This IS actually a primarily UK based forum, no harm in that, there are plenty on the web for specific educational systems.

Hi All,

hmm we r all in the same boat, though 6000 words already :O kinda freaked me out LOL!

Hi, brief query. anyone who has used a proper recruitment instrument for participants in social science research? Will be needing them for research on Web 2.0, like youtube etc, and wil need them for a year of lets say 3 interviews each, some pariticpant obsevation, online interaction and other issues. I really need by recruitment to be good.

How do u go abt this and also how much does it cost?

Lots to say, most said below...but two things: why IS this a poll? and second, what does the poll mean?

HI, AM ALSO A MONTH OLD! but i am wondering why u havent had a meeting yet or your next one's in january! My meetings are for an hour each fortnight, and I submit a 3000 word paper before each meeting, plus emails on and off, though from what i gather this is a very high amount of supervisory contact (as well as writing hehe!!)

I suggest you have a proper meeting with your sup and figure out a short term goal plan, lets say for one term if not more than that.

Also, people who have a positive experience out of LSE are very very often not ones with a big fat wallet. Many big fat walleted people do get into LSE. But the ones who make it a positive intellectual experience, are often those who 'chose' LSE, and worked full/part time to make ends meet and still consider it worth their while.

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Uhmm...I beg to differ. LSE is what you make of it. There are MANY who are not rich, who come to LSE and are still happy with their choice in intellectual and professional terms. You can groan about the huge class sizes, the high fees, the having to work to pay your fees, and everything else. And there are plenty who do that, believe me. OR, you could prepare well for the fantastic lectures, attend the variety of public lectures they are able to organize with leading world figures, build a rapport with your course tutors and faculty, get to know the research bent of your department, use the lovely library and all the other things they have and really really have a very positive experience. Again, there are plenty who do that as well.

Its the same for all other leading places as well. It is what you make of it. Every Oxbridge in the world shall produce some who have liked it, and done well. And some who have not and loads in between.

And as far as LSE is concerned,I am *absolutely* sure that the admissions team have more on their minds that a big fat wallet.

Hi newbies!

Just a check! Its been a month for most of us now...how's it all going? What've you all achieved (or not)? How goes the sup meetings? And the reading and/or writing (or not) ?

Most of all, liking it?

Happy Halloween!

:-

I totally agree with the hunger factor, though I'm only starting. I am always hungry. All the time. I eat good meals and invariably I want to eat in a couple of hours again. and come evening, I am craving more food. Gosh.

And dreams tra la la la ! Mine are set in weird places with everyone featuring in...so I have my kindergarten teacher having an intellectual conversation on how my PhD topic rocks/sucks with the gardener who looks after a garden where I live.

And ones where I am failing my PhD. Those are less frequent thankfully.

And now I hope there isnt a psychology student lurking here who shall now read into my dreams!

hey Gery, I think it does make perfect sense!!! You're looking for any PhD in theology guys out here who might be willing to share notes/thoughts with you right? Hang around you might find someone! Good luck!

Caty, i haven't an idea about Nottingham but I have an honest response to you. Whether a place is good or not is more often than not to be decided by the person who is considering it. I would consider answering the following questions based on information gleaned from the academic circle publications, conversations beyond all my own assessment:

1. Is the department reputed?
2. Is it research led? If so, what are the areas they are working in? What, in other terms, is the distributed expertise of the faculty?
3. Am I attracted by the research of the person who shall supervise me?
4. Does this person publish well? Collaborate well? Do we seem to get along?
5. After this comes general reputation of the school, which no doubt is often an important factor. Included here, where are its PhD students placed now? Especially the department you are looking at.

These weren't in any order, but I suspect, the best option is to answer all of these, and try to see how much you can back these up with academic information.

Best!

One question guys. So when do you really get going on the post-ohd plans/preps? in which yr of the phd? Also, how involved is your supervisor in this? Especially for very young PhDs who might not necessarily have learnt the ropes/practices too well by the time they start the phd? Who do you reveal all your cards to and who is that first root of contact?

Did it 10 times in 3 mins. Cheated. This is how. just right click at any point and notice how the ball freezes. just come out of the right click drop out menu and click it. Bang. changes color. Gives you that sense of "after-all-the-harm-u-did-to-me-see-what-happened-tou-now" kinda feeling.

Gosh, why am i feeling so bitter just a fortnight into my PhD?

Hmm thats what I thought....i mean it didnt say anywhere on the article that 10k hours was for one year...:)

Ok, thats a really poor pun, but I need to know how I can manage to keep my external flash drive and my comp synced for a particular folder where all my phD stuff is. Its really annoying to manually do it. Urrrgh. And i dont have money to invest in a software that has to be bought. Any idea is Visata provides any syncing options or if there are easy to use alternative freeware available?

thanks!