What PhD students find out too late [Top mistakes]

You're spot on, most of the scientists in academia are very methodical and have a lot of self-discipline, that's the biggest predictor of success rather than inspiration.

I started doing this (making weekly powerpoints of what I did or read) independently this semester and essentially told my advisor that I'm taking control of my education, I'm sendimg you either an update every week or we are having a weekly meeting (or I have a meeting with another faculty /postdoc) to get advice on my progress, ask the questions I need to progress the next week, get feedback on figures whatever. I figured this out on my own because my advisor said to me 'a lot of students don't like having weekly meetings'. we'll thats on them. I understand thats a drag but I feel like it keeps you on track.

I'm currently a master's student now. Honestly, I find your content so beneficial. Thanks, man.

100% The complete and utter lack of guidance took me completely off guard. I was expecting weekly meetings and reviews. I had to fight for every encounter and most of those talks went nowhere, because they showed zero interest in what I was doing.

Finished my Cell Biology PhD 9 years ago and have mentored many graduate students since. This advice is absolutely spot on. Definitely going to send it to some of my mentees!

There should be a website like glassdoor for supervisors where you can see their ratings. Current or past PhD students can rate their university program and supervisor on that website.

Persistence and hard work. The further you go, the more effort it takes. Keep your goal in mind and work for it. It is your goal not that of your supervisor, your parents or anyone else.

The last point was spot on. Once I figured out all the PhD advisor is a letter of recommendation - the whole experience became so much better. Another suggestion, most academics have so much on their plate they generally can only remember the last week's update. The single most important thing dealing with a boss is get as far ahead of them as you can. Show 1 or 2 updates each week. I did a postdoc where at one point i was 2 months ahead of where my advisor thought I was. Meant i was vacationing ~quarter of the entire position

I was a local copper for 30 years and, at around 20 years service, I knew I would be retiring in a decade at the tender age of 50, so I went got myself on a BA in Scandinavian Languages course, then a PGCE/Cert Ed, then an MA in English and finally did a PhD in linguistics hoping I might be employable by a university. I retired from the fuzz and was able to find a lecturing position pretty much straight away as my specialism was in demand. After a very confused start, uncertain of what was expected of me and a first supervisor who was not remotely interested in my research, I eventually found a novel angle that nobody had ever looked at before so far as I could tell and I was up and running. To me, the success began when my supervisor changed and I finally had someone who took a proper interest in my work - and when I had firmed up my research questions so I was clear about precisely what I wanted to find out and how I intended to do that. Of course, academia was a second career for me so I haven't had the time to build up a full academic career. I have now hung up my doctoral tam next to the bobby's helmet in the loft space and properly retired. Well, sort of. I'm still doing a bit of independent research for a book I intend writing, but that's if my missus runs out of DIY and gardening jobs!

Such amazing advice (as always!) these were all things that I did and decided to make changes but this is comforting to know even after the fact

Dr Stapleton your passion for academia always shows. I think you will return to academia some day. Great video.

I'm forwarding this video to my students... they can find here better advises than I could give them... maybe I'm too busy... or maybe I'm just a bad supervisor and I should have followed this channel before getting a postdoc position.

I’m currently a PhD student in chemical engineering at university of Toronto. Nice to see my school represented here

Wow - this video really came at the right time for me! Thanks Andy, excellent advice, I particularly like your thoughts on personal accountability and not waiting for that flash of inspiration.

The idea to keep notes as powerpoint slides is BRILLIANT, thanks for making the content you make!!

A PhD in basic science makes you have the license to practice science. A University scientist/researcher/academia/professor is just a special extension of Government employees. If the "Government" wants you, you will be hired to start as an assistant professor. Then all these factors will dictate your research and academic career for the remaining of your life: number of publications, citations, impact factor and government research grants.

I don't know how to explain you. Always I get a new idea when I watch your video. I hope others feels the same. Thank you very much Andy.

Insightful Thank you Dr Stapleton

Your content is so motivated... 👌

Can you make a video of your fortnightly presentation? I think it would be a very beneficial tool for most of us!