Final year support thread

posted
28-Jan-16, 20:29
Avatar for litphdgirl
posted about 2 years ago
Motivation has been a bit lagging this week but trying to do a bit tonight and work all weekend to get Chapter 3 finished. It's a big chapter, approx 20k, and Chapters 4 and 5 are relatively small by comparison (both approx 10k). Really need to bash the end of this chapter out in order to make my deadline of a full draft by end of April. Hopefully the next time I check back in here it will be to say I've sent the chapter off to my supervisor.
posted
28-Jan-16, 21:01
edited about 14 seconds later
by Hugh 2 star member
Avatar for Hugh
posted about 2 years ago
Quote From litphdgirl:
Motivation has been a bit lagging this week but trying to do a bit tonight and work all weekend to get Chapter 3 finished. It's a big chapter, approx 20k, and Chapters 4 and 5 are relatively small by comparison (both approx 10k). Really need to bash the end of this chapter out in order to make my deadline of a full draft by end of April. Hopefully the next time I check back in here it will be to say I've sent the chapter off to my supervisor.


You are doing very well! Well done :)

I've had some more bad news today, which is depressing really! I feel like moaning about it here but I'd better not. Well there's even more reason now that I need to get and finish writing!
posted
01-Feb-16, 12:58
by Hugh 2 star member
Avatar for Hugh
posted about 2 years ago
How's everyone getting on?

I've had a productive morning, hoping all week will be just as productive. Hoping to submit a chapter to supervisors this week.
posted
01-Feb-16, 14:07
edited about 26 seconds later
Avatar for chickpea
posted about 2 years ago
I'm struggling to get going today. I've noticed that any time I'm working on something that needs to be sent to my supervisors, I slow down to a snail's pace, even though they are never very critical! That fear of being evaluated is a strong one!
posted
01-Feb-16, 14:23
edited about 4 seconds later
by Hugh 2 star member
Avatar for Hugh
posted about 2 years ago
Quote From chickpea:
I'm struggling to get going today. I've noticed that any time I'm working on something that needs to be sent to my supervisors, I slow down to a snail's pace, even though they are never very critical! That fear of being evaluated is a strong one!


I can relate to that, although mine are very critical! And I'm terrified to submit to be honest.
posted
01-Feb-16, 14:34
edited about 28 seconds later
Avatar for chickpea
posted about 2 years ago
Sorry you're feeling terrified to submit - the irony is that they probably think they are being really helpful, but it is daunting to get critical feedback. I think it all feels so personal at PhD level - previously it was just a case of sitting and waiting for a couple of lines of comments to come back on written work, but when you're doing a PhD and have to sit down with the people who're judging your work it is all much scarier!
posted
01-Feb-16, 17:53
edited about 7 seconds later
Avatar for Zutterfly
posted about 2 years ago
Sent my first findings chapter to my supervisor last week, they have provided feedback on just the first five pages but said they will get around to the rest of it soon. Today I have just started on the second findings chapter, just drafting a structure now and from the detailed notes I made last year, it doesn't seem as painful a task as I suspected it to be! The last findings chapter took MONTHS and was 20k, aiming for this one to be around 10 k.

Wishing everyone here a productive week!
posted
02-Feb-16, 12:44
edited about 10 seconds later
by Hugh 2 star member
Avatar for Hugh
posted about 2 years ago
Quote From chickpea:
Sorry you're feeling terrified to submit - the irony is that they probably think they are being really helpful, but it is daunting to get critical feedback. I think it all feels so personal at PhD level - previously it was just a case of sitting and waiting for a couple of lines of comments to come back on written work, but when you're doing a PhD and have to sit down with the people who're judging your work it is all much scarier!


Yes, very true! I have noticed that taking some form of treat (sweets/cake) seems to put my supervisor in a better mood. I need to do that more often! ;)
posted
02-Feb-16, 12:46
edited about 19 seconds later
by Hugh 2 star member
Avatar for Hugh
posted about 2 years ago
Quote From Zutterfly:
Sent my first findings chapter to my supervisor last week, they have provided feedback on just the first five pages but said they will get around to the rest of it soon. Today I have just started on the second findings chapter, just drafting a structure now and from the detailed notes I made last year, it doesn't seem as painful a task as I suspected it to be! The last findings chapter took MONTHS and was 20k, aiming for this one to be around 10 k.

Wishing everyone here a productive week!


Thanks, and you too! I think the first chapter always takes the longest to write, because before that, one doesn't really know how to write. My supervisor always says that, that once you move pass that first study/chapter, things will move much more quickly, and I think he was right.

I've just checked one chapter 3 times already, I think one more check tomorrow and its ready to go! (Or so I hope!).
posted
04-Feb-16, 12:17
by Hugh 2 star member
Avatar for Hugh
posted about 2 years ago
Just checking in to say, chapter sent yesterday *woohoo*! Now its time to work on the next chapter!

How are you all doing?
posted
04-Feb-16, 13:04
Avatar for chickpea
posted about 2 years ago
Quote From Hugh:
Just checking in to say, chapter sent yesterday *woohoo*! Now its time to work on the next chapter!

How are you all doing?


Well done for sending it!

I'm having to push myself every step of the way this week! Just seem to have no energy at all. I have set a bunch of deadlines with my supervisors though, so hopefully the looming deadlines will put enough fear into me that I'll start getting something done!
posted
04-Feb-16, 13:59
by Hugh 2 star member
Avatar for Hugh
posted about 2 years ago
Quote From chickpea:
[quote]Quote From Hugh:


Well done for sending it!

I'm having to push myself every step of the way this week! Just seem to have no energy at all. I have set a bunch of deadlines with my supervisors though, so hopefully the looming deadlines will put enough fear into me that I'll start getting something done!


Thanks! I like the idea of setting deadlines with supervisors! Oddly my supervisor doesn't seem too concerned about finishing on time. I on the other hand, really want to finish this ASAP!

I hope you have a better week next week!
posted
06-Feb-16, 00:55
by Fled
Avatar for Fled
posted about 2 years ago
Howdy all. Pressure is on for sure as my final year is here. Plan to put out 4 papers before viva, speak at conferences finally because I did not want to present before I had findings. And of course thinking about postdoc, sourcing funding XYZ. 12 hour days...its insane. Still would not rather be doing anything else. Have a good weekend folks.
posted
11-Feb-16, 12:58
Avatar for chickpea
posted about 2 years ago
Sounds like quite a schedule, Fled!

How are folk doing this week? I keep finding myself crossing things off in my head these days and saying, 'Well, I'll never have to do that again....', which is possibly a sign that I'm destined for a life of non-academic pursuits! (although I have had the same narrative running through all my studies and have always gone back for more eventually!)
posted
11-Feb-16, 20:32
edited about 8 seconds later
by Hugh 2 star member
Avatar for Hugh
posted about 2 years ago
Quote From chickpea:
Sounds like quite a schedule, Fled!

How are folk doing this week? I keep finding myself crossing things off in my head these days and saying, 'Well, I'll never have to do that again....', which is possibly a sign that I'm destined for a life of non-academic pursuits! (although I have had the same narrative running through all my studies and have always gone back for more eventually!)


I can relate to that :) I do love academia but there are some things that annoy me too.

I've had a really slow and unproductive week sadly. I've noticed when I am writing I am more focused; reading on its own makes me procrastinate. So I think I need to do both at one time.

I hope you had a more productive week than mine?
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