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restarting a phd

C

Hi all, some of you might remember me, I gave up my PhD in July last year and have been working for over a year now..

Ive been threatened with redundancy recently and have been thinking about looking round for another PhD to start...

Is this a) wise and b) doable..

I had 18 months worth of EPSRC DTA funding on my last attempt and the PhD Ive seen is a 4 year (1yr MRes/ 3yr PhD) EPSRC funded program

I cant afford to self fund but am interested in considering attempting it again

reasons I left before: my supervisor sucked, to the extent that I end up on antidepressants and I wasnt enjoying the topic - though that could have been due to my supervisor..

Am I crazy?

Oh and if I did do it (starting next year) I would be 34 when I finish (assuming I finished in 3yrs) is that too late to get a job??

Thanks all

T

As regards your last question - I will be (minimum) 38 when I finish so it better not be too late!

C

Quote From timefortea:

As regards your last question - I will be (minimum) 38 when I finish so it better not be too late!


Thanks didnt think so myself, its just something my mum said had me worried.. Saying that ill be compared to 24 yr old fresh PhDs when I finish.. I think I shut her up when i said yes but Ill have 4 years of work experience which they wont... LOL;-)

G

I suppose the key question is would you be considering suchlike if not for the redundancy.

S

I did one year of a funded PhD in my 20s and I'm now finishing (I hope!) another funded PhD - and I'm now 46 :p

TBH, I edited the first one out of my CV completely. I later mentioned it to my sup but he was completely disinterested.

I don't know how funding bodies react (since I was er, economical with the truth) - but I imagine that as long as it's up to your sup (i.e. it'e their funding rather than you applying directly) it shouldn't make any difference as long as your sup is confident. One word of caution though - think very carefully ahout your committment second time around because it would be pretty depressing to go through that twice. I have had a lot of set backs of one kind or another (all unexpected), and having taken 2 years out and now splitting my time with childcare, I'm taking much longer than I expected - but the thought of not completeing AGAIN really pushes me - I just couldn't stand it!

C

Quote From golfpro:

I suppose the key question is would you be considering suchlike if not for the redundancy.


well its always been at the back of my mind since I left before and I have always kept an eye out for suitable ones so I guess so maybe

C

Quote From Smilodon:

I did one year of a funded PhD in my 20s and I'm now finishing (I hope!) another funded PhD - and I'm now 46 :p



TBH, I edited the first one out of my CV completely. I later mentioned it to my sup but he was completely disinterested.



I don't know how funding bodies react (since I was er, economical with the truth) - but I imagine that as long as it's up to your sup (i.e. it'e their funding rather than you applying directly) it shouldn't make any difference as long as your sup is confident. One word of caution though - think very carefully ahout your committment second time around because it would be pretty depressing to go through that twice. I have had a lot of set backs of one kind or another (all unexpected), and having taken 2 years out and now splitting my time with childcare, I'm taking much longer than I expected - but the thought of not completeing AGAIN really pushes me - I just couldn't stand it!


Thanks Smilodon, that is VERY reassuring..(up)

I think its those reasons you have mentioned that Im a bit dubious about it, which is why I think this 4 yr program would suit me, on the MRes you do 8 week rotations on a certain topic and then pick the PhD topic from those.. I think it will help me decide if its what I want to do... :-)

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