| Topic Name: |
How do you deal with stress? Help? |
| Message Name: |
Don't waste time and money |
| Date Posted: |
02/05/2002 |
| In Reply To: |
wayman:
I've just begun the first job search of my career, and on one of my first stops I find an eloquent statement of my own position. It's remarkably similar. Yet my problems are in grad school in astrophysics.
Do you, now having this industry experience as well as grad school experience, have any advice for me? This request isn't entirely self-centered. Perhaps looking at a situation similar to yours and attempting to construct some advice on the proper path, you will find you will be able to think more objectively and help solve your own problems in the process. And I gotta tell ya, I'm as desperate and miserable as you are.
I've just finished my masters at a very well respected university, but find myself increasingly unable to force myself to do work that I find insanely boring. I got into the wrong field, and now I feel stuck. The Director of Grad Studies has even called me into his office to express his concern that my work, while passable, is not nearly up to the level that they expected. And that I don't seem to show any interest in the field.
Now what do I do? He's right, and I'm worn out. I've been thinking of either starting grad school over in physics proper (not astrophysics), or getting a consulting job.
Unfortuantely, much like yourself I imagine, the only thing that can properly express my feelings right now is a long, colorful string of explitives, which you may consider deleted below.
Best,
Andy |
| Message: |
Gone are the days of being a freshman undergrad who??s clueless as to a major or to the overwhelming new college environment. Back then we could somewhat afford to be clueless for a year. We could withdraw from a class or two and still not jeopardize graduation. Things were much simpler then, they were easier and less stressful mainly because deep down inside we knew that we had a 4-year long road ahead of us before we had to make real life decisions. We also knew that mistakes made could probably be fixed by the time we graduated. A lot of things just seemed inconsequential.
Now we're in the major leagues, where every step may have grand repercussions, where time is precious, where your life is measured in years instead of semesters or credits. I know what I'd do different if I could go back to early senior year in high school. I wouldn't have gone to the same school, I would have changed majors, and I definitely wouldn't have accepted that last tequila shot at my fraternity Christmas party sophomore year.
Grad school is no joke. First off, grad students are held to a much higher standard. Anything less than a 3.3 in grad school may raise questions. Second, you're surrounded by people who are extremely motivated and very bright which means you've got to perform or you'll be the black sheep of the department. Third, grad school is hard work and a lot less fun socially, which is a stark contrast to undergrad. If you compound all of these things with the fact that you don't even want to be there, then you've got a serious problem. Also, unlike a job, your lack of performance in grad school is easily quantifiable and permanent. As I so eloquently stated before, time is crucial now. You can't afford to waste a few years of your life, and you shouldn't, not at 25 or 65.
You said you don't like what you do. You mentioned jumping into straight physics. Don't change for the sake of change. Make sure that the next step you take is one that is right for you. Take the time to do the soul searching and examine your options and desires carefully. You do not want to jump out of your current situation into one that is just as bad if not worse. You??ll be wasting more time and likely pissing people off. You can't really afford to block out a 1-2 year period of your life to a future interviewer because you know that the mere mention of it would invoke a flurry of poor recommendations.
It is true that I hate my job. I can't wait for the day that I am able to leave here. But I know that I can't jump at the first decent opportunity that comes my way. The goal here is to find the right fit for me, not to just change to something else and pass time.
My advice to you is to try and leave your current program at the next available opportunity. Sit down with your advisor and level with him/her. Be honest and straight-forward. Your advisor should appreciate your honesty and courage. Of course, your advisor could also be of the variety that thinks that this particular field of study is the best thing out there and doesn't understand why anyone would want anything different.
When you come to grips with everything and realize that this is what you need to do, then you need to think about what your options are. What do you want to do? Like grad school, consulting is not for everyone. It sounds like you've got a great education which helps you out, so don't dirty what you've got so far with a bad move now, and it sounds like staying where you are would be a bad move.
I can't help you decide what you should move on to, but I can encourage you to start the process of making the move. Talk to people whose advice you trust.
When you've done the initial due diligence and come to a conclusion then you should talk with your advisor.
Your first step is to sit and think in between smashing sub-atomic particles. Once you get the ball rolling for real, you'll be surprised what you come up with.
Good luck Andy.
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