GOODS CONTINUED ...

If you honestly think a PhD is not for you/will make you really unhappy ... then don't do it! It's not worth it and not worth making yourself ill over! 'Worse things have happened at sea' and all that!

I'm sure others will post more advice here soon.

Do keep us updated on your decision!

Hi Angie,

Sorry to read you've had a rough time of it - I do sympathise completely (I'm currently writing up, and spend vast amounts of time very stressed out ... to the point where it is very unhealthy for me). Anyway ...

Firstly, forget the importance of a 'Dr' title. Yes, it's a nice thing to have, but remember, it is only really used in academic circles and having the title is not the 'be all and end all'. Doing a PhD JUST for the title is not the right motivation you need.

Secondly, if you decide not to continue, you ARE NOT a failure! The PhD just wasn't for you - simple!

Thirdly, unless something in you drastically changes, the chances are you will always feel the way you do (... lots of PhD students are stressed/insecure/isolated/etc - I'm speaking from experience) - it's a question of whether you can live with them feelings and get on with the PhD. Of course, there are things you could do to help alleviate these feelings, but it will take time.

Just wondered ... what type of relationship do you all have with your supervisor? Can you (for example):

-Email them general (depressive) rants about how much you hate doing the Phd (feel like quitting/giving up/etc)?
-Tell them your research - in the grand scheme of things - means poo?
-Phone them (home/mobile) if you are having problems with work?
-Have meetings in informal settings (go for a coffee/lunch)?
-Spend hours chatting about everything apart from your PhD?
-Tell them that when you complete you plan to burn your work and run away from academia?

Looking forward to reading your comments on this one!

Jelly and ice-cream sounds great!

I'm assuming the kiddies party will be during the day. Couldn't you carry on celebrations into the evening (i.e. invite everyone who you know that is attending the kids party), and continue the 'jelly and ice-cream/kids' theme (... e.g. vodka jellies, etc)?

Thanks everyone for your encouraging words. It's always reassuring to hear about other people's experiences.

Hi There,

Is there anybody else in your department that you can talk to about this situation (i.e. another academic)? Your supervisors behaviour is wholly unacceptable/inappropriate, and if he isn't prepared to support/encourage you at this stage (I'm assuming it's still early days for you), then things won't get better with time if you don't do anything about this situation.

Is there anyone you can talk to? (... remember, switching supervisors might be an option that you haven't considered yet)

Thank you so much for your responses. Will definitely keep your advice in mind when me and my supervisor are at the stage of selecting an internal (... I think I'm a few months away from that though!).

Once again, thanks!

Just a quick query ...

I'm hearing conflicting opinions about the role of the internal examiner during the viva.

Some people are telling me that they are just there to check all is in order during the viva (that the extern is being fair), and is the person who will 'sign off' any revisions that need to be made to the thesis. However ... Others have told me that the internal examiner is actually harsher than the external (i.e. more ready to rip your work apart).

Does the internal examiner play a role in suggesting what revisions they feel you have to make (or is that just the extern)? Basically, can someone (who has ideally been through the viva process) clarify exactly what they do please.

Cheers.

At the end of the day ... the decision is yours, and you know what is right for you.

Personally, I would keep your existing job (if you find it bearable) and consider doing a PhD part-time (... this is difficult - but all PhD's whether full-time or part-time are - and is most certainly doable).

Remember ... the initial thrill of doing research doesn't last for a very long time once you actually start work.

Also, there is no guarantee at the end of a PhD of having a job/being able to walk into another job.

By the way, I left working in industry to pursue study again ... so I am talking from 'experience'.

Good luck with making a decision.

Thanks for the encouragement Otto - sometimes (as I'm sure you understand), it's hard to keep going with it and believing all will be ok.

How is your write up going? (I'm assuming you are writing up to)

I'm just worried that my work isn't 'academic' enough. I understand that I have to trust my supervisor on this one ... but I just think my results aren't very good (and come across that way to the reader).

Verdy - I've only been through a transfer viva (which I passed), and (honestly) didn't find that much reassurance about the standard of my work.

Otto - By 'faults' I mean ... I'm now looking at books where the studies are interview based, and thinking ... god, if I had my time again that's the area of research I would have looked at (e.g. specifically looking at kids attitudes to a particular topic). Mine is a lot more 'broad' - i.e. I used unstructured interviews and therefore had to go along with what the kids identified as important to themselves - I hope you are following the general gist of what I'm saying.

Also, yes, what the kids said is very 'thin' at times, and therefore making putting an analysis together off the back of their responses very difficult (... I must confess, when I see kids responses in books, I am also slightly dubious about these at times, as the kids are always much more coherent than kids I've experienced in my study!).

I'm convinced my work just isn't good enough (regardless of whatever reassurance my supervisor gives), and am worried I've spent 3 years of my life only to eventually end up in a position where I'm told ... You've failed!

I'm angry at myself to, because now I'm at this stage, I can see all the faults in my work and would have approached the project completely differently if I had my time again.

I just wish I knew how good a piece of work has to be to be able to qualify as PhD worthy.

Hello All,

I'm a social science based PhD student and am trying to write my final chapter (after this, I - hopefully - only have my intro and conclusion to write). My problem is ... I'm finding that this is the hardest chapter I've had to write to date. It's supposed to be an analysis chapter of interviews with kids (I've already done one of these), but I'm finding my interview material is very 'thin', and I'm in a position where I have to work with what I've got (there is no way I can do more fieldwork).

My supervisor has said that all of the work I've done to date is good, but I'm convinced that my analysis will read like an 'A Level' analysis. I'm now seriously considering submitting what I have and just going for an MPhil.

How do I know if my analysis is up to 'PhD level'? Recently, whenver I look at books I end up crying - my work is nowhere on a par with the stuff I read!

You should be aware that doing a PhD is a VERY different experience to doing masters/undergrads degree. You are pretty much working independently (i.e. on your own), have to be self-motivated (which is harder than it sounds), and I think a common factor which all PhD students share is the feeling of isolation (which can lead to depression for some - actually, most of us).

Also, a PhD does not guarantee a job - let alone a better job - at the end (... and if you are lured by the idea of your name in 'print' - then this is soo the wrong reason to do a PhD).

Have you considered doing a PhD part-time? I'd give this serious consideration.

Unless I was absolutely sure that the PhD was right for me (necessary for my future career move and I was not going to change my mind about this), I would keep my existing job and do the PhD on the side ... this is hard, but it is doable!