Go for a suit. You don't know what the other short-listed people will be wearing, and you definitely do not want to feel under-dressed for this occasion. If you turn out to be overdressed it is not that bad. It shows you've put in too much effort, but the people making the selection won't take this the bad way. Not a black one though, maybe something gray with a light blue shirt. Black shoes, don't go for experiments there. If you are in two minds about a tie, take one with you and see what the other people are like, see how you feel and take it from there. I got my lecturing job in a gray suit, and missed one interviewed in the same one, so can't really say it was the suit. But make sure it is one you feel very comfortable with, and the same is true for the SHOES, don't wear brand new ones, they may kill you on the day.
All the best

Hello everybody, here is something that has worried me since the beginning of the PhD study. Dealing with guilt for not working enough or not working in the right direction has been very difficult for me and I am sure I am not alone in this. So, I wonder if there are things that anybody has done to fight with this guilt. Have you found something that proved to be effective? Share the wisdom, I assume lots of us need it (or am I the only one? )

All the best,
Ulysses

You are not alone in this, and I had to push mine back on a few occasions. As Sue says, it takes as long as it takes. You will get there in the end. I guess the greatest difficulty may be dealing with the guilt and all the bad sentiments coming with missing the deadline, and that is huge. It is a blessing when you have people around you whose view you value and they say soothing things. I hope you do, and just to let you know, sometimes these may come from places you least expect them.

Hi Rick,
yes, like you I try to concentrate on the writing and I am confident that once it is submitted I will be able to do well in the defence, so let's hope this is the right way to look at it! I just got an external examiner agreed, and yet it feels far too early :-/
All the best!

Hello everybody, just joined the forum and it is really good to be in the company of people feeling the same way about nearing the completion of their thesis. I am hopefully in the last 3-4 months of it, after 6 years of torture, extensions, interruptions etc. I feel I am one of the lucky ones as I both had a scholarship and I also got a permanent full-time lecturing job in the process, but please let me tell everybody who hasn't, this doesn't finish the thesis for you! Not only that, but with the present condition at UK universities, I had to take a year's unpaid leave to finish it (that's where I am now!). I hope it works for all of us, and yes, I am also one of those thinking it will never come to that, even being so relatively near. I still think what I am saying in it isn't 'enough' or complete enough. We are probably wrong though, if someone is looking at our work and says it is good, then there are several forces that are helping: would a supervisor risk his/her reputation sending a rubbish candidate to the 'lions' so to speak? Does anyone know what percentage of the people who get to their viva eventually get the degree? All the best for now!

I hope so too, I am completing a Media PhD (should submit by summer) and at this stage I feel it will never happen even though I have written 4 of 7 chapters. I feel all need to be rewritten and support from supervisors hasn't been that good (I am being moderate here). But I do know that dealing with it everyday is effective! I hope it works for all of us here.