I'm glad that has been sorted out and you're definitely not over-reacting as it's natural to be protective of your work as you've put so much effort and time in it to give it to someone. ;-)

Hi I understand how you feel as it's your work and you can't be too careful with it especially as you haven't published or presented it yet. It's a huge compliment that your supervisor wants to send your work to an undergrad who is probably not going to pay too much attention to it but you never know. It's your work so you can decide whether or not to give it to someone so don't worry about what your supervisor will say!

I had a similar case where an MSc student I was helping asked if she could borrow my dataset as she wanted to practice using a program and needed some data. I was uneasy about giving her my data for the same reasons you stated but wanted to help so in the end I gave her an edited version where I changed the data so it didn't resemble my data as that wasn't the important part. Maybe you could do the same - just provide key points/highlight the main parts of your chapter and a reference list where they could do further reading. I'm sure if you suggested that to your supervisor they would understand especially if you're willing to chat to the undergrad! I'm sure they're just after ideas and your supervisor thought you would be a good example.

Wow this post has really taken off!  I agree with what has been said so it's good to know that we all have these feelings/fears although some just manage to hide it better than others. Doing a PhD is such an emotional rollercoaster that I'm wondering if it ever stops (will we ever been normal again???!!!!)  It is very hard to take a step back when you are in the midst of it trying to get enough data to take a moment for yourself and detach yourself from your research as it just takes over and invades every part of your life! I used to dream about it too!!!!  I couldn't even escape it in what little sleep I managed to get! It really can wear you down and magnifies what would usually be minor problems into major ones!

It hasn't stopped now either that I've passed my viva which I'd have thought it would have eased off!  I keep thinking of things I could have said and probably should have said! This always happens to me as I over analyse things too much afterwards as I'm not so good with stuff on the spot!  My worry now is that my external examiner thinks I don't know very much as they are very good and thorough! Some of the stuff I got asked I didn't know about - and I had to admit it so I felt very stupid but I was told by supervisors not to bluff if you don't know something as that is worse!  The temptation is to avoid this person in the future for fear of being a fraud which is irrational but I can't help feeling that way which is a shame as they are a nice person and the viva was conducted in a good way! I was in the numb stage afterwards and couldn't quite focus on actually passing when one of my supervisors was asking me about it and he/she said you passed so you can't have been that bad!  I guess this shows that we are not as bad as we think we are. I suppose it's the doubts that make us push ourselves to work harder and excel to prove we are good enough but we can be over critical of ourselves (too/very high standards)! 

It's a shame about the egos which get in the way of research as some big names in the field can't stand to see someone disagree with their research or are not open to new ideas. However, that's to do with their insecurity as Olivia mentioned so they throw their weight about to attack someone for daring to question their research/authority on the topic!!!  If they were more secure in themselves they would see that the person who has a different perspective is not challenging them but merely trying to debate and moving the subject forward. A new idea is not necessary a bad one but it does challenge the status quo of the established ideas and I suppose some of the established ones see it as an attack on their work.  So much for the open and co-operative research environment!?

I think we just need a bit of confidence in ourselves to believe that we are good enough and we will do it. What kept me going during the PhD was the belief that I would get it all done despite whatever problems were thrown my way.  Though I did begin to wonder a bit especially at the end what was the point of it all and whether it would get all done but by that stage there was too much at stake and I knew it had to be done! I'm hoping the motivation stays as it's challenging to try and get a job in the current situation!  I know academia is where I want to be but whether it wants me is another question!!!

I agree eating well is a good solution (mince)(sprout)(turkey). A little of what you fancy helps and so does taking a break from it all as we have to look after ourselves to function properly and do our work!

Good luck - we can do it! (up)

What about when you've had your viva and your internal examiner who approves the final corrections starts using the title before you've done them?

Would this be a safe case to use it then? It looks so much better on the CV!

Congrats that's excellent news and for it all to come together makes it more exciting. I'd agree with the others and take it as it comes as things hardly ever go to plan anyway! I find that things always seems to happen to be me that way too - nothing happens for ages and then suddenly a few things come along at once! London's a great place to be with so much to do, discover and explore you won't be bored. It's not always as expensive as you might think although that depends on what you do!

Good luck (up)

That sounds like a good plan. You never know as Ady said the course maybe included as part of your research training so that would be even better. Good luck with it all.

That's awful and annoying - I guess it's a confidence thing! I wish you can get it on tap - it would do wonders! I'm going through a funny post viva stage where I seem to be doubting myself and feel like I'm in limbo! I suppose it's a bit of an anti-climax after you've worked yourself to death to get it and then you have to look for something else to do! Withdrawal symptoms???
;-)

Thanks for suggestions - I have them on CV. It's very academically long now!

Good luck with job hunting! I better get on with applications too!

:-s ;-)

Yeah I'd agree ... it shows you are making the effort otherwise it's just smiles, gestures and alot of translating for your partner! It'll be fun and a new skill for your CV! ;-)

He He must have been good! I've found some typos that even my examiners missed! :$

This sounds like a similar case I've heard before where the supervisor claims rights to your work just because on paper he is your supervisor but hasn't actually done much if anything to deserve getting on the paper! It's a bit of a mine field as there are no set rules on it. It is certainly possible to exclude him but then that depends on the dynamics of your relationship - is he likely to be useful at some later stage of your career incase he holds a grudge? Basically is he going to be a useful contact in the future as you know how small academia is as everyone knows each other. Is he going to bad mouth you? How much influence does he have in the field? Is he just insecure as he feels his ego has been bruised as you are good? He sounds like a certain proportion of academics who have no social skills and can't along with anyone especially people that challenge his views - maybe he feels his reputation is on the line?

As to your supervisor's improper behaviour there is not much you can do about unless you want to make a formal complaint. They get away with anything as departments just sweep it under the carpet and put up with it as long as the academic is publishing papers. It's all about the research which is why you hold the bargaining chip with your research. I would suggest diplomacy first just to keep the peace and see how that goes especially as he cares for publications. If he doesn't do anything - you can gently suggest that if your supervisor is not happy with the work he can withdraw from the co-authorship! I'd agree just put him on this paper and then exclude him from others if he's not going to help. As for his insulting comments - is he the sort of person that says things before he thinks and is very brash about it! If so and he has a certain reputation for saying inappropriate things take it with a pinch of salt and ignore what he says as he just doesn't have any social skills so don't take him seriously!

Good luck (up)

Or this research/study shows ... or the author did this/that ...

I know re applications so I shouldn't be here but it has a calming effect as I've been stressing about measuring upto job expectations/requirements as I would like research job but you can't seem to get one without any publications, know a ton of stuff or experience!  Practically talked myself out of applying for a job which was in a different area to what I want to do but in the same broad general area as it's a large topic in a prestigious uni!

Anyone else having nagging doubts about whether they are good enough?  Thought it was supposed to be "easier" once you've passed but it seems like an uphill battle and you are only on the bottom rung especially given the current situation! 

Hey you shouldn't be so hard on yourself and I agree with what the others have said.  You sound like you are in the same position I was during mine and that wasn't exactly a barrel of laughs as I worked myself to death too - at one point I was working long hours every day non stop including weekends for about 2 months as my supervisor wasn't very sympathetic either and sounds like yours in order to get results and still they were not enough!!! I was going crazy and not sleeping much or well either (that's true for the entire time) and all I could think about was my work when I got up or fell into bed (that's true for the whole time too!)  I just had too much to do and not enough time to do it but I think I burnt myself as I couldn't do anything constructive for about a month afterwards as the thought of my PhD made me ill. So the point of all this is that you need to pace yourself and take some time out so you can relax and let your mind rest so you are able to go back to work with a fresh mind and get new ideas.

What about doing something with the other PhDers/staff/Masters students in your dept - they must go and do stuff. It's good for your sanity!  Your language course sounds like a good change - you could maybe ask someone from that to and have a coffee with you afterwards.

I know it's a horrible feeling to not know where you are going as I had that problem too especially in my first year - 18 months! I just knew I had to get these results with a very vague idea of what I was supposed to be looking at but it just felt like I was in limbo and was hoping the results would show something!!!  Luckily they did and I got an interesting interpretation! As for supervisors - ideas are just ideas and you can judge the ones you want to use as long as you can justify why.  Sometimes take what they say with a pinch of salt as mine used to suggest stuff so I'd so it and then they would question why I did and moan etc... when I was doing what they suggested and they had forgotten!!! Of course being supposedly an independent researcher I didn't want to say that!

Doing a PhD is a very stressful time which magnifies any problems you have and increases your feelings of loneliness and isolation especially as you are working all the time. That's why it's a good idea to get out and do stuff and get away from it now and then to protect what little sanity you have left! I would agree talking with other PhDers is a good way of seeing you are all experiencing the same problems as other people don't really understand and may frustrate you further. What they don't realise is that it takes over your life!!!

Hang in there - it'll be worth it at the end!  And you've got loads of time left! Remember the hare and the tortoise! 

(up) ;-) 8-)

Yeah it can be done as I have a friend who did it. You need to a have chat with potential supervisors and see what they say. Have you any firm ideas or are you quite happy to incorporate some of their ideas? You could have a rough outline of the area/type of project you want to do and see if anyone is interested and they may even help with funding. As you already have a Masters this would help and show you are capable of research.

Good luck

How are you getting on? I hope it's getting there! Don't worry - you are no way the worst student ever as it's normal to feel like that! They do say that the last 10 % is the worse as you are often just burnt out or sick at the thought of having to write more! But you'll get there - it'll won't be long! If you're having a bad day it's ok to take an afternoon off so you'll come back refreshed and raring to go! Don't be too hard on yourself as it's really is tough at the end! Somebody mentioned they needed to sleep alot which I also found as well as it's mentally exhausting! Don't worry about missing your deadlines - they often make you feel worse so just get as much as you can done! You'll find that some days are great and you can write loads and others are just awful and you can barely manage double figures but it all evens out in the end so don't worry about it!

I know it's easier said than done but try not to worry about it too much as that'll detract energy from doing your thesis!

Good luck and let us know how you are getting on. (up)