The PhD years

[MyNameIsOtto]

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Hey, I know I could search for a thread but I don't feel like it...

I'm an MSII in a MD/PhD program.

I feel like I have no free time this year as compared to MS1. I'm not complaining at all about this but am simply wondering how YOU GUYS compare your PhD years to the first 2 years.

Specifically, are you finding yourself spending most of your weekends doing lab-related stuff? Do you keep to a pretty set schedule during the week, like 8-5, 9-5? Any elaboration would be great.

To get even more specific, I'm in a relatively small program that probably doesn't drill us as hard as some of the big name MSTP progs. So maybe insight from people from smaller, lesser known schools would be most helpful.

 

[Neuronix]

To get even more specific, I'm in a relatively small program that probably doesn't drill us as hard as some of the big name MSTP progs.

Not sure how I get drilled any differently than any other MD/PhD student 😕

I usually work 10-12 hours/day 5x a week to avoid coming in on weekends. I would say I put in 40-80 hours a week with an approximately 55 hour median. It appears I'll be getting done in 7, though that's with a lot of luck that my project has worked out decently.

 

[fantasty]

I've seen a wide range (and that excludes the "randomness" factor related to success in research). I've seen students who treat it as a regular job, who try to set fairly steady and reasonable hours. And, I've seen students who literally live in the lab, includes lots of 2 AM runs on Saturday mornings. Of course, there is an association between who gets done in 6-7 years and who gets done in 8-9 years.