What to Expect First Year of PhD?

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CaptainMurphy Posted: Mon, Jul 19 2010 5:10 AM

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I'm starting my phd program in economics at Suffolk University in Boston.  I'm curious to hear about other people's experiences in any phd program, especially people's first year.  Was the workload overwhelming?  Just right?  How well have you retained what you learned from your courses?  Discuss any aspect of the phd experience here.

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CaptainMurphy replied on Tue, Jul 20 2010 1:45 PM

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No one?  I know there are some phds here...

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Kevin F replied on Tue, May 17 2011 4:49 PM

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Hi There,

I am looking to start my first year next year (Jan/2012). As soon as you get some info I love to hear it. I also looked into Suffolk since they have a part time program. Why did you select them?

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Fephisto replied on Tue, May 17 2011 9:39 PM

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I am currently a third yeard math phd candidate.

First year, we all had to worry about quals.  This culls more than half of the incoming students at least in my department (I hear it's a lot harsher in other departments).  Focus on passing quals.  It's not easy.

For math people, the jobs are easy and plentiful.  It's a little more unfortunate in other disciplines, you aren't guaranteed a TAship (or even more rare, an RAship), specifically for the social sciences.  If you are in a hard science, chances are in a big university you'll be grading and it won't be that bad.  If you are in a hard science, stick with the more applied/industry side of things.  I find it's often "theoretically pure" enough to satisfy ones tendencies in that direction, and you'll also get a lot more opportunities that way too (and you won't go mad thinking, "What am I doing?"  Since applied areas tend to have a very concrete model...I guess this might be an experience unique to mathematics...).

I'd say that's the main stuff.