Submitting my PhD: what am I doing now?

TL;DR

A PhD student reflects on the challenges, achievements, and lessons learned during her academic journey.

Transcript

hi everyone if you haven't been here before my name is Ava I'm a PhD student at UCL and I also have news as to what I am doing now so I actually submitted my PhD a few weeks ago which is crazy to me that it's already been 3 years and I've already submitted um I've done so many things on this journey that I didn't expect that I would ever have the o... Read More

Key Insights

• 🗺️ Traveling for conferences provided the speaker with unique learning and networking opportunities.
• 😫 The importance of setting boundaries and saying no to prevent overwhelm during a PhD.
• 🥺 Taking the time to write a quality thesis can lead to a more fulfilling final product.
• 👶 Transitioning from a PhD to a new course can bring additional stress, but adjustments and reflections can help navigate the process.
• 🥶 Supervising students and co-running studies offered valuable teaching and leadership experiences.
• 🥺 Balancing personal passions and research interests can lead to a fulfilling academic journey.
• ✍️ Reflecting on writing processes and the importance of feedback can enhance writing skills and the final thesis.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were some unexpected opportunities the speaker encountered during her PhD journey?

The speaker traveled to multiple countries for conferences, co-ran a multi-site study, supervised students, and created videos for UCL, all experiences she didn't anticipate at the start of her PhD.

Q: How did the speaker navigate the stress of overlapping deadlines between her PhD and a new course?

The stress of juggling writing her thesis and starting a new course was alleviated by extending the deadline slightly, allowing her to produce work she was proud of without feeling rushed.

Q: What was a key learning experience for the speaker during her PhD journey?

The speaker highlighted the importance of being assertive and learning to say no to numerous opportunities, as well as the significance of conceptualizing how different chapters of a thesis connect during the writing process.

Q: What are the speaker's future plans after completing her PhD?

The speaker has embarked on a new journey by starting a clinical psychology course at Oxford University, where she hopes to integrate her research skills into her clinical practice.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker recounts her PhD journey, including traveling to conferences, co-running studies, teaching, and creating videos for UCL.

• She reflects on the stress of meeting deadlines and the importance of taking the time to write a quality thesis.

• The video concludes with her excitement about starting a clinical psychology course at Oxford University.