The Perks of being a PhD Student
PhD’s get a really bad rap. In fact, it was due to this long standing reputation that Billie and I decided to start this blog.
We were annoyed by the fact that whenever we looked at blogs about PhD students, or did a general inquiry into what it’s like to do a PhD, we’d solely hear things like “You’ll be broke”, “You’ll never sleep”, “You’ll have no life”, etc.
Now I’m not saying that those statements are not not true...
But what we, and this blog aim to say, is that they’re not the whole truth. Being a PhD student is no joke and it’s obviously a lot of work, but there’s a lot of benefits in being a PhD student too! With September right around the corner it seemed fitting to discuss a few of the unexpected benefits of working as a PhD student (just in case any of you soon to be post grad students are having some second thoughts/first day jitters).
- Flexible work schedule and location
Now it’s a benefit shared by many professionals in many different fields but what a benefit it is. Personally this is one of my favourite things about being a PhD student and something that’s always rattling in the back of my mind when I try and picture what I want to do next. I work really well really early in the morning and am consistently useless in the evenings. Being able to start work at 7 am is a luxury that I don’t take for granted. More’s the point, it’s nice to be able to decide where you want to work. Obviously when doing data collection there are some limitations in your flexibility, but when writing up and reading papers, it’s awfully nice to have the option to do this at home (when you just can’t bear the thought of putting real clothes on) or in a café (that may or may not serve delicious baked goods).
2. Being your own boss
Now then. This isn’t exactly true is it? You’re going to have supervisors with varying degrees of demand and micro management, and you may have lab mates, funding bodies, university staff etc, that you have to report to. I’m sure many days it will feel like you aren’t working for yourself (because really you’re not) but despite that it is your own work. You get a lot of say in how your average day is going to go and, essentially, this is your baby. Your very demanding and often soul crushing baby that may or may not have you questioning your life choices. But ultimately, you will be the one writing it, and you will be the one defending it. There’s a sense of ownership there.
3. Opportunities to travel
While the idea of conferences and presentations may be daunting to some (and actively avoided by others), I’ve definitely found this to be an unexpected perk. You get to meet people in your field who are passionate about what they do, all while discovering new places that you maybe wouldn’t have gone to otherwise. I haven’t been to many conferences yet but I’m hoping to do more in my upcoming final year and beyond. (Plus, you can often find funding for important things like airfare and accommodation-which certainly makes the travel more appealing).
4. Access to the opportunities
When else are you going to get invited to a talk by that famous academic you’ve always admired in the same email as a free pizza party by the Harry Potter society? Being a PhD student means being embedded in a rich and diverse academic world; inhabited by novices and professionals from all walks of life, all offering up knowledge and experience through their unique voice. It’s a total overwhelming mess of opportunities and one that I’m sorely going to miss.
5. The expectation of constant education
When I was brainstorming this post (and wandering around the office floor, desperately berating my colleagues for their thoughts), one recurring theme was the expectation of education. As a PhD student you are expected to be constantly learning. Be it through your own thesis work, reading papers, or listening to lectures, you are expected to remain up to date and current on all aspects of your area of interest. This means that you are constantly expected to learn. That is your one big job. Be a student. Be a sponge. Soak up as much knowledge as you can. Get good at pretending like you know what you’re talking about.
While obviously there are many jobs that require you to stay knowledgeable and current, being a PhD student is that on steroids. You are encouraged, expected, and required to learn as much as possible. Yes that can be daunting and exhausting, but it’s also exhilarating and I take great pleasure and gratitude in the expectation that I will allot a certain amount of time each week into learning as much as I can.
Whether you are just starting out, or are almost coming to an end, just remember….it’s not all bad. In fact, some of it is actually quite good.
Sincerely,
Sinéad
