Hello all, I have wanted to get my PhD more than anything in the world. I am in 5th year starting, and have chnaged 2 projects and finally have something that is translational and something that seems to work. I was all excited to show that to my committee. Due to last minute expt changes in one of the aims, etc I was not able to explain some portions well in my presentation. The presentation by itself was great, but I was not able to answer questions. Committee gave me a satisfactory but prof called me and tells me that the committee thinks that I am not able to comprehend my project and answer questions. Also this project is really new and has started to work since the last 2 months. Having said all this, the worse was yet to come when my PI mentioned that the progress if such the committee has concerns about me graduating my PhD and that they would just give me a masters degree. I have been upset all day because they tell me this soo late in my PhD life and everything I have worked for, the last few years seems to go down the drain. Other friends in the department tell that these are tactics the profs use to push you to do your best. Seriously need some words of motivation so I can show them that I am good and I can do well and finish with my PhD. Seriously had a long and a tiring day today.

While you have to take the comments of the committee very seriously, truth is that the committee are trying to push you to do your best no matter what. The answer is simple'; work very hard and prove them wrong.