View Full Version : How many hours a week do you spend in grad school?
mbuchove
Jun8-09, 06:03 PM
I just wanted to get an idea of how much time people spend in physics graduate school on an average week. This includes anything you do necessary for your degree, including coursework, teaching, research, and so on. I'm passionate about pursuing physics, and I'm not expecting it to be easy or relaxed, but I would like to get an idea if it is beyond my limits.
Pengwuino
Jun8-09, 06:08 PM
So anything necessary includes homework correct? Remember, depending on what grad school and your needs and circumstances, you may not teach or do research (at times) or even be taking real classes!
My first year I spent about 60-70 hours working on any given week. After I passed my qualifier it became a heck of a lot easier. During the summers I usually spend 40 hours a week at work on research. During the school year I'm usually taking one class, which adds an additional 5 to 8 hours per week.
junglebeast
Jun8-09, 06:19 PM
I just wanted to get an idea of how much time people spend in physics graduate school on an average week. This includes anything you do necessary for your degree, including coursework, teaching, research, and so on. I'm passionate about pursuing physics, and I'm not expecting it to be easy or relaxed, but I would like to get an idea if it is beyond my limits.
Haha, your poll only goes up to 80 hours...
A little math:
(24 hrs - 6 hr)*7 = 126 hours a week
And you expect to spend only 60% of that working?
I typically work from the hours of 2pm (when I wake up) until 4:30-5 am.
Of that time, probably 80% is doing work.
Thats roughly 98 hours a week.
I spent the entire last week working on a poster, and the week before that I had to work on a presentation for the client on friday. I'll probably drive down to NASA later this week which is a 10 hour drive both ways. I was at a conference this morning. But for now, I can go back to some actual research. I'll start part time work mid month hopefully at an Aerospace company hopefully.
Very very busy.
Moonbear
Jun8-09, 06:50 PM
If anyone doesn't answer, "All of them," I'm going to report you to your mentors! :biggrin:
Most of the time I work around 10-6, 5 days a week, and over the weekend if I've nothing else to do. Of course, there are weeks that are busier, because you're, say, pretty close to finishing a calculation, or writing something up, but then there are weeks that are quieter (the creative juices don't flow all the time!)
As I'm sure you'll find out from this thread, people work best with wildly different schedules.. you've just got to find which suits you.
"All of them,"
That probably says it best!
If anyone doesn't answer, "All of them," I'm going to report you to your mentors! :biggrin:
Oh crap, don't tell him that I have a life outside of the office! My advisor thinks that when I'm at home I'm working remotely.
Moonbear
Jun8-09, 07:19 PM
Oh crap, don't tell him that I have a life outside of the office! My advisor thinks that when I'm at home I'm working remotely.
:rofl: This thread is starting to read like one of the PhD Comics. :rofl:
I’d say most of my free time devoted for physics, so sure it's >80.
I’d say most of my free time devoted for physics, so sure it's >80.
Your clearly not a grad student if your 'free time' is devoted to physics.
You're clearly not a grad student if your 'free time' is devoted to physics.
well does it have to be for study?! what about intrest
well does it have to be for study?! what about intrest
Did you read my post?
Did you read my post?
why don't spell it out!
why don't spell it out!
If you cant understand my post, again, clearly not a grad student. Go back to your cave undergrad. You're not worthy.
If you cant understand my post, again, clearly not a grad student. Go back to your cave undergrad. You're not worthy.
is it a waste of time to argue with you!! what does it have to do spending more time reading with being a graduate student or not!
is it a waste of time to argue with you!! what does it have to do spending more time reading with being a graduate student or not!
How about you reread the title of this thread. See, that's why you're an undergrad.
Go back to your cave undergrad. You're not worthy.
good for you, you typed that well!
good for you, you typed that well!
That's because I'm a grad student.
That's because I'm a grad student.
:rofl::rofl::rofl:, sure uncle!
Hahahaha, yeah... My work hours resemble a exponential function... hehehe. They increase when it gets closer to my weekly meeting with my advisor. Funny thing, My "free day" starts right after the weekely meetings...
JasonRox
Jun8-09, 11:44 PM
I haven't been doing that much lately. I'm at probably 30 hours a week. I'm expecting it to get much much busier soon.
My supervisor has a visitor and has been really busy working on that. I read the papers he gave me. I even did some extra reading and still am. My whole day tomorrow will probably be extra reading, and then at night I will do some calculations. I'll do the random programs he asks me to write to test his conjectures and statements and stuff.
Right now, I don't teach either. I could have taken a teaching position but I passed. I passed because I knew the international students have a bigger need for it (they get less money). Yes, I passed a $27/hour part-time job for the good of other people. I have no troubles with money right now. I'm just bored. I've been planning more meetings with my supervisor, but he's so busy he has a hard time keeping up with my project as well. Plus, he's leaving in July and August.
.... I've been planning more meetings with my supervisor, but he's so busy he has a hard time keeping up with my project as well. Plus, he's leaving in July and August.
that reminds me :cry: my supervisor is leaving after 3 months, then I can only contact him by e-mail. I just hope I can finish my thesis before he leaves .. bheeeeeeeeee
I drink every day.
so you're awake now
get a grip of your self, will you
so you're awake now
get a grip of your self, will you
What are you talking about, man..........?
What are you talking about, man..........?
did you read the title of this thread, it didn’t mention anything about [drinking] in case you didn’t notice, who the hell would care if you drink or not!
did you read the title of this thread, it didn’t mention anything about [drinking] in case you didn’t notice, who the hell would care if you drink or not!
...........? I think I'm done talking with you for tonight, your starting to get weird.
...........? I think I'm done talking with you for tonight, your starting to get weird.
I see, still drunk, may the lord help you
sleep well
I drink every day.
I couldn't help myself today... I drank a Stella Artois hehe.
I couldn't help myself today... I drank a Stella Artois hehe.
There ok, but not my preferred type of beer. They are a bit on the bitter side, specially for a lager. I need to try a Duvel soon.
There ok, but not my preferred type of beer. They are a bit on the bitter side, specially for a lager. I need to try a Duvel soon.
I haven't tried a Duvel before. I'll try it next time.
mbuchove
Jun9-09, 09:47 AM
Hmm, so far I've got two extremes and no in between. It seems like people either have a very reasonable amount of work comparable to a normal 9-5 job, or they do almost nothing but work. Should I think it's just going to be chance, or is there some way I can get an idea of what a prospective program would involve?
Hmm, so far I've got two extremes and no in between. It seems like people either have a very reasonable amount of work comparable to a normal 9-5 job, or they do almost nothing but work. Should I think it's just going to be chance, or is there some way I can get an idea of what a prospective program would involve?
Really it's up to you how much time you want/need to spend. The TA work we get in my department usually takes 15 hours per week (once you learn not to spend too much time on grading). And then you've got three graduate level classes, each with about one assigment every two weeks. So I guess that averages out to effectively 1.5 homework assignments each week. For most normal people one assignment takes about 8 hours of work to finish. So I suppose you're up to 27 hours per week at minimum. Beyond that, it's up to you to decide how much more work you want to put in.
As for the poll results...let's just say that you might not have enough statistics.
As for the poll results...let's just say that you might not have enough statistics.
It will also depend on where in the world you are. For example, I don't count teaching as being "necessary to my degree," since any money I get for teaching is over and above my student stipend. Though, I know that in the US, for example, teaching is necessary in order to obtain your stipend.
Topher925
Jun9-09, 12:24 PM
I give props to anyone that puts in 80 hours a week. That's at least 11.5 hours a day, every day, including weekends. I get burnt out enough with just my typical 40 hours or so of work a week.
It will also depend on where in the world you are. For example, I don't count teaching as being "necessary to my degree," since any money I get for teaching is over and above my student stipend. Though, I know that in the US, for example, teaching is necessary in order to obtain your stipend.
I'm not sure how it is overseas, but at my department all graduate students are required to teach one year of physics or astronomy recitations as a PhD graduation requirement. Most of the condensed matter people are also required to do an additional year or two of teaching due to funding issues. My group (particle astrophysics) is well-funded, so I only had to teach for the one year, after which my advisor took me on as a research assistant. That's one of the reasons I can get away with 40 hours. I don't have to teach, and my advisor never lets me take more than one class a semester. And for the most part my research just involves sitting in front of a computer for 6 hours a day.
Office_Shredder
Jun9-09, 01:46 PM
I would also consider the fact that when people answer these kinds of questions they're possibly remembering the weeks where they had more work.
I think the teaching/grading requirement varies between schools and even departments because I've never taught nor graded any class work before (thank god). I have been invited to come in an give a lecture to my advisors class on my research for one day next semester though.
JasonRox
Jun9-09, 02:13 PM
I think the teaching/grading requirement varies between schools and even departments because I've never taught nor graded any class work before (thank god). I have been invited to come in an give a lecture to my advisors class on my research for one day next semester though.
I don't mind it considering my wages are going to be $30/hour next term. I get enough in scholarships. I don't mind working 10 hours week to get an extra $300 in my pocket every week.
Seriously, you have to be dumb to not want to do it.
I don't mind it considering my wages are going to be $30/hour next term. I get enough in scholarships. I don't mind working 10 hours week to get an extra $300 in my pocket every week.
Seriously, you have to be dumb to not want to do it.
Do you ever stop to think before you type? Students here don't get $30/hr to grade papers. I get paid the same amount as people do grading papers, to do my research. Why would I want to waste my time grading papers on top of my research?
JasonRox
Jun9-09, 02:22 PM
Do you ever stop to think before you type? Students here don't get $30/hr to grade papers. I get paid the same amount as people do grading papers, to do my research. Why would I want to waste my time grading papers on top of my research?
Exactly. Did you ever take the time to think that people here DON'T get paid the same grading papers and doing research...
Now, now.. let's all get along!
ExactlySolved
Jun9-09, 02:30 PM
If you want to play the homework game, it can easily consume every waking hour. I used to think of it like boot camp, except where you have to be your own drill seargant. During this time I also learned to become more efficient at cooking, eating, waking up, and going to bed, all while mentally working on homework problems.
Your clearly not a grad student if your 'free time' is devoted to physics.
That's not necessarily true, even before passing the quals I gave up on the HW game and forced myself to only start each set the day before the deadline because that way I would not spend undue time on them. Keep in mind that HW problems are, to me, meaningless busy work intended to perpetuate the sham of industrial education (some people say they derive benefit from 'practice', which is as strange to me as 'practicing' multiplication tables, something which puzzled me in grade school). Anyway, once I dedicated all the ex-HW time to reading physics articles in my new found 'free time' I quickly moved from teaching to doing research, so at least in my case it was the right thing to do. Therefore I think that, for some graduate students, it is healthy and normal to eschew HW in favor of having 'free time' that one then spends learning new, interesting physics.
Exactly. Did you ever take the time to think that people here DON'T get paid the same grading papers and doing research...
What part of my post:
I think the teaching/grading requirement varies between schools and even departments because I've never taught nor graded any class work before (thank god).
Did you not understand?
Topher925
Jun9-09, 03:09 PM
I don't mind it considering my wages are going to be $30/hour next term. I get enough in scholarships. I don't mind working 10 hours week to get an extra $300 in my pocket every week.
That is freaken nutz! Is that $30 American? I didn't even make that when I was an entry level engineer. What school do you go to Jason? I think I'm gonna transfer there.
Around here, everyone gets paid just about the same, whether they are an RA or not. This summer I'm an RA, TA, an unofficial TA for another class, and I'm covering two weeks of lectures for a 400 level class and yet I still make less than third of what you do. So yeah, I might put in 30 hours a week in pure TA/RA stuff and get paid the same as someone who only puts in 5 hours a week.
The same for me... If I TA or RA, I get paid the same!. I rather RA, because I don't have to deal with angry undergrads! :biggrin:
Basically, I'm in grad school to do research. Not teach. We are a top 10 research school.
There are those who do, and those who teach. Both are necessary, but are worlds apart. That's why I loved my class last semester that was taught out of NASA. Our teacher is a PhD, but not a professor. So all his homework problems were actual flight test data. There were no text book, waste my time homeworks. It was all actual problems he worked on before. Also, he didn't teach the class by deriving a single equation. He just gave concepts and discussed them. The learning was on your own time, which is what a good class should be like. I don't need someone rederiving for me whats already in the book as I mindlessly take notes. No one took notebooks to that class, we just sat there and listened. It was great.
Hmm, I must be the exception here. I actually enjoyed TAing for the one year that I did it. I wouldn't mind TAing again at some point in the future.
jackhamm
Aug16-09, 01:34 PM
Well, I am "part time" in an MS program doing physics. I work full time as an engineer at a software company and my breakdown is something like this:
Fr,S,Su - I work from 8 to 4 then do studying for 4 to 5 hours at night.
M,W I am on campus from 9 to 6 (class 3:00 to 5:00) with another 2hrs of study at home.
T,Th I work 8 to 4 with class from 6p to 10p
About 30 to 36 hours of school related stuff each week. I am lucky that my day job is really shift work even though it is a "professional" job - I don't have meetings or things to bring home with me which really helps.
cronxeh
Aug17-09, 08:56 AM
Yes.. lets have grad student fight with calipers.. First one to forfeit wins a week's supply of cup Ramen Noodles!
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