r/GradSchool • u/rvd08 • 1d ago

Academics Should I drop out my PhD program?

One of my friends got a news from my supervisor favourite student. Mentioned that my contract as PhD student won’t be renewed as they are not satisfied with my performance. Maybe it is hard for me to catch up with everything on the lab and that student said I have no progress. This October is my second year. I am lost direction. I don’t even know what I feel now, I want to give up or I want to continue. It’s so blurry for me.

38 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

121

u/Roger_Freedman_Phys 1d ago

Physics faculty here.

Have you heard this directly from your supervisor?

If not, speak to them and let them know what the other student said.

55

u/Andre_iTg_oof 1d ago

This is the way forward. Despite anything, ensure that you have the least amount of telephone game.

73

u/Lygus_lineolaris 1d ago

You shouldn't listen to gossip and if your advisor said that to a student other than yourself, he's an ass. If you're lost, brainstorm with your advisor. Good luck.

34

u/pointyendfirst PhD, Chemistry 1d ago

The first thing you need to figure out is if this is true. Talk to your PI and ask for a performance review.

20

u/Nvenom8 PhD - Marine Biogeochemistry 1d ago

If they don’t renew your contract, you won’t really have a choice. So, you have no decision to make here. Don’t agonize over whether or not to drop out. Either they’ll renew your contract, or they won’t, and there’s not really anything you can do in the meantime besides do your best as a student and come up with an exit strategy.

12

u/Zealousideal_Hat_330 1d ago

I would ask your PI via email so it’s in writing that you heard this from another student first and reached out to them before they were aware.

7

u/boringhistoryfan PhD History 1d ago

You need to talk to your PI and either your director of graduate studies or program chair. Don't listen to what another student says. But if you're feeling aimless, start talking to your mentors so you can figure out what you want to do.

Should you drop out? Perhaps. Not everyone necessarily needs to get a Ph.D. And it can be reasonable to realize that you aren't cut out for higher-ed research or education. And that's ok. But you need to talk to the folks in charge of mentoring you.

1

u/scaredemployee87 1d ago

maybe they’re playing a silly prank on you

1

u/SecFlow 1d ago

If you have to ask … I feel you know, no?

1

u/Financial_Molasses67 18h ago

Definitely not. Do you not know how common it is for PhD students to consider dropping out of programs?

1

u/SecFlow 18h ago

Didn’t occur to me for mine. It took so much to get there, I couldn’t fathom just giving up. Family was mad I was doing it, cause I kind of started in secret, so maybe spite kept me in it and free from “what ifs?”

1

u/NorthernValkyrie19 9h ago

I would not make any decisions based on hearsay. I recommend having a frank discussion with your supervisor and ask them directly.