I remember my first day as a PhD student as if it were yesterday: the nervousness, the feeling of inadequacy, the urge to run out of my department building, abandon my studies and become an Icelandic sheepherder. Jokes aside, I recall these overwhelming feelings so vividly because my first day wasn’t that long ago. In fact, I began my PhD just a few months ago, in September 2024. Although I am still early in my journey, I have already learned several lessons that I wish I could share with the anxious version of myself from that first day.
Disclaimer: Consider this the spiritual and academic equivalent of the slightly batty family member you always see at family gatherings who might not be fully sane but gives decent advice every now and then.
Expectation #1: I’m going to be doing exciting science stuff from day one!
Reality: you will be! But (surprise) in the format of reading!
I know, I know—what did I expect? Of course, pursuing a PhD involves a lot of reading! How did I not realize that? Let me just say that anyone who has signed up for a PhD obviously has a passion for reading and has fully embraced their nerdy side (as I have). However, it is still difficult to comprehend and mentally prepare for the sheer volume of reading you will undertake in your first year. In fact, much of your first year will be dedicated to reading and preparing a literature review, which is often used as an introduction to your thesis.
“Reading isn’t that bad! I signed up for a four-year research project in my field, so a bit of reading won’t bore me!” you might be thinking. You are correct but trust me when I say that reading can become quite demotivating, especially when you are sifting through numerous articles without conducting research yourself. I often struggled to feel genuinely satisfied and useful when most of my days were spent on Web of Science searching for new relevant papers in my field. We all love science and research (hence why we pursue a PhD), but you need to mentally prepare for the extensive reading that you will be doing prior to developing and carrying out your research project. It is a necessary and fun step, but patience and preparation are key! My friends and I in our first year felt like eager colts wanting to stretch our legs and engage in what we considered “proper research.” However, to truly contribute to your field, you must first understand it thoroughly. The only way to achieve that is to read, read, and read!
Expectation #2: you will have plenty of time and will be able to accomplish everything!
Reality: time flies, and you are only human; don’t spread yourself too thin!
As an annoying type A overachiever, I believed I could accomplish numerous tasks in my first year. However, I soon found myself overwhelmed and barely made it to the Christmas holidays before crashing and burning. I signed up for courses that turned out to be less useful than I had hoped, social events that I lacked the time to organize, and research side projects for which I was unprepared. Speaking of skill courses: don’t become a course addict! While learning is valuable, many courses may not offer significant new knowledge and can waste your time. Only attend courses that you are confident will provide you with tangible benefits. For example, I really wanted to learn to code in a new programming language and spent time taking coding courses when I should have focused only on the essentials, as I didn’t have as much time as I had anticipated.
Overall, while I believe it is important to explore new experiences and do the best you can, sometimes the best thing is to focus and prioritize a few endeavors rather than take on too much. Oh, and remember, you cannot read everything! Learn to set limits on your reading and understand that you don’t have to examine every single paper in detail.
Expectation #3: people will expect a lot from me; I need to know what I’m doing from the very beginning!
Reality: no one expects you to be a genius in your field from day one!
Here’s a painful truth that I believe we all learn in life, one way or another: much of the pressure we experience is pressure we impose on ourselves. The expectation to already know everything was an unrealistic burden I placed on myself from the very beginning. I mistakenly thought that pursuing a PhD meant I had to be an expert in my field, without realizing that the whole point of a PhD is to gradually deepen your understanding and become an expert in your specific area of research.
There is so much to learn from the ground up when starting your PhD. I had friends who began their PhDs needing to learn coding from scratch, while others transitioned from different academic backgrounds unrelated to their PhD fields. I, too, had to revisit and refresh many concepts from my undergraduate studies. This is perfectly normal! A PhD is as much about learning as it is about doing research.
Expectation #4: this PhD is now my life, and I must sacrifice everything at its altar!
Reality: this PhD is only a part of your life!
I may sound a bit dramatic, but I believe that many of us first-year students tend to let our PhDs take over our lives. This is not surprising, given that we will be dedicating the next four years of our lives to this project. However, it is important to remember that the PhD will only be one aspect of your life. Make sure to engage in activities outside of your research and the academic world as well.
Sign up for various courses, join a journal club, participate in student societies, enroll in a gym (cliché but so good for mental and physical health), or pick up a new hobby! While a significant portion of your time will be dedicated to your PhD, you also have to maintain a life and engage with the world beyond your research.
Expectation #5: I must do what others tell me to do!
Reality: this is your project! You have a great deal of freedom in how you approach it!
One of the most challenging transitions from a master's or undergraduate program to a PhD is learning to be fully independent and no longer being treated like a student. Yes, your supervisor should be there to guide and support you, but this PhD project is primarily your own. You have to tend to it and possess the initiative and confidence to determine what is best for your research. Be independent, but do not hesitate to seek advice from your supervisor or fellow students. Be proactive and schedule meetings with your supervisor. I personally prefer frequent communication with my supervisor to make sure we’re on the same page as well as setting realistic deadlines that will hold me accountable, rather than waiting until the last minute to complete everything.
Expectation #6: everyone has their PhD/life/future plans figured out!
Reality: everyone is just as lost as you are in one way or another!
Comparison is often said to be the thief of joy. When you embark on a new journey, it’s easy to look at others and believe they have their lives perfectly organized and fully understand what they are doing. However, trust me—no one truly does. We are all a little lost, and that is perfectly acceptable! It’s natural to compare ourselves to others, especially when we are new and anxious, but remember that everyone has had to start from the same place you are now.
If you are concerned about not having "done enough" for your PhD or are questioning whether you are on the right timeline for your project, keep in mind that everyone has different projects and approaches. Some of my friends spent the first four months focusing solely on their literature review, while another student and I were able to begin coding and data analysis early on because the data we were using was publicly accessible. Some individuals have deadlines for Christmas, while others have deadlines in the spring. Some supervisors expect their students to hand in review chapters monthly, while others prefer a final draft. Everyone is working on their own timeline, so fully embrace your project and your working style! If things become overwhelming, remember to take a breather!
Expectation #7: I will be productive every day from 9am to 5pm!
Reality: some days will be highly productive, while others may not be as fruitful.
This may not come as a surprise, but we often forget that only the most academically/mentally/spiritually enlightened of us could feasibly sit down and be productive from 9am to 5pm. Yet, somehow, we continue to plan our projects and work as if we can sustain a full eight hours of productivity. Trust me, that is unlikely to happen—unless you have a deadline looming the next day and are stress working. Some days, you will be highly productive, while on others, you may struggle to accomplish more than a couple of hours of meaningful work. Accept that you are human, and some days are better, and others are worse. What truly matters is how you tackle these issues and determining the best working style for you. I have some friends that prefer to work intensely for four days and then take a day off, others who are night owls and come into the office in the afternoon. Find the working style that works best for you! I’m still figuring out what works best for me, but I have seen that I’m most productive and healthy when I come into the office between 9am and 10am and work until I can no longer concentrate (my brain usually gives up between 4 and 6pm). But I have also had days where I arrived at the office at noon and others where I didn’t get a single thing done after lunch and ended up simply chatting to colleagues. What matters is finding a work style that is healthy for you and that you can maintain for the next three years. Oh, and trust me when I say working a bit every day is worth so much more than cramming in everything at the end! I thought I had learnt that lesson during my undergrad, but I still made that mistake recently for a deadline for literature review.
Expectation #8: I know how to say “no”!
Reality: you probably don’t!
This piece of advice could be applicable outside the realm of a PhD but I will emphasize it in this context: learn to say “no”. You will have many fantastic opportunities during your PhD: courses, socials, student events, cool side projects. I’m sure they are all amazing, but you have limited time and energy (see image below). You will absolutely not be able to do everything and that is ok. As cliché as it sounds, you have to learn to look after yourself. Learn to recognize your limits and then learn that it is alright to turn down the offer of a night out or new research question for your project. Learn to say “no” and don’t let yourself be overtaken by the fear of missing out (FOMO). Engage socially and put yourself out there, but also acknowledge when you need some time for yourself. Saying “no” will not force you to go into exile or miss out on every opportunity thereafter; you are simply saying that you do not have the capacity to take on whatever event/project someone is offering you in that moment.
Bonus Expectation: I’m going to remember that!
Reality: no, you won’t!
There is honestly not much else I can say except: Write down everything and start writing as soon as you can!
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