I don't know any English students that have applied for US grants but I will tell you my limited knowledge on this subject. Which grant are you applying for?

Many classes taken by US PhD students are actually undergrad classes anyway. If I were you, I would just explain in the letter (I think it's ok coming from you) that UK students don't take classes (you'd be surprised the amount of US academics that don't know this!) and then send your undergrad transcript. You could also detail any courses/seminars that you have attended as a PhD student.

There seems to be no equivalent for UK students, in the same way that there is no equivalent for GPA/GRE and our 1st / 2.1 / 2.2 system is irrelevant in the US since most students get an A (90%+) there anyway.

To be honest, I think it does make a difference when you have interviews via skype. It's just less personal and you are less likely to make a connection and therefore less likely to get the position. Having said that, there are success stories as Chickpea has said.

See my reply on your other thread.

I will say this so you are informed for the future in case this situation arises again.

You should have tried to discuss this with your supervisor before going to the head of your department. Obviously your supervisor is not going to be happy that they are the subject of a complaint, and maybe if you had discussed it with them rather than bottling it up you wouldn't be in this position now. Of course, also maybe this would have changed nothing.

You will be probably be reassigned another supervisor, but this relationship will also be difficult going forward as he/she will be anticipating problems based on your previous experience and will probably also not be as knowledgeable in your field as your first supervisor was, meaning that your science may suffer.

Please research ways of managing supervisors and dealing with difficult behaviour to assist you in the future and to ensure your next supervisory relationship is successful. You are probably not the one to blame, but equally you may have been able to mediate this before it escalated by communicating more effectively.

I think you should worry in both cases! There are other threads on here about people giving bad references. Try to use someone who will give you a good reference, and then you can explain in any interview you may get why you didn't use your MSc supervisor as your reference.

HazyJane, Simon G and Charmlessman have covered all that needs to be said.

Ya think?

You know, most PhD students I know are fresh out of undergrad and need this kind of support. You are lucky that you don't. You supervisors probably aren't very well adapted to different students' needs; that's a weakness of theirs but it doesn't make them a psychopath. I was also an experienced career person before I took my PhD and experienced the same things that you are describing - the difference is I just explained to them I was more than capable of coping on my own and they realised this and backed off a bit. If they slip back into their old habits from time to time I forgive them for it. It shows they care.

Regarding writing papers/internships/jobs etc, of course they are going to get involved! It's their career on the line as well as yours, and I expect they know better than you what will be a benefit and what will be a hindrance in the future.

I'd say a bit of clear communication wouldn't go amiss.

@TheReal I'm not sure time in industry is going to make any difference either.

The best thing to do is is do a PhD because you want to do one, but don't expect for it to lead to a great job afterwards because it probably won't.

Yes... it's sad situation.

I don't know the actual number. There are maybe 20 regular posters and many others that don't contribute as regularly but what they have to say is very worthwhile when they do post.

There are also many irregular posters who just post a question or two and these obviously are what keep this forum alive.

I think it's great because there are people from all stages of the academic journey and a variety of disciplines.

PS @TheReal - just because discussions are distractions does not make them useless. I learn a lot from reading/posting on this forum, even if such learnings are not related to my research.

The situation you describe is very common in the US, but I agree with Noctu and bewildered, it's unrealistic and unsustainable.

Another thing to consider though is that you probably won't really spend 35 hours per week on your PhD anyway... My supervisors always tell us students that 15 hours a week on pure research is enough!... although in reality if I told them I was only going to attend uni 15 hours a week they would not be happy!

I don't know how many other people on this forum will agree with me, but although we may be in the office/lab for 35 hours a week or more, actual time spend at the lab bench, reading or writing (ie doing research and not surfing internet, chatting, teaching, marking, attending seminars, going to conferences etc) is a lot less than this. It's really all about time management and working productively. You could probably cope with the scenario you have described, but it will mean cutting out some academic things and certain aspects of student life.

For the major funding bodies in science, I think their funding application turn around times are 1 year from the end of the deadline, which will vary by institution. I'm assuming this is similar for the humanities.

If you are writing your own grant, you can write in salaries required in the same way you would ask for travel/equipment costs to be funded.

Hello, most of the people on this forum are not in the US so it may be difficult for you to get many replies to this question.

I don't know much about cities in the US, other than the one I am in, which is Davis, California,

This college town probably ticks all your boxes though, since the university sits in the centre and the accommodation surrounds it within 30 minutes biking distance. It's a very nice, safe, clean town with so many trees and green spaces. The schools are good too, since it is mainly academics that live here. I think it would be a great place to bring up kids. The only downside is it is probably expensive - although maybe not for 2 people on postdoc salaries. I guess it depends on your accomodation type. The cheapest 1 bed apartment is about $1000 pm rent here and 2 bed is $1500.

Additionally, Sacramento (capitol of California) is 30 minutes drive away for any other amenities you may require (and other universities/research institutes), and San Francisco is only 2 hours drive away. UC Berkeley is also commutable (but v. expensive to live there). Sacramento has much cheaper housing but it's a big city so there are also some undesirable areas.

Don't consider Davis if you don't like continual sun for 10 months of the year though...

Most of the people on this forum are not in the US so it may be difficult for you to get many replied to this question.

I am in the US currently, and from informal discussions with people I have been told that GPA and GRE are not the main considerations (as long as you meet the basic criteria) and it is really about who you know and how good your references/lab experiences are, so you should be ok.

I agree with Chickpea too - I think this can be a very controversial subject with women, and my hackles were raised when I read your post, even though I know you didn't mean to offend. When a woman decides, for whatever reason, that she is not having kids (or by the same token, is happy being single), it is really annoying/frustrating/condescending to be told that you will change your mind in the future, or when you meet someone etc. It's as if they think that you want children really but circumstances mean you are unable to and you are embarrassed/unwilling to say this and this is generally not the case.