I know i am frustrated....It's been 3 years and i don't know when i'll get done. Maybe another 2-3 Years.
I feel like quiting my PhD and find a job or do something else.

This Biology PhD is just killing me. Now i have realized i chosed the wrong path.

I google some of my friends who finished undergraduate with me and are making pretty good money with just Bachelors or Masters Degree. I am stuck here looking at insects all day in my lab.


Are you frsustrated as well ?

What else can i do?

I understand your frustation, but look at it in another way - there is no short cut in life. Looking at how much money they make is only going to fuel your frustation. So do not put your feet in their shoes - it will not fit - making money is only one fraction of this whole life....there are much more in life where you may be ahead of them. If you ask them I am pretty sure they want something that you have....only human nature. True story - I have a millionaire buddy who wishes he had PhD because he always wanted it but could not - I have another friend he makes a decent $$ but has a broken family.....being content and not complaining helps a lot.

Now you are so close to getting it done - just get it done. It is very important to finish what you have started - this is the identity of a real person - trust me - you will be a front runner later in life. If you quit now - you will quit again because you will find something better. So its better for you to replan your PhD and take the problem and turn it into a passion. Come on man - there are people who will kill to be in your situation so embrace it and move forward with it. Also if you find another hobby (photography, sports, music lesson) of sort that will ease your frustation.

I was in a similar situation for a long time - wanted to quit my studies and jump in the same boat as others but my hunch told me to continue a path that I was in - looking back perhaps this path has been the best for me - and I tell this to others.

Imagine people callin you "hey Doc" - that will be a nice feeling to have.....not everyone gets that honor - at that point you'll be glad that you've earned it man.......go for it man - DO NOT QUIT....... GET IT DONE.....make yourself proud. I hope I helped you here.

नेपालीहरुको पी एच दि गर्ने पनि अनेक कारण हुने रैछ| दशैं पार्टीमा एक जना भलादमी भेटेको वहाको २ वोटा मास्टर्स अनि अहिले दोस्रो पी एच दि गर्दै रे| आफ्नो एस एल सी फेल भाको दिमाग अचम्म मान्दै थियो त्येत्तिकैमा अर्को भलादमीले मेरो कान मा आएर स्टाटस नमिलेर आजीवन कलेजमा बस्न सक्छ वहा भनेर भन्दा खेरि यो जिन्दगि मा के के मात्र देख्नु सुन्नु पर्ने हो जस्तो पो लाग्यो
 
हजुरहरुलाई अग्रिम बधाई छ

Compare yourself to the ones in worse situations. Compare yourself to the under-priviledged ones back home, the underpaid Nepali workers in the middle-east. When you compare yourself to the ones who're in seemingly better positions than yourself, you're likely to get frustrated. 

If you can, stop comparing. Period. 

slc pass nagarne haru nai thula thula businessman bhayera sansar hakeka chan, bokaman ji chahi ke gardaini?

This is the scenario many Phds go through during their time.

However, one should also look at this with a pragmatic approach. Ask yourself: Why are you doing Ph.D.? Was it because you were passionate about Biological research? Or was it you thought you'd make more money? or as someone mentioned above, you want to hear people call you HEY DOC? haha!

If you're really passionate about research, what you're experiencing is not uncommon. When things start to work out, you'll feel your positive vibes come in. It's only a matter of time, but you'll finish it! Perhaps you'll continue on this path of scientific discovery and be very happy.

However, if you think you'll make more money after Ph.D, I will guarantee you, you'll be much more frustrated than you're now. Post doc doesn't pay much and for industry, Ph.D doesn't count as research (so you'll prolly be getting paid less than people with lower qualifications)Not to mention the limitation that comes with your visa status. And the last person you should be getting advice on this matter would be your PI and colleagues in the field (They all have this myopic vision on only how their research will change this world)

Once you've figured out the above two, you can make a short term plan. Have an exit strategy if you're leaving, if you're close to graduating, finish it but while you're finishing, make contacts and network with people in the field and industry, that you'll eventually want to go upon. YOu say you're in your third year, its about time to start networking anyways!

I know lot of us get into Ph.D without really understanding what the Ph.D entails. its not your fault :). One can't understand its nuances till you get into it.Good luck!

guy_tensed:

If your main goal was to make money then YES you have chosed the wrong path and you're doomed !

You don't do PhD thinking that you'll make tons of money.

You do PhD if you have a passion for something.

These days there are many Nepali students who enroll in PhD program right after Undergraduate just to maintain status for a longer period of time.

If you're really interested in doing some research and love working in labs then PhD is the right thing to do. I don't really care whether you're called "Doctors" or not...Its not a big deal...Maybe if it was years ago you'd have got lots of respect.

Medical doctors used to get lots of repect few years ago until China/Bangaladesh/Phillipines produced enromous amount of Nepali doctors who had only passmarks in SLC and I.SC. So, there are two types of people (one: really brilliant and interested, two: just to get the fame and not  interested)

I assume you're one of those who's not really interested and want to make money.
My suggestion: Quit the program, enroll in some IT coursework , get some training and start making 100K !

Face the Reality: Most Scientists or Researchers don't even have an office in the company when they land a job !
All they'll get is a Bench and some Lab.

Do you like it ? Yes---> you're good doing PhD.

No ? ---> Quit the program and move on.

Very good suggestions/advice from US_returnee.
PhD or Not PhD: I think it is one of the easiest question.

Harsh Yet Realistic Opinion by US Returnee .

Few days ago, i was doing some analysis for one of the Researcher and he came to me and said, "I shouldn't have studied Biology" and he asked me some "SAS Programming Books" (I am in the field of SAS !)

the only I can say is THE GRASS IS GRENNER ON THE OTHER SIDE.
there is no shoes like one size fits all, so wht one is good at wont be good at all to others.

some ppl want have clear mind and will be great in doing phd while others dont know anything might understands more by working and they can be smart ass after few yrs.

so I will say is one size doesnt fits all.

I agree with US_returnee. And I am also in the same dilemma, PhD or not PhD, eventhough I have not started it yet. But I am gonna take some time before doing or not doing it. 

guy_tensed,
As you are working on insects, think about them once.
Ant, spider and any other insects. They are all struggling for survival. Think how beautiful and amazing the nature is. How hard is to knit that web for a spider.
You are in the middle phase now like a Caterpillar. Wait for the day to come when you will become a beautiful and colorful butterfly and fly under the blue sky.

ONLY waiting does not work here. You need to survive that phase of CHANGING. The day will come and you will realize it was worth doing it!

As GoolayLEE mentioned, "find another hobby (photography, sports, music lesson) of sort that will ease your frustration". Well, I

.....I just bought a camera yesterday to capture some beautiful moments this winter (I am in the same boat as you are)

Good Luck!

खुट्टा भए सम्म जति पनि जुत्ता हुन्छ.

 not me :) 

I am sure most of you PhD students know it, but phdcomics.com has great comics giving you the feeling..oh not only me this happens to everybody. I think this is true for most to-be-docs and is the matter of magnitude and time. and yes, if your project is going wel, you will feel a lot better and if project goes bad, exactly same feeling.

But best thing we can do is I guess, enjoy what you are doing and make some outside hobby, like sports, music. We did not do our PhD to make money, a decent money will follow anyway later. Think of long term..may be for betterment of human life overall.

frustration whatttttttttttttttttt

just imagine a nepalese in nepal, they are dying to just step here

all guruba from pure science , like physics, chemistry, biology, literature, social science spent their rest life here just by studying, just becoming student so that they can hv better pay than in nepal (assuming they make 20-25 grand at the most), over here $15-2000 per month
and u say u r frustrated to spent 2 more yrs
bro there is a light out of tunnel, rethink

just indulge in extra activities like voluntering in community , sports so that u can divert ur ass off, :)
good luck in the mean time

I have a buddy in Kathmandu who is MD in Pediatrics, a medical doctor in his early 30s. He makes around 80 thousands a months- no hectic schedule, and is based in Kathmandu. If he is willing to go outside KTM, he can make more. He is talented and dedicated, i can see a very bright future for him.
His GUNASO, he has not been able to make as much as his banker buddies who were his classmates during his +2/ISc days, were way below him interms of academic standing and did their MBA from India. They make as much as 2 lakhs a month.
So, manche ko jaat lai jati bhayepani pugdaina paisa le. If you are doing what you like and living a descent life, you should be happy.

 Education can not compare to other topics.education is education.no doubt.but if you compare with money,its a bad idea.Don't worry brother ,you chose 1000% right path.and good luck.our wishes always with you brother.