Hi lemonjuice

I have a R&R verdict and am currently trying to work through my changes, (with little motivation atm), but every little helps I suppose. I got 12 months to make changes due to my long commute etc effectively ruling out any during the week work so have to submit by the 11 Dec.

I have got something to do in every chapter (my list of corrections/comments came through and it is 6 typed pages). I did a science PhD and have to add things like a standalone methods chapter in every results chapter, condense my intro and discussion, addition of new sections for clarity, addition of some figures and and removal of others and some needed tweaking for clarity. Some of it was changing the formatting somewhat to what the examiners prefer and correcting some typos. Lots of things to make my thesis flow better. My thesis is a bit jumbled (probably a reflection of where I was when writing it :s) and needs some re-structuring to make it clear why i was trying to do what i did and why.

I definitely have to hit the literature again :(, and I have to update my discussion with the new literature between my submission and re-submission.

If you want anymore info then feel free to pm me.
Trin x

Hey,
So I know its been a while.

My viva was ok but my examiners said I didnt viva so well (i have to agree, i've never been particularly good at preparing for any type of exam and the long wait/new job meant i've mentally moved on a bit so found it harder) so got a revise and resubmit verdict without the need for another viva with a 12 month deadline, so i have to resubmit by the 11-Dec-15.

For preparation I ended up reading through my thesis, re-capping key papers and looking at the most recent literature, and going through and noting down why i did each thing and familiarising myself with my methods. Ended up totally forgetting most of it but oh well- revise and resubmit.

I was sent a list of corrections (6 pages long) about a week after my viva. I decided to enjoy christmas and the new year and only started looking at corrections a couple of weeks ago and today had a meeting with my sup to discuss more specific requirements. Just made myself a table of what needs to be done so I can track what i've done and whats left so I can get it done asap.

I fully intend to get it done well before december, i really want to enjoy summer :). They said the corrections probably wouldn't need that long but as i commute quite a distance for work and obviously need to have some sort of life they gave me 12 months (as opposed to 3 months) to do them as they anticipated I would only be able to work on it 1 day a week.

So as much as I really cant be bothered with it anymore (especially as i dont need it for my job) i just need to push myself once more and then the last 4.5 years wont be for nothing.

How are you all doing? Have you managed to get submitted yet and how was your viva Wanderingbit?

Trin x

Yay, congrats wanderingbit. It is such a strange feeling after submitting, but definitely enjoy the time off.

I am finally sorting out a viva date after my sup had to chase up with my examiners so it looks like its going to be the beginning of december (4 months after submission) and I have no idea where to start with viva prep.

How is everyone else going?

Trin x

Hi HazyJane

I used my fourth year for writing up and had to get a full time job for financial reasons so ended up working in a call centre, doing predominantly late shifts and had to work round those. It was hard work and I was absolutely sick of the sight of it. I always gave myself one afternoon/evening off a week, made sure I got up early an got at least an hour in before work an depending on the shift some time after, but if I managed a paragraph or section of editing it was one less thing to do.

I submitted last Thursday which was the final day of my my four year time limit. I seriously felt like I was never going to make and was constantly tired but I got it in and am due to start a science job on Monday. It felt like a bit of a rush job towards the end and am still quite worried that I'm going to have loads of corrections come viva but its in and I'll just have to deal with changes when it comes to it.

You CAN do it, you just have to work at it bit by bit and it might feel like you're not getting anywhere but you'll do a check through one day and you'll be amazed at how much you've one without realising.

Best of Luck
Trin x

Hey guys,

Just a quick update, I finally submitted 2 days ago. Never thought id make it but did, just got the viva to think about and prepare for, but having a couple of weeks off as I start a new job next Monday.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Trin x

Hey, how are you all doing?

I finally gave my sup my first complete draft, the chapters have been corrected multiple times individually but its the first time theyve all been put together, its off to my second sup for a checkover and i'l have those corrections to complete and then its ready to start the printing/submission process.

Hope you've all made the progress you were hoping to!
Trin x

Yay on getting the proposal submitted.

Writing is going ok, been slow while the sup has had it and I've been working full time at a call centre so its been difficult to get through but my days off are clustered together over the next few weeks so fingers crossed. Sup says we're on the final stretch now. Last load of chapter corrections to sort then submitting a full first draft to the sup next time, hopefully in the next few weeks. off to see him tomorrow so hopefully submitting soon. Hope everything is going ok for everyone else?

Trin

Congrats on the finished draft emmaki!

So the end of feb is here and I still havent finished. In fairness I've started a full-time job in a call centre as I needed money and my sup has been really busy on a new grant committee so hasnt had chance to look at some of the revised chapters (it took him 2 weeks to respond to an email when the most its been before is a couple of days).

I have been looking through the first draft discussion I wrote when I was ill and it is terrible, having to delete and re-write so much lol.. that'll teach me for trying to work while ill. I actually can't believe how terrible it was, I'm glad my sup didnt read it. And I'm hoping info is going to come online soon for a paper one of my colleagues has just had accepted so I can use it to ref something in one of my chapters.

I'm now having to work around my days off at my job but fingers crossed I'll be done soon,although I'm terrible for procrastination... but it needs to be done as soon as so need to give myself a good kick. I'm currently sat here with a glass of wine and just debating nipping to the shop for a large bag of maltesers while I continue discussion editing.

How is everyone else doing?
Trin x

Forgot about this. Thanks for bumping Reenie. My sup finally emailed me back and he had a copy. Thanks for everything though.
Trin x

Hey guys,
Does anyone have access to this article please?

Hey all,

So I had a meeting with the sup today. We are aiming for an end of feb submission so he wants a complete thesis document on 4 weeks.

I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I need to tweak a couple of figure but all I have left is to update the small discussion at the end of each chapter and make major changes to the first draft of my general discussion (I wrote that with a terrible cold and haven't looked at it since as I know it will be rubbish so daren't lol).

I'm also due to start a full time job soon (in a call centre) but its money to help get debts paid off that I've incurred during the writing period and I'll continue to look for jobs in science while I'm there but maybe doing something different and actually having some money for a change will cheer me up a little.

So for the next couple of weeks I need to re-do my Pubmed searches and read any new papers on my topic and incorporate them into discussions if necessary and finally be brave and look at the general discussion.

I'm almost there.
Hope everyone enjoyed their christmas breaks and are now back on track.

Trin x

Hey,
So it would appear I'm not going to be submitting for another month. One of the other PhD students in our group had a really tough viva, the examiners were really picky and seemed to focus on really insignificant things so now I have to go through mine with a fine-toothed comb and be really picky with mine so I need to add some stuff and change lots.

It's also been made a little more difficult as I've been temping at a butchers in the village where I live and in the run up to christmas I've been working extra hours and I had an interview to prep for (which I was unsuccessful in :( ) so haven't looked at my thesis for over a week. Will also be working all day tomorrow and most of xmas eve so not much time. Todays focus will be trying to find a proper job, (I can continue temping for another month or so as I'm covering someones sick leave), and debating moving out of science just to get a job as its just so difficult to find a science job within commutable distance of where I am and I can't afford to movein.

Wow, reading that back its sounds a little depressing but I am a little down in the dumps and just want to get it finished. Maybe when the christmas rush is over at my temp job I won't be so tired when I've finished my shift and actually be able to focus on thesis. Really want it done by the end of January though.

Hope everyone else is progressing, and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope you get to relax a bit with the family over the festive period.

Trin

Hey,

Every interview I had they told me to prepare it on my previous research.

Trin

Hey,
Well I haven't managed to get it ready for submission yet. I now have a first draft of everything (intro is complete bar a re-write of aims and objectives) and am in the process of making improvements based on my sups feedback, which I'm hoping will lead me to submission by the end of November but at least all the important bits are down on paper now, I just might need to create/amend a few figures with extra data just to make sure I'm getting the point across.

I am getting a bit fed up of doing it now though. I've been writing at home for three solid months, going a bit stir crazy and getting depressed about jobs, or lack thereof, especially as I can't afford to re-locate so am limited to searching within commutable distance of where I am now.

I just want to be finished now, so I suppose I best crack on then I can move on to something new.

Hope everyone else is making progress, and good luck! x

Hey, things are going alright. got a first draft of every chapter bar the final discussion which I'm working on now. I seem to struggle with discussions though as feedback on the small discussions in the results chapters needing partially re-writing. I'm waiting of more feedback from the sup on a couple of chapters.

I really want to be submitted by the end of October as after that I have to pay continuation fees backdated for 3 months and every month I take thereafter so need to get cracking.

How are you doing?

Trin