I have accepted a PhD position at Bristol anatomy dept. I'm really scared! Anyone studying there now, or have been there and can tell me anything about the place?

Sylvester is that really so? In which kind of jobs would you say it decreases your earning potential, seriously ANY other than academia? I'm not trying to argue or say you are wrong because I really don't know, I'm just surprised to hear that. Is this definately as a result of people having a PhD putting off employers, or are statistics that way because people with a PhD are more likely to aim for academic, not hugely paying jobs wheras people with eg an MBA are a different kind of person and will go for different (higher paying) jobs? Where can you find these statistics anyway?

Thank you for the reply. just had a look at the previous posts mentioning imposter syndrome, very interesting! It's nice to know others can feel like this. Still really scared though! :/

Hi, I have ehard all interviews are different but in case it helps, I have just had one interview for a biology-related project. I asked lots of questions about the projects, about their techniques etc. I think this looked good, cos it showed I was interested. They asked me a few technical questions about the subject, about my hobbies, about what my goals are in life, why I want to do a PhD, asked about my current disseration... basically they were looking for enthusiasm and interest and a willingness to learn (I was honest about the fact I wasn't enourmously familiar with the field they were researching but said I would like to learn!) Just be yourself and be enthusiastic about your current studies, and about their project, and do a bit of background reading about their work would be a good idea...

I have been offered a place at a good uni to do a really cool sounding PhD - I was completely shocked that they made me the offer I was convinced all the otehr guys at interview had a much better chance than I did, co it's not a subject I'm wholly familiar with (if at all). At first I was really ahppy but now I am completely afraid; I know my technical skills in the lab are not great and I'm really worried I'm not going to be able to handle the workload, be creative and original enough with project planning etc etc. I feel like a fraud being given this place and I know I'm not that great a scientist though I convinced them I would be a great student, I'm wondering if It's even the right thing for me to be doing - has anyone else felt like this? How did people cope at first with their PhDs? Are there many stories of people just dropping out cos they can't take the heat?