======= Date Modified 10 Nov 2011 15:43:23 =======
Your post really reminds me how I felt just prior to submission!! There was no possibility of an extension and I was forced to submit as scheduled. I was forced to submit a substandard thesis, but luckly for me, their not considering an MPhil, but PhD subject to my thesis corrections and re-writes. However, submitting my sub-standard thesis (at least in my head!), waiting for my viva and fearing a complete fail at viva were the top three most stressful experiences I've ever put myself through. I'm working through my corrections now, but I don't think I'll ever get over that amount of stress, severe depression and panic attacks I went through during the latter half of 2010 and 5 months ago.

Speak to your supervisors. If the university have not found any examiners yet, there maybe a few weeks to play with until the university finds examiners.

Your supervisors should not let you submit if there is a slighty possibility of a failed viva (ie resubmit for an MPhil or fail outright).

Definitely a take a small break if you can.

Best of luck x

======= Date Modified 09 Nov 2011 21:58:14 =======
Hi Alan,

I can really relate to your post! I'm in my fifth year as well and REALLY struggling with keeping up the momentum with my literature review chapters, so I've taken a break from it for a few days. It's difficult seeing people passing their vivas with minor corrections and seeing other PhD students who started the same time as me graduating and moving onto bigger and better things, whilst I'm still chained to my thesis working on thesis corrections following from my summer viva....I know it's a bad idea to compare myself to others, but it's difficult not to draw comparisons.

I haven't reached the crying stage yet, but I feel like I'm on the verge of it!  I'm going to start again with it tomorrow.

You're not alone Alan.

Just hope I can reach the finishing line someday. Just can't see the finishing line today.

Big hugs xx

Hey everyone!

Just having a little ranting session here, so forgive me in advance!

I haven't posted on here for a while so I thought I would contribute something.....

Well I'm a few months into my resubmission journey. I'm over the stress and nightmares associated with my viva and getting stuck into my thesis rewrites ready for my resubmission next summer (although I would love to get this thing finished by spring if not sooner so I can graduate in July!). As discussed previously, most of my corrections involved cutting out 50,000 words from my PhD, most of which is tied into my literature review chapters. So right now, I'm reducing my literature review chapters.

I seem to be making a good enough start. I've integrated a new overall thesis structure and my thesis 'flow' seems to be improving.

Instead of tackling one huge monster of a thesis and tackle my 'wood through the trees problem', I've started with a completely new PhD document and working on drawing out the main points for each chapter, section and subsection. Anything in my submitted PhD which is not relevant to my main points I'm deleting or summarising. Anything which is relevant to my main points is going into my new draft. I'm slowly working through each section and subsection rather than looking at an entire chapter.

I've got 6 copies of successful PhDs (including my sups PhDs) from UK universities which are helping me to see how others have summarised such large fields.

Today, however, I'm struggling. The more I read and update my literature review chapters, the more I'm finding very important concepts that I missed the first time round.

I think I need to strike a balance between adding some new concepts, reducing some of the extra philosophical, psychological and historical context stuff and focusing on areas and concepts most relevant to my thesis research questions.

Anyway, I'll keep chipping a way at this thesis, but today, I just can't see the summit and feel very isolated. All I can see is fog and dark gloomy clouds ahead and it feels like I'm wading through treacle. Hopefully I'll get there someday. Also must remember that their allowing me to resubmit for a reason, my examiners were very positive about my work and I don't have to go through another viva voce. Surely something to be positive about?!

Plodding on slowly.......

======= Date Modified 23 Sep 2011 09:29:29 =======
Congratulations Dr. Kikuka!! You have officially become my inspiration and shown that a PhD is obtainable after a resubmission :) I really hope to be in your shoes someday. Hope you have a lovely holiday. Wow, what great news to receive whilst on holiday!!! x

Best of luck Kikuka!!! I'm thinking of you! :) x

Best of luck Kikuka!!!

I'm following your posts with great interest (hoping to be in your shoes in a few months time). At least you know that you will receive an answer sooner rather than later.....Good luck!!! xxxx
(gift)

Hi Kikuka,

I'm in the same boat as you, although I'm right at the beginning in term of tackling my thesis corrections for a revise and resubmit. I've got until August 2012 to make all the corrections, but I'm not going to leave it until then- NO WAY! I want this done and dusted asap. I was also told at my viva that I would not need to go through a second viva.

I've got nothing more to add, but I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your experiences. I also wanted to reassure you that you're definitely not alone- I'm in the same boat! It feels like I'm the only one to receive a revise and resubmit as everyone else seems to have passed either with no corrections or with minor corrections and now working within post doc positions, so I'm starting to feel like I've failed :(

Hang in there Kikuka. I hope they put you out of your misery sooner rather than later. So envious of you going away on holiday right now! Feel free to send any PMs if you want to vent about revise and resubmit xxx Best of luck
d!

======= Date Modified 15 Sep 2011 14:39:16 =======
Hi Kikuka,

I'm in the same boat as you, although I'm right at the beginning in terms of tackling my thesis corrections for a revise and resubmit. I've got until August 2012 to make all the corrections, but I'm not going to leave it until then- NO WAY! I want this done and dusted asap. I was also told at my viva that I would not need to go through a second viva.

I've got nothing more to add, but I just wanted to say thank you for sharing your experiences. I also wanted to reassure you that you're definitely not alone- I'm in the same boat! It feels like I'm the only one to receive a revise and resubmit as everyone else seems to have passed either with no corrections or with minor corrections and now working within post doc positions, so I'm starting to feel like I've failed :(

Hang in there Kikuka. I hope they put you out of your misery sooner rather than later. So envious of you going away on holiday right now! Feel free to send any PMs if you want to vent about revise and resubmit xxx Best of luck

One of my PhD friends who started the same time as me has just passed with minor corrections and was awarded with a long term post doc position in my old departments and will be supervised by my supervisors. I'm delighted for her, but I can't help but kick myself as her success is forcing me to look at my own performance.

I feel like I've failed :-( and seriously lagging behind everyone else. If I had pulled my socks up a long time ago, I could have finished my PhD by now, working in prestigious postdoc positions and free from this PhD nightmare.

My colleagues pass with minor corrections is the biggest wake up call. I'm the only one who is stopping me from finishing this PhD. My level of continuous poor motivation, apathy and procrastination are just not helping me at all and probably damaging me in the long term. Onwards to more productive thinking. I intend to lock myself away for a few months and literally just hammer this thesis until it's up to passable PhD standard.

Just wanted to share this with my lovely PhD-ers.

Need to seriously get cracking with my thesis corrections :( I'm moving house so I'm not working on my PhD at the moment.

Someone who started their PhD the same time as me has just passed their viva with minor corrections.......I'm delighted for her, but I can't help but feel really jealous! she has also landed a postdoc post in our department! Feeling a bit tearful at the moment :(

Will I ever finish this PhD? Feeling like a failure at the moment :( (considering everyone seems to have passed with minors!) not a good place to be!

Anyway, hoping to finish this PhD asap. Best of luck to those of you working towards submission xxx

======= Date Modified 14 Sep 2011 14:02:02 =======
Hiya-

I think I've spent something like 80-85% of my PhD years feeling completely inadequate! So not exactly a happy time for me! Didn't help at all that my sups almost always focused on the negatives which added to my feelings of inadequacy.

Passing my upgrade, during my viva and speaking to a key academic in my field after my viva were the only key occasions where I received very positive feedback on my PhD. Following from positive feedback, I started to believe like my PhD is/was a good piece of work and I should feel proud about it. Probably should have presented my work at conferences to obtain other perspectives and viewpoints.

As others have said, I think it's entirely normal to feel inadequate during a PhD or feeling strong pangs of 'imposter syndrome', ie feeling like you don't belong or someone else could have done a better job.

I think at the end of the day, the PhD is more of a learning experience in order to demonstrate an ability to work as an independent and competent researcher by contributing to knowledge in some unique way.

Just before submission, I created a list of PhD positives to stamp out my negative cognitions of feeling very inadequate. I needed to surround myself in positive thinking, positive feedback and supportive atmosphere to stand a chance of pulling through my viva. Speaking to someone objective and 'cold' from my situation (ie counselling) also helped.

Every PhD and PhD candidate differs, but I think almost everyone feels inadequate at times. Hang in there :)

======= Date Modified 06 Sep 2011 11:46:25 =======
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