Anyone here failed a phd and lived to tell the tale?

Answer 1

Here is my sad story:

Back in the 1970s, I was going for a PhD in Math. The written exam was in three parts -- Topology, Algebra and Analysis. The algebra portion was in three parts -- Ring Theory, Group Theory and Linear Algebra. In order to pass, you needed two passes and a weak pass.

I had one of the highest scores on the Topology section (it was a large university with about 70 people taking the exam). I had very high scores on Group Theory and Ring Theory but a low score on Algebra -- giving me the highest Weak Pass score. I knew I was weak in linear algebra, so planned on spending the last week studying it after I got back into town. Only they moved up the exam by a week -- so I didn't have time. I got a weak pass in Analysis -- which was my weak area. I came as close as you could come to passing without passing. But I had another chance.

When I took the test the next time, I once again had the highest Topology score. This time, I had a pass in Algebra. However, after several years, a new person wrote the Analysis exam, and it was nothing like the tests of the previous ten years. I had the highest failing grade on the exam -- being just 2% below the weak pass.

I had done what was needed to pass (two passes and a weak pass) -- but not at the same sitting. Both times, I was extremely close to getting the grade that I needed. But they would not let me take the exam again and would not let me continue on for a PhD.

Now -- here is the good part of the story. I worked for 16 years, then went back to school. I now have a PhD in Finance from Berkeley.

Answer 2

yeah i did but I'm going back to it again