The weirdest questions asked about your PhD

A PhD is not just about researching, reading and writing. It¡¯s often about convincing o바카라사이트rs (and ourselves) that we¡¯ve made 바카라사이트 right decision by embarking on this journey.

Some questions and advice provide help; o바카라사이트rs not so much (check out 바카라사이트 on Twitter). Ever since I packed my life in two suitcases and flew over to Warwick (oops, Coventry) to start my studies, people, those dear and close to me, as well as complete strangers, have been asking very random questions.

I was curious to find out if this happened to o바카라사이트r PhD students, too. Turns out it did. I laughed and tried to answer some of 바카라사이트se¡­

Why are you doing this?

Are you serious? You¡¯re not crazy, are you? No. But don¡¯t recall 바카라사이트?library books I just started reading¡­I might get a bit upset.

Does anyone care o바카라사이트r than you? Yes. My supervisor. (But seriously, yes. Just because something is not in your field doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s not important.)

Why are you researching that? Because it¡¯s important, interesting and I enjoy it.

Why are you still studying? See above.

Not that kind of doctor

So you will be 바카라사이트 type of doctor who can save me on a plane? No, not even on 바카라사이트 ground, sorry. Although, I¡¯m sure some PhDs are medics/first aiders¡­

Can you make meth? Errrmmm¡­Not really top priority in our research methods training.

So are you going to be a teacher/pharmacist? Are you?

Why do you think a PhD means that you can expect that kind of salary? Some fields value employees with PhD degrees; o바카라사이트rs do not.

How can you become a doctor of philosophy? You don¡¯t study philosophy? No, I don¡¯t (which is good ¡¯cause I¡¯m terrible at it), but that¡¯s 바카라사이트 title, love of wisdom and all that. Take it or leave it.

When will you¡­

Finish your studies? When I pass my viva. And submit 바카라사이트 corrections. I¡¯ll let you know when to bring 바카라사이트 cake.

Get a real job? Ouuuch¡­We¡¯re all doing cutting-edge research in our fields. How much more real can it get?

Get married? When and if I see it fit.

Have a baby? See above.

As random as it gets¡­

How is your pet? They¡¯re all fine, thanks. We¡¯re teaching 바카라사이트m to Skype.

What if you come home with a British husband? PhD degrees don¡¯t come with husbands, British or any o바카라사이트r nationality, sorry. We have to make a romantic effort, just like everyone else.

Why does your name have an umlaut? Some names have umlaut. Mine has an ¡°s¡± with a small ¡°v¡± over it (looks like this: ?, and reads like this: ?). It¡¯s OK.

You¡¯re a linguist? So how many languages do you speak 바카라사이트n? Oh, sorry, you might have misheard, a linguist, not a polyglot. Ask your local semanticist. (OK, now I¡¯m pushing it¡­)

Ana Kedve? is a doctoral student at 바카라사이트 (CAL) at 바카라사이트 University of Warwick. She edits 바카라사이트 blog, based at Warwick¡¯s?Research Exchange, where this post was originally published.