Leaving my PhD Program...

This has been one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. It is bittersweet - I'm sad to leave my program and colleagues, but I'm excited to try something new that I think will better prepare me for my future career. Let's see where life takes me!
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Thanks for watching!! 💖

[@Ninamazing3]

Hi Zoe! Thanks for sharing! I also "quit" my PhD program 3,5 years in (here in Europe you have to get a master before starting a PhD program). The things you talk about really resonated with me. It was a very difficult decision to make, but now 2 years later, I am very glad and convinced it was the right thing for me. I was working in the biomedical field and moved from academia to industry and for me personally this environment is a better fit. A lot more team work, more goal-oriented, no publications to write, I got a lot more confident in myself. Just want to say to everyone reading this that nothing is worth destroying your mental health for, and there's a whole world outside academia to be discovered :)

[@chrisday5174]

Also, not finding significant results isn't really a failure. Just imagine how many other PhD students have done the same/similar studies you did, but no one ever knew because nothing got published! It's a problem in science that negative results don't get published.

[@LifeWithZoeee]

Yes, I very much agree!

[@erkinalp]

Rather, people do not like to publish negative results. There actually are venues specifically looking for negative results.

[@chrisday5174]

I imagine this was a huge, stressful decision. Way to go thinking it through and going for it! You have your whole life to do a PhD if it ever feels right - I think my dad was 48 when he finished his!

[@kyros7970]

Thank you for sharing the story! Always here for you as a friend

[@tiffanygomez8069]

Thank you for sharing your story and I wish you all the best in this next step of your journey. Making this kind of decision is never easy, but I admire your courage in being able to take this step and decide what is best for you :)

[@justcallmeivonne]

Thank you for sharing your experience! I hope that you’re doing what you are passionate about now!

[@momogoesrawr13]

We basically decided to master out around the same time and I was in a similar boat (3rd going into 4th year). Pandemic burnout and having a not great lab environment (toxic, with dwindling funds) made me realize it was time to go. I defended my Master in January and I am beginning to make peace with it. Hoping you are doing well :)

[@LifeWithZoeee]

Sounds like we had very similar experiences! It's a tough decision, and I'm glad you are making peace with it. I hope your new path forward treats you well 😊

[@akshatrastogi9063]

Thanks for sharing this video. I could imagine the courage it would have taken you to quit after spending 3 years. Good that you got the master's degree so the years are not wasted. Honestly, I am in the same dilemma right now. When you mentioned that you didn't enjoy writing and reading, it really is the same thing I am having trouble with in my PhD. I absolutely hate the fact that in PhD, we have to unnecessarily create a problem (which is not there in the first place) and then solve it, just to address "novelty" and then publish it. I wish PhDs were like solving number of small problems rather than dedicating the entire PhD moving around the same problem from every angle. The amount and pace by which papers are published in the world right now, it feels absolutely difficult to come up with some groundbreaking novel idea. Most of us do an incremental research. And after doing all this for 5 years, you found that no industry needs it, atleast in Canada.

[@LifeWithZoeee]

Yes, I feel very similarly! I was tired of trying to come up with problems that ended up being so niche anyway that I felt like it didn't matter in the grand scheme of things, but I had to pretend like it was the most amazing and novel idea to ever exist. And then publishing felt like it wasn't actually for the benefit of the scientific community but just for me to further my career because it's "publish if perish". It all made me feel like I wasn't actually helping anyone or contributing to society in a meaningful way, which is why I've decided to switch to a career path that is much more directly helpful to people. Best of luck on your journey while you make your decision! Let me know if I can be of any help. :)

[@akshatrastogi9063]

@@LifeWithZoeee Thanks Zoe, I will definitely contact you again if I need any help 🙏.

[@erkinalp]

@@LifeWithZoeee Also keep in mind you can apply to another PhD when you feel comfortable again, it is not like you are banned from the higher education system for life.

[@ridvanyavuz5030]

I am a PhD student in a media study program in an upsate NY universities. I came as an international student and what I ended up recognizing is that , the students who are successful in PhD programs are the ones who are following the “rules” of the professors run the program. Any student who came to the program with experienced in their field and more mature had a hard time and haven’t finished. The rest of the students who are directly came from bachelor or masters and ‘be a good student’ and follow the rules and nice to professors almost all finished the program. Our 21st century is changing rapidly and I also think to quit and don’t waste my time to play with this ‘serious’ diploma

[@ronron2312]

Mastering out of a PhD is not frowned upon. While mastering out is not the expected, it is usually the best outcome for both the student and the program. When I was a graduate student I usually start four experiments for everyone that worked.

[@anandkr154]

I am also in same situation. Really I don't know weather I have to quit my phd or not. I don't know what will be my life after that. Any way thank you for sharing your experience.

[@CooktoCope]

I quit my PhD programme last year due to some unforeseen circumstances after 4 years. I was looking for videos that might resonate with my current state. I don't know where I am headed to and I keep regretting my decision of quitting. Can you please suggest how to cope with this kind of situation? I just don't know what to do

[@OntologyofValue]

Great said, Zoe! The relationship between science and academia is like the relationship between faith and cult. So, no regrets. I’m sure you thrive now.

[@saraforward5973]

Your future is so so bright no matter what you do. Now, move to the east coast please!

[@LifeWithZoeee]

West coast, best coast 😝💙 but I do want to come visit!!

[@Kevin-xs1ft]

Hi Zoe, thanks for sharing. I have a question: do most PhD programs give you a master's degree if you decide not to continue given that you have finished most courses?

[@Heyu7her3]

No, you'd have to fulfill the master's requirements, which are typically different (additional courses + possibly a thesis)

[@LifeWithZoeee]

Hi there! Sorry I missed your reply before. You can get your Master's degree before leaving a PhD program, like I did, as long as you complete what those requirements are for your program. For me, it was about 2 years of coursework and a thesis project and presentation. This was built in while I worked towards my PhD anyway. I received my Masters after year 2 and left the program after year 3.

[@justcallmeivonne]

I know this is from a year ago but i just wanted to let you know that it depends on your field. For my PhD program in public health, i had to have a master’s before applying. For my partner, it was the same thing and he’s in geography. So just double check what the requirements are for your program.

[@JohnVKaravitis]

Holy shit! Whatta racka lamb!

[@soccersprint]

When its time to leave, its time to leave.

[@mickeykozzi]

I really hope no one gets motivation for this. I always found people who quit their Ph.D.s as weak individuals. Never EVER listen to their advice or stories. I went through hell, and I still passed mine. It's a personality thing.

[@LifeWithZoeee]

Lmao. Thanks for providing another example of toxicity in academia. I'm glad I left.