Some banks won't give you a CDL if they don't consider your course sufficiently 'professional'

I took out a personal loan instead and the interest was significantly lower. It may be difficult getting one of these with a PT job though - they were going to refuse me at first until I made a massive fuss and they gave me the cash

My advice is shop around - my bank was totally crap about the whole thing and I wish I'd gone elsewhere now

Keep reading and start writing - I know that it doesnt feel like that's the answer, but the more you read and the more you try and get whatever ideas occur to you donwn on paper the more your topic will appear. It's frustrating, but it will start to make sense

I don't know anyone who wrote anything substantial in their first year - I didn't start writing until a few months before my second year started (and my supervisor has just ripped that apart so a load of good it did me!!!) I regret not starting sooner, but you still have more than enough time to achieve something in your first year.

I'm also suffering from post-supervision freak-out x

Qualitative mainly, but some of the primary data is scientific(primarily quantitative) - guess I'm looking at how other researchers in my field have interpreted (or perhaps more accurately misinterpreted!) the scientific data

The scientific data is mainly based on simulations and predictions, so it isn't 'definate' IYSWIM

Can anyone recommend any literature on how/why researchers select certain pieces of data for analysis (in the social sciences)????

How to use data, how to select stuff that is relevant, why certain data is used over others (so not just me choosing data, but also how other researchers use data) - that sort of thing

I'm sure JohnP will find that very useful azad, thank you for that contribution

Spend less time on internet forums and more time working LOL

Not me - think most people on here are on a UK PhD programme

(alan)

Sim -I feel exactly the same. I've just handed something to my supervisor to read, but I'm not happy with it and I know it will come back after Xmas covered in red pen corrections. Reckon that will tip me over the edge into a serious slump.

The other thing that depresses me is that everyone keeps saying your second year is when you really make progress...but it doesn't seem to be happening to me!!!

I know what you mean H - I wrote some of these!

Reckon in all the time I've been on this site I've written more words on here than on my thesis LOL

Have you contacted Belford???

Thanks for the advice. Decided to just send it off - I know there are problems with it, but think I need his supervisor's advice before I try and put it write. It's the first thing I've written and been really surprised at how different it is to write for a PhD (so different to my undergrad or Masters) so not even sure if I've gone about it the right way.

Plus, I'm so sick of looking at it I had to pass it on to someone else LOL!!!

What state is your written work in when you send it to your supervisor.

I've almost finished the first draft of a chapter, but there are a couple of sections I know are pants and I need my supervisor's advice on. Do you send work in as perfect state as possible to your supervisors or is it ok to send stuff you know is kinda scrappy in places?

(To be honest I think my supervisor will be so thrilled I've FINALLY given him something to read he won't notice that it's crap LOL)