Rant

[hrd123]

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Anyone else felt this way...?

My applications are almost done. First deadline this Friday. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a favorable outcome. I have worked hard, really hard, to place myself in a position that will hopefully land me in a Ph.D. program.

With that said, for the last year and a half I have been working for one of the most unbearable individuals I have ever had the misfortune of meeting. My supervisor is an "expert" in her field. Yes, she is well published; however, I find her research to be methodologically flawed and boring. Why take such a job one may ask? Well, I foolishly thought I could learn something from this "expert." What I have learned is how to backstab colleagues, how to be mockingly cruel, and how to use all of my possible coping mechanism.

My question is this. To all of you in the forum who is either in clinical programs or has come across this "type" of individual in academia...is this the norm? Is this what to expect for the next 5+ years? I hope not!

 

[LM02]

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience - while I would not say that it's the norm, I wouldn't say that it's rare, either.

The only advice I can offer is to pay very close attention to interpersonal dynamics when you go on your interviews, and try to read between the lines when current grad students talk about their experiences.

In such an environment, current grad students may feel threatened, and that they can't be honest with applicants. But, in my experience, I've found that there are ways in which they can hint that their situation is not ideal - you just have to have your antennae up.

Good luck - and hang in there!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

(copied over from the other thread that double posted)

Like most places in life....you will run into a range of people in your profession. Academia can be a hotbed, but so can the biz world, medical offices, etc. It can be disheartening to find out that a person you look to for guidance, is a poor leader (and/or sets a poor example). I've been able to work with some great people in academia (and i'll forever be grateful). One thing you can do is try and find a better person at your next opportunity. At least you know how NOT to go about things....which can be just as helpful. I've come across a few professors that I wasn't wild about, but I was able to identify what things I didn't like, and conversely look for the opposite traits in other mentors.

-t