Any suggestion for my new section of life?

[zlb215]

Hi, guys;
I will get back to university to get my doctor degree of pharmaceutical chemistry.It maybe another three-year period.It's a new and important begining to me.
About the direction of my research, I chose chromatography as my theme.And there are several candidates for me, such as:biotransformation, fingerprint chromatography...
I am a bit confused and do not make a final decision. So, any suggestion for my new section of life?How did you spend your three year? Was it interesting, boring, memorable, meaningful or just 1095 hellish hard days?
I am overexcited, perhaps. But I really want to share this feeling with you.
Best regards!

[Alfred88]

Dear zlb215:
You must be a genius if you can fly thru a doctoral program in 3 yrs in the US. I know of at least 2 people hanging on for >7yrs. One dropped out after 8yrs (no PhD degree). One woman switched advisor after >3yrs (she already got two MS from 2 schools), and continued to get PhD. The point is, plan for 5 yrs minimum.
Or else, head to Europe (France?), where you can do a mini-project, complete with a mini-dissertation, and finish in 3 years. (I am sorry if you are in EU and feel your diploma less shiny!)
Also, check out some discussions about graduate school (MS, MSc, PhD) here.
http://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?topic=8897.0
Anyway, best wish!

[zlb215]

Thanks, Alfred. Anyway, I will try my best to finish it in 3 or 5 yrs.By the way, how many years did you do that?How do feel about that?

[Kostas Petritis]

You can indeed do a PhD in 3 years in France but you are required to do a DEA (which is a one year MSc equivalent) before. Otherwise you won't get accepted for a PhD program. It took me 3 year and 3 months for the PhD (and I do not feel that my diploma is less shiny; this is probably the case from other people that got their PhD from Europe).

I did enjoy my graduate school years, and I would do it again... How good or bad will be for you it depends on several factors, among other your advisor, the lab setting, yourself etc...

[Jade.Barker]

I've been asking around a lot about Chem PhD's in the USA. I am thinking about applying next year -

So far I am hearing most people take 5 years. If you have totally support from your family and no other obligations (children, aging parents etc) then you might be able to do it in 4.

I would really recommend talking to as many current students in the program you want to join as possible. They will give you a good idea of the real life ups and downs.

You should be able to connect with the chemistry department online, but it's even better if you can actually visit the school a few times first.

Good Luck!

[Ron]

The time required in many cases depends on how well people are prepared when they enter graduate school. When I entered graduate school there were only 2 people that passed all the placement exams, all the rest spent at least 1 semester, and in several cases 2 semesters, taking undergraduate courses to eliminate deficiencies in general chemistry knowledge before they moved on to high level graduate courses.

There were a few other things that set almost everyone back a little while I was there, the department moved to a new building, and most people lost a couple of months due to moving are reinstalling major instruments, problems commissioning new labs, etc.

A well prepared student focused on the work they need to do to finish the program can probably be out in 4 years in most cases. People that take a year or two off between undergraduate and graduate school often finish faster because they are used to working hard to get results out quickly.

Finally, to shorten the time in graduate school avoid doing really dumb things. An accident that leaves a person with multiple broken bones that require months in casts, a brace, and months of physical therapy after the cast and brace come off really cuts into research time.

[Spuzzin]

Finally, to shorten the time in graduate school avoid doing really dumb things. An accident that leaves a person with multiple broken bones that require months in casts, a brace, and months of physical therapy after the cast and brace come off really cuts into research time.

This sounds like a man talking from experience

Rich

[Jade.Barker]

An accident that leaves a person with multiple broken bones that require months in casts, a brace, and months of physical therapy after the cast and brace come off really cuts into research time.

That's good medicine, that is.

[smith2287]

Hi
Concentrate on your study and enjoy each & every moment of your life!!

[jclark]

zlb215,
I've never regretted going to grad school and getting my Ph.D. in chemistry. Since you asked, let me give some advice based on my experiences.
A. Go meet with prospective research advisors before you decide who you want to work with, and BE SURE to talk to other grad students too. Picking the "wrong" research advisor can result in wasted years (and some weird anecdotes).
2. Aim to publish quickly - taking too much time to get things perfect can result in getting "scooped". A real bummer.
III. Plan on around 5 years in the US to go from BS to PhD. I know of two students who took 9 years, one in chem and one in micro (my sister, but hey, she was raising three kids).
In hindsight, I should have spent more time in the research lab and less time on sex & drugs & rock 'n roll....but only a little more!
jclark

[HW Mueller]

Hm, I would think that very thorough literature work may prevent one from being "scooped", rather than being sloppy.

[AICMM]

A graduate student once told me, when I was an undergrad, to take out the grad students of the professor you are looking at and buy them as much beer and pizza as they want. Then you get the full story. Never did it but it seemed like a good idea at the time.....

Best regards.

[jclark]

HW Mueller,
Being "scooped" doesn't mean you overlooked previously published work in the literature. It means, for instance, that someone publishes a minimal preliminary communication on the same reaction you are investigating, without trying to make careful quantitative measurements such as quantum yields, or someone publishes a note on the synthesis of the same novel compound you are working on, without bothering to attempt a difficult crystal structure determination. You know, that sort of thing... But getting scooped is common in science. Just look at Lothar Meyer and Mendeleev. It has nothing to do with being "sloppy".
jc

[HW Mueller]

I was talking about

"Aim to publish quickly - taking too much time to get things perfect can result in getting "scooped".