I have to say, I quite liked writing up! I really enjoyed pulling all my chapters together and making a nice story - plus it felt great to finally see the project written down and formatted and pretty! I was under pressure to finish on time (but only from myself - I did not want to work for no money!) Now, working as a post doc, I have to say, I really miss those days of writing away and really feeling like I was master of my subject (my post doc is scary and new).. I also miss my old office friends - it is amazing what a difference having nice people around you can make! When writing- you are the boss, and I really miss that too ... ah big sigh...

hey! it is 100% normal to have doubts about your own work, in fact, I think it would be pretty odd not to have doubts! Just try to relax as much as possible and enjoy the experience. It really is quite nice to have 2 people who have read your work and then ask you questions about it. Good luck! enjoy the post viva celebrations!

I really don't think you can do this...

set up the rationale for all the work that you did, make your hypotheses really clear ... and give enough back ground so that the reader will understand and be able to put your following chapters into context. I did not do a literature review, as such. I merely introduced my thesis - a much more manageable task. And take one bit at a time, don't get too stressed or hung up on any one bit- if it is not flowing, move onto another bit that is flowing!!
good luck!x

Hey Lara, just of of interest, how are you supporting yourself? do you have a job? I was just wondering how you manage to spend so much time preparing for your viva! I would think that putting it off indefinitely must be hampering you moving forward with your career?

I whole heartedly concur - what a brilliant post. And many congratulations on becoming a Dr!

... Just goes to show, Nature papers really aren't everything...

minor corrections = you have 1 month to complete = normally typos, adding clarification of points, rephrasing etc, possibly adding more/different analyses for one or two things - ie nothing major and probably all doable in one week.
Major corrections = you will have 6 months to complete = much more work needed, possibly need to do more data collection or rewrite an entire chapter eg redo the intro and add in much more literature etc.

hopes this helps!

Congratulations - really well done! (I don't think your post sounds like you are showing off at all!! - and I agree that it is great to hear stories with a happy ending!)

(up)

I think that people only seem to post when things are going badly/they are stressed etc, which does, unfortunately, give the impression that doing a PhD is an utterly horrible experience... I guess just take it all with a pinch of salt ;-)

I would think communication may be hindered somewhat...

yes ok I agree that some people won't make it to the interview... which is why I recommend to people to arrange an 'informal' meeting with the interviewer/person that you are applying to go and work with - this way you get to meet them and hopefully impress them, and you can decide if you really do want/think you can work with them... you are also far more likely to be called back for an interview if they can put a face to a name and they remember you.. it works everytime!!

this is strange, because I know of many students awaiting their viva (some have not even submitted yet) who are being paid as post docs in the uni that I am at... find somewhere that will take you now, and pay you a post doc salary now - they do exist.

yes, but it really is not JUST about publications. You have to perform in the interview and have something sensible to say for your self..sure publications help, but they are not the be all and end all. I would be suspicious of someone with 12 publications from their PhD!! I think a few first author papers is good enough, this shows you can do work of publishable quality and can write (having a PhD also demonstrates this ...). Having said all that, I think if someone has no papers but heaps of experience and some good ideas, this will make them stand out as a good candidate.

I was told that you start from zero in your viva- no matter how good the thesis is, you have to impress them with your defense. But, having said that, my experience was quite nice, the viva was fine and there was no need to get so stressed out about it beforehand. I know this is easy for me to say, but you really just need to have read your thesis and go in there and enjoy it as much as you can! it is quite a nice feeling to discuss your work so rigorously with other academics who you respect. Good luck for next week;-)