I quite like having to write the thesis, rather that just submit a series of publications.

There's only so much information one can obtain from published articles. In my field (molecular biology) it's really useful to be able to refer to the methods in someone else's thesis because they are so explicit it's easy to replicate their work when required.

I also like the fact that I can write a series of observations that I've made, which would never make it in a journal these days, but are more akin to old school articles from before the 1980s. Makes me feel like a real scientist :)

It's never too late. I had a 5 year gap between my degree and PhD working in a non-related job. I do have a MSc though and I'd been studying for other non-science qualifications in between.

I'd recommend that you really think carefully that this is the correct path for you. Are you in the US? If you are, I think it's even more difficult for you to get back into science, since most PhD students in the US have a lot of lab experience.

Maybe you should consider an MSc first? You will probably have to finance this yourself though, or take a graduate loan.

If you're really serious about it, it can be done.

Good luck!

It does seem a bit strange to ask for advice to be honest.. but I'm in a science field where this would be unusual and maybe it's different for history.

go away

It's really important that you are honest with your supervisor. You have had a lot of changes recently - it's almost inevitable that you are going to feel overwhelmed. Your supervisor, if he's any kind of decent person, will think more of you for being honest. You say he is impressed with your progress already - this is good. I think you should let him know how you are feeling as soon as possible and just agree a working strategy to achieve the things that you need to over the next few months. You're six months in - you're not expected to have anything more than a mass of ideas at this stage so don't worry!

And please, try to enjoy the next time off you have - even PhD students need time to rest.

Ok well usually a PhD student should have two supervisors so maybe the person you want is new or inexperienced, but works in your area, and the other can be experienced but in a different field. This would be a good set of supervisors, potentially.

I don't know about the clinical data side of things as I'm doing a molecular biology PhD but there's lots of people on here that do, so I'm sure someone else will let you have information that they know.

You don't need to worry too much about being prepared. They should provide all this information to you - and you can bet there will still be something that throws you off completely anyway!

Bear in mind it increases the feeling of isolation if your supervisors and potential colleagues are hundreds of miles away from you. It does make things a bit easier if you have a research group you can turn to when you need support.

The first thing a new PhD student usually does is read the background literature and write some sort of review to identify the gaps in the research. This can take one month to a year before any data is collected depending upon the subject area and topic.

Try not to choose your topics based on what fits in your personal life. You don't want to end up with regrets. I've made stupid choices based on what I thought would be best for the man in my life (getting in to a top 5 university, but going to a top 20 to please boyfriend, staying in a city for a extra year rather than moving home to please a different boyfriend, doing a computer-based MSc and not lab-based MSc to have more time at home and God knows what else).

Are these people major factors in my life now? (no - and, thankfully not in one case.) Are my qualifications there for me now? Well yes - I wouldn't be doing a PhD if they weren't. Luckily it still worked out ok for me.

Moral of the story - don't live your life for someone else.

Yes you use both names and you don't have to change anything legally. You can use your maiden name when you are married if you like and that's fine too. Actually you can call yourself anything you like - it's only on official documents such as passports you have to use your legal name.

I think this is quite normal these days. There are fewer and fewer positions due to budget cuts and more and more graduates.

Keep trying.

Maybe look further afield for opportunities? Take jobs/positions that are not directly related to your field of study?

Many professionals keep their maiden name with the Dr title for work and then use their husband's name for their personal life.

However, I think, why change your name at all? (Hindsight - I've learnt this the hard way!)

This is probably easy for me to say, since I'm single, but this is your life and your future career. You need something that will be there for you throughout your life, and this something is your education and your work experience, not your boyfriend. The issues with your boyfriend are just compounding your stress - do you really want this to continue for the next 3 - 5 years of your PhD? [let's be realistic - you are unlikely to graduate by 2015].

I appreciate it's a difficult time for your bf too, but he's already shown a lack of support and commitment by leaving at Christmas and it's only going to be harder in the future. What if you struggle through the next few years and he decides it's too much again - will it have been worth it?

I think you are still supposed to try to paraphrase.

Spell check. Decent CV. and as above

Seems a bit harsh, considering PhDs are supposed to be about training, not testing what you already know or can learn in a week. I've never heard of this.