======= Date Modified 21 Jun 2011 00:14:19 =======
The person who called HR before the interview actually got the job so I think it depends on your interview performance and how you come across. This person was very poised and was top of the list so they got the job.

Unfortunately I don't have endnote installed on the computer at the moment so I'm doing it from memory. You can edit the styles as I chose a journal style I liked the look of and then tweaked it a bit to get the bits I wanted added in. Alternatively you can set up your own style but I found this quite a hassle so I adapted an existing one and saved it under a different name so I would still have the original. If you want the url to appear as well I would just include in the same line after the title or wherever you want it to appear. I know this is probably not the correct way to do it but it seems to work for me.

It's hard to say as it depends what you want out of it. Have you seen any other courses that you are really interested in and have a burning desire to do as if you do a course that you are unsure of or maybe not that interested in the motivation will be harder and you may struggle with it. Have you talked to a career adviser to see what your options are and see what other areas you are interested in? Would you like to use any of the skills you picked up or start completely fresh in a new topic?

I don't think your vote works as they both say the same thing as I think the Yes and No options cut off. It might be a good idea to include a Maybe option as whether it's worthwhile or not depends on your motivation for doing the course e.g. career change, interest, to get an extra qualification at a higher level etc...

You're welcome. I'm glad to have helped! You can do it! You need to work on managing your supervisor next! Good luck with it all :p (up)

======= Date Modified 01 Jun 2011 22:15:00 =======
Theoretically it's possible though it's rather a tight timetable!  It's good you are planning to finish on time and get rid of your supervisor which will be the best thing ever!!!  I hope everything goes to plan as you know experiments sometimes develop a life of their own.  It's also a good idea to start writing early as it's unbelievable how long it takes to write!  Don't underestimate the time it takes.  It doesn't matter if you don't use all of what you write now,  at least you'll have some material you can use for the thesis.  Straightforward chapters like the methodology which hopefully you'll sort out soon and other descriptive chapters (e.g. literature review, introduction) would be good places to start before you get into the results and analyses later on.

Most unis aim to have a viva within 3 months of submission so if you submit by the end of August/start of Sept you should have enough time for the process to work itself out.  However there are other factors that may affect when you get a viva like when your external examiner is free and what commitments they may have. In some unusual cases I have heard that it took 6 months for students to get a viva as their external was very busy and couldn't take time out during the academic year. 

Usually you don't get another viva after your corrections unless you've had to substantially change your thesis or do more research. 

Excellent idea - isn't that why we do research? It has to have some perks and much better than paying a proof reader! ;-)

It sounds like an unfortunate series of events! I know what you mean about the hang up about grades as it just shows that you are good at exams and not necessary research which uses a different set of skills. Have you pointed out your mark for your research project for your original Masters? If that's good surely it would show your potential for doing research. I don't think they should hold it against you if they didn't grade your Masters. Have you thought about getting a copy of the transcript which shows the marks for each subject/module even though you don't have an overall grade? That would show your skills across a wide set of subjects and potential for research.

I don't know how the Dutch grade their exams/degrees so I can't comment on that I'm afraid. But with two Masters it would look good on your CV anyway and show you like to research. What's the top mark or is that a 7 for your project?

Volunteering is another way of looking keen and possibly picking up new skills. If you could do it in a research institution/uni (though I think there are less opportunities there) it would look good and show them you are dedicated to doing research. It's tough as that is what you've set your heart on but getting a PhD is like a waiting game so you just have to go apply for lots of things and knock on as many doors as possible. Hopefully one of them will open!

Good luck (up)

That's a scary thought having your supervisor mark your thesis!!!! I'm not sure I'd have passed!!!! The internal is somebody from your dept usually who is there to make sure that the regulations of the uni are followed and should be independent from your supervisory team so they are not biased!

It just sounds like your supervisor has either a big ego, is a control freak or a bit of both! Don't take too much notice of such comments "If you don't do it my way, you will fail!" as that is just him letting off steam and very unprofessional! My supervisor was always giving off similar comments though probably not quite as blunt as they didn't want it to reflect badly on them if I failed! But still not very helpful nevertheless!

I'm sorry to hear that he holds some of the purse strings so that is rather tough on you. I hope you can find an acceptable solution to your methodological differences and other problems. That just giving him too much power which seems to have gone to his head! :-s

Hang in there and show them you can do it! You've got to grab that PhD! 8-)

Let us know how you get on. Good luck (up)

======= Date Modified 21 Jun 2011 00:13:19 =======
I was speaking to a candidate at an interview and they said they had phoned up HR so knew who was on the panel. It had never occurred to me that you could do this. I just looked up the names of the people whose research interests matched the project on offer! So I would do it as it could be very useful to know who will be interviewing you and what their research interests are!

Congrats on the interview - that's great news! :p

======= Date Modified 01 Jun 2011 16:58:41 =======
That sounds just like my supervisor!!!! I could have written it!  My supervisor was trying to get me to change a method so after checking with other people about whether this was possible as they are also one of these people that never explain themselves!  I decided to test this method they suggested and then got told to stop it as if their way was the only one!  They always change their mind as well as I also got the blame for not doing enough of another method as I was following a suggestion which they thought was possible so I could hardly say well it was your suggestion as I am supposed to be an independent researcher! I gave up trying their suggestions after that unless it made sense! 

As for marking your thesis it's up to your external (mostly) and your internal examiners to judge it based on your rationale/reason for doing your research, methodology, results, analyses to see that you have added new research to your field.  It has nothing to do with your supervisor who is supposed to guide you along the way although this may not sometimes happen!  Your supervisor is supposed to read it and support you through the process as it's research training but they have no final say in the viva and don't even have to be there (it's up to to you and they can't have an input if they are there!) It's just awkward if you disagree with your supervisor given his personality and don't follow his every whim but has no consequence for you!

It's ridiculous these supervisors who are so far up their backside they can't see what is going on! I actually got praised for my robust methodology as I justified everything I was doing. I wouldn't have done if my supervisor had got their way as they kept saying you don't need to do that or this - it's just rough (easy for them to say as they are not the ones doing it)

So don't worry as long you are methodological and can justify what you do you should be fine!
;-) (up)

======= Date Modified 01 Jun 2011 15:53:30 =======
Excellent - congrats! (up)8-)

P.S. So what did you do with the other two applicants? ;-)

That depends on the politics of your dept and how "important" your supervisor is within it! It should be clear within the dept what your supervisor is like but it depends on how willing they are to do something about his behaviour!  Most just want to sweep it under the carpet and pretend it doesn't happen as long as he is bringing in the research credentials/money!

I shouldn't think that your relationship with your supervisor should affect your upgrade after all it is determining whether your research is upto PhD standard.  But I would tread carefully on this as academics tend to close ranks and protect their own unless you have a very good reason (or make an official complaint!) but this also depends on your dept so it is hard for anyone else to say what to do.  I would suggest being diplomatic about it so that nobody is put in an awkward position but make it clear that there are issues but don't make it personal. Don't let your supervisor bully you into using his methods as you have to justify your methodology and results at the end so "because my supervisor said so" is not a good answer!  As long as you can you show that your research is original (doesn't have to be the whole thing but it has to show some original thinking and contribution to your research field) and that you have a robust methodology you should be fine. 

Don't also let him treat you like a lab slave getting you to do all the extra experiments he wants.  You can never have enough for some supervisors! Have you got a second supervisor or an external one that you can get a second opinion to make sure you have enough results?  I think half of doing a PhD is being able to manage your supervisor and keep difficult ones in check.  It's especially hard when you've got a domineering one like yours who just wants everything his way without regard to you!  I would suggesting standing your ground as you are supposed to be doing independent research guided by your supervisor which doesn't happen alot of the time!

Don't accept an MPhil as you were accepted to do a PhD although many places register you as an MPhil initially so if you decide not to continue it doesn't look so bad as they won't be losing a PhD student (looks bad for dept!) You can still get a PhD without your supervisor if the relationship doesn't work as long as you have a good project and put the work in!  Obviously it'll be much easier if he helps you and supports/reads your work but unfortunately that is a luxury some can only dream of!  It should make you more determined to get through it and show him up especially that you can manage even without him though I hope this won't be the case! 

Good luck and let us know how you get on!
(up)

Unfortunately you can't make sure it won't happen as who you get is a lottery! This is when inside knowledge is useful or the reputation of the supervisor is useful to consider. If you know anyone who can give you an honest opinion of the supervisor that would be great so you can consider your options carefully and see if you can get along and work with them.

The initial settling in period is often called the "honeymoon" period when your supervisor is nice to you as you get used to your new environment and doing your PhD but then cranks it up a gear and starts demanding results immediately and you see their true personality. There is nothing much you can do about this but if you had prior warning at least you'd be prepared for it! It also depends on the supervisor as some are nice to you if you are doing their pet project but couldn't careless if you are not and just want your results at the end (i.e. publications!!!)

I was lucky that getting lab consumables was not a problem but I have heard of labs where the budget is dependent on the supervisor and had to be costed to a project so getting consumables/equipment was more difficult and problematic in some cases if you've got a difficult supervisor. If the equipment is expensive it is common to share it between departments but this should not be a problem as there will be arrangements for sharing it.

Hope this helps as getting a good supervisor will make things easier as PhDs are tough enough without them adding to your problems!!!

Good one 8-)

It depends on who the CV is aimed for. If it's a general CV for a non-academic post I think that sounds ok but for an academic post I think there needs to a bit more detail on which area you specialise in and what research you have done in this area.