Ahhh thanks for the kind comments friends!
Was talking to DB last night and am thinking of conferences I might like to go to in Sept/Nov and writing a couple of journal articles...
Next year (when little bubs is one) I might approach the local uni and see if my dept has any need of me...
I think I love my field too much to leave :) :)
A poster asked what the merits of doing a PhD are, particularly if one doesn't want to go into academia... In answer I can only say that to do a PhD you have to really want one. You have to want to study your topic (research proposal) soooooooooooooooooo much, it has to be a hobby. Extrinsic rewards are, obviously, the kudos of being a 'Dr', and the payrise likely to follow completion. If you don't want to be an academic then there are a multitude of transferable skills that would be brilliant on any cv/resume: completion of a project (you are a starter-finisher) over years, project management skills, research skills, communication skills, writing of a thesis, dealing with people from all walks of life, presentation skills... just broad brushstrokes for starters.
However, basically you have to want to do it because you think your topic is brilliant, really interesting, and because other people (partners and supervisors) really want you to do it too. Support for the dark times is essential.
Apart from that, I think doing a PhD is a very personal experience and something that, until you do it, you just cannot predict whether it would be a good idea or not (not helpful I know) :) And I could not tell someone whether it would be a good idea for them! I do know that I have a friend who is going to do a PhD after he has done his MSc and I do think, when he talks about it, how happy I am I have done it and sort of cringe a bit for him at the hideous mountains he has yet to climb while studying so bloody hard. Ug it is hard work.
However, I am so proud of the knowledge I have and actually feel a bit useful now I am out of the PhD process. And because I have my title and thesis it won't go away - I will always be able to know that I did something amazing once :) And this is turning into a new confidence - I feel independent and 'grown-up' and actually, now the pressure is off, quite want to do conferences... and write a couple of papers and, who knows, I might apply for a job or two and see what happens...
:) Watch this space!
x J
Was talking to DB last night and am thinking of conferences I might like to go to in Sept/Nov and writing a couple of journal articles...
Next year (when little bubs is one) I might approach the local uni and see if my dept has any need of me...
I think I love my field too much to leave :) :)
A poster asked what the merits of doing a PhD are, particularly if one doesn't want to go into academia... In answer I can only say that to do a PhD you have to really want one. You have to want to study your topic (research proposal) soooooooooooooooooo much, it has to be a hobby. Extrinsic rewards are, obviously, the kudos of being a 'Dr', and the payrise likely to follow completion. If you don't want to be an academic then there are a multitude of transferable skills that would be brilliant on any cv/resume: completion of a project (you are a starter-finisher) over years, project management skills, research skills, communication skills, writing of a thesis, dealing with people from all walks of life, presentation skills... just broad brushstrokes for starters.
However, basically you have to want to do it because you think your topic is brilliant, really interesting, and because other people (partners and supervisors) really want you to do it too. Support for the dark times is essential.
Apart from that, I think doing a PhD is a very personal experience and something that, until you do it, you just cannot predict whether it would be a good idea or not (not helpful I know) :) And I could not tell someone whether it would be a good idea for them! I do know that I have a friend who is going to do a PhD after he has done his MSc and I do think, when he talks about it, how happy I am I have done it and sort of cringe a bit for him at the hideous mountains he has yet to climb while studying so bloody hard. Ug it is hard work.
However, I am so proud of the knowledge I have and actually feel a bit useful now I am out of the PhD process. And because I have my title and thesis it won't go away - I will always be able to know that I did something amazing once :) And this is turning into a new confidence - I feel independent and 'grown-up' and actually, now the pressure is off, quite want to do conferences... and write a couple of papers and, who knows, I might apply for a job or two and see what happens...
:) Watch this space!
x J
