Hi,

As a matter of interest, what provisions does wherever you are studying have for PhDs? Do you get a desk? Is there an office of some sort for you all? Do you get much in the way of funding for conferences and so on?

Thanks.

I would definitely apply this year. If you're lucky enough to know what you want to do with your life, why wait? In regard to your concerns, my personal experience (which is all I can draw on really!)

1) I applied for a Masters having got a 2:2 for my undergrad 8 years previously. A lot of universities will appreciate your life experience in between, plus you got a 2:1 anyway. I'm now doing a PhD at one of the best universities in the country so things can change and people will give you a second chance.

2) I worked 2 (+) days a week during my Masters and for the first year and a half of my PhD. It can be done and, if you can find a reasonably paid office job or something, can really help.

So my advice would be go for it! Good luck.

Hmmm, this is a bit of a tough one. I work on a bank of PhD desks within the library at my uni and we're not meant to eat in here, but we all do simply because we're in here 10-12 hours a day. However, we certainly don't eat stinky loud crisps!!! Would you feel comfortably talking to the crisp eater and just nicely asking whether she might consider eating something a little more sociable? You could go straight to the top, as it were, and there is no need for people to know it was you, but I know from experience that having your food intake policed heavily in the final months of the PhD can be a real pain too. Maybe you could bring in a tub of curry and eat that to make your point : )

Hi Buzby,

That is SO normal...I have felt it a lot over the past few years and wondered when someone is going to come and tell me it has all been a joke and I can leave now. But you know what, bit by bit my confidence has increased and I have realised that maybe I do have something to say. You were accepted to do this, so people have faith in you. Conferences can be great, but there will always be some ego maniac with an axe to grind. Try not to let these people get to you, but do take on board any useful things people say and move on with it. PhDs are hard, hard, hard. But you'll get there. btw, thought this was interesting, and familiar to many of my friends at university!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impostor_Syndrome

I totally sympathise with you!!! I don't feel at all Christmassy. I have to present my work to my department today (and the feedback tends to be pretty aggressive - to prepare us for viva : ) ) and then try and finish my thesis for 7th Jan. It's hard for other people to understand that taking time off now is a hindrance rather than a nice treat. Still, we can all make up for it next year eh?!

Thanks everyone for the replies....I am sorry to hear so many other people are feeling rubbish, but at least it makes me realise this is probably normal at this stage. Good luck everyone and I hope you all feel better soon...well, when we can all submit and stay in bed for a week!

Hi,

I had the same thing and he is also now my supervisor! Your English seems fine, and ultimately it is the strength of you project idea which matters. And remember...academics are (mostly) human too...some of the most intelligent lecturers at my university are also the nicest and most approachable. Good luck!

Hi Jojo,

I agree with Ruby that you should draw on more sources to make a stronger case. Even if the author of the paper did come up with new theories, they must surely be grounded in some broader literature or draw on/be influenced by existing theories. The idea of going through their bibliography is very good one...and do the same with some of the sources you get from it. It could lead you into interesting territory. Or maybe you could do what I've done which is to look at several theories and pick bits from each which you agree with and critique the other bits. Then offer a synthesis of the good bits...that way you have lots of literature to draw on and can provide something new and (hopefully) original. Good luck with it!

Hi, I am in the final stages of my write-up (hoping to submit in about 6 weeks) and I just getting ill constantly. I eat well, sleep enough and exercise, but it seems the PhD is getting the better of me. Is this happening to anyone else???