PhD Dilemma: Choosing Between Two Offers

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the challenges faced by a PhD student in theoretical physics who is reconsidering their choice of research topic and advisor. The participant expresses feelings of disillusionment with their current work and contemplates the implications of potentially changing their research focus or advisor, as well as the possibility of reapplying to a different PhD program.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • One participant reflects on losing passion for their research and considers whether to continue or switch topics, expressing regret over their initial choice.
  • Another participant shares their own experience of disliking their research post-graduation and suggests that the original poster should discuss their lack of inspiration with their advisor.
  • There are suggestions that changing advisors could be beneficial if the current situation does not improve.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of reapplying to a new PhD program, including the potential for unemployment and the challenges of returning to student status.
  • One participant notes that many universities may not accept students who already hold a doctorate, prompting a question about which universities have such policies.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of experiences and opinions regarding the decision to change research topics or advisors. There is no clear consensus on the best course of action, as some advocate for open discussions with advisors while others emphasize the importance of pursuing more interesting research opportunities.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the emotional and professional implications of their choices, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding career paths in academia and the potential long-term effects of their decisions.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for current PhD students facing similar dilemmas regarding their research direction, advisor relationships, or considerations about changing programs.

theophys2009
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hi everyone,
I'm in the first year of my PhD in theoretical physics. I had to make a choice between three institutions/subjects last year, and I am starting to think that I made the completely wrong choice. Basically I was hestitating between two of my offers - one of which was exactly what I thought would be my field of choice and more theoretical, but location-wise not ideal (esp. as I wanted to live with my girlfriend), while the other was broader, a bit more 'unknown territory', but I finally chose it as I thought it wouldn't make that much of a difference subject-wise. Research now is not going bad, we're posting our first paper soon, but somehow I've lost all my passion for what I'm doing. I noticed this when I realized that I don't like talking about my work anymore - usually I love explaining what I'm working on and I've always had pretty precise ideas of what kind of work I enjoy in theoretical physics, but this isn't the case at all anymore. I still think what my supervisor does is interesting, and I like his down-to-earth/interested/varied approach to theophys. But it is not the kind of work that I had hoped to pursue, and now I wish more and more I had taken the other offer last year. I'm almost considering quitting and applying again, but I suppose that would mean I loose 2 years. Or I continue this PhD, hoping it gets better and hope to apply for postdocs that allow me to go more theoretical / more into the stuff I feel I'm interested in and good at. I just don't want to do anything drastic as it wouldn't be great for my relationship with my supervisor. Has anyone been in this kind of situation before?
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I started hating my research about the time we started publishing. I have since graduated, and I hate my research topic so much now that I have not applied to any post doc in that research area. I have been applying to different research areas that I didn't think would be too far-fetched, but so far only rejections. I wish that I would have taken the opportunity to change to a more interesting research topic while I was still a grad student (i.e. while they were still paying me, even if it was in bird crap). And that means, I wish that I would have changed my advisor, even after 3 years of working with him.

If you really do still find your advisor's research interesting, you need to have a thorough discussion with him/her about why you are working on the most uninteresting part of his/her research, or at least both of you try to figure out why you are not being inspired/challenged. Maybe you need to take on more responsibility? If that doesn't work, then I would change advisor in your situation. It is nothing (necessarily) personal against your advisor, and it is better in the long run for both you and your advisor to avoid the situation that I'm in right now, I think.
 
turin said:
I started hating my research about the time we started publishing. I have since graduated, and I hate my research topic so much now that I have not applied to any post doc in that research area. I have been applying to different research areas that I didn't think would be too far-fetched, but so far only rejections. I wish that I would have taken the opportunity to change to a more interesting research topic while I was still a grad student (i.e. while they were still paying me, even if it was in bird crap). And that means, I wish that I would have changed my advisor, even after 3 years of working with him.

If you really do still find your advisor's research interesting, you need to have a thorough discussion with him/her about why you are working on the most uninteresting part of his/her research, or at least both of you try to figure out why you are not being inspired/challenged. Maybe you need to take on more responsibility? If that doesn't work, then I would change advisor in your situation. It is nothing (necessarily) personal against your advisor, and it is better in the long run for both you and your advisor to avoid the situation that I'm in right now, I think.

You can always reapply to another PhD progrmme but in an interesting one this time, I understand that the prospect of getting back to a student status isn't ideal, but being unemployed at 31 isn't as well...
 
MathematicalPhysicist said:
You can always reapply to another PhD progrmme but in an interesting one this time, I understand that the prospect of getting back to a student status isn't ideal, but being unemployed at 31 isn't as well...

Most universities will not take on doctoral students who already hold a doctorate.
 
cristo said:
Most universities will not take on doctoral students who already hold a doctorate.

Which are the most universities?
 

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