I Quit My MIT PhD

Samuel Bosch
12 Nov 202317:09
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRErin shares her journey from a struggling student in Croatia to achieving her childhood dream of attending MIT, only to decide to quit her PhD. She discusses her realization that the pursuit of a PhD wasn't her true passion and the importance of questioning societal norms about education. Erin's story highlights the value of self-discovery, the pursuit of genuine interests, and the courage to change paths when necessary.

Takeaways
  • 🎓 The speaker's childhood dream was to pursue a PhD at MIT, which they eventually achieved but later decided to quit.
  • 🌍 Born in Germany and moving to Croatia due to parents' NGO work, the speaker faced early life challenges including language barriers and behavioral issues in school.
  • 🚀 Overcoming difficulties, the speaker developed a passion for physics, won a national competition, and a bronze medal at the International Physics Olympiad.
  • 🌟 Despite setbacks, including rejection from MIT initially, the speaker remained determined and eventually gained admission to the prestigious institution for their PhD.
  • 🤖 The speaker's interest in technology and machine learning led to working for a New York City-based hedge fund and conducting research in California.
  • 📚 Once at MIT, the realization hit that the true goal was the achievement of getting into MIT, not necessarily the completion of the PhD itself.
  • 💡 The speaker emphasizes the importance of having a clear goal and vision, as personal discipline can sometimes be secondary to passion and focus.
  • 🎨 While at MIT, the speaker started a digital marketing company and found joy in the entrepreneurial journey, which eventually led to the decision of leaving academia for entrepreneurship.
  • 🔄 The speaker's experience reflects a journey of self-discovery, highlighting that one's path is not set in stone and can change based on personal growth and new interests.
  • 🤔 The speaker advises viewers to question the default progression of academic degrees and to consider whether a PhD aligns with their career aspirations and personal goals.
  • 🌈 The narrative concludes with the speaker encouraging others to explore diverse life paths, emphasizing that happiness and fulfillment can be found outside of traditional academic routes.
Q & A

  • What was Erin's childhood dream?

    -Erin's childhood dream was to do her PhD at MIT.

  • Why did Erin quit her PhD at MIT?

    -Erin quit her PhD because she realized that her true goal was to prove to herself that she could get into MIT, and once she achieved that, she felt a lack of direction and purpose in her research.

  • How did Erin's early life in Croatia impact her education?

    -Erin faced significant challenges in Croatia due to language barriers and behavioral issues, which led to her being expelled from multiple schools.

  • What subject did Erin excel in during her high school years?

    -Erin excelled in physics, eventually winning a national competition and a bronze medal at the International Physics Olympiad.

  • What was Erin's initial reaction to being admitted to MIT?

    -Erin was extremely happy and felt like she could accomplish anything with the resources available at MIT.

  • What led Erin to start her own company?

    -null

  • How did Erin's experience at MIT change her perspective on her future?

    -Erin's experience at MIT made her realize that she was more interested in entrepreneurship and innovation than academic research, leading her to pursue a startup.

  • What advice does Erin have for those considering a PhD?

    -Erin advises not to default to doing a PhD and to question whether it aligns with one's career goals and passions, especially if they are not certain about becoming a researcher or university professor.

  • How did Erin's time at Harvard Business School contribute to her current venture?

    -Erin's minor in Business Administration at Harvard Business School provided her with valuable skills and connections that she is now using to revolutionize the legal industry with her startup.

  • What was the turning point for Erin in deciding to quit her PhD and focus on her startup?

    -The turning point was when Erin realized that she could not successfully work on a startup while pursuing a PhD, and her growing unhappiness and lack of fulfillment in her academic work.

  • What is Erin's current focus after quitting her PhD?

    -Erin is now focusing on her startup in the legal tech space, which she finds more exciting and fulfilling than her PhD research.

Outlines
00:00
🌟 Journey to MIT and the Decision to Quit

The speaker, Erin, introduces herself and shares her story of pursuing a PhD at MIT, a childhood dream. Born in Germany and raised in Croatia, she faced educational challenges due to language barriers and behavioral issues. Despite these struggles, she developed a passion for physics and achieved academic success, including winning a national physics competition and a bronze medal at the International Physics Olympiad. Driven by ambition, she focused solely on getting into MIT, viewing it as the ultimate goal. However, after achieving this milestone, she realized that her true objective was the journey and the proof to herself of her capabilities, not the PhD itself. This led to her decision to quit the program.

05:03
🚀 From Croatia to MIT and the Search for the Next Challenge

After being rejected by MIT for her undergraduate studies, Erin found success in the tech industry, working for a New York City-based company and conducting machine learning research in California. This led to her invention of a new machine learning algorithm, which gained significant attention. With renewed determination, she reapplied to MIT for the PhD program in computer science and was admitted. Upon arrival, she was ecstatic but soon realized that her obsession with getting into MIT had blinded her to the joy of the journey itself. After starting her PhD, she felt a lack of direction and struggled with the self-guided nature of the program, leading to a search for a new challenge.

10:06
🤔 The Struggle with Discipline and the Shift in Priorities

Erin reflects on her personal journey, acknowledging her lack of discipline when it came to tasks she wasn't passionate about. Despite this, she excelled when focused on a clear goal. During her PhD, she started a digital marketing company, which she found genuinely enjoyable. The pandemic and the shift to remote work exacerbated her struggles with the PhD program, and she realized that her lack of progress was due to a lack of excitement about the work. Erin emphasizes the importance of having a clear goal and vision, as it can compensate for a lack of discipline.

15:06
🎓 The Decision to Leave MIT and the Embrace of Entrepreneurship

Erin discusses her decision to leave her PhD program at MIT to focus on her startup, a legal tech company. Despite the investment of time and effort into her PhD, she recognized the need to follow her passion and pursue a concrete goal. She shares her experiences of building a startup, the stress and excitement of it, and how it provided her with the drive that was missing from her PhD research. Erin concludes by advising viewers not to view a PhD as a default path and to consider their true passions and goals before committing to such a significant endeavor.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Childhood dream
The term 'childhood dream' refers to an aspiration or goal that one has from a very young age. In the context of the video, it is the speaker's early desire to pursue a PhD at MIT, which is a prestigious institution known for its contributions to science and technology. This dream is a central theme of the video, as it drives the speaker's educational and career choices throughout their life.
💡PhD
A 'PhD', short for Doctor of Philosophy, is the highest academic degree that one can achieve in many fields. In the video, the speaker discusses their journey towards obtaining a PhD at MIT, the challenges faced, and the eventual decision to quit. The term is significant as it represents the pinnacle of academic achievement and is often associated with a commitment to research and academia.
💡MIT
MIT, or the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is a renowned institution known for its focus on science, technology, and research. In the video, the speaker's admission to MIT is a major turning point, fulfilling a long-held dream. However, the experience at MIT also leads to introspection and a reevaluation of the speaker's goals and priorities.
💡Education system
The 'education system' refers to the structured process of learning and acquiring knowledge, typically through schools and universities. The speaker critiques the education system, suggesting that it may not always align with individual goals and passions. This is illustrated by their personal journey, which includes both successes and disillusionment within the academic sphere.
💡Discipline
In the context of the video, 'discipline' refers to the ability to maintain focus and consistently work towards a goal, even when faced with challenges or lack of immediate interest. The speaker admits to lacking discipline in certain areas, particularly in reading complex academic papers for their PhD. However, they also highlight that having a clear goal or passion can drive them to work hard without needing discipline.
💡Quantum Computing
Quantum Computing is a rapidly evolving field that utilizes the principles of quantum mechanics to perform computations. In the video, the speaker mentions struggling with reading papers on Quantum Computing, which is indicative of the complex and advanced nature of the topics they were expected to engage with during their PhD at MIT.
💡Startup
A 'startup' is a newly established business venture that aims to grow rapidly, often with the goal of bringing a new product or service to market. The speaker discusses their experience of starting a digital marketing company and later a legal tech startup, which provided them with a sense of purpose and direction outside of academia. This illustrates the shift from academic pursuits to entrepreneurial ventures.
💡Machine Learning
Machine Learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that involves the development of algorithms that allow computers to learn from and make predictions or decisions based on data. The speaker mentions conducting machine learning research in California, which showcases their interdisciplinary interests and the application of advanced computational techniques in their work.
💡Career
A 'career' refers to a professional path or occupation that one pursues over the course of their life. The video emphasizes the importance of choosing a career that aligns with one's passions and interests, rather than following a predetermined academic trajectory. The speaker's journey from academia to entrepreneurship reflects a significant career shift.
💡Self-doubt
Self-doubt is the feeling of uncertainty or lack of confidence in one's own abilities or decisions. In the video, the speaker experiences self-doubt, particularly in relation to their intelligence and discipline, especially during their PhD journey. This self-doubt is a critical point, leading to a reevaluation of their goals and the decision to quit the PhD program.
💡Passion
Passion refers to a strong interest or enthusiasm for a particular subject or activity. The speaker emphasizes the importance of pursuing one's passions, as it was their passion for physics and later for entrepreneurship that drove their achievements. The video suggests that passion can be a more powerful motivator than discipline alone.
Highlights

Erin's childhood dream was to do her PhD at MIT, but she decided to quit.

She was born in Germany and moved to Croatia at the age of five due to her parents' work with an NGO.

Croatia was recovering from the Civil War of Yugoslavia, creating a challenging environment for her education.

Erin struggled with language barriers and making friends in her early school years in Croatia.

In middle school, she developed behavioral issues and was eventually kicked out of multiple schools.

Erin's admission to a prestigious high school in Croatia was a turning point in her academic journey.

Her interest in physics led to her winning a national competition and a bronze medal at the International Physics Olympiad.

Despite her achievements, Erin was rejected from MIT and decided to study at the University of Zagreb.

Feeling her career was not progressing as desired, Erin dropped out of university and later started working for a New York City-based company.

Erin's invention of a new type of machine learning algorithm gained traction, leading her to reapply to MIT.

After years of hard work and sacrifice, Erin was finally admitted to MIT's PhD program in computer science.

Once at MIT, Erin realized that her true goal was to prove to herself and others that she could achieve her dream.

She found that her passion for physics was replaced by a desire for new challenges and a different direction in life.

Erin's experience at MIT made her question the traditional educational path and the purpose of pursuing a PhD.

She started her first company in digital marketing while still at MIT, which sparked a new interest in entrepreneurship.

Erin's struggle with discipline and focus in her PhD program highlighted the importance of having a clear goal and vision.

Despite the challenges, Erin's journey led her to Harvard Business School, where she met her co-founder and built a strong network.

She encourages viewers to question the default path of higher education and to pursue their true passions, even if it means reevaluating their current trajectory.

Erin's story serves as a reminder that success is not a one-size-fits-all concept and that personal fulfillment is a valid reason for making significant life decisions.

Transcripts

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Educational PursuitMIT ExperiencePhD DecisionSelf-DiscoveryCareer ChoicesStartup FounderPersonal GrowthCroatian RootsAmerican DreamAcademic StrugglesEntrepreneurial Spirit