Picking a topic for your dissertation or thesis may be the biggest hurdle you face in graduate school. Sure, you've got to write the thesis or dissertation, but if you choose the wrong topic, you may not even get that far.
Students report that choosing a topic can be either easy or agonizing.
The choice isn't made lightly. Having to switch topics after five years of work because you picked one that simply can't be done, or because you picked an adviser who's never had a student finish, can seriously dampen your enthusiasm for a Ph.D. A primary issue for many is the question of marketability. Another dilemma for some students is predicting whether they'll be able to tolerate working on their subjects for a substantial part of their lives. In science and engineering, academics can switch more easily, but staying interested in one topic for quite a few years can be a problem. Berkeley graduate students were, as always, ready to talk about this subject.