PhD Student Advice - 15 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting a PhD

All the many things I've learnt as a PhD Student and wish I had known earlier in the PhD process
0:00 - intro
1:12 - 1. How a PhD is assessed
5:20 - 2. A PhD is more than a scientific contribution
6:30 - 3. No two PhDs are the same
7:52 - 4. Everyone feels imposter syndrome - and it doesn’t go away after your PhD
8:50 - 5. You can't expect the unexpected delays
10:11 - 6. Keeping research diary so important
11:35 - 7. Organising your code is so important
12:29 - 8. You need a digital note taking system
14:12 - 9. It goes by really fast
15:13 - 10. You won’t be able to everything
16:19 - 11. The Supervisor relationship is so important
17:38 - 12. You will underachieve
18:40 - 13. People not doing PhDs don’t understand
19:56 - 14. Taking the time to project plan will save you time
21:04 - 15. You need to learn how you learn
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[@TessaMae]

the imposter syndrome is so real! it always feels like the other students in the program know more than you and it's almost debilitating! I am still working on it myself.

[@PhDandProductivity]

YUP. In a class of 24 students that all joined at the same time I had convinced myself that I was the last student accepted

[@5minutesofyourtime]

The big one for me is your supervisors matters! Their experience, their contacts, their interest in your research, and time. I quit my phd during lock down for lots of reasons but I think the biggest was lack of support.

[@mikasa3092]

Yes, this is such an important advice that people tend to overlook and then are forced to go through with the PhD. I am still making up my mind to pursue PhD but am scared if I will be able to handle the pressure.

[@PhDandProductivity]

Totally agree. I definitely chose well by having a topic my supervisor is really interested in and it has helped me endlessly. I imagine it must have been very difficult to quit your PhD. It's such a shame when that happens due to poor supervisor relationship.

[@PhDandProductivity]

I would definitely say be sure to meet with the supervisor a couple of times before deciding - if there are any bad vibes don't choose them. And be sure to cultivate a strong network of supportive people around you for when things prove difficult.

[@johncoakleyjr]

Such a useful video. I'm contemplating pursuing a doctorate, so these tips are definitely value-added to my decision-making process. Thank you.

[@PhDandProductivity]

I’m glad these have helped John! Best of luck with your decisions

[@iyeshafranklin1046]

I am currently at the IRB phase of my Dissertation and this video was wonderful ♥️ You hit all the important things!

[@indirabarykbayeva52]

Thank you for your video. You helped me a lot. This is a direct instruction that I needed.

[@joannaervik1824]

Thank you very much for sharing these valuable experiences. I am starting my Ph.D. program next week, and I am both excited and apprehensive about it.

[@supryadi7034]

Wow, thank you for your video, really motivates me in my phd journey

[@munachiso937]

Hi, your channel was one of my greatest finds on KZbin. Thank you! I started my PhD in 2020 and wish I'd heard all this back then. You're so spot on. I'm also writing my thesis now and struggle with keeping a digital diary and daily momentum. In truth, I'm sittl wondering how I juggle it all with a full time job and a toddler. Let's just say, only God knows! I can't wait for my life after this...all said, I've enjoyed the stretch experience.

[@Nour-N]

Thanks for sharing.

[@stevenedwards2532]

Thanks for some excellent thoughts about PhD work. I'm a PhD candidate working on my dissertation. I've struggled with a few things you bring up here.

[@sulaimanfayez5389]

WOW, it is so true, and thanks for sharing. I am overwhelmed by how I can satisfy my family that Ph.D. is my job. in addition, I used to feel that I was the dumbest person in the room but NOW I know every Ph.D. student feels they are dumb. it helps to get back your confidence.

[@retroSTAAR]

Hey it's great to see you uploading again. Your videos have helped me so much!

[@PhDandProductivity]

Thank you! I am glad you find them useful.

[@preciousamaechi689]

I’m just less than a month into my PhD. I have been reading and rereading and even being overwhelmed and confused about the things I truly gotta do. It’s all crazy, I have spoken with my supervisor and how much I want her to set a bit of deadlines for me she truly agreed. I think I’m feeling a bit better now. Thanks for the video too

[@ahmadalayoubi1418]

thank you, very informative

[@arxhita]

this was so helpful, thank you!

[@PhDandProductivity]

Glad it was helpful!

[@_luisabrasil]

This video is so helpful!! Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I’m on my first year, feeling really overwhelmed, and so glad that I came across this video ❤

[@PhDandProductivity]

Hope your first year is going well! You can do it

[@JAlexanderCurtis]

"You can do anything, but not everything". I really like that, and its so true. I also want to echo how important your PhD Advisor / Supervisor (we call them advisors in the US) is to your success. I have an amazing one, and i would have probably given up on my PhD if it weren't for them. I have talked to other people who have terrible advisors and it makes their lives so much harder. Don't be afraid to switch advisors to a professor you have a good relationship with. It can 10x your success in the program and just make your happier. I also really like point #13, that non-PhDs never relate to what you are doing. I found it hard to talk about my progress with people who aren't familiar with the process. Its a unique experience to be in a PhD and really most people won't be able to relate. Also I wanted to share my excitement when I got something published, but the research papers I was reading and writing were too complex into my research topic for most of my friends and family to understand or even just appreciate the accomplishment.

[@teeaurakzai26]

Deeply grateful👍

[@goodvibes3249]

Thank you! I really needed to hear this :) I'm starting my PhD in September in International Realtions

[@Hasan-hg7nh]

Can i contact you

[@MuhammadAli-yt9lg]

This is so helpful for someone like me who just started his PhD and completely feel lost 😅

[@Proactive_nuel]

I'm starting my PhD by January 2024 and I am happy to find this video. Thanks for sharing, I wish you are into Materials Engineering

[@priyamirmira3246]

I'm also a 4th year PhD candidate over in the U.S. (I've been watching your channel since the beginning! Love your content!), and I've got about a year left. And I totally agree with everything you've said here, particularly about how people who aren't doing PhDs have a hard time understanding what you're doing. I'm an experimentalist, so I've pulled really late nights in the lab to try to get my stuff done, and it can be pretty difficult trying to explain to friends and family why I can't just hang out spontaneously. It can definitely take its toll on relationships, and that's been tough to balance

[@PhDandProductivity]

Hey Priya. Hope your final year is going well! Yes I think you're so right, but the true friends/loved ones will be there for us in the end!

[@sarajaaksola]

This is perfect. I'm starting my Ph.D. now so this came to my attention at the right time. Thank you!

[@denisezambezi3124]

This is super helpful. Im in my final year and still getting imposter syndrome, delays and set back.

[@PhDandProductivity]

Same ! But getting better at handling them

[@nooral-huda]

Thank you so much 💞... keep going 🙏🤩

[@PhDandProductivity]

Thanks! I will try

[@slim590]

thank you

[@helemkay7690]

Great video. Thanks for your tips. I am also into planning before starting a project. I am now over my second year of PhD and realize that I need a digital notebook. Just got an Ipad. Can you make a video about how you are taking diary lab notes? By the way, this Imposter syndrome is REAL!!! Thanks.

[@zainabyounes2464]

This video couldn't have come at a better time. I am currently preparing to apply for PhD programmes and even the process is so daunting, let alone the actual experience.

[@PhDandProductivity]

Best of luck with your applications!

[@ahmadaltaweel4981]

Thank you very much

[@PhDandProductivity]

You are welcome

[@midyaazad7215]

This is just a great video.

[@PhDandProductivity]

Glad you think so! Thank you

[@rosehosking5564]

So interesting the examination proccess where you are! I'm in Australia, we have 2 external examiners only, (unless their decisions conflict majorly then another is appointed) your supervisor arranges it and you never know who they are, because we don’t do a viva, just the thesis!

[@sashapurcell4938]

I’m in Australia too. What’s your PhD topic? Mine is in the law school

[@umarjibril8376]

Very rich snippets of wisdom regarding PhD programme.

[@pharaohcaesar]

It must be difficult to go into a PhD looking to discover something new compared to discovering something new first and then writing your thesis based upon that. So instead of having to find your needle in the haystack you've already found it and your just justifying your discovery. There is no way I would want to try and do a PhD without first understanding that I have already discovered something new. I couldn't do it. I've made various discoveries in various different fields but I discovered them just based on the normal process of living and learning things and then being surprised when I have discovered something completely new and than doing the research to support that discovery. So I have a lot of respect for those that do this the other way around!😀

[@yashprajapati4176]

very very helpful for who are thinking about pursuing........

[@PhDandProductivity]

Thanks Yash!

[@brianferrell9454]

You have gotten really good at speaking over the years, awesome video!

[@PhDandProductivity]

Aw thanks Brian!

[@hajarlaabidi9646]

Thaaank you 🙏🙏🙏

[@PhDandProductivity]

No problema!

[@AndreTJones]

Just tuned in to your channel. You have an American-ish accent. Have you spent some time in the States. Also I’m an undergraduate student at the age of 40 pursuing a physics PhD. Giving good info. Thanks

[@jdjadav]

Thank you so much ma'am!!❤️, It was really helpful

[@PhDandProductivity]

You're welcome!

[@cathrinebaungaard]

Could you do a video on your research journal, especially as someone working with code?

[@PhDandProductivity]

Video coming soon! But largely with code I am using Jupyter / Google colab notebooks which allow for a lot of text to be put in.

[@jumanahsaleh4412]

Do you have any videos on how to work with a supervisor, and the relationship because I am quite confused and scarred

[@isletheologian]

i am starting in September in Dublin

[@urpicoya]

Hi, thank you for sharing. What do you mean by "organizing tour Code"? I also have another question. I started to do literature reviews of articles and I don't find a better way to organize by just opening a new Word document and creating a folder organized by the last name of the authors I need to remember what the article is about and sometimes I can't find the review. I think you were using some software called Mandeley? Can you or someone recommend a better way using also keywords? I am in humanities. Thanks

[@jumanahsaleh4412]

When to write the thesis ?

[@kabashialtahir8263]

One of the most daunting things in the PhD is the imposter syndrome, especially at the early stages of the PhD.

[@aulidemartineztapia5337]

How does theresearch diary works? Can you make a video about it, please?

[@PhDandProductivity]

Video coming soon!

[@marryamakbaar3014]

💜💜

[@jumanahsaleh4412]

There is a sort of full exam in Canada do you know anything about it ?

[@sujogeographer]

PhD research in Geology : kzbin.info/www/bejne/rYPGdIyHrqp6mbc

[@Heyu7her3]

16. Don't make life-changing decisions during a pandemic LOL (I know, I know, it's unavoidable)

[@BlackSakura33]

10-15 minutes thesis defense 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 The minimum is an hour.