<p>My D is a senior Physics major, starting her thesis research with one of her professors. A couple of years ago, she told me she was told, the average Physics Ph.d took eight years! Wowsers! </p>
<p>Right now, her plan is to work for a year or two while she decides whether or not to pursue graduate school. She’s not yet sure she’s willing to go that long haul, but she thinks it’s important to position herself to have that option.</p>
<p>My Cousin (who is now a university professor), took 7+ years to earn her Ph.d in Speech Pathology and Audiology. She was constantly frustrated about the amount of time it was taking to finish her research because, her world renown adviser was “always out of the country”. From this thread, that sounds like a maddeningly common phenomenon.</p>