Thanks for the tips, looks like that's the case.

It's a sad sense of reassurance that the numbers are normal! Getting jobs in the field shouldn't be this hard. =/

I agree with you, and I do apply anyway. I'm just thinking of anything and everything related to having a succesful job application and how to write a better one. So far I've had four rejections out of six applications, and I'm writing at least another three over the next week or so.

Hi. I'm currently looking at jobs, and I was wondering how to read into some of the job specifications. Some of them mention that a first degree is essential, even with a PhD. Is this something that is still, in practical terms, considered essential or is there some leeway on this? I have a 2:1 from a BSc and a MSc on top of a PhD so I imagine it wouldn't be a probem. However, those of you with experience in this, I'd like to hear from you.

I did my MSc in very similar conditions. I kept to full-time and it was a massive rush; I had to set a daily quota of writing about 1,000-1,500 words and it wasn't pleasant. I received a good enough grade to go on to a PhD but it could've been a lot better. Part of it was poor time management on my behalf, and generally being quite poor at lit reviews. I'd say that time management is more important than whether you do it part- or full-time.

I had a provisional one throughout my PhD and kept it at the end. It's more important that it's informative than "sexy". Don't try to be too clever with it or you might come across as flippant. As my supervisor says, finishing a PhD is very much about impression management. By all means if you come up with something that is informative *and* sexy go for it, but just make sure that yo know which one is the more important one.

It was hell, pure unadulterated hell.

Just kidding!

Use your first year to read up as much as you can and to do the training courses. After your first year you'll have less time for that, especially if you plan on teaching alongside doing your PhD. Also, if you don't need ethical clearance for your data collection or get it done really quickly then, obviously, first year can be a lot of data collection. Generally it's good to be proactive.

Depends what you can handle. At one point I was doing a PhD and two jobs (demonstrating at uni and waitering). I dropped the waitering about a year and a half ago to focus on my work. I can't financially maintain myself this way (I get some help from my parents) but I had to prioritise my PhD over work or it'd never get done. Have a think and see what works for you, if you can handle it then good. If not, perhaps having family to help might prove to be a lifesaver!

What did you get from your MSc? I'd imagine that grade to be at least as important as the undergraduate grade.

Ask your department? My university's graduate school offers funding awards that the departments then have to match. E.g., if I get £400 from the grad school my department will give me another £400. Plus you might also get an expenses allowance. My department has that, although they don't advertise it very widely.

Also, be warned that Norway is an expensive country!

Why does Oxbridge matter? If you're talking about doing a PhD having the supervisor with the right expertise and interest in your work is far more important than the institution you attend.

I do wonder how you got on to a MSc with a 2:2 degree. I don't mean this to be critical at all. If anything, it shows you can be resourceful!

Straying off topic a bit, you should read an article called "Death and Furniture" by Edwards, Ashmore & Potter (1995) for a deliberately sassy reply to that kind of attitude. It's not going to get you a romantic partner, but at least you'll have something to say back to the condescending attitude!

It depends on your analytical approach as well as the type of transcription you use. For example, Jeffersonian transcription requires a strict adherence to what is said rather than what is grammatically correct.

So the question to ask is how far will such a correction impact your analysis and make a decision based on that.

But also surely there's people who simply choose not to do a PhD because they find no fulfilment in it? I mean, can we really say that their potential is unfulfilled if they've chosen not do a PhD? My father chose not to go to university when he was young and he is one of the most intelligent and happy people I've ever met - hardly someone I'd refer to as unfulfilled potential.

You're being overly optimistic about the quality of modern education. I'm towards the end of my PhD now and through most of my studies I've come across people who haven't cared much for their education at all. University is just about partying for them. Put that kind of a person against someone who left college to work full-time and it's not hard to guess which of the two gets my respect. Of course I don't mean all university students here, but many are in uni just to party and avoid work. That's hardly an image of intelligence to me.

Yes, PhDs can be lonely but at the end of the day we, the PhD students, are the odd ones out and not the rest. Truth is most people haven't got a clue as to what we do and will struggle to relate. I'm sure you don't feel it as snobbery to want to surround yourself with intelligent people, but be cautious about the implicit assumptions such a desire can carry with it.

As for the earlier jargon comment by the post originator. My rule is this: If you're an author and you're misunderstood then it's your fault and not the readers. Same would apply to the use of jargon in conversations. If I was to start using psychological terms in everyday conversations I would just end up annoying people, not intimidating them.