I’m a grad school dropout November 20, 2006
Posted by Niels in : Graduate school, Personal , trackbackActually, I was already a grad school dropout. When I took this semester off because my internship ran late, I technically withdrew from Berkeley. If I went back this spring, I would have had to apply for readmission. It would have been a formality, but still a bit of red tape that I would have had to deal with.
But after a great deal of thought, I’ve decided not to come back to school in the spring. I came to grad school in the first place because my job offers coming out of college simply didn’t appeal to me. Once in grad school, I realized that I wasn’t going to end up in academia, leaving research in industry as the obvious choice. But my summer internship made it clear I wasn’t happy there, either. In retrospect, perhaps I should have seen this coming, given how miserable I was at all my previous internships in industry, from Cray to ViaSat to Army Research Labs.
More to the point, I looked at the people around me at work and couldn’t see any role models. There wasn’t anyone with a lifestyle that I could look at and say, “Wow, I hope I end up like him.”
So I had a talk with my advisor today, and he agreed that taking a break from grad school is a good option for me now. He was incredibly supportive and told me that life was too short to finish a Ph.D. just for the sake of finishing a Ph.D. Plus, I’m still young. Life doesn’t have to follow a linear path.
Having such a supportive advisor actually makes me want to stay longer.
But that’s that. I’m done with grad school for the time being. Perhaps I’ll discover what I want to do and realize that I really need a Ph.D. after all. And I’ll come back motivated to finish, which will make the work much more pleasant. Or maybe I’ll find my true calling and learn that I’ve been in the wrong line of work all this time. The next phase of my life is a blank slate and I’m excited.
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I don’t know you and I don’t know your situation, and what unmotivated you from completing your studies, but this sounds on the face of it to be a profoundly silly reason. You could find no one with the lifestyle you could emulate or perhpas enjoy in the future? You’ve never met any ’swinging’ , and/or hard drinking scientists who love to party? Is that it? So you’ve led a sheltered life, and most of those guys regrettably are passing from the scene, (in one way or another). This is no real excuse to toss a ’sure bet’ 2 yr. (!) Berkley Ph.D.! Where’s your mind gone man? Are you pulling down 50K+ a year doing all this dating stuff? Because if you are you might also be the first one to do that too. Yeah the girls are hotter on the outside. It is ever thus, right? Another brilliant mind lost to the silly PUA movement! That seems really silly to me. Cheers, ‘VJ’
As someone who knows Niels very well, I whole heartedly disagree, VJ. I think life is too short to pursue a degree just for the paper. Perhaps what’s not coming across in this blog, is that Niels isn’t quitting his PhD for a life as a dating coach. It just happens to be a hobby that actually pays a bit while he is planning his next step.
As for meeting people with a lifestyle you would want, I think that is a great way to assess whether you are on a path that aligns with your goals. If you can’t see anyone around you, a mentor, friend, teacher, who has something you want, why follow in their footsteps?
A PhD from Berkeley is highly respected, to be sure. But to spend two years of your life doing something you don’t enjoy, just for academic credentials sake, is silly. He doesn’t seem to want to go into academia, nor industry (in his current field), so why finish the degree? High end academia is FULL of people working towards degrees they don’t know why they want. After all, if you’re an academic, it’s easier to stay in school than try to clarify your life goals. People assume you’re up to something good, and don’t question your path. I applaud those who are comfortable enough that they don’t need the outside support. These people take leaps based on their inner motivations, despite the fact that it’s hard for anyone else to understand.
People say “So-and-so will be successful in anything they do.” But with Niels, I really believe it’s true. He’s focused, brilliant, hard-workinng and open-minded. I think it’ll be hard to go wrong, PhD, or no PhD.
It’s interesting in the comment above how people can pass judgment on a situation or person that they aren’t completely familiar with. If you were smart enough to get into the PhD program at Berkeley, I’m sure you’re smart enough to realize that this may not be the right course for you…right now. Life is too short to toil around in something that doesn’t excite you, yet you do it “just because.”
Thanks for stopping by my blog yesterday and for your comment:)
As a former grad student who went through a phase of serious questioning about her degree (but decided ultimately to finish), I fully support your decision to move on if you’re not feelin’ it for your chosen field. Grad school’s hard enough without all that ambivalence!
Besides, you seem like such a social guy to be an electrical engineer ;-)
Hi, Niels. As I am currently a freshman in college and having to decide on a major soon, what advice would you give me and others who are in the same situation on choosing an appropriate major? Given that you had chosen EE as your major and then realized you hated it in grad school, what advice could you give that would help others avoid ending up the same way? I don’t want to choose a major because it sounds practical and then end up hating it like you. Thanks.
By the way, how is life for you after BATG? Have people recognized you?
Niels, check out “Healing the Purpose of Your Life” by Dennis Linn. Very thin easy to read book. I think you’re on the right track. FYI, we crossed paths two years ago at ModCom.
Maybe God has other plans for you. Sometimes where we think we want to be isn’t where were suppose to be.
Hi Niels,
After reading your story it got me thinking, whether i should spend half of my life studying or trying to go outside and do something that i like. I’m currently doing my final undergrade year and going to do my master soon.
I did think of doing a PhD in the future to do some research and most probably find works afterwards. But it did get me thinking whether i should do research my whole life or do something that i’m passionate with. I do like doing research but to do it my whole life, it just sounded depressing. Being brought up by parents who always said “Get good grades and good degrees so that you can get good jobs” it is tough for me to come up with a decision. I don’t want to disappoint them but i also don’t want to end up in a path that i don’t enjoy.
Did u come up with the decision yourself? Did your parents support you all the way?
i’m lost, i hope you can give me some advice in it
thanks
Niels,
I too just left my Phd after getting the Masters. Unless you’ve been there, you cant understand how much it can suck.
I am currently working full time and going through a PhD Program and it is tough. A PhD Program requires a lot of time and effort. On the average it take about 7 years to complete the PhD program. In regarts to Angela’s comment, getting good grades and good degrees does not translate into good jobs. And more importantly it does not in any way mean good pay. What you need to decide is academia and/or research what you want to do for your career? Yes it is nice to get PhD with a few letters before and after your name but in the long run you must do what makes you happy and no one else. I have decided to leave my program because I fell for the facade of “PhD is great to get and will open doors”. Its stressful, time consuming and for 5-7 years that will be your whole life.
You have to really decide what you will be using the PHD for. To spend 7 years in school to have acrynms after you name is not worth it, However, if you are the type who enjoys doing research go for it. I am in my last semester of grad school, and i have to tell you a graduate degree is all you need.