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Thread: Difficulty working from home

posted
08-Jul-20, 21:29

edited about 12 seconds later

by cucaracha

posted about 1 month ago

Quote From CG2525:
I totally agree a change of scenery would suit me - to Motivate myself at undergrad and masters levels i would do exactly that, change my scenery, i worked (had a job in the library) and studied in the university - so i have never been in the situation where i have to motivate myself from my bedroom where i work, sleep and live, in the past it has been solely for sleep.

True, it is unlucky and unfair that you and many others (and me soon) have had to start remotely. It helps to focus on the positives of staying home but I know people have different situations and preferences.

Have you tried going on daily walks to get a change of scenery in that sense, so then you can come back to your desk feeling fresher? Maybe sounds silly but it can help a ton.

I agree it isn't my supervisors job to motivate me either, but i thought when i joined a new university i would have met more than one person.

You could ask your supervisor to put you in touch with other students. My supervisors have linked me to their other supervisees and a funded student in the year above, who's been very open to chat. I also contacted the course rep who's provided me with tons of info... it's definitely motivating to hear from other students

Thread: SFE Postgrad Loan?

posted
08-Jul-20, 21:04

by cucaracha

posted about 1 month ago

Yes, it sounds like a full scholarship so I'd assume the uni award would be relinquished if you try to get the postgrad loan.

You could email the uni to get their definitive answer on this just in case

Thread: High Performers Over Here - Please Give Me Some Insight

posted
08-Jul-20, 20:52

by cucaracha

posted about 1 month ago

Yep happy to help if you make a survey

Bit unsure what the 2nd question is after, are you asking what are your ultimate academic ambitions?

Thread: Difficulty working from home

posted
08-Jul-20, 20:44

edited about 24 seconds later

by cucaracha

posted about 1 month ago

Quote From CG2525:
It was both great and not so great reading this. Great that people are finding themselves in my exact scenario, and not so great that you guys are in my exact scenario!

I feel i get nothing done at home, then at my weekly supervisor meetings i get made to look like an idiot. I am a new PhD student and I have not even been in the university for a single day due to the pandemic.

I have mentioned to my supervisor, took up student counselling and done a lot to try and organize, focus and motivate myself (i have gotten very lazy).

The same advice is continuously given - create a schedule and follow it (I have done this so many times, but i never end up following it for whatever reason). Set aside a designated work area (I stay with parents and work around a quarter of a yard away from my bed on my desktop that i use for my studies and there are no spare rooms in this tiny house). Talk to other PhD students (I have literally met nobody and know nobody so this is also difficult).

Sounds like a change of scenery could really help you... I think libraries are starting to reopen so you can work outside the house, even cafes - if it's out of the question to move out of your parents' and rent somewhere for yourself

I often say to my supervisor if i didn't hear from him on a weekly basis i would just be a guy who sits in his bedroom and occasionally reads and looks into stuff of somewhat interest.

What methods did you use to motivate yourself at undergrad and masters? I think at PhD level it is your responsibility and not your supervisor's to motivate yourself and make progress

Thread: Self-funded PhD this year or possible funded PhD next year?

posted
19-Jun-20, 22:12

edited about 3 seconds later

by cucaracha

posted about 2 months ago

OP it would be worth waiting for research council funding - or there is a resource called the Alternative Guide to getting funding, have you heard of it? It's at https://www.postgraduate-funding.com/. You send an email to altguide.pgfunding and they automatically send you the login details to access the databases and resources.


& here is some helpful info about applying to charities for funding:

https://www.findamasters.com/funding/guides/charities.aspx

https://www.findamasters.com/funding/guides/alternative-masters-funding.aspx

Thread: Self-funded PhD this year or possible funded PhD next year?

posted
19-Jun-20, 22:04

edited about 25 seconds later

by cucaracha

posted about 2 months ago

Quote From sciencephd:
I've never seen any self-funded PhD student get funding from the 2nd year of study, so I don't know if they exist.
I'm against doing a self-funded PhD. When doing a PhD, you're a tool used by your supervisor to achieve their research goals - usually they don't care about your development as a researcher or your future. Even if you're paying, your supervisor still sees you as their tool, so why pay to be used? It's only your loss. Also, if you're paying, you tend to look for part-time jobs, which consume lots of time and you'll finish your PhD later than you planned.

Hi sciencephd, can you elaborate on how supervisors use PhD students as a tool to achieve their research goals? Are students expected to do some of the supervisor's work in some unis/subjects?

Thread: Preparing for PhD and Masters research training

posted
19-Jun-20, 22:02

by cucaracha

posted about 2 months ago

Thank you for the advice rewt!!

Thread: Do you list postgrad conferences on CV/staff profile post PhD?

posted
09-Jun-20, 23:30

by cucaracha

posted about 2 months ago

Just wondering as a clueless student, what does your work entail as a lecturer having just started seeing as term is over and Covid etc?

Thread: Preparing for PhD and Masters research training

posted
09-Jun-20, 00:40

by cucaracha

posted about 2 months ago

Two months ago, on 8th April 2020 (haha), I received my 1+3 ESRC DTP studentship!!!

That time has gone so fast and I feel I ought to be more productive going forward.


Does anyone have any advice on how best to prepare, tips, things you wish you'd known, any advice going into this journey?


Some general things I’ve got on my to-do list are:

1) Create a Gantt Chart roughly planning out the next 4 years, and research when the milestones should be.
2) Read the ‘It’s a PhD, not a Nobel Prize’ paper (jotted it down when Tudor Queen mentioned it previously)
3) Email course representative-person asking about the social science research training masters, as there is little to no info about the course online :(

Thread: Online survey platform recommendation: SoGoSurvey

posted
01-May-20, 17:45

edited about 22 seconds later

by cucaracha

posted about 3 months ago

That is great to know and may come in handy. Thank you :)

Thread: HELP WITH MSC REPORT ON COWORKING SPACES

posted
16-Mar-20, 23:09

edited about 25 seconds later

by cucaracha

posted about 5 months ago

done also :) i think your Question 5 could be improved as I've only heard about your topic through instagram, but you demand I tick 3 boxes...

Thread: What is the role of your second supervisor?

posted
02-Mar-20, 21:03

edited about 7 seconds later

by cucaracha

posted about 5 months ago

Seems like the role of 2nd supervisor varies uni to uni, department to department, maybe even between individuals within a dept.

At Masters my second supervisor was just meant to be a secondary marker to ensure fairness, but ended up filling the role of my first sup when they went sick. They were really helpful and involved.

At PhD (so far) my second supervisor is second in name only really as both supervisors are active, interested and hands on, giving their different viewpoints. This is in the social sciences.

Thread: Concerns About Sharing Research

posted
02-Mar-20, 16:35

edited about 10 seconds later

by cucaracha

posted about 5 months ago

Have you communicated this frustration to the people who have used your work without crediting?

I imagine if you politely explain your surprise at seeing your work and discoveries replicated in their own work/exhibitions without any credit, they would rectify this, or at least you'd've set your boundaries if they try it on again in the future. I hope you can get this resolved!

Thread: Applying a PhD in the same university I got my degree and masters?

posted
29-Feb-20, 23:54

by cucaracha

posted about 6 months ago

Imo it's more fun and interesting to experience different universities (but I'm someone who has gone to different unis for undergrad, Masters and PhD).

Pros of same uni:
---You're already familiar with the university facilities, culture (the way things work there), environment, admin team, local area, familiar faces. So you don't have to waste time relearning these things in a new place. And the comfort of familiarity means all your energies can focus on the PhD.
---You can make a very informed decision of whether you get on well with the academics/supervisors to help you thrive on your project.
---There may be financial benefits, like alumni discounts, preference for alumni for scholarships (maybe you know the academics well and they work hard to help you get it), and you have the local knowledge of the area to choose cheaper options in day-to-day life.

Cons of same uni:
---Potentially boring and missing out to stay in the same uni for 7+ years, never able to experience life at a different institution and city - variety is the spice of life. You miss out on the expertise, experience, methodologies, and strengths of different academics and resources at different unis.
---Being able to adapt to new places is an important skill.
---It can bring whole new perspectives to your work and your life in general to attend different universities, which is inspiring and motivating.

Thread: MEDIA/ENTERTAINMENT LAW HELP!

posted
26-Feb-20, 23:07

edited about 25 seconds later

by cucaracha

posted about 6 months ago

I wouldn't rule out doing an IP Masters more broadly and focusing on copyright law in a music and media context in your dissertation.

Remember the dissertation takes up at least a third of the Masters degree, in both grading and time spent. I spent a good half of my Masters year (of general law) researching my specialised area of law, which was complemented by the other modules in different, maybe unexpected, ways. Plus, a bit of variety keeps things interesting!

Maybe you could have a look for which unis have academics with research interests in the music/media law area who could potentially supervise your diss?

But hopefully someone in the know can give you a more helpful answer :)