Hi there,

I'm in a different field (social science) but I recognise much of what you are saying. I also had very little support - I'm a member of staff at my university which has been a large part of the problem. Fortunately I'm in the minor corrections stage and basically I just need to proof read my thesis again. So you'd think I'd just get on and do it but no! I felt like quitting right up until about a week ago. I decided to take a week off and it was well worth it. I feel so much better although I'm still struggling with the final hurdle. However, I'll get there and so will you. You're so close now. I know how hard it is to believe that you'll ever finish but you will and it will be worth it. I haven't published from my PhD and am unlikely to because for various reasons my research didn't work out as planned. But I have a long list of areas I want to investigate and I figure that since I'm never going to be a top flight academic it really doesn't matter. Life is to short to worry about it.

I've been teaching full time for the last 7 years and although it's been difficult to do that and the PhD it is very rewarding. You may find that a mix of teaching and research will work for you too.

Good luck and enjoy your holiday
(up)

It's so easy to lose perspective with a PhD. As everyone has said, the only way to not drive yourself crazy is to spend some time away from it. You need it for your own sanity but it really does help you to get past those moments when you find yourself stuck in a mental rut. Many times I've come to a complete halt and just walked away from it in disgust but when I came back to it, I found that I've got past whatever the problem was. I find that watching films helps because they don't take long to watch and therefore I don't feel guilty that I'm wasting too much time. Plus when you're watching a film , you're not thinking about the PhD (provided the film is not a complete dud).

We've all been there with the self-pity and the "why am I putting myself through this hell?" days. I still do ;-) But I've been lucky enough to be involved in collaborative research outside of my PhD area and it's much more fun when you're working with people. So grit your teeth and you'll get through it and it will be much better when you finish. When you're feeling really fed up come here and have a good moan :-)

I was in a similar situation. When I started the PhD I was a research assistant for my supervisory team but I was subsequently made a lecturer a few years in. I had very little PhD contact time with my supervisors (about 5 meetings in 10 years - seriously!) and because I worked for them I felt unable to raise my concerns particularly since they were the ones governing whether or not my contract would be renewed. When I became a lecturer it was worse because I was no longer working for my supervisors and they showed very little interest. After speaking with other staff members who are registered at our own university, I think we all pretty much feel ignored by the university and otherwise poorly treated in comparison to the full time PhD students. The attitude seems to be that "you're getting your fees paid so what more do you want." In hindsight, I think being supervised by staff outside of your own university is a good idea because you are able to separate your work from your studies which is very important. But having said that, much of it depends on the quality of the supervisor. It's a tough one but good luck with whatever you decide (up)

I know how you feel - at one point it got so bad that I started having heart palpitations. In an odd way this was helpful because I realised that I had to calm down or I was going to end up seriously ill. I make sure that regardless of what else is going on, I try to take an hour a day to do something that I actually like to do. I used to go to a gym which helped, not that I actually enjoyed it but the exercise helps. Unfortunately my inherently idle nature has overcome the desire to exercise in recent months :$ Read a trashy book (I actually read a Mills and Boon book a couple of weeks ago but I would never ever admit to it ;-) ) , watch a trashy film, find a patch of grass, lie down and watch the sky, whatever floats your boat but take some time out. Don't spend the time thinking that you should be doing something worthy because you'll stress yourself even more. The other thing I used to think about is that even if I failed the PhD (and I came pretty close to it) nobody would die, the world wouldn't end and life would go on pretty much as it had before, so why worry about it. Easier said than done but you have to try. Plus you can always come here for a good moan ;-)

I am completely bored with mine. I'm on the final corrections stage so you'd think I'd just get on with it, but no :$ I hate working on it because it no longer interests me at all. There is so much other research that I'm itching to get on with but I can't until the thesis is finally done. I need to get the final corrections to my examiners by the end of next week so I need to get my finger out but I'm using any excuse not to work - hence my post!!

Definitely do-able Pam. I work full-time and only managed about 1 day a week on the PhD but I still got it done - it did take 10 years though which is not to be recommended. Three days a week should be fine. Just be careful not to let your work take over - that was my mistake.

:-)

Hello there. You shouldn't feel like a failure because you're not. I am at the end of a re-submit process - I was also given a 12 month re-submit with a second viva. After the second viva I was given minor corrections and I'm nearly finished - I have about 6 weeks to got. I know how you feel, it is miserable to think you that you have to spend even more time on your thesis when you'd thought you'd nearly finished. But as others here have said, wait for the examiner's comments and then do exactly what they tell you to do. Until you get their comments, have a rest and try not to worry. You will get there so keep going (up)

Hi Ruby,

I'm just coming to the end of long PhD journey too.  I was given a resubmit and was required to go through a second viva so I know how tough it is to get back into a routine of working on the thesis. I was given 12 months to complete the resubmit and for the first 8 weeks or so after my first viva I couldn't even look at my thesis.  You need to give yourself a break. It is thoroughly depressing but you will get through it. Go through the examiner' s comments and decide exactly what you need to do.  Don't be tempted to work on anything they haven't mentioned - only do what they have told you to do. I was given an excellent piece of advice which was to write a document for your examiner indicating precisely how you have addressed their comments with page numbers where possible. This helps you to keep track of what you have done and shows your examiners that you have done what they wanted you to do. 
You'll get there. It's just another hurdle for you to jump.  It will all be worth it in the end (up)

I find a sympathetic ear and moan and moan and moan :p There is nothing like a good moan, but you cannot under any circumstances moan with someone who is likely to say any of the following:
- "You need to look at it from their point of view..."
- "Yes, but on the other hand..."
- "You're not going to like it but I'm going to play Devil's advocate..."

You don't need someone to be rational, you need someone to have a good b*tching session with. I can't do the 'moving on' thing until I've vented my frustration. Works for me. ;-)

Hi there,

I know that it is hard when you change disciplines and you do spend have to spend a good deal of time 'catching up'. But it sounds as if you have completed that stage and you must have produced something useful to have won the prize at the conference. So make a list of questions that you are interested in finding the answer to and then start reviewing the relevant literature again and finding anything that's been published recently. You should then be in a position to pick one of the questions or a related group of questions and then write a draft proposal. Provided you have something to show your supervisors that demonstrates your understanding of the main research areas in your field, then they will have something that they help you with even if your proposal does change. I doubt whether they are expecting a perfect research proposal from you.

To be honest, it does sound like your expectations of the amount of contact you have with your supervisors and the feedback you get from them are a little high. I expect most people on these forums see their supervisors only monthly or even less frequently in some cases. The feedback you receive will probably only be general suggestions at this stage and I doubt whether you will receive detailed feedback until you are actually producing work that will feed directly into your thesis. You should be the main driver of your research rather than your supervisors and although it is tough to do, you will be in a much better position once you take control of your work.

Good luck with your proposal (up) :)

Hi Ruby, both my vivas took place during term time so I was working right up to the day before. It didn't stop me worrying but it was good to have something else to focus on. When I wasn't working I generally went out, watched films or read fluff - anything to stop me dwelling on my fate :p I also spent time investigating the topics I want to look at when my PhD is over and none of them relate to my PhD at all. It was useful to look at something completely different and start planning how I am going to tackle these things. Go and see your supervisor's presentation because you may get some fresh ideas and it'll help to take your mind off your viva. I wouldn't recommend too much revision because it might make you more nervous, particularly if you find imaginary errors like I did :p Having a cross-disciplinary PhD might be an advantage in your viva, I know I got away lightly a couple of times because of it and the good thing is that your nerves will go the minute they ask you the first question. So keep calm and carry on ;-)

Good luck to everyone preparing for their viva (up)

The PhD process relies to a large degree on the integrity of both supervisors and examiners. This seems to be where problems arise for most people and there isn't a level playing field with regard to supervision within my own institution let alone the rest of the UK. But I'm not sure that revealing 'horror stories' is the way to change this. Plus it all depends upon your p.o.v. My supervisors blamed me for their lack of interest in my PhD and they probably had a point to a certain degree because I prefer to work independently. But at least I know how not to supervise a PhD!

I totally agree with Ruby. I'm a part-time student but full-time lecturer and although my teaching has only a very tenuous link with my research, the time away from the thesis has helped to put my ideas into perspective. Rocketing along at break neck speed doesn't help me at all because I find that not thinking about the PhD is often more beneficial than thinking about it! I've known some PhD students who have completed in 3 years (less than 3 in one case) but they worked every day for about 10 hours a day. That wouldn't suit me at all. Provided you are making your deadlines then you have nothing at all to worry about. :-)

Just dropping by to say "hello" and see how everyone is :-) Glad to see that viva dates are being set so there should be quite a bit of good news to celebrate in May and beyond. I know the viva is a nerve wracking experience but one thing I did realise was that I knew more about my research than my examiners did. I know some will think that this is obvious but having moved from mathematics (my undergrad degree) to economics and having my main supervisor remind me at regular intervals that I am not an economist, it was a pleasant surprise to find out that I knew what I was talking about! So although you can't help worrying about it remember that you *will* know more than your examiners.

I'm still fiddling with the minor corrections but I'm getting there. My final deadline is in July but I've already got the "congratulations" letter from the university which was a relief. Just in case I get bored, I have a pile of marking that is as tall as me!

Keep up the good work everyone (up)

I had the opposite problem. My undergrad degree was in maths and then I moved into social science for my PhD. I can do the numbers but I can't write to save my life. It has taken me years to get to grips with it and even now my supervisor still lets me know that I'm rubbish (my supervisor and I love each other very much ...NOT!). I was given no help or training with writing or indeed any supervision to speak of. It is a disgrace that we get treated like this. One of us should become Minister for Education and then we could sort it out :p Or at least have bad departments and bad supervisors put in stocks and pelted with rotten veg!