Hey. I am going to the US this summer to present some work at a conference. My department pays for everything. I would just like to ask you if it's possible for me to stay longer and use my return ticket a week later or so, as I have some friends who live in the US and who I'd like to visit. I know I will have to ask my supervisor/department but I was wondering if anyone has ever taken a holiday after a conference.

I embarked upon a PhD in October this year. I was reluctant to take this project on due to a number of reasons, but was eventually convinced to give it a try because apparently I would have been stupid not to take on a good paid studentship and plus it might not be so bad after all.
Two months later and I feel like the greatest fool for listening to others as opposed to my feelings.
I really enjoy and want to do research and a PhD, but I am just not enjoying the research I am currently doing. This is not helped by the fact that my project was turned around completely all of a sudden, because apparently the initial idea wouldn’t work out…
Plus, starting this PhD required me to move to a new place yet again. I was required to move around quite a lot when I was younger due to my parent’s job and only moved back home to the UK when I started my undergrad. I know this might not seem like such a big deal to some, but starting yet “another” life was something that I really, really wanted to avoid for the time being because I just cannot deal with packing my bags every few years and start all over again.
I’ve recently seen a project that would not only be much more suitable for my interests and later career aspirations, yet it would also be back home were I did my undergrad and MSc. However, I am wondering how do I explain that I want to quit my PhD, being only 2 months in? I just feel like pretending that I am not doing anything at the moment, but then I know that I cannot do that :-(...

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Hey. This is a bit long, but I'd be grateful nonetheless for any advice!!!

I was accepted onto a PhD back in May. I know this is a great opportunity and everything, but I really have an odd feeling about doing the PhD ever since being accepted. Now with the start date approaching quickly I am dreading my decision…

I mean the topic is great and it’s in an area related to my MSc thesis. However:

- I haven’t actually met my supervisor in person until now (I had a phone interview as I was overseas due to work) and even though we’ve spoken on the phone like twice post interview I am starting to doubt whether it’s such a good idea to do a PhD when you’ve never met your supervisor to be, even though my supervisor sounds like a nice person on the phone.

- I have doubts as to whether I really want to do a PhD. I mean I’ve wanted to do a PhD since my undergrad, but I don’t know whether the whole thing is a rushed decision. The only time I’ve really done research was whilst doing my undergrad and MSc thesis and whilst I enjoyed the research process very much I’ve only realised during my MSc from meeting other PhDers how demanding a PhD can be. I also always saw the PhD more as a back up plan, something to fall back on if my other career path doesn’t work out. Ever since being accepted I've literally had near to no motivation to do anything. I don't know whether this is due to me working f/t at the moment, but I've done so little reading and only produced one critical review cause my supervisor wanted me to do one.

- This may sound stupid but one of the biggest issues for me is that the PhD would require me to move to a new city again. I had my heart set on doing a PhD in London, but unfortunately, this didn’t work out. Starting the PhD would be like the 7th time I would start a “new life”. I grew up in London until I was six, but my parent’s job required me to move overseas. I subsequently went back to the UK to do my undergrad and moved back to London for my MSc. Some may think that I can move to London post PhD, but during my MSc I really enjoyed the feeling of being back home in a place I love to live. I am just so tired of starting a new life every few years. Thus, I just don’t know whether it be better to wait another year and try my luck with applying for PhD’s at London unis again. But then again who guarantees me that I am more lucky the second time around?

I know that I have to make the decision myself but I’d be really thankful for any words of wisdom.

Hello!

I have an interview for a funded PhD studentship next week and even though the ad included an outline of the study, I am slightly starting to get worried that I don't know enough to do a PhD and I’m going to get asked some seriously intense questions in my interview. Thus, I was wondering if anyone had asked for a copy of the protocol when invited for an interview for a funded studentship and if it would be wise to do so?

Thanks,
Ceruse