Hey Eddie! You are spot on! I am right in the same situation and thinking to myself where on earth is the originality going to come from? I spoke to my supervisor about this and his advice was to keep on researching the area, eventually the area(s) that could be improved and/or have not been explored will come up. Also, what you intended to accomplish in your PhD on the onset might not be exactly what you achieve in the end, as you might discover other related things that would add your work.

Hey guys. I have been on this forum a few months before I started and I’m glad that i have finally begun after almost a year's wait. My main reason for posting this is to gather your experiences when you first started (no matter how long that may be :) ) It will be interesting indeed.

I am barely into my third month and i must say that sometime I feel useless and marvel at my lack of knowledge in my field. It also amazing to see how everything one has studied comes into use in a PhD. Some days I am really pleased by how much I am beginning to learn bits and pieces. My PhD is in industry and it is completely different from the academic environment. My hope is that at least when this year ends I will be able to say "I know where I am heading exactly" because at the moment I can't say I do to an extent.

Apologies for the long post :) Please do share your experiences when you first started and even where you are now. I believe it will be an immense encouragement not just for me but for everyone.

Cool to see how we know friends who have been to Canada and loved it. I had a mate of mine who went to there for a 6 month project. He didn't want to come back! lol He finally came and is now thinking of going back for his MSc/PhD

Hello tommy. From what i gather, i think you need to be a little bit patient. First of all you mentioned that the uni does not recognise your 3yr BSc because it not equivalent to their 4yr one. Does getting your papers published guarantee that they's take you on a PhD programme? I also think you need more communication with your supervisor of whoever is responsible for dealing with your application. You need to ask the relevant questions initially, so that you are not taken by surprise when there is a delay of circumstances change.

All the best!

Interesting stuff lynn

Hello Lynn! Good to have you here.

Forgive my lack of knowledge but what is Gerontology?

I believe we're in similar situation. I am in engineering but just moved into the labs recently. I was doing some design calculations, i went to my industrial supervisor to get it checked and he kept on sending me back to get it corrected. No matter how hard i tried to get it right, he always found a valid reaon why the solution was wrong. I went back to the drawing board and after hitting so many walls, not to mention the headache involved, i believe i may have got it right this time and using my own method which made me really pleased with myself.

If you take the advice you're given and learn from you mistakes + patience, i think you'll do okay. I am only in my 3rd month by the way

JA, i know how you feel. Although you are in your second year and i in my third month, i am already beginning to feel the strain. I know that may sound impossible or it might be me just being ridiculous. My PhD is in industry and my supervisor is very hard to please. I too am stuck in the lab with no one to compare results with but they do similar work (in a way) so i can, at least have a chat when i hit pot holes.

It is natural to feel this way. I always try to remember the goal i have in sight, to keep me going. Talking to your supervisor will help, especially if they are very supportive.

All the best.

i agree with you. I do no think relationships should be put on hold because of a PhD. Most people would because of the associated challenges with having one (which everyone faces) and its effect on their work. But like earlier posts, having an understanding partner would go a long way to making life doing a PhD more bearable.

You're quite right. In my case most people do understand that doign a PhD is a lot or work and i am grateful for that. I think when it comes to partners it becomes a different story entirely

I believe patience and communication will help in this matter.

Not me. Instead everyone here just had free mince pies

Phosphoros, i think it would depend on what aspect of renewable energy you would be going into because not all the aspects of renewable energy require that level of mathematics.

Rest ei. If mine had the chance he would prefer i was locked up in the office and lab till the 2nd

Have a very lovely christmas too. I escape my desk on friday (21st), I think it is half day, to be back on the 2nd. My plans to go see my family abroad didn't work out so i'll spend it with relatives close by.

Hi birdsandbees. I do sympathise with what you're faced. I see no other solution that to get stuck in and utilse the remaining time you've got left. You never know, these new results may be what you needed and work in your favour.

Best wishes