Thank you.

Well I have read the thesis again carefully making sure I understand everything, and have gone over the mathematical models in it. I have also read some of the key references in the thesis, to remind myself how my work relates to them and how it is different, extending knowledge etc. I have also found this thread http://www.postgraduateforum.com/threadViewer.aspx?TID=13794 very useful and have tried to prepare for the questions Koturu wrote. Finally I have tried to make summaries of the chapters in the thesis, main questions, hypotheses, main results and conclusions.

I am not sure how helpful this is, or whether this is the right thing to do but I guess I will find out tomorrow. I think it will be key to remain calm, and polite. Easier said than done :p

Congratulations Lilbobeep!

Could you please write a little bit more about what happened during the viva?

I remember your story SK100. I wish you the best of luck. I will be thinking of you.

I do not think anyone is still around to remember me (http://www.postgraduateforum.com/threadViewer.aspx?TID=9921 ), but reading this forum has kept me going ever since.

I have my viva tomorrow afternoon and I am terrified. I feel ill every time I think of it :$

I never got access to the data. I've just send you a PM.

I've just sent you a PM

I tried a few (of the many) Carolina Universities, and did everything you said but it did not work, I kept being asked for a username and password. I appreciate the fact that you went into all this trouble for me and I am really thankful, but maybe it was not meant to be. Thanks anyway :-)

@TheCoastman: Some good questions indeed, but I'd rather not consider them or else I will surely go mad. My current supervisor does not care about me and does not like me either. I's been months since I stopped counting on him for help. Long story, better not get into it. :-(

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Thank you, that is very nice of you :-)

My university isn't that great when it comes to databases either, and it's supposed to be one of those that do provide good access to resources. :p

Thanks again.

I think that is exactly that! Their researcher's dataset!!!!

Well it would be great if I could get their indices for Rule of Law, corruption, and political risk for every country they are doing for the years 1989-2006. But other than that I will be grateful for whatever I can get :-)

I am in the third year of my PhD and like you I missed all the funding deadlines, but was told by my then supervisor that my PhD had a good chance of getting funding later on. I trusted him, my family was willing to lend me the money to do it, so I started my PhD. It was one of the biggest mistakes I have ever made. There was only one chance to apply for funding and it went to another student, despite the fact that I had better grades than them. Now three years later I feel very guilty because I know I have deprived my family of a huge amount of money, and they are not rich, and I am one of the poorest students I know. My advice? Think long and hard about it, about the practicalities and not just about the dream.

It is correct sleepyhead. I have had a look at the "Handbook of Country Risk", but I am afraid it's not suitable.
Thank you very much for having a look, I appreciate the interest :-)

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Basically I've come to a point where I need a specific dataset, but although I've tried everything (contacting supervisors, university library, datasets I can have access to), I can't get access to it . It costs a few thousands of US dollars to buy, which for me is unaffordable. I was wondering whether any of you have access to International Country Risk Guide (ICRG) data, and feel like doing a good deed today??? Obviously there will be a good mention in the
"I am grateful to" section of my PhD ;-)

@Lara: I have taken the suggestions of the advisor group on board and they are all I have to improve my work, but because it's kinda statistical I now need feedback on the suggestions. Good luck with your project, you have been an inspiration to me

Thank you for your replies, each and everyone of you.I wish I could ask my previous supervisor for help, but he is not associated with my university anymore. Early next week I will speak to my supervisor on the phone so hopefully this will clear things up a bit. Meanwhile I am considering whether to email the director of the graduate school, who is on my T.A.G., and let them know how things are. I do not know what I can hope for, but I feel I can't take the blame for all of this.

I am very disappointed and can't help feeling that I should do something to sort this mess out and stop it from happening again. But, I do not know what to do. Should I ask for a new supervisor? No one in my department shares the same research interests as me. And if so, how do I go about it.This is my 3rd year, and finding a new supervisor could take time. On the other hand I do not want to fail because I have not been getting the support and advice I should be. I am so confused and I do not know any other PhD students to talk to about this. I have been reading your posts for months and they have always been of great help for me. Can I please have some more help? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.