As above, don't worry too much, sounds like you're fine. The main thing at this point is that you've done a lot of reading. Good advice about a modest word count target per day - I started at 500 and can now reasonably comfortably write 1500-2000 decent 'academic' words a day if I need to. Some of my peers haven't written much of anything yet either, and they're OK.

Start small and your confidence will grow quickly. Once you've hit your daily word count, my advice would be to do something else or even go home; don't set a target of 'write for 7 hours' unless you really have to, I find this really inefficient.

I'm also in my first year and have done a lot of writing, but none of it has really been in the format of 'chapters' for my thesis - instead, I've written shorter papers on different elements of my project before supervision every few weeks, which really took the pressure off (no expectation that any of this ends up in the final thesis) and also got me used to academic writing. That might be a helpful exercise perhaps. The upshot of this is that I sometimes feel like I've not done as much reading as I'd like (I think this is something everyone encounters, mind) - sounds like you don't have that problem, so you're good.

Sorry to bang on about my writing - it probably doesn't help. What I'm getting at is that everyone's different, everyone has a different process. As long as your supervisors are happy with where you are, you're fine. Once you get writing proper, you'll probably find it much easier than you thought and it'll be very rewarding.

It sounds like the Dunning-Kruger effect talking!

I agree with everything that's been posted so far. Jealousy/insecurity is probably a significant factor.

However - in my own experience (and I'm not saying you do this at all, it's just worth bearing in mind!), there's a couple of people in my dept. who constantly bleat about how great their work is going, how great they are at 'networking', how many big names they know, and just transparently humble-brag to the point that it becomes unbearable. I've consciously distanced myself from one of these people - to the point of almost breaking off contact altogether - because constantly hearing this stuff is stressful, irritating and probably unhealthy. It's not the nicest thing to do, perhaps, but for the sake of preserving my own sanity I'm happy with that decision.

It doesn't sound like you're doing this, but just to echo what tru said with a personal experience - if things are going really great, it can be a bit alienating for others who aren't in such a good position to be constantly reminded of it. Just worth having in mind, although it sounds like you're being perfectly reasonable.

PhD communities ultimately can be quite weird and intense places, and if you've got friends outside I wouldn't sweat it so much, as long as you have functional professional relationships with your colleagues.

Not every candidate will be on the reserve list.

You have a chance - it's a slim chance, so make other plans, but you might get lucky. I've been in a similar position before and I reckon that a fair few people who get PhD funding offers will be top candidates who end up with an embarrassment of riches, and end up choosing between 2 or more offers. If one of them ditches your studentship for their preferred option, you might be in with a shout, especially if you are first reserve.

Don't count on it, but I always assumed that 'reserve list' was meaningless and a way to let you down gently - of course it's not, it's there for a reason. Good luck!

Classy.

In response to this, and the other thread: something which I found helpful was being confident enough to discuss where my project would need work (this is probably only relevant if you've submitted your own proposal). I'd thought about it a lot in the run-up to the interview, and I talked about how there were certain parts which would need to be tightened/recalibrated and that my research question would need re-phrasing.

This was based on tips from PhD students elsewhere, and the panel seemed impressed. I was able to anticipate a lot of their questions and demonstrate that I was flexible, adaptable and reflective enough to make changes when needed.

May not be relevant to you - something to think about though. Obviously also you don't want to overdo it and sound like you don't know what you're doing - it's not about lacking confidence or being unsure of yourself, but the opposite.

Anyway ramble over - good luck everyone :)

'Deliberately targeted students' = withdrawn their labour in an effort to disrupt university processes so as to stand up for their employment rights - a course of action which is very close to winning significant concessions, by the way, which has basically discredited the narrative that this was unavoidable, pension fund hugely in deficit, no way around it, etc. We have won the right to an independent valuation. We have pushed back against unreasonable changes to our terms and conditions.

I have attended UCU branch meetings throughout the strike and I can assure you that the overwhelming sentiment is that everybody wants it over and done with as soon as possible with minimal harm to students' education. It is unfortunate that students are caught in the dispute but the nature of our jobs demands it if we want to employ collective bargaining.

This is how industrial action works. If you don't like it, presumably you don't agree with strikes in principle. Sounds like the typical small-minded British attitude to trade unionism - grousing and bitterness when other workers take the initiative to stand up for themselves and protect hard-won rights and benefits that they themselves don't have/have lost. Because I don't have a decent defined-benefits pension, nobody should. Reverse solidarity. It stinks, frankly.

I agree strongly with everything that PD has said.

OP, you should be fine - sorry that you have been affected, and I agree that it's not nice to miss contact hours - but PG is about independent study - sounds like you're doing it. Well done.

I am not sure about copyright either, but I'm sure something would be in place - maybe someone more informed could advise. I'm not sure what you're proposing - is this through a DTP or through the university itself? Are you talking about submitting this topic as your own research proposal elsewhere?

If you get away with that, word gets around in academia. If someone finds out that you've lifted their research proposal and done it yourself, at a more 'reputable' university (even if it didn't get funded in the first instance), people will eventually know and it will be professionally damaging. There are academics who have reputations for stealing other people's (often PhD applicants) research ideas and that label sticks.

I suppose there's also a risk that you end up duplicating someone else's research - I assume if this project doesn't get funded, it's still an idea that someone is interested in pursuing eventually. I don't know the specifics.

I wouldn't bother though. At best it sounds like far too much hassle, at worst it could be construed as dishonest and unethical.

This is my relatively uninformed take - would be good if someone else could clear this up.

Job applications for where? I don't doubt that City finance companies, for instance, filter by that metric, but it doesn't sound like that's what the OP wants. Also, it sounds like you're talking about bachelors degrees which are a slightly different ball game.

Regarding PhDs, what 'ranking' are we talking about - Guardian/THE tables or departments that have well-recognized research capabilities in a particular field and strong supervisors? Because at PhD level the former becomes far less important than the latter.

I wouldn't bother with a PhD at a post-92 university that didn't offer excellent supervision and a stellar research track record in my field, but neither would I bother with a PhD at a Russell group that didn't offer the same. RGs, by dint of their deep pockets, attractive reputations, and well-resourced departments may be more likely to offer that, but being a Russell Group university alone doesn't automatically mean a better PhD experience or better prospects at the end of it. If some lecturers don't grasp that, then they are misguided.

One way to prepare for pursuing a research degree is to do some of your own research.

Seriously, this stuff is literally at your fingertips.

Why? Any options for what? This post makes no sense, although I suspect the general answer is no.

Couldn't agree more. Take the PhD. Rankings at PhD level are even more meaningless than usual. Plus, to coin a phrase, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

^ glad that's not just me, I used to be terrified of both of my supervisors. Now I'm only terrified of one.

Looks like it's really taking off

That's OK. I have frequently felt thick as two short planks in front of my supervisor. That is to be expected - there's a reason they're the supervisor and you're being supervised.

Brush up on your basics - I am sure you know more than you think - and don't be afraid to be up front in the future. Honesty and transparency will be key to your ongoing relationship so it's important to be truthful in meetings with your supervisor.