To be fair, giving 4 days notice is a bit pants. At least give them time to find a replacement!

I don't think so. Those that offer the studentships have been through the system themselves and know what it's like. They too were faced with the same problems. That's why I also believe that when they ask if you applied elsewhere you should be honest and say yes. A simple explanation, although a little akward, is sufficient if you do decide to opt out of a position you agreed to take. It is an understandable thing to do. If it wasn't possible they would make you sign contracts upon agreement. As it is that is put off until you actually turn up or the week before. Having said that, you should always be fair. Don't get loads of offers and wait until the last minute to tell 4 different labs that you changed your mind.

I did that very thing. I had lots of PhDs that I applied for and wanted to do but obviously had a favourite. Got an offer I wanted in January last year and accepted. I would have done it too as it was a great PhD. In June I finally got the one I was hoping for so I emailed the first one then to say I wouldn't take it after all. I know it's a crappy thing to do but it's your future, do what's best for you, after all the people who offer the PhDs are only doing what's best for them.

Apply to as many as possible. End of!

Dear Sugar_student

Where abouts are you going to apply to be a professor? If you come to the UK I was wondering if you would like to go out for dinner with me.

Adem x

Someone told me you were at UCL Mr BurgerKing. I've heard it's very good. What exactly do you research?

Still intrigued by Burger King's excellent institute. Give us a clue!

Take a year out to decide. Work in a science environment to see if you enjoy it, if you do you'll know that you want to do further study. At the moment it just sounds as if you've never considered the possibility of leaving university as apposed to actually decided you want to do a masters/Phd.

Try smiling. I think that will help.

Nej, engelsk. Jag hade en svensk flickvaen...

pratar svenskA....

It has an A at the end as it is the noun. 'Svensk' is used as a singular adjective, e.g. "jag aer svensk" (excuse the incorrect characters there) among other things (it is the 'den' adjective end). "Svenska" is the plural adjective: "vi aer svenska" as well as the noun.

learn somthing new every day.

Never been to Gothenburg I'm afraid so can't offer any tips.

Back to one of your questions; what has made this thread so frustrating, at least for me. Jenny asked specifically for only black students' views and then mentioned divide in academia (which I personally don't think exists). Sounds to me that she was the one setting up the barriers there. I'm not sure why there seems to be an opinion that some people are propogating that black applicants are discriminated against? What evidence has been shown apart from that there are fewer black scientists? You know, I've never met an eskimo scientist. Maybe that's because we are prejudice against them too...

Dear Mr PhDFreak

I am never one to criticise outbursts as they are often amusing and at least always honest. However, you shouldn't write such rubbish. What is 'bringing down your own' supposed to mean. All black people are best mates? All white people stick together? You'll have to inform me, I'm a little lost with that one. Does it mean that people are not allowed to criticise their own race? Maybe that's it....

Apply to loads of PhDs, even ones you don't think are ideal for you. If you get to go to an interview you can decide what you want on the basis of your own experience. I can tell you for a fact, based on my experience in application, some places I would have jumped straight into without an interview were really not for me when I went and others I just went to see for the hell of it really appealed to me. Apply, apply, apply. If you don't like it and go, you can still decline an offer, at least give yourself the choice.

Are you at Durham Coastman?