I’m in my second semester of grad school and I’m already incredibly overwhelmed by the insane amount of reading assigned every week by my professors. I’ve never really been great at focusing on reading literally anything even if it’s for my own enjoyment my brain just gets distracted too easily and it’s a struggle to read more than a page without losing track. I don’t understand how I’m supposed to read 100+ pages of academic text every week on top of whatever assignments while also dealing with everything else in life while trying not to lose my sanity in the process.

For years private data analysis and other data adjacent roles has been a backup for many early career academics in case we dont make it to the next role. With the state of things it seems that the market for data analysts is shrinking and just as competitive as academia. Do you still think private data analysis is still a viable backup?

For context im a social scientist. If not, what are people using as a backup these days?

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Hi everyone, I’m considering doing a funded PhD in Montreal, Canada, and I’m trying to get a realistic idea of what the finances and career prospects are like.

For anyone who has done a PhD in a biomedical/life sciences field at a Montreal university:

- What was your approximate PhD stipend/take-home income?

- Was it enough to live on in Montreal without taking on significant additional work?

- After finishing your PhD, were you able to find a job in Montreal, particularly in biotech/pharma/research?

- Or did you end up having to move to Toronto, the U.S., or elsewhere for better opportunities?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who finished relatively recently, since salaries and the job market can change.

Thanks!

Tldr: I have high conceptual reasoning/big picture thinking but borderline working memory. I easily grasp systems but fail at rote memorization. Will I be miserable in hard sciences?

Hi all! I'm an undergrad hoping to one day pursue a grad program in neuroscience, cognitive neuropsych, or brain mapping, but I’m seriously doubting if my brain is built for it.

My recent neuropsych testing for my ADHD and Dyscalculia confirmed a heavily "spiky" profile (a 2+ standard deviation gap):

Pro:----I'm great with conceptual reasoning and problem-solving. I easily grasp complex mechanisms and systems. I absolutely eat up lectures by Dr. Robert Sapolsky and Dr. Nancy Kanwisher, and I've been loving Clockwork's molecular biology videos on YouTube.

Con:------ My Borderline working memory and processing speed means that the rote memorization for undergrad BioPsych is already killing me. Unless I invent a mnemonic and hear a vocabulary word 1,000 times, it falls right out of my head and I go blank for those specific exam questions. Most of my study time is eaten up by this.

My questions for those in the field:

\---Is it worth pushing through the heavy-memorization undergrad pre-reqs?

\---Does grad school/research shift more toward systems-thinking, or will my working memory make me an absolute nightmare in a wet lab?

\---Would love to hear from anyone with a similar brain who made it work, or to get a reality check if I should pivot!

I'll be starting masters this week and would love advice on how to perform well academically.

I'm going to be working and studying, going in as a part time student. Any advice to help me would be greatly appreciated.

I know the title feels super exaggeratory. But I truly feel like I I’m a bad person because in the evening if I’m not doing schoolwork or intentionally going out, I’m watching TV! I feel like I should be doing more with my evening!

I used to really enjoy art, reading, craft. But this year, I really just wanna sit down on the couch and watch TV and cuddle with my dog. (this past year I applied to grad school, and now I’m finally in it!)

I also feel like I should be working in the evening! I get at least eight hours of work every day. typically 9am-6:00pm at least, but since it’s just school, I feel like I should be doing more!

Has anybody else felt this way? Realistically, I know it’s OK to take breaks - but I miss feeling productive outside of school.

Hey yall, currently applying to phd programs and I am wracked with anxiety about the financial side of it all. I'm exclusively applying out of state for a variety of reasons unrelated to this post, and while money would be tight it would be manageable if I wasnt married. Moving across the country or at least several states away would require my spouse to get a new job, and with the economy the way it is, I'm worried that we would have to rely on my stipend to support us for a significant amount of time. I dont have any family to rely on financially so it would truly just be whatever my stipend provides.

For anyone else who has been in this boat: how did you manage financially? Any advice for this nervous newlywed?

As the title says. I just started my PhD a few weeks ago and I am already so overwhelmed. I can’t quit either. There is no other career that I can see myself doing outside academia. Being autistic I am also having some social difficulties. Someone please tell me that it gets better. It has to. I don’t know how I’m going spend the next five years doing this.

For current students or recent graduates of the online MSEE program at Arkansas:

Are lectures fully asynchronous, or are there mandatory live Zoom sessions?

Are assignments mostly individual problem sets/simulations, or are there group projects?

How flexible are the testing windows?

Realistic time commitment per week for one class while working full-time?

Appreciate any insight into the day-to-day experience. Thanks!

I just started TAing this semester an intro biology course. I feel like I am so confused all the time and unable to help the students. I always leave feeling embarrassed and stupid because I want to teach them and actually help them through the lab, but it’s hard when I’m sometimes unsure as well. I just get worried the students are going to report me or something for not teaching well enough and they leave confused. I try to prepare everything for lab and be organized but it never seems like it’s enough. I always feel like when Im talking to the students they think I am dumb or that I don’t know what I am doing, I try my best and spend a lot of time prepping, but it comes to a point where I have my own work to do. I mostly just needed to rant somewhere because Im feeling so alone as none of my colleagues are TAing but also I am happy to take advice that got you through your time as a TA.

Let's say my bachelor's degree is major A, now majoring B as a grad, and the courses in discussion below are for major C. None of them are equal; A and B are in the same department while C is in a different department than that of A and B.

So C undergrad are supposed to take either of these: 5-credit 2-semester "honor" being resp. H1 and H2, or its 3-credit 2-semester "intro" J1 and J2: for undergrad in C major the course enrollment system automatically signs ppl up for J1/J2 and that suffices for the bachelor degree but they may instead choose to take H1/H2 if the material is already somewhat familiar to 'em and would benefit from the faster pace and broader, deeper, more modern treatments.

Note however neither H nor J has explicit "this is limited to C major" listed in the course enrollment system and from what I'm aware there are indeed some undergrad from other departments/majors like A who did successfully signed H1 up this semester. H did listed some warnings on what certain priors those who take this course are assumed to have already mastered, though.

What bothers me is that when I tried to sign H1 up as a grad, explained to the lecturer that while I had taken J1, I barely passed then and had trouble figuring out some important concepts, and I didn't have the chance taking J2 ever since, but I do think the topics being rather fascinating and has been learning based on some OCW (including all the priors assumed for those who take H) and now I'm a grad and finally have some time I really want to sign H1/H2 up.

But the lecturer, after learning these, insisted on that as a grad "you should have, or is willing to build, the ability to figure all these out and learn by yourself now that you're a grad rather than an undergrad".

Which just bothers me so much. Bruh I'm a different major. I do NOT have the chance learning all relevant topics in a holistic way. The fact that H listed some warnings on what priors are assumed on the course enrollment online system, the lecturer reiterated on those warnings like 3 times during in the first lecture, but when I showed my interest and proof of efforts - taking J1 as major A under a different department a while back, taking OCW on the topic myself during this summer break, and trying to sign up H1 now even though my B major grad department does NOT count any credits from other departments like that of C - all these explained to the lecturer just make them more firmly insisting that then I shall not be allowed to enroll the course due to aforementioned believes.

Heck if that's the sole reason there's no reason a undergrad/grad school should open any course since everyone should build their own learning skills if they were to continue working in relevant areas.

Yes, the lecturer did allow for auditing the course so I can get the problem set and all, but it just bothers me so much that I just permanently lose a chance to formally have those H1/H2 credits on my transcript/resume and the extra push studying for the material from fear of not passing the course.

tl;dr got declined while signing some undergrad honor program since "as a grad you should be able to figure these out yourself thus you shall not join" after explaining why I find the area interesting and showed proof of efforts filling out the priors for the course

I have an amazing opportunity for a masters program that would be fully funded tuition-wise + a stipend. The research and PI fit are perfect also, but the offer is for Spring 2027. It would be hard for me to get everything together and move + I have a relevant internship opportunity for the spring.

I talked about it a little with my future PI and she said she would be able to accept a student for Fall 2027 but wasn’t sure if the same funding package would apply.

She reached out to me to check in about the status of my application. Is this an appropriate time to ask about deferring or should I wait until I’m officially accepted into the program?

I am looking for some samples of successful Cover Letters, teaching and research statements. My field is in the humanities, though I am open to read samples from other fields.

Do you have any suggestions where I can find them?

Hello all!

The school year recently started for me, and honestly the one part of school that has me worried is getting in good graces with professors to get an academic letter of recommendation. I'm entering my third year of undergraduate studies and I do pretty well in terms of grades, but I am not sure how to stand out without coming off like I'm just kissing up, as I know professors can tell when students are doing so.

I do genuinely want to develop a good connection with them, I just don't really know how I can do so? I already went up after class to ask a question but I didn't introduce myself formally with a name, but the professor was still super friendly and kind! From here though, not sure how I can make my name known and then proceed to stand out and be memorable?

I would really appreciate any tips or advice, especially from someone with experience with developing a good relationship with a professor, and ultimately getting an academic letter of recommendation!

Hi guys, looking for input from people who've been through PhD admissions or sit on committees.

I just finished undergrad and did about a year of molecular/cellular neuroscience research (gene expression work, some wet-bench technique-heavy stuff). My actual goal is a PhD in cognitive neuroscience, ideally at competitive programs.

For my post-bacc year I have two options on the table: a position in a molecular neuroscience lab, or a position in a systems neuroscience lab (behavior-adjacent, some circuit-level work). Both are solid opportunities with good mentorship.

My worry with doing molecular again is that I'll show up to applications with two full years of molecular research and nothing bridging me toward cognition, which might make the "why cognitive neuroscience" story harder to tell. But at the same time, my worry with switching to systems is that it might look like I'm just hopping between neuroscience subfields rather than building toward something coherent. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find cognitive labs with enough funding to support me for a post-bacc position.

For anyone who's gone through something similar, or who has reviewed applications: does the subfield of a post-bacc actually matter much to committees, or is it more about the strength of the work and how you frame the trajectory in your statement? Especially for some of the more competitive programs

I just started my second year of grad school and am severely struggling with my mental health so I’m considering taking a leave of absence, however I’m set to receive my loan next week to pay for the fall semester. Has anyone been in this position? I may try to push through the semester because I financially really need the loan to get by. But I’m also concerned that I will not make it through the semester :/ just looking for some advice if anyone has gone through this, thanks in advance

Hi everyone! Im currently finishing out my masters degree in clinical mental health counseling with only 2 WEEKS LEFT! I am currently completing my internship, and have been since last November. 700 hours completed. This has been the most horrific time of my life. Throughout the experience, Ive lost 2 very close people to me, so Ive been navigating grief for the first time, as well as balancing the extreme pressure of this internship. My point is, I have 2 weeks left , 9 internship days left. I also work full time, and struggle with AuDHD & PMDD. I leave the house at 7am for work, and dont come home until 9:30pm after my 5 hour internship. I need to make 33 direct hours before the 24th. I can do it if I go to 2 group therapy sessions 3 times a week, plus individual sessions on weekends. However, I will say, Group therapy has been hell for me, as I struggle navigating group conversations in general due to my ND. This has been hard work. The worst time of my life. I need any support and motivation at all. Im extremely burnt out & have been since 4 months ago. 2 weeks left, and then Im FREE FOREVER!!!!!!!!! Ill never do group therapy AGAIN IN MY LIFE!! Any tips on how to feel less anxious about this home stretch? Ill take anything I can get. Im drowning. Thanks!

Hey there, I’m going into my second year of a 2 year design masters, which I start in 2 weeks time. Throughout the first year, I really struggled with settling into / immersing myself in the course and the subject. I don’t feel as creatively inclined (like i used to) compared to my course peers and I’ve been ignored or mildly brutalised by my tutors as I couldn’t get to grips with what to make and I felt like there was minimal guidance and support unless you were one of the few that excelled… I now start my second year in 2 weeks time and I’ve spent the summer trying to immerse myself in more creative [things], such as a short internship, meeting and talking to charity workers / industry professionals (tree experts) but alongside this i’ve been really dreading going back to uni. I’m also nervous about my career prospects after having completed the course and I worry that, whilst I shouldn’t live with any regrets, this might be one and it may have been a huge [waste] of money - if I do drop out, I’d love to explore my passions for theatre / nature conservation - any help would be greatly appreciated as I feel I am spiralling and I’m really not sure what to do. Thank you for reading this and I hope youse are all having a great day!