My tip for applying for any job, or applying for anything in life actually, is to tell them what they want to hear. Always worked for me.

This is an interesting article.

But you know what is fascinating to me? The fact that I know this is true and yet I still want to work in academia. I would be bored out my mind working in fast food/retail. I wouldn't do it for double the money. And I already know I'm unfulfilled working in other high powered sectors so... looks like I don't have much choice anyway!

Most people on here attend UK universities. If you're mentioning GPA are you talking about US unis? I don't know the answer in any case.

Congrats Satchi! Very well done :)

Sounds like a difficult situation...

I don't think they can prevent you from submitting a PhD but they can make it very difficult for you to get one, especially as someone from your university will be in your viva. I don't think they can dismiss you from your PhD due to the employment laws in place pertaining to disability such as the Equality Act 2010 and they have to make 'reasonable adjustments' to help you... but then again, as PhD students, we are not technically employees so maybe this doesn't cover us.

You're not legally required to give them your medical information - they can only request you provide it but they can't force you. Just tell them you don't want to give them access to your medical records as this is your personal information. Your GP won't disclose anything unless they have your permission.

Have you explained to your supervisors that you want to continue with your PhD despite your condition and this is your choice?

Why do you want to work in the US? The UK has much better health care, public transport, cheaper food, cheaper cost of living in general, better people... It's also less competitive so should be easier to find a job and keep a job.

PS Yes I'm biased!

My top tip for getting a good essay is to try writing it yourself.

I can empathize with living in a foreign country! I'm away for a year with my PhD. I'm back in 9 months and I can't wait to get home...

I just miss my home and my friends and family. That said, I try to make the most of being away by visiting as many places as I can whilst I'm here and enjoying the food, scenery, culture differences etc. I have learnt you have to make your own fun - don't wait for people to invite you places, just go and find somewhere to go and something to do.

I just try to make the best of these opportunities even though it's difficult to stay motivated sometimes because it's just not the same as my home town and uni. I'm in a research lab where people are employees rather than students so it's not the same as I expected.

My university owns my research completely. I had to sign something agreeing to this before I started.

Good advice Rubygem! I also follow these strategies :) Well, except the FB one - I like minute distractions!

I guess this depends on your definition of developing/developed country. If not South Africa, then which country would you suggest is more developed? Kenya, perhaps? Nigeria? Sure they've got decent economies but they've still got a long way to go in terms of health care, education and public services.

My comments aren't coming from a position of ignorance; I've spent time in Africa and I've met several African students here in the UK and listened to their comments on their own countries. They still have a long way to go until they meet Western standards and that's why I wouldn't recommend doing a PhD there.

I know how you feel! I had no lab experience and my biggest problems initially were basic things such as how to make and dilute stock solutions, remembering what molarity meant, how to calculate how to make a working solution, what an autoclave was... honestly it was difficult! People would say to me 'follow this protocol, it's easy' and I would look at it for hours like it was in a foreign language!

Then, once I got to grips with that, the next challenge was thinking about how to set positive and negative controls - I felt like I was always going to have to be reminded by my supervisors, now I do it without even thinking about it.

I look back now and I think how far I have come! You will do the same eventually, trust me.

If he has mentioned what he wants you to do then I think you should include that in your proposal but just make it clear that you are basing it on his ideas as suggested and then just throw in some of your own as well.

There's basically two different approaches to getting a PhD: one, you send in a proposal of your own ideas and two, you reply for an advertised position with a covering letter. This seems to be a mix between the two, maybe to see if you understand what he is looking for and can build on the ideas suggested.

I totally agree. The sad fact is many developing countries are unable to supervise PhD students due to lack of knowledge and lack of experience - hence so many international students doing PhDs in Europe and the US sponsored by their governments. You are much better off doing your PhD in a developed country and then moving to the African country of your choice where you will probably find it pretty easy to get an academic job.

In my experience, supervisors have some idea of what they want you to do and even if you submit a proposal that suggests something else, you will still end doing what they want you to do...