Short version of a long story: I’m about to submit my PhD after 3.5 years of work, and I’m plagued with self-doubt. I moved countries for this, joined a university where I don’t speak the main languages, and worked with supervisors who weren’t experts in my field. From the beginning I had to work very independently, with no real guidance on study design or direction.
Now as I’m compiling my thesis and reflecting on the work, I can’t stop thinking about how much better the research could’ve been if I’d had more support or known what I know now. I did the best I could with what I had, but I feel insecure and full of self doubt about the ‘missed opportunities’ in my studies.
Is this just part of the normal PhD growth trajectory, or is this something more concerning? I can’t redo my studies or collect more data at this point, so I’m left defending a thesis I wish were stronger.
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Unfortunately, I feel like this is very normal. I was in a similar place submitting my thesis, and I know many others who felt similarly (to different degrees). There’s a huge amount of self doubt and mental health issues that come out in the PhD process
Are you really a PhD student if you don’t suffer from intense imposter syndrome?
That is to say, it is sadly very normal to feel like that.
I would even argue, if you are not filled with some level of doubt, you’re probably overconfident amd not being a good researcher, bit ay some point you’ve got to submit. Good luck!
There are a ton of things I reflect on what I produced and know I could have done much better. However, that feeling came after I submitted and defended, not while actually doing it. Over time and with practice, you will refine how you conduct research to a point where you feel better about it. What you submit is always a snapshot of what you have done or ready at any given time, not something that is perfect in its entirety.
As for guidance on direction or methodology, it was woefully lacking for me. I always got “fix it” versus someone telling me “what” to fix. Looking back, that probably helped me more than anything, it was part of the critical thinking aspect I needed to grasp better.
The best thesis is a done thesis!
Yes, it’s normal. In fact, I’d say it’s nearly universal. And I’d also say it doesn’t stop.
I’m 3.5 years out of my PhD and in a faculty role. I always feel doubt or regret basically after each paper I’ve written has gotten published, mostly because when I’ve learned so much between the time I first wrote it and the time it gets accepted.
It means you’re learning. And it makes you a good scholar. People like Bruno Latour, a widely renowned sociologist, would frequently contradict himself in his later writings; for him, as soon as he published something, he changed his mind. It was evidence that he was learning!
Being in Academia is like being a professional in impostor syndrome.