People that like to keep offices at 15C... it shouldn't be everyone else's problem if you're feeling hot!

It's very much a heating on with windows open affair

Hi, Sorry to gatecrash this thread, I need some advice.

I am currently preparing a PhD application for the 2016/17 academic year. I have come up against a problem - I have tried to obtain a transcript from the HEI where I took my MSc degree in 2007. Unfortunately they have only been able to come-up with an incomplete transcript that doesn't do the job. I have chosen not to complain but instead gone up the food chain - the Dean of the relevant faculty has been very nice and said it will be looked into. Since 2007 my academic department has closed down, which may account for the problem. I was never sent a transcript, but failed to follow this up at the time.

My issue is I want to pursue a PhD/EdD in Education at a Russell Group university, but I'm not sure this can happen without the transcript. I am still a strong applicant otherwise (lots of relevant industry experience plus 2.5 years as a non-PhD university lecturer, I also have other UG/PG qualifications (all from Russel Group Universities) with strong grades/transcripts but sub-masters, plus a PG Cert in Higher Education Teaching but this was assessed at pass/fail only, no grade boundaries).

If the transcript doesn't turn-up, any advice? I'm currently a university admissions tutor - if it were me I would take an holistic view, but I'm not sure every admissions tutor would take the same approach, esp at PhD level.

I'd write a cover note or clause regarding the lack of transcript and the reasons why, when you put all your documents together. You would be including a copy of the actual award, and have masses of other documents and achievements to include. I think a majority of the people assessing will look at your application holistically, as you yourself would do. Good luck with it all btw as well.

And my current peeve-my library (or at least the educational section in my library)-it never seems to have the books I want. I can always get journal articles from a range of online sites but whenever I see a seminal book, either in methods, topic or a related strand of thought, that explores the topic fully andI really just want to look at it, even if it is just to check that I really don't need to worry about having missed something, do you think the library will have it-no?

Yes I can order it from a mainland academic library that does have it but it usually takes a while as I live in a regional area on a large island and everything takes 'a while'. Sometimes when I have nothing better to do, or actually when I almost always have things better to do, but I am choosing not to do them, I rant about this to others but nothing much changes. And TreeofLife and Huntanthem-very amusing.

Started a separate thread on this before realising this 'moans' thread is here...

Supervisors who just no longer acknowledge your existence in the third year!

Sorry to hear that, I have been there and still am there. I don't know why they promise to get back to you by a certain date but then don't get back to you until you prompt them. They then don't even bother apologising. Absolutely erks me.

Mine goes through phases...they were really really bad in first year at getting anything back to me. I felt held back as a result. We had a discussion about it and they apologised...just that they are *so* busy etc. etc. but who isn't? Second year, they were a bit more prompt but I barely sent them anything as I was doing field work. Third year...they returned one chapter after a few months, ignored all my emails about others I have sent. I am dreading submitting my final draft because it'll probably take them a year to read it *sigh* Mine doesn't even give me a date, nor responds to prompts!

I am so sorry to hear this, it is terrible! I thought mine were bad with feedback, but this really is very bad.

Could you bring it up with them at your next meeting?

I will but I have requested a meeting too with no response to that either, so I am not really sure what to do! Thank you for your sympathies though, hopefully this may be a short term thing!

Does anyone feel that a major theorist doesn't deserve their place in the literature?

I'm sure you can find someone else who believes that too and you can reference to them, instead if to yourself?

I don't use any theory in my thesis so can't comment.

I have a 14k chapter that is largely dedicated to explaining why I feel this way about one theorist!

I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one!



Yeah, unfortunately this is what you have to do instead of just ignoring them!

Having to find a way to plod on even when a lovely spring day is beckoning and you just want to run away and do something nice (ok, this is a moan at me and my motivational issues :-) )

I completely understand Chickpea! I went into my department today for a meeting then took ages to return to my writing up den at home because I sat in the park for a while on the way back to enjoy the sunshine! Now its nighttime and I am panic writing...I have two conferences coming up in summer and one of them requires me to write a 5k paper so I am trying to get on with that as I cannot believe it is almost May all of a sudden eep!