The more I do this PhD thing, the more I learn. Don’t confuse this with being trained in your field; that stuff you learn in a post-doc. PhD learning is about learning how to get through a PhD. Unfortunately, I’m not proving to be the best learner in this area… I’m too determined to actually gain something from my experience and catching on a little too late.
Today’s lesson: there is a reason why PhD students do not do independent research. PhD students are better off piggy-backing something on a Professor’s work agenda because that is THE ONLY WAY TO GET ANY F&%$*!NG attention.
If I weren’t okay with just charging ahead on my own with no direction whatsoever, or practiced at getting feedback and advice from other areas (read: other universities, departments, persons outside my chair), then nothing in my degree program would ever happen.
Christoph | 29-Jan-08 at 6:57 pm | Permalink
There should be a two tracks for PhD … an academic track, and a professional or entrepreneural track for students who are motivated to innovate. Otherwise a PhD or master’s program simply becomes a cheap labor pool for professor’s use and benefit. I think revolution is in order here. I would like to think that I won’t share your experiences in grad school, but I’d probably be thinking hella wrong.
So I’ll practice my Pout. That’s so cute. I’ve been practicing my spineless flop and poking my lips out like a camel. It’s all the rage now.