Cheers, Chickpea.

Yeah, that's what people keep telling me (even my supervisor for what matter). I suppose it's because I'm still used to doing the whole 9-5 thing that it's kind of hard to break the habit and I'm feeling a bit like I'm slacking off. That said, it's coming up to the Summer, so a few days won't harm I guess ;)

I've already started at looking into the methodology side of things, so hopefully I can use this to keep me busy until everything else rectifies itself!

- Jim

Thanks Caro.

I just wanted to get some feedback from others who may have been through a similar thing. I haven't read all that many post relating to it so I thought I'd ask. Do you have any other suggestions about how I can apply my time whilst waiting for things to arrive etc?

Cheers,

- Jim

Hey, Thenomad.

It sounds like you're having a particularly tough time of it. However, what I would say is to speak to your supervisor to ask him/her what things in particular you need to improve upon before the next review comes up. At least then you can have some idea about where you're straying a little, and what you can do to address those problems.

A little bit of encouragement; I started at a UK institution straight after I finished my undergrad. I too had very little confidence at the time, and after a year in they slashed me apart, offering no help or support, with my then supervisor (and I use the term supervisor in the loosest possible sense) leaving me after three months in. Suffice to say, they didn't offer a replacement. I ended up leaving with my confidence in shatters. I then worked in industry and took the decision to have another crack at it some years later, albeit with much trepidation.

In contrast, my current university have been fabulous and very supportive. I'm not saying you need to 'drop out', but changing institutions can help tremendously.

Stick at it, and I wish you all the best.

Hey.

I know this question has probably been asked a million times on here, so I apologise up front.

I recently returned to study after a number of years working in industry, undertaking a PhD in the engineering school. Although I've conducted research before, and I know the approaches and so forth, I feel like I'm too ahead of where I should be this point. I've read and written up as I go along with regards to the literature review, as well as having some idea in terms of the methodology I hope to use for the experimental work. My supervisor has been really great, and has even suggested that from what he has seen so far, his advice isn't needed. That said, he is always there if I need him, so it's not like he's 'forgetting' about me as what seems to happen so often with other PhD from what I can glean from this forum, anyway.

Either way, the thing is, due to my progress, I've now hit a wall. The equipment I need downstairs needs to be mended as it's currently none-operational, as well as the relevant software not being at my disposal for filling my time with that; both of which are things that require money to be signed off for; something I have no control over. I've mentioned this to my supervisor, and he is making attempts to rectify this, but things seem to have slowed down. Is this normal so early on?

Any suggestions about what I do to feel like I'm still making (at least some), progress. I'm already going through the lit review chapter to turn it into a paper.

Cheers,

- Jim

Hi sarah_lou

I'm been treating mine as a full tine job as best as I can. I'm in science/engineering, and I've come back into academia from industry, so I'm still in the mind-set of that I guess. I've only had positive feedback so far (hopefully it'll continue!), and I think it helps that I'm a mature student (or at least that's what I've been told).

Anyway, all I would say is people eventually fall into a swing of what works for you. Everybody is different!