Er... you are here already?!

Do you want to do something that uses what you have learned in your degree or not? Do you want to study further? Or do you just want to go out into the world of work?

If the last one, then there are many options where a specific degree isn't necessary.

Just so you could speak to your partner's family who don't speak any of languages you do?

And... this completely off topic btw... how do people do weddings where there is a native language difference between the two getting married and family/friends etc don't speak or understand the other language? It's something that is currently puzzling me...

Good luck for everything. I went to the 'dark side' and have never looked back. I don't think I could even contemplate going back to academia now!

Fantastic news :) Academic types can be strange beasts at times... but it's nice to have something to lift the spirits!

Well if you want a proper MBA, then pay for it.

If you want a cheap useless MBA, buy one off the internet, it'll be thought of just as highly and you can save the money you can't be bothered to go out and earn.

Then what IS your concern? Just to get the letters MBA after your name? Go and buy a fake one from some diploma mill if that's your concern.

That's kind of the point of the external examiner - someone "unbiased" to give their opinion and assess your work based on what is in front of them i.e. the thesis. Internal examiners are only there to apply the university rules to the procedures.

Plus my internal had absolutely no idea what most of my thesis was about anyway, he'd never done research in the area or anything remotely closely linked! Good job the external WAS an expert in the field...

Thanks for all the replies, I knew you lot would come up trumps (up)

I must say that I've generally been a disaster about things before hence why I don't really want to screw it up this time. It feels good, it feels right, I wish I could just break away from being precise and analytical about things and just go with the flow!

I think I'm going to say nothing and just enjoy it, relax and enjoy the time together. Que sera sera...

I would agree it depends on interpersonal relationships between examiners and supervisors. Although I'm glad my supervisor didn't tell me what my pre-viva report said if he knew about it beforehand - the internal examiner would have failed it, the external thought it was fairly good. How lucky that the internal's word is next to useless in these matters!

Sneaks, love the idea!

And Bug, I like to hear views from all sides! Yes it's the same guy but I'm not saying I want to just head into something, just kind of to talk about what direction things are going. I'm currently looking to change jobs and in the middle of interviews so that is main priority at the moment. But he seems to like me as much as I like him and it's great. I'm not necessarily looking for the big R word, but just a bit of an indicator what to do. I really don't want to screw it up...

Now you lot have always been good with your advice on all sorts of issues. So here's one... how do you have a talk with someone about... well... wanting things to go to be more than just friends?

Things are going well but I'm in no hurry but at the same time I want to know whether I'm off the market or what's going on... I'm not very good at these kinds of things.

My head is very cold and logical and is usually at the forefront of anything I say. It's time my heart came out a bit more!

Be careful what you wish for, Wally... I'm still waiting for an invite to a dinner partner from an editor of a major journal. Okay, I often used to have tea with one, because he was my supervisor ;)

But I've always wished I was able to paint. I'm terrible. I have no artistic flair, I can't draw, paint, I have no "eye" for it. It's just completely lost on me, and I've tried to learn, but to no avail!

I would write a letter to the head of the department and send a copy to the vice chancellor, maybe even your local member of parliament and possibly to the queen expressing my outrage at such a heinous act and demand your supervisor be beheaded at once.

Or I could just go and actually ask my supervisor why he did it given he is the only person that can actually answer the question?

Not a lot I can say in comfort other than I can sympathise how intensely frustrating it must be. I would be miffed as well!

So vent away :-)