Hi All,

I've never posted on a forum or anything like this before. I have been in graduate school for 5.5yrs for a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology. During this time I have had multiple failed projects, communication issues with my advisor, been married, had a child, and am now divorced. I cannot afford to stay in graduate school with my child, but my advisor does not think I have enough of a body of work to deserve a PhD although she previously agreed that I could get out on the minimum. I do not want to be a PI, I want a well paying job in science that has regular hours and I will not have the stress of taking my work home with me every night.

So the question is...is it worth it? Should I stay in the program for at least another semester of misdirection and going down rabbit holes, or should I cut my losses and masters out?

I've talked to a few committee members and the chairs of my department. Somehow this made it worse in that now my advisor thinks I'm spreading rumors and going behind her back. The lab environment in itself is toxic and I am not the only one to have issues. I'm just the one who has outside circumstances that I must consider.

Any and all advice is welcome. I have a committee meeting next week.

Thanks