Why don't you pick some universities and ring them and ask, they may have some ideas on the matter.

What are you talking about?

Not quite sure what you are trying to say the reason you got a lower mark was? Because your girlfriend had depression? I'm sure you devoted a lot of love and effort to her but I'm not sure that counts I'm afraid.

Of course they should be encouraged to give advice. Advice is optional, it's always worth having a listen, might be useful. You know, saying things like 'non PhD students shouldn't give advice" might be part of the reason some people on the forum have had difficulties with people with regards to getting jobs, friends thinking you're just a dosser and not doing a real job etc etc. It's qite a snobbish attitude.

It was meant to sound exclusive actually. I was meaning to say that these companies make big bucks and as a result they pay better. I find it a little harsh that you would assume that I was so simple to think I'd get a share of profits! That sort of person would be a shareholder receiving a dividend no? I suppose I didn't explain it clearly.

For me, NO-ONE said that I would have a PhD then waltz into job. I was told that it was emotionally and academically demanding and would require a lot of devotion and effort. If I was able to meet these demands I would have a PhD and be called "Dr' after 3/4 years. That's what a PhD means, no-one even mentioned that I would be more employable. Maybe a few people have jumped the gun a little with regards to what a PhD actually offers.

I didn't say scientists see profits, I just said that drug companies make profits, lots of them.

I often get the impression that people on this forum feel they are owed a lot, simply because they decided to do a PhD. Why should you get paid a lot for having done research? First, you are not an expert in any field except your PhD so unles you find a company doing work with exactly the same topic, you're only real distinguishing feature obove that of a graduate is that you've experienced a research environment for a few years. Moreover, there are very few research areas which will actually pose any potential financial benefit to an employer. Can you look at your research and HONESTLY say that you would think someone should pay you a high salary to do it?

GSK made 6.7bn in 2006. Although, that's there whole product line, not just drugs, including Colgate toothpaste etc. Love Google.

Get a grip guys! Sugar was right, drugs etc have huge profit margins including R&D. You just need to look at GSK's profits for last year, can't remember the exact figure, google it, it's in the billions though. I'm not bitching, just being pragmatic, companies make money. Hopefully I'll be working for one in a few years and I too will make money.

I don't think that your story is representative. You chose a subject you loved, the chances of it having a job for you at the end were never going to be high. Perhaps your PhD just isn't employable, sorry to say it. Others are I feel so I'm not too worried about my future at the moment. I get pait almost 14k for what is essentially an apprenticeship and no tax etc.. I don't know any other apprentices who get more than £4 an hour. I think I'm doing ok. Also, I knew exactly the score when I signed up for this. Sorry you feel a bit dejected; get a basic job to cover your rent and keep looking.

Just out of interest, when you say you are on a masters course do you mean that you have a PhD place with the first year being an MPhil and requiring a conversion or you are on a stand alone masters? If the latter then 'staying on' to do a PhD isn't really the case I'm afraid, it'll require independent application like others from other universities.

Oh yeah, about the oxbridge thing. Get over it, you are making quite a big issue out of what is essentially nothing. If you have a suitable degree at the required grade then you are an acceptable student.

I spend a lot of time around people in similar situations as myself, as figures being part of a university, and get to hear about all sorts of PhD topics with the most diverse titles. Sometimes I find myself thinking that some of the projects are, well I wouldn't say pointless, but somewhat useless. Does anyone else ever get that when they hear other project titles? I don't think that I'm snobbish really it's just that I thought that a PhD was supposed to contribute something to the world. A lot of these topics appear narrow and sometimes so abstract it seems to me that the only contribution that they can make is to the person doing the research. Is it a good enough reason to do some research just to say that it's been done?

Get a grip, it's time to stop with the studying and get a job!

A PhD student geting sex, who would have thought....

Sleepyhead you are a legend!!

Yes H, I agree with you. All I'd add is that just as you have those who let their PhD take over you have those who are chilled and still succeed. All I originally wanted to say is that not everyone finds their PhD so demanding that they don't have time for other social activities and meeting people. It's just unfortunate that a lot of people here do find that it gets in the way.

Again, Sleepyhead you are a legend.