Thousands of people start graduate programs every year – and over time, many come to question their choice.

Is the program right for me? Do I have too much going on in my life? Should I keep pursuing my degree – investing my time, energy and sense of my own identity in such a major undertaking? Is it worth it? Or would I be better off leaving?

You sit down at the keyboard, ready to write up your research. But the harder you try, the worse you seem to feel.

Today we ask a vexing question: what makes thesis-writing so mentally and emotionally taxing?

We talk to two former grad students about their struggles with self-doubt, anxiety and loneliness in the writing process. We also gain insights from University of Toronto writing scholar Rachael Cayley.

Music credits:

Licensed from soundstripe.com: "Shaken and Stirred" by Dreamland (theme song); “Boo Instrumental” by Dresden the Flamingo; “Beyond All Time” by Moments; “Transporter” by Falls; “Causality” by Shimmer; “Unexpected Turn” by Moments; “Pages” by Shimmer; “What You Are Here For” by Moments; “Crescendo” by Featherland.

In this episode, two mothers tell us what it’s like to take on these daunting tasks at the same time. They share their feelings of guilt and recount moments of exhaustion. 

When they do get the help they need, we learn, it’s often from individuals who care, rather than from a system that isn’t really built to support them. 

Together, these stories help us all understand the experiences of graduate student parents a little bit better. And for all the parents out there, we hope it helps you realize you’re not alone in finding this hard.

Music credits: 

Licensed from  soundstripe.com: "Shaken and Stirred" by Dreamland (theme song); “Growing Pains” by Featherland; “Aurora” by Featherland; “Sacred Ground” by Falls; “Denali” by Bryant Lowry; “Secret” by MCV Beatz