I have a therapist presently and she told me that it is my decision on when to start hormones and begin transition. Now my question is I am presently in college heading towards my ph.d, I am eager to get started but am uncertain to whether I should wait until I get my degree or throw caution to the wind (so to speak) and begin while in school.

I'm about half way through my masters degree.  I suspect I'll be done with it before I'm anywhere near full time.  That being said, I would first say do nothing to jeopardize your Ph.D.

Now that's out of the way, I would also think your future is in teaching or research of some sort.  Those fields tend to be fairly liberal and would probably be more accepting of someone in the process of transitioning in their ranks.  If I were you, I would try to figure out what your supervising professors attitude towards GLBT issues are and let that be your guide.

thanks for the input the field that I am going into  is research (physics), thats the thing I dont want to jeapodize my ph.d but I want to be me as well

Generally speaking, colleges/universities are the best place to transition IMO. They generally have some kind of LGBTI society or support, policy against discriminations and as regan said more liberal and accepting. Also, if you transition while in college, your education certificate will have the right name (assuming you change your name). The same applies to any publication you might produce, you won't have to explain why you don't have any publications in your (new) name, or that you're listing publications on your resume wasn't by "you".

Quote from: Keroppi on May 30, 2011, 10:07:47 AM
Generally speaking, colleges/universities are the best place to transition IMO. They generally have some kind of LGBTI society or support, policy against discriminations and as regan said more liberal and accepting. Also, if you transition while in college, your education certificate will have the right name (assuming you change your name). The same applies to any publication you might produce, you won't have to explain why you don't have any publications in your (new) name, or that you're listing publications on your resume wasn't by "you".

QFT.  Just what I was going to say.

Thanks so much for the input and the assistance, I just found this site today but from reading other posts I find I love this place. It has been very informative an helpful

How will transition jeopardize your phd? I just don't think that will happen

Quote from: Jameve on May 30, 2011, 01:27:24 PM
How will transition jeopardize your phd? I just don't think that will happen

I don't think that hadrons, quarks, and other elementary particles will care.

Robyn

Quote from: Jameve on May 30, 2011, 01:27:24 PM
How will transition jeopardize your phd? I just don't think that will happen

I do not know if it will, I was responding to the first person who said not to jeapordize my ph.d

Quote from: Robyn on May 30, 2011, 01:37:48 PM
I don't think that hadrons, quarks, and other elementary particles will care.

Robyn

Thank you robyn for that it made me giggle

Oh for goodness sake. YOU WILL NEVER EVER have a better place and time in life to transition than while in college.

If you are sure you want to transition then WHATEVER you do DO NOT throw that golden opportunity away. If you do you will look back on it one day and realise that it was the worst stupidest mistake that you ever made, and i really do mean that.

If you can enter your adult working life already in correct gender you will make everything a million times simpler. From my experience I would say quite simply anyone who advises you differently wants their head examining -  and I am sorry to those that already did - I mean you no offense, but from my experience I really feel that it is important to warn people so that they don't waste the opportunity to transition before they get into the difficulties of the workplace.

Trust me transitioning in a workplace is no picnic. I would give everyone the same advice and it is based on DECADES of experience and of observation of people who have transitioned at various life stages.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE whatever you do DON'T waste the opportunity.

Also it will give you a chance to get your diploma under your real name.
Many universities will update the name on your records, but most will never reissue a diploma.

Quote from: Renate on May 30, 2011, 06:11:35 PM
Also it will give you a chance to get your diploma under your real name.
Many universities will update the name on your records, but most will never reissue a diploma.

You have a chance to put whatever name you want on your degree.  A common solution is to just put your initials down, it might force you to choose a new name with those initials - but at least it solves one problem.

As I recall with my undergrad degree I was asked what name I wanted printed on my degree.  I would imagine if you explained things, that you're in the process of transitioning, they would print the name you wanted whether it was your legal name or not.  I wouldn't force yourself to transition if you're not ready otherwise, besides your previous degrees are going to be in your "old" name anyways.

As for not "jeopardizing" your degree, since I made the comment.  Don't do anything to put your education at risk, yes universities should be more accepting, but I wouldn't expect Bob Jones University. for example, to be very accepting nor would I expect all professors to be accepting of GLBT issues until proven otherwise.  I remember a professor I had as an undergrad, and loved until I found out his horribly anti-GLBT views outside the classroom.  Don't assume anything...

I would like to thank all the wonderful replies, they have given me a good perspective and helped me in the decision making process. Thanks again