Has anyone dropped out of a PhD program (or contemplated it)?

I am not in a Phd program so I can't answer your question. I would like to encourage you to do a few things before quitting. It is true that over time our aspirations and goals can change. I would think about why you wanted the Phd in the first place and is that "feeling" still there. Think about why you want to quit. Find the root. Is it because it is hard, trouble with an advisor, are you burnt out. I can tell you that in my life I have this habit of starting things and when I get about 75% done I quit. I made a promise to myself I wouldn't do that when I started nursing school. As an African American male I don't see people of color in management. As such, I never apply for those jobs even though my co-workers and managers keep encouraging me. I would hate for you to be blocking yourself from getting the phd because you are scared and can't see yourself as a doctor.  If you truly don't want it anymore step away without shame or regret. Hold your head high and say I am done with that phase and am on to something new. If you aren't sure keep pressing on. Maybe pick back up an old hobby as stress relief. Try and restore some balance. Talk to some of your fellow students or your advisor. You can't be the only one. Whatever you decide make the decision from a position of power and not out of fear. Not from a place of what if this and what if that and I can't see how this will work..... blah blah blah. Focus on the end goal and if you goal has changed that is fine. Good luck. ?

On 2/17/2022 at 5:16 AM, m4howie said:

I am not in a Phd program so I can't answer your question. I would like to encourage you to do a few things before quitting. It is true that over time our aspirations and goals can change. I would think about why you wanted the Phd in the first place and is that "feeling" still there. Think about why you want to quit. Find the root. Is it because it is hard, trouble with an advisor, are you burnt out. I can tell you that in my life I have this habit of starting things and when I get about 75% done I quit. I made a promise to myself I wouldn't do that when I started nursing school. As an African American male I don't see people of color in management. As such, I never apply for those jobs even though my co-workers and managers keep encouraging me. I would hate for you to be blocking yourself from getting the phd because you are scared and can't see yourself as a doctor.  If you truly don't want it anymore step away without shame or regret. Hold your head high and say I am done with that phase and am on to something new. If you aren't sure keep pressing on. Maybe pick back up an old hobby as stress relief. Try and restore some balance. Talk to some of your fellow students or your advisor. You can't be the only one. Whatever you decide make the decision from a position of power and not out of fear. Not from a place of what if this and what if that and I can't see how this will work..... blah blah blah. Focus on the end goal and if you goal has changed that is fine. Good luck. ?

 

Thank you so much @m4howie. I really appreciate your perspective and your thoughtful response -- this is really helpful and gives me a lot to think about. I'll have to do some more introspection and think about what I want. And I hope that you will apply for those management jobs!

I think the person who commented before me has some great advice! But, if your needs and desires aren't being fulfilled and you don't think you will be truly happy with the end result then drop out. I started a DNP-FNP program and was 3 semesters in before I dropped out. I couldn't see myself in that role for the rest of my career. Yes, I was burnt out from finishing my Masters, but if would have kept going, I would have been more burnt out and not happy with it in the long run. I guess I did it because it was an easy transition from my Masters and some of friends from that program proceeded with it. I took a couple years of from school and enjoyed working bedside in the ICU- just learning and gaining experience. Now, I am in my 3rd semester of CRNA school and I am glad I dropped out. This is definitely a lot harder than FNP school, but I am enjoying the challenge and being able to draw upon my ICU experience to help me think critically makes it worth it.  SO, bottom line, do what is best for you and not worry about meeting anyone's Expectations but your own. Or go part-time if you just need a little break from academics and re-charge. School will always be there, so take of yourself- mentally and physically. 

Thank you so much @HamRN_13. I really appreciate your perspective and the validation. It's great to know that after you dropped out, you found a different program that fit better, probably in terms of career-wise and timing. That definitely gives me something to think about.

I dropped out after the first semester and did not look back for the following reasons:

1. There was a lot of pressure from my academic job to obtain a doctorate but zero financial or scheduling support.

2. I was sitting 20 hours a day on the computer.

3. As a result of #2 I would have no life for the next 10 years (in addition to the past 20 years I had been in school).

4. I would have been broke paying all that tuition. Someone suggested quitting my FT job and becoming a TA. Not doing that either.

5. I had just turned 61 and where was the return on investment?

6. I would have had to stop volunteering/donating for the causes I support. That would have taken away from my spiritual side.

7. I would still have the same job title and salary.

I still wanted to do research and be able to think like a scholar, which I miss. But not pull enough.

I laughed when I read the title of the thread! EVERYONE thinks about quitting a PhD program. I’m convinced that completing  a PhD is primarily a sign of persistence. The reason I didn’t quit is because I never have quit anything I’ve started. For quite awhile I wasn’t sure it was worth it, but now I think it was. It’s opened doors and is universally respected. 

1 hour ago, loveanesthesia said:

I laughed when I read the title of the thread! EVERYONE thinks about quitting a PhD program. I’m convinced that completing  a PhD is primarily a sign of persistence. 
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I agree it takes a lot of persistence to continue, and there are rewards.

I however believe in smart decision making. If the intrinsic and extrinsic rewards of a course of action are enough, go ahead and persist, otherwise plan a smart exit.

Four years down the road I am retired without regrets. I  have used my resources for things more worthwhile than a PhD, and smelling the roses.

On 9/10/2022 at 3:09 PM, loveanesthesia said:

I laughed when I read the title of the thread! EVERYONE thinks about quitting a PhD program. I’m convinced that completing  a PhD is primarily a sign of persistence. The reason I didn’t quit is because I never have quit anything I’ve started. For quite awhile I wasn’t sure it was worth it, but now I think it was. It’s opened doors and is universally respected. 

Thank you for sharing your perspective! I appreciate it. I agree, it is primarily about persistence. It's hard to see any humor in the situation right now and I don't value sticking with something just for the sake of not quitting -- that's not enough of a reason for me. But at this point I only have about 9 months left so there's light at the end of the tunnel, and I've found a post doc that I think I might have a shot at. The post doc isn't very traditional and I think it will help me transition out of academia, which is super motivating. I think at this point I might as well stick it out. I'm glad to hear you think it was worth it -- I hope I will feel the same!

Thank you for weighing in!

@saheckler BSN, RN I am planning to apply for a PhD program. I wish I can send you DM and ask you few questions about PhD application process. I tried to DM you but not sure why I am not able to DM you. 

Thank you!

I left a PhD program after my first year. There was nothing really wrong with my program (other than being remote and bit disorganized due that remoteness) but it just wasn't the right fit for me and my life at the time. I probably needed more structure than was available and I felt very disconnected from the program, my professors, classmates, etc. most of the time. If I had it to do over again, I would have given more thought towards the nature/structure of the program I was enrolling in and the research environment-heavily qualitative over quantitative, or quantitative over qualitative, etc.

I'm now in a DNP program, which is still not a perfect fit, but maybe slightly better-certainly more structured and connected, but also less academically rigorous. Everything is a trade off, you just have to find the better fit for your current life. 

Hi everyone,

I see this is still getting some responses, and I noticed I posted this almost exactly a year ago. It's amazing what can change in a year. I'm expecting to finish my analyses next week. I'm about to submit my first dissertation paper for publication, and only have to write results and discussion for papers 2 and 3 and a brief final conclusion chapter, then I'll be done. I'm on track to graduate this Spring/Summer and I have a (nontraditional) post doc lined up starting this Summer. I still plan to high tail it out of academia and I can't say, at least not yet, that I'm glad to have stuck it out, but at least it's almost over.

For anyone contemplating a PhD program, I have some advice -- please, please, please prioritize a supportive advisor and supportive program environment above rankings, faculty's NIH funding, and whatever other metrics and accolades that are supposed to indicate a "quality" program. I've had a pretty bad experience in a program that looks ideal on paper. Talk to current and past grad students of prospective advisors, and if they don't give a glowing endorsement, take that as a big red flag (current students will be unable to say anything negative about their advisor because it would be a major career risk, so read between the lines; this probably still applies to past grad students as well, especially if they stayed in academia, but if anyone will be open and honest, it's more likely to be students who have graduated and are not formally under their advisor's thumb anymore). 

Also, please don't sacrifice your physical and mental health to your program. I've sacrificed mine, and will probably have some permanent consequences as a result. It's not worth it, even if the sacrifice helps you find some short term success (and even if it's a sacrifice you're willing to make, in the long term it will likely hurt your chances of success because it'll catch up with you eventually).

If anyone is contemplating doing a nursing PhD or deciding on a school, please feel free to reach out. I'm happy to share the lessons I've learned with others. 

@saheckler

I haven't been on this site for a while for reasons. I'm glad you are sticking it out and about to finish. My advisor was a perfect fit for me, but not for a couple of my classmates. So it is hard to help people know how to pick an advisor because I think the MOST important thing is to find an advisor that believes in you.

Having said that, one of my advisor's personal axioms was that the main thing one needs to complete a PhD is persistence. I also have an incredible stubborn streak so my biggest motivation was my husband, on hearing that I was beyond frustrated with school, would say: "Then go ahead and quit!" He did this because he knew that was my strongest motivation.

But, if any school is harming you, take a break, find another program. It's not worth the trouble/damage. Also, know what you want to do with that degree. I didn't when I started my program, but the stars/planets/vibrations were aligned and I found a job well suited to my strengths and preferences.