Commencement season has mostly wrapped up for the year, with a few remaining stragglers holding their graduation ceremonies this weekend. As June turns to July, ABD grad students can finally stop fielding questions about whether "this will be the year" as their families resign themselves to another 12 months of "dissertation"... or whatever the fuck you do all day.
Meanwhile, first year Ph.D. students, having survived the "adjustment" and wrapped up exams, are left to ponder the big questions: Why did only two people from my program graduate when entering cohorts have 10-20 people in them? What the hell did I sign up for? Will I ever see a dentist again?
Second years know the answer, but having survived two years of work and stress and misery (with employment prospects declining by the day) -- you may as well stay. Third year might be better, right?
Right. Happy summer everyone.
8 years ago
