Hey Slowmo! I'm in the same position as you- wondering how long I need to leave to sort out the intro and discussion. I already have a draft intro but it does need quite a bit of editing. I was reckoning maybe a week each, or a month for both, tops. Having said that, I doubt I will leave that little time just in case it proves to be a longer task than I think. I do usually write quite quickly when I know what I want to say, so it's more the planning that I need the time for, and I'm anticipating that the discussion will take quite a bit longer than the intro. If in doubt, leave as much time as you can I think! KB

Yeah, I think you're both right- I am going to leave it in there. I have just checked with the next senior in the team after my sup, who was principal investigator for the relevant project, and she agrees that the theory could definitely account for some of the result I have got, even though it does not apply to everyone with dementia. I'll look forward to the argument when my sup realises it's still in there!!

I know Phdbug, it often amazes me how she has got to where she is and is so well-respected given her attitude. Her work in this area is hugely influential, but behind the scenes things are not so rosy. Unfortunately, she can turn on the charm when required. I am contemplating whether I want to stay on post-PhD and work for her but at the moment, with no results from funding applications, it's a hypothetical situation anyway, so I will face the problem head on if it occurs.

Cheers for your responses! KB

Hey Grugh! I did what Melsie did- just devised my own project with my MSc supervisor and then applied to several places for funding for it, and got lucky with a couple of offers of funding. But if you don't have any particular project in mind and are happy to be flexible with what you do, then I'd just apply to as many as you like the look of! I wouldn't worry about being inundated with offers- if you get an offer for a project you want to do you can just withdraw your other applications. Likewise, don't worry about the reference thing- your sups will have saved your reference and will probably use the same one for every reference request, maybe amending a few details where appropriate. Good luck with your applications! KB

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Hey all! I am in the middle of writing up the discussion section for one of my results papers. I have quite an unusual result that I am trying to account for, so am having to be rather speculative in my explanation for it. There is a theory that is very common in the literature which could quite easily partially explain the result I have got. I think it is perfectly reasonable to cite this in the discussion as a POSSIBLE reason that might PARTIALLY account for this particular result. However, it is quite a controversial theory and my sup has done a lot of work in trying to disprove it. She has been successful in showing that the theory does not apply to all people with dementia, but has not been able to show that is doesn't apply to some people with dementia, mainly because it probably does apply to some people with dementia (however undesirable this is).

However, when I have cited this theory in my discussion section - suggesting that it could account in part for my results, although not in full - she will not accept it! I truly believe it is a reasonable explanation, but even though I have also cited her work to emphasize that it would not fully explain the result, but might contribute towards it, she has crossed it all out and strongly suggested that I don't refer to any of that literature. I'm not arguing against her work, I am actually agreeing with her conclusions regarding this theory, but she won't consider anything that even suggests that it doesn't apply to every single person with dementia! I'm not quite sure what to do....any ideas?!

Cheers people! KB

Hmmm, I was in Scotland and am now in Wales. It depends on which computer lab you're in where I am now- most of the ones with the new really smart computers in are quite strictly monitored for people eating and drinking and are kept very clean, but some of the others (like some of the 24hr ones) are a bit less well regulated, although there are signs up saying that no food must be eaten and that only screw-top bottles of water are allowed anywhere near the computers. I can't say I noticed any difference between the two unis to be honest- nothing has been so horribly dirty that I have actually noticed! Maybe I just have low standards lol! Best, KB

Hi Ishi! I'm a final year psych PhD student. There are quite a lot of ways you can go about applying for a PhD, but often the application form is just a bit of a formality. If it's not a specific project that has already been advertised, then usually the first step is to contact a potential supervisor (which might be your MSc supervisor) who will agree to supervise you at PhD level, and then come up with a potential project together. Then you will need to think about sources of funding if you are hoping to be fully-funded. This might be from the department if they have any funding available or an outside body (ESRC, MRC, scholarships etc). I think I was only asked to fill out an application form after all of this had been sorted out, i.e. my MSc supervisor was willing to supervise me for a PhD, we had a project proposal, and we had obtained funding. The application form was then just put on file but it had already been confirmed that I had been accepted to do the PhD- it was just a bit of paperwork that was required. But of course, this might vary across unis, so check with your uni (contact the admissions office if you are not sure) and other people on her emight have other experiences as well. Good luck! KB

Hey there Uncut! Firstly, given all the limiations you have had during your PhD, you've done remarkably well in persevering and being at the point of submission. Secondly, I'm not sure there is such a thing as a 'poor' PhD! I understand what you're saying, and perhaps you feel that it isn't your best work, but so long as you pass your viva then I don't think you could call your thesis 'poor'. If you feel you would benefit a lot from finding a decent team to work in and building your confidence up then I don't think it is a problem to take up a research assistant post- just bear in mind that in this position you might not have a lot of flexibility in terms of what you want to do or how the project is undertaken, and may not necessarily gain experience of writing papers and so on- it depends on the team and how it is organised, but you may well just be doing what you are told to do. So before you take a post, make sure that you will have ample opportunity to gain experience of whatever it is you need to work on. I know other PhD students who have taken up RA positions (mostly people who are looking for post-doc positions but struggling to find one, or are doing an RA position whilst writing grants for a post-doc or fellowship or whatever) and I don't think it will look bad so long as you aim for a more senior post following this, assuming you want to pursue a career in research. So if you find something suitable I would go for it! Good luck with the submission and the job hunt! Best, KB

Hey Kate! Just to echo what the others have said really- I know myself I have posted on here to have a whinge when I've been struggling with aspects of the PhD that I find challenging, but overall I have found it to be an extremely positive experience, and didn't really have any problems as such until recently when I started writing up full time and was finding it hard going. I certainly have no regrets about taking it on, and have learnt so much from it. It sounds like you have the ideal set-up - funded with a nice supervisor - so if you want to do it then I would absolutely go for it! Good luck! KB

Hey Ailicec! Yeah, I sort of took that approach up in supervision today...I know she will tell me as soon as she hears about any of the applications, and I said today that I was happy to hang around and put in another round of applications in to stay where I am if none of the current ones are successful (we have ideas about projects and where to apply for funding for each of them), but after that made it pretty clear I'd be moving on if nothing came of them. I also said I would need a job in the meantime (i.e. after my PhD is finished but if none of the current applications are successful) and she agreed to be put down as a reference for those jobs if I apply, with the view that I would return here if any of the next round of applications were successful. So all in all, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I have an awful tendency to get myself wound up about things and think the worst, just to find it doesn't happen, but that's just the way I am! It is difficult with my sup though, as she is thoroughly unpredictable and can fly off the handle at nothing, so unfortunately I have come to expect the worst reaction possible. Guess it's just a waiting game now! Cheers, KB

Hey DanB- yeah I know it's hypothetical right now, I've not even applied for anything, and it's probably a bit too early to apply for stuff for the next few months anyway. But the dilemma is going to become reality pretty soon, which is why I'm trying to get my head round it before it happens. As you say, I might not even get interviews anyway for most of the things I apply for, but I still have to decide whether to tell her I'm even applying for other things, or to include a reference from the beginning. I guess I 'm just trying to pre-empt any problems, but life doesn't work like that! Best, KB

So now we've had supervision and she's just been really nice to me. It's almost like she's PGF stalking me and every time I whinge about her she decides to me nice to me for a week to confuse me. Dammit. KB

Hey! Yeah, I'm worried she might have a hissy-fit if she finds out....she's extremely unpredictable and has the potential to make my life hell (and has done in the past when I have upset her for some minor sin or other!). I do have the option to ask them not to request references until after interview (if I got one) but as I would expect pretty good references from v well respected researchers it would be nice to have them considered when screening for interviewees. But of course, if my sup was hacked off that I had an interview, then maybe it would not be such a good reference after all...I think I might present her with a 'hypothetical' situation in supervision tommorrow and see how she reacts! She's always written fantastic references for me before but they have all been to obtain funding to work with her! This is sooo complicated! Thanks guys, KB

======= Date Modified 11 Apr 2011 16:56:09 =======
Hey Redjesta! Depends on your supervisor- how long do they normally take to get back to you for a single paper/chapter? My first supervisor would probably get through the whole thing in a couple of weeks but she's pretty special when it comes to turnaround times. My second supervisor takes around a fortnight to return each paper with feedback, so although I haven't reached that stage yet I expect he will want quite a while to get through the whole thing (i.e. a few months!). Personally I would ask them for an estimated turnaround time so you know roughly what to expect, and then they have also sort-of committed to a date! The other factor in this equation is when they last saw the work- if they've already approved drafts of the chapters then it won't take so long, but if it's all new then it will take a lot longer and you would be expecting much more extensive feedback! Best, KB

Hey Pineapple- sorry to hear you're feeling so crappy still. It really isn't surprising knowing everything that you're going through, but that doesn't make it any better. You're doing all the right things I think, with the volunteer work, exercising and eating well- they're all the things that help keep your mood stable. I think the thing to remember as well is that clinical psychology is one of the most competitive things on this planet, and most people have to apply more than once to get on. People even apply up to 4 or 5 times I have heard! On the bright side, I do know three people in my department who got on this year or last before they had completed their PhDs (or even submitted), so that isn't always a barrier to a successful application- I guess different unis probably have different policies. And again, I know people from this department who got research jobs before their PhDs were finished, so keep trying with the applications. At the very least, it will keep you occupied. Good on you for trying to think about the positives- you are perfectly entitled to a moan about how you are feeling but it does help to try and put things in perspective as well. Damn, if only I could take my own advice! Big hugs, KB