On every flight I have flown so far, as I get turned over to approach, they instruct me to decend from flight level (Usually FL340 or FL350) down to 11,000 or 12,000 feet within 30 miles. This can't be done without a very steep decent rate. Shouldn't I have been stepped down at all before being asked to decend to 11k or 12k?

you're missing a descent clearance. you're going to get something between 250 to 11000do you recall hearing the PD clearance? something "at pilot's discretion, descend and maintain 240"jd