How many hours a week do you spend in grad school?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the time commitment required for physics graduate school, with participants sharing their experiences and weekly hours spent on coursework, teaching, and research. Many report spending between 30 to over 80 hours a week, depending on their specific roles and responsibilities. The workload varies significantly by individual circumstances, such as teaching obligations and research demands. Some students find themselves working long hours, especially close to deadlines or meetings, while others manage a more balanced schedule. There is also a recognition that teaching requirements differ by institution, impacting overall time spent on academic duties. Participants emphasize the importance of finding a personal balance that suits their study habits and lifestyle, with some expressing a preference for research over teaching. The conversation reflects a mix of humor and camaraderie, highlighting the challenges and realities of graduate life in physics.

How many hours do you spend in a typical week of physics grad school?

  • <30

    Votes: 1 8.3%

  • 30-40

    Votes: 1 8.3%

  • 40-50

    Votes: 3 25.0%

  • 50-60

    Votes: 1 8.3%

  • 60-70

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 70-80

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • >80

    Votes: 6 50.0%
  • Total voters
    12
  • Poll closed .
mbuchove
Messages
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0
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.
 
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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.
 
mbuchove said:
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.
 
Last edited:
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.
 
Moonbear said:
"All of them,"

That probably says it best!
 
Moonbear said:
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.
 
  • #10
arunma said:
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.

:smile: This thread is starting to read like one of the PhD Comics. :smile:
 
  • #11
I’d say most of my free time devoted for physics, so sure it's >80.
 
  • #12
drizzle said:
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.
 
  • #13
Cyrus said:
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 interest
 
  • #14
drizzle said:
well does it have to be for study?! what about interest

Did you read my post?
 
  • #15
Cyrus said:
Did you read my post?

why don't spell it out!
 
  • #16
drizzle said:
why don't spell it out!

If you can't understand my post, again, clearly not a grad student. Go back to your cave undergrad. You're not worthy.
 
  • #17
Cyrus said:
If you can't 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!
 
  • #18
drizzle said:
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.
 
  • #19
Cyrus said:
Go back to your cave undergrad. You're not worthy.


good for you, you typed that well!
 
  • #20
drizzle said:
good for you, you typed that well!

That's because I'm a grad student.
 
  • #21
Cyrus said:
That's because I'm a grad student.

:smile::smile::smile:, sure uncle!
 
  • #22
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...
 
  • #23
I drink every day.
 
  • #24
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.
 
  • #25
JasonRox said:
... 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
 
  • #26
Cyrus said:
I drink every day.









so you're awake now

get a grip of your self, will you
 
  • #27
drizzle said:
so you're awake now

get a grip of your self, will you

What are you talking about, man...?
 
  • #28
Cyrus said:
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!
 
  • #29
drizzle said:
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.
 
  • #30
Cyrus said:
...? 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
 
  • #31
Cyrus said:
I drink every day.

I couldn't help myself today... I drank a Stella Artois hehe.
 
  • #32
Cyclovenom said:
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.
 
  • #33
Cyrus said:
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.
 
  • #34
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?
 
  • #35
mbuchove said:
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.
 
  • #36
arunma said:
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.
 
  • #37
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.
 
  • #38
cristo said:
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 let's 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.
 
  • #39
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.
 
  • #40
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.
 
  • #41
Cyrus said:
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.
 
  • #42
JasonRox said:
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?
 
  • #43
Cyrus said:
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...
 
  • #44
Now, now.. let's all get along!
 
  • #45
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.
 
  • #46
JasonRox said:
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?
 
  • #47
JasonRox said:
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 going to 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.
 
  • #48
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:
 
  • #49
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 textbook, 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 what's 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.
 
  • #50
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.
 

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