Overview of Hugh on PostgraduateForum.com

H

Signup date: 12 Mar 2010 at 9:38am

Last login: 24 May 2017 at 8:31pm

Post count: 1264

Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

I'm so very very sorry to hear about your experience. You've been treated appallingly by the graduate office.

Like everyone else has said, get a friend/family member round, and try and get some distraction. It is obviously utterly devastating, but take some time out, and look at what to do next in a few days time when you are feeling less emotional.

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Quote From v2gls:
I have offers from UCL, Imperial and Univ of Bonn to study mathematics..
Does anyone has experience from these programs?
Any thoughts or advice would be very useful..

What's university of Bonn?

I would go with imperial because of reputation.

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Quote From chickpea:
[quote]Quote From Hugh:

Well done for sending it!

I'm having to push myself every step of the way this week! Just seem to have no energy at all. I have set a bunch of deadlines with my supervisors though, so hopefully the looming deadlines will put enough fear into me that I'll start getting something done!

Thanks! I like the idea of setting deadlines with supervisors! Oddly my supervisor doesn't seem too concerned about finishing on time. I on the other hand, really want to finish this ASAP!

I hope you have a better week next week!

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Just checking in to say, chapter sent yesterday *woohoo*! Now its time to work on the next chapter!

How are you all doing?

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Quote From Valkyrist:
I'm wondering if I'll be able to produce a 100,000 word thesis, while also working 40 hours a fortnight.

This would really depend on how focused you are when you work. My guess is most PhD students do around 4 hours of focused work a day. So in my opinion you would be fine, as long as you did focused work in the hours that you worked. No FB, Twitter, or this forum! Best of luck

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Sorry to hear what you are going through.

Very briefly, I would go to your GP and ask to be referred for counselling. Counselling should help you deal with your low self-esteem and confidence. Once you have sorted that out, your problems should resolve.

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Quote From patchi:
On top of that things are not working for me and I have no idea what the hell I am doing and where my project is going. Constantly feeling inadequate and without help is not helping at all :/ .

My advice would be try and sort this out first. Once you know where your project is going, what you are aiming for, you will feel much better.

A social life is very important. Have you thought of joining online PhD support networks like this forum or on Facebook/Twitter. Otherwise, how about some social groups outside of university, like a cooking/knitting/sport/cultural club?

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Quote From Tudor_Queen:
Hi all
I'm a few months into my first year and have done my literature report (well - started it... and submitted something of it). My sups want to give me a viva style feedback session in a week. I'm not sure what kinds of questions they'll be asking, given that I haven't done any actual work yet beyond the literature review (which is a bit patchy as well given that I'm only 3 months in)? I thought the session was an opportunity for them to give me feedback on what I've written - but viva style?! Any advice/suggestions/links would be appreciated.
Cheers!

3 months in and a viva style feedback session?! All I can is blimey/wow, they surely do have high aims for you! But don't fret, they can't be too hard on you, you are just 3 months in!

Some questions you could be asked in your real viva on literature review (from top of my head):

1. Who are the main researchers in this field?
2. Why have you focused on X area in your literature review but not X?
3. What weaknesses and strengths can you identify of past studies?
4. What are the knowledge gaps identified based on your literature review?
5. What learning/findings can you take from previous literature in to your own research?

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Quote From Zutterfly:
Sent my first findings chapter to my supervisor last week, they have provided feedback on just the first five pages but said they will get around to the rest of it soon. Today I have just started on the second findings chapter, just drafting a structure now and from the detailed notes I made last year, it doesn't seem as painful a task as I suspected it to be! The last findings chapter took MONTHS and was 20k, aiming for this one to be around 10 k.

Wishing everyone here a productive week!

Thanks, and you too! I think the first chapter always takes the longest to write, because before that, one doesn't really know how to write. My supervisor always says that, that once you move pass that first study/chapter, things will move much more quickly, and I think he was right.

I've just checked one chapter 3 times already, I think one more check tomorrow and its ready to go! (Or so I hope!).

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Quote From chickpea:
Sorry you're feeling terrified to submit - the irony is that they probably think they are being really helpful, but it is daunting to get critical feedback. I think it all feels so personal at PhD level - previously it was just a case of sitting and waiting for a couple of lines of comments to come back on written work, but when you're doing a PhD and have to sit down with the people who're judging your work it is all much scarier!

Yes, very true! I have noticed that taking some form of treat (sweets/cake) seems to put my supervisor in a better mood. I need to do that more often! ;)

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Sorry to hear you had a poor experience!

Is this your real viva? What was the outcome?

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Quote From chickpea:
I'm struggling to get going today. I've noticed that any time I'm working on something that needs to be sent to my supervisors, I slow down to a snail's pace, even though they are never very critical! That fear of being evaluated is a strong one!

I can relate to that, although mine are very critical! And I'm terrified to submit to be honest.

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

How's everyone getting on?

I've had a productive morning, hoping all week will be just as productive. Hoping to submit a chapter to supervisors this week.

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Quote From Joanna:
After almost 9 months of being in the jobmarket I finally was offered a postdoc position today. Since I got the news I am literally dancing aroundmy room! It was a long way after 3 interviews for this post where I went very well prepared and gave my best. Part of me wants to accept the position straight away since it is a really good offer and I am very much interested in the work. However, I am waiting in the next days to hear from another lab whether I am offered the position there too. Do you think it is ok to email the second lab telling them that I already have an offer and asking them when they would be able to come up with a decision? How would you phrase this so it doesn´t sound too pushy? And if they indeed make an offer would it look bad if I still accept the offer of the first lab? I honestly haven´t made a decision between the two yet and I believe it would be better to make up my mind once I know what is on the table. Thanks for any inputs!

I would tell the people that have offered you the job if they could give you an extra week to decide?

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Hugh 1264 posts
8 years ago

Quote From DROPD:
Hi,

I was wondering when you if you've been accpted onto a MA course or not? It is just like being accpeted onto an undergraduate programme or do you find out sooner than then?
Also, are offers conditional depending on your grades?

I think the finding out stages depend on each university and course.

They are usually subject to achieving a specific grade (2.i or 1st or just pass). It varies from course to course but should say so on their website for each course what the requirements are.

Overview of Hugh

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