======= Date Modified 01 Jun 2011 20:38:57 =======
Go for it as it seems like something you really want to do especially as you've been there and seen the ugly side but still keen! At least you'll be going in with your eyes open! I hope it all works out!

Go to a second or external supervisor if you have one as it sounds like that she does not work to a timetable and will give feedback when she wants to! My supervisor kept promising me feedback but hardly gave any back so I wouldn't rely entirely on your supervisor!

I agree as I've had mixed results too. Generally people are nice and just answer the query but I once got a ratty person who gave me a very offhand reply too! I think if you have something useful to ask it's fine but if you are just asking to make yourself known it's pointless and may well annoy the person at the other end who could've have a hand in whether or not to shortlist you!

Age is no longer relevant in UK (well that's the official line anyway!) so you don't need to have it on the CV. I've taken it off mine as I don't think it matters. They still ask for it in the HR bit although usually just the age band you fall into! I don't think whether you want children should matter either although it'd hard to have children and do your project I think as it was tough enough without having to consider them. It can be done as there are people on this forum with children who cope well but I think you have to be super organised!

Good luck.
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I agree with the others - fair means that they'll give you a chance to get your point across and be objective so they won't be trying to just get their point across and not be open to new/different ideas.

That's great that they are nice but as already mentioned they won't necessary be a pushover! It'll just mean that they won't be aggressive or pushy but they can still be very analytical and critical of your work! Be ready for detailed questioning of your results, methodology and the idea/rationale underpinning of your project. Know why you did what you did and brush on any weak areas you may think there are incase you get an eagle eyed examiner! As long as you know your work you'll be fine and expect the unexpected as they will always find something you haven't thought about. I was advised not to blag it if I didn't know something so just say that you don't know it as it's ok not to know everything but be able to come with some alternate suggestions or something! I think you just need to show that you have done wider reading of your topic area.

Good luck (up)

Congrats that's excellent news and thanks for letting us know there is hope! It's awful to be stuck in the current situation looking for a job wondering how long it's going to take! (up)

======= Date Modified 30 May 2011 00:16:02 =======
I forgot to mention that some supervisors have their pet projects so if you are not doing them your research is worthless and not worth spending money or time on etc... There is not much you can do about this either unfortunately and it's very frustrating!!!! :-s

She sounds like a right pain in the backside but unfortunately you get some like that! Some of them just like the feeling of power they think they have over you! As you have good results, a good story which is publishable that sounds like the ingredients for a PhD to me! Does she just have impossible standards as in you'll never have enough results for her or they will never be good enough for her! Or as she didn't do them they will never be good as good as hers!!! I got asked by my supervisor why my results didn't look like theirs as they didn't like my results?

I agree with KB - wait and see what the alternatives are. Maybe she was just blowing hot air to make an impact as you know many academics especially ones with the personality of your supervisor do not have great social skills and are unable to communicate very well. Maybe it was an off day and you happen to be the in wrong place at the wrong time so she took it out on you!

Good luck and I hope it's not as bad as you think it is! You are nearly there! She can't stop from taking a part time job if the funding runs out as you have to be able to support yourself!
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Don't be put off by it all though I am quite surprised at the German attitude as I thought they could stay in education for a long time.  That's the impression I got off my German flatmate who seemed to have taken break in the middle of his Bachelor's degree to do some travelling. Another German friend said that they could take years to do their PhDs as there is no definite deadline and she started in her late 20s approaching 30 in Germany! 

Don't worry about the age thing as it's not a problem in the UK. There are plenty of PhDers in their late 20s and beyond and they probably make better students than someone who has just gone through the system and not had a break.  At least you'll be doing this as you really want to do it having had a taste of the "real" world so you'll be more motivated and sure of what you want to do!

It's tough and I know how you feel as you finally found the right career for you but can't seem to get funding for a PhD!  It may be harder with a 2:2 but as you have a MSc that should help upgrade it to the equivalent of someone with a 2:1 so it should not matter so much unless they have also have a MSc. It's a tough environment out there at the moment but I think it's just a waiting game as you apply for studentships and knock on as many doors as possible and hopefully one will open for you!  Have you tried to get any relevant job experience as this also counts towards showing you are serious and want a career in research? Or if you are able to try volunteering as that would definitely show you are keen and might open doors or you?  At least you would get some contacts that way which is very important in academia? And of course you'd also get good references.

Hang in there even though it's disheartening as you feel like you're getting anyway!  Academia is going through a rough patch though it seems to affecting studentships less than postdocs and academics as they seem geared up to focus on training students more than anything else! (up) ;-)

Remember to take note from Joey off Friends when he was looking a stage name "Joseph Stalin is already taken!" as he found out at an audition when he tried out Chandler's suggestion!

Seriously I don't think there would be much point in you inventing a name otherwise you'd have to use that name throughout your academic career unless you have it as a stage name. I don't think it'd be a problem unless you have the same name as somebody in your field when it might get confusing! I have actually heard of that happening though I think it was in different fields within the same subject. When you do a search on the web of science it usually comes up with people with the same surname so you just have to be more specific and add the subject. Hope this helps.

I also had that problem - for the full name of the organisation to appear I think you have to put a comma after the last word in the author section so that Endnote knows that is the full name.

So it would be The Caterpillar Society (2011) said that caterpillars are the colours of the rainbow ...

I've just read the Flowers paradigm and I can definitely see myself! It's a very good description of the different stages involved in writing! What I want to know is what do you call the stage when you've got to edit something you can no longer bear to look at but have to do so for an upcoming deadline? I guess I'm just bored with it but need to force myself to think about it instead of procrastinating? :-s ;-)

I agree with Mackem_Beefy - if it's your dream don't give up on it and keep an eye out for funding. You never know what might turn up - you are better position looking for studentships than you are looking for postdocs or academic jobs as there are very few of those around at the moment and as you up the academic ladder. It may take a few years to find the right project with funding but if that's what you are interested in (putting all other worries and financial considerations aside) then go for it. It's a hard slog waiting it out but worth it if that's what you really want! Though you may wonder why it's worth the wait some days when you are doing it but by time you'll have the determination and motivation to get through it! Alot of doing the process is about testing your determination and stubbornness so if your motivation is there you will succeed!

Good luck (up)

After you import the reference to your document you should be able to click on it and a list of options should come up which allows you to edit it. One of the options should be that you can hide the author so that only the date shows. Hope this helps.

I've had this problem as well but unfortunately I haven't found a solution!  I thought it was supposed to make our lives easier but the amount of time I've had to mess around to get the settings right is unbelievable!
:-s

I'd love a solution too! 8-)