I started my PhD this fall which was equally terrifying and exciting and fun and exhausting and just…all the feels.
For context, UW is on a quarter system as opposed to semesters. I have somewhat gotten used to it. But that’s why this is called quarters.
For additional context, before this PhD I was working at Redfin for a little over 2 years as a Product Manager. So it’s been a transition, but one that I planned for and am so excited about.
I wanted to write up a quick reflection, inspired by so many other academics who do these quarterly look backs and to expose more people to just what people do in a PhD program.
Routine, what this looks like day to day:
If you are a corporate adult going back to grad school, it is an adjustment. I won’t lie. Academics don’t have the same working hours. We all tell one another to balance but we all over work. We email at weird times and start paper drafts at weirder ones. You have to find what works for you, but the odds of it being exactly 9–5 every day is slim. Some weeks are super busy, some are super super light. It’s hard to say what a typical week is, but I have outlined some of my routine-ness below in case people want that insight (I did when I went back).
