Thanks for your thoughts. I finally talked to one of my advisors today(been trying to get a one on one since March) and he said I could propose a thesis next year. Truthfully I don't think I believe him anymore though. It's just very difficult to leave because research is really the only thing I've ever wanted to do with my life.

Yeah, it's rough. I can't stand academia anymore and I kinda think I just want out. My parents really don't like the idea, but it's not really their decision

Thanks for your thoughts. Truthfully I think I might be ready to just leave. I don't want to stay in academia anymore and I'm just miserable here. I love actually doing research when I'm allowed to, but those times are few and far between. I'd probably be better suited for an engineering type role somewhere. Not as fun, but I wouldn't be on the brink of a mental breakdown all the time.

If you don't mind me asking, does your friend regret it?

Yeah, I made sure to get my masters because the original advisor wanted me to focus on that first. I've talked to the academic advisor but he's less than helpful most of the time.

And I completely agree it would be premature to propose a thesis right now. I'd planned on just taking data earlier this year and proposing this summer after I could get a paper out for review. COVID kind of messed that up. Labs were shut down from March-June. I'm going back now but it'll probably be shut down again very soon.

Thanks. I really don't know why I'm doing this anymore to be honest. Basically a year was wasted on a project that went nowhere and got no publications out of it. I've gotten really good at putting together scientific equipment, but I wanted to be a scientist not a technician. The job is in the same city I'm in now so cost of living is the same.

Thanks for your thoughts. I certainly don't really want to leave, but I've seen some grad students here for 9,10, and one at 15 years. I don't want that life. I was told the average here was 5-7 and that's what I committed to. As it is I'm basically a very cheap technician for them. I had an old friend asking why I'm not graduating yet (granted he thought I'd been here for 7 years) and it just felt terrible because he got out in 6. I've been considering leaving for a while now.