it. Tell them that you're going to do it just to spite them, and then really enjoy doing so. They shut up pretty quick thereafter. (and btw regularly get some fresh air in the bottom of your lungs - it does you good, and kicks the rough days in the teeth).

[@mau345]

Run. Run and run. Sometimes these are excessive energy you need to slough off but instead goes to to your head and your head spends it on stupid things. Just one of the things you could try not saying it works for everyone

[@paulworster3683]

Since You emigrated from blighty i have noticed as well as going down under your hair now is growing down under and is most impressive, Science is amazing. I hope you are well Sir, much love from the UK

[@DrAndyStapleton]

Paul! How are you? You're the first person from my teenage years to comment! I hope you and your mum and dad are well!

[@ian020881]

Andy describes me, says you will fail, describes me again, says you will fail, and again. I'm 3 months in. Something has got to change - thanks for the heads up.

[@lenithemonster7119]

Haha, I thought this will be some random shit, but Andy has it right again :D and yes, I isolated myself and now im QUITINGGGG

[@lenithemonster7119]

Also I recently found out im ADHD... which is crazy, coz i have already masters degree, but whatever, thats what life is

[@vans4lyf2013]

​@@lenithemonster7119 Girl me too! I have ADHD and do the same thing. See my other comment about it lol.

[@francishunt562]

@@lenithemonster7119 Having ADHD shouldn't really have a bearing on achieving something. Many successful PhD students are high functioning autistic.

[@suzannedeb181]

...i am actually terrified to watch this...

[@rostislavgramskopf4648]

Not making any of these 6 fatal mistakes. Still have not succeded :-) I played a part "learn, keep learning, keep learning, keep learning, phd?" six times, tho :))

[@PoojaYadav-yf2ui]

Very helpful.

[@leojack1225]

Maybe it is because I did a math PhD. But I never had any PhD meeting. In my experience isolation problems come more in postdoc than PhD.

[@denisek7]

Thank you for all your videos, your positive mindset and encouraging words help me a lot on my phd journey~ :)

[@DrAndyStapleton]

You are so welcome!

[@reenayadav2324]

Thank you so much, Andy, I am just dropping M.Phil., now I am realizing where need to pay more attention.

[@HaoSunUW]

"i could probably open this book to any page right now and find something that's a little bit wrong or not quite right or a capitalization in the wrong spot one of my reviewers said that there were loads of very annoying spelling mistakes" For me this is when my supervisor and committee would -have a meltdown- provide insightful feedback and demand I read Donald Knuths rules of mathematical writing.

[@lycaenops]

Thanks so much ! I was not realising how isolated I was becoming!!

[@nonee915]

Dear Andy i spent 6+ years in the current program and now realise a deterioration at personal front. I like science and i feel to opt for phd somewhere else as this place no moree serves the goal nor will the degree from this place have the value i expected. Also for one paper i can't go through demeaning objectifying and disrespectful words. I beleive academia is more collaborative and result oriented than what i have experienced so far. Am i thinking correct to redo science or is it my ego talking.

[@EldhoseJoseph]

Ur doing it from India?

[@nonee915]

@@EldhoseJoseph Yes

[@shivohcn1684]

Yes academia is collaborative, supportive and result oriented. Try exploring abroad universities. UK is best, from my experience so far.

[@Battlehammer333]

It somehow really bothers me that on the cover of your diss the „device“ sits there in a new line all on its own and doesn’t have his friends „organic“ and „photovoltaik“ with him. Speaking about perfectionism…

[@suchismitakar2154]

I wish i had seen this video when i desperately needed it.

[@lamyaalhumaidan9857]

Thanks! 😭

[@lenithemonster7119]

Another thing which is funny is that most of the people here in the chat are PhD dropouts :D

[@francishunt562]

Not all.

[@Fdutchman]

Thank you

[@princesscheeni]

The isolation piece sounds like depression tbh

[@castel3564]

Well, would be so good if someone told me earler, although part with isolation might been partially connected with that people around were not very interested. :( So shit happens.

[@zakaria3557]

I just started my PhD six days now and i feel lost asf what to do

[@dankschang]

Take your topic and perform a systematic literature review process, you will nail it.

[@gleemanulat]

I also feel the same thing. I am into the 6 months of my PhD and I feel I am not progressing and that stressed me out too much.

[@hantu4321]

That's new advice you got to communicate so I should look for lab with people don't do it alone

[@Freebaggin]

Andy, I'm not all that convinced, as I have been told, that by simply publishing papers, say 2 or 3, as I go will make the PhD process more streamlined, less risky and "easier"? Compared to simply doing it the old way? Thoughts mate?

[@philipoakley5498]

I guess that the 'publish papers' is euphemistic for `practice writing the thesis` (and all the minutiae therein)

[@RedneckBarStoriesRonVincent]

Every point is a bullseye.

[@jezzamobile]

First the isolation starts... ..then the beard-trimming....

[@maddog5597]

Familiarity breeds contempt. I was so sick of the whole thing by the time I was done. Stapleton should have pointed out that it doesn’t take brains to get a PhD, just persistence.

[@mechalovessquirrels]

What's your take for China making PhD students study online ie Medicine due to zero Covid policy

[@pauliusnarkevicius9959]

When IT industry has in-build Spyglass or Sniffer, then there no point for be sucker of someone's else Dreams.

[@johnnylivesabroad2135]

Great video! But I wish you had expanded more on that last one. Any other content you can point to for that? Thanks

[@thedog5k]

4:56 Oh boy academia

[@itssushmita687]

I don't know whether or not you are going to reply to my comment, but still I hope to get an advice. I was very good in my academics till my masters. Next I joined my phd lab two months before covid. There were a lot of issues going on, I felt depressed that I was not aware of. I lagged behind in my phd course. I tried my best but was unable to catch anything. Became Isolated more from ppl. Now in my fourth year I feel stupid, dumb, lack of knowledge, low confidence, unsure about myself, my paper is getting rejected, unable to focus. What should I do, is quitting is the only way?

[@rb6671]

Hey! Fellow Phd student here in her first year. Going through some similar situation. How has it been for you so far? Did it get any better?

[@suchismitakar2154]

Your story is identical to mine. I dropped out.

[@itssushmita687]

@@suchismitakar2154 then what did you choose as your career after dropping out?

[@itssushmita687]

@@rb6671 Not actually... It became worse.... I took advice from my Msc professors but they told me to stick to it and have patience but nothing changed for good. Now my guide started neglecting me, my work and everything.

[@marcoamorenov8611]

Where are you working now bro??

[@bonumonu5534]

Welp I ticked all the boxes...

[@iranjackheelson]

10:00 "I have seen people who think their PhD is gonna be like a continuation of their masters" What was some of the noticeable/observable behavior characteristic of that?

[@DrAndyStapleton]

Essentially not treat the PhD as something like a job. Not turning up between certain "work" times.

[@moon_36912]

@@DrAndyStapleton Hi , is treating PhD as a Job applied to person how study without a Scholarship? I mean he is not paid for his study.

[@JouyinTeoh]

@@moon_36912 the same applies. Does the person want to graduate successfully or not? Level of commitment required by the task won't change regardless if the person is paid or no.

[@mariep8756]

I want to quit so bad

[@annaramirez5862]

Don't quit!!!!!

[@mariep8756]

@@annaramirez5862 why not?

[@Yk-xo6kq]

You can do it

[@AdvaiticOneness1]

Quit if you value your mental health

[@BertKrus]

Such a handsome bearded man and intellectual too, husband material for me 🙂

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

But I have my respect first I don't care who is she or he ?

[@asifmuniruniverse7732]

bye

[@TheFred10000]

Bro I do all of them

[@hephaistion3]

I'm gonna fail ... 😔

[@kcrooks7]

🙏🙏🙏

[@baroh2413]

This channel sounds like a real life horror story

[@fdggfgdfgd251]

I'm guilty of all of them. Except the last one. I think I'll finish tho. What a bs journey it has been for me. In all honesty.. I could have done all of the work .. without being a phd..

[@phenixevelyphd2149]

How many times a day did you su2k di”1x? Before you became addicted. Was it automatic or did you gradually Build up the kg intake.