Excuse the stupid question, but I need to write km squared - where do I find the little '2' to say squared????

I wish I'd written as many words on my lit review as Commonsense has managed on this thread today...

Ann's right - training should be available somewhere at your institution

PhDs can start at any time, but usually either at the start of Semester 1 (Oct) or Semester 2 (Feb)

I'm PT in social sciences - it is tough when you work as well, but you do what you have to do to get it done. There is so little funding around that a lot of people only study PT. All universities should offer a PT option.

Hmmm...I can JUST remember the days when my living room floor wasn't covered with random articles...

Look at the titles and trying to prioritise what you think will be the most useful. Although, I literally just picked up whatever was on top of the pile and read it (once I had a better idea of what I was going to write, I could be more selective and categorised stuff). I underlined the important bits and wrote down any points I thought were relevant, then wrote a brief summary of the main points at the end.

Quick tip: I make notes of the page numbers of arguments/quotes I think I might cite as I read (makes endnotes/footnotes a LOT easier when you come to write)

I would probably recommend you do the Masters, if only because I think it would increase your confidence in your own abilities before moving on to a PhD.

That is such a difficult question to answer - I came up with a first draft of the structure after about 4 months, but that has changed so much since and only vaguely resembles the argument I'm working on now (which still changes on a weekly basis!)

Start writing - drafts of outlines, random things that occur to you, analyses of articles that you've read, anything. It seems impossible to write when you have no direction, but it really is the best way to bring out your ideas. Don't be scared that you won't use it - just play around with the ideas you're reading about.

LSE is competitive, but a distinction will definately put you in a good position so don't be put off applying

Of course a distinction looks good

But I think most people on here will tell you that, when it comes to PhDs, the department is more important that the University, so Oxford/Cambridge may not be the best option depending on your field

Be careful about part time - if your department has minimum registration you may have to complete double the length of time anyway, i.e. two years part time instead of one year full time, which is just as expensive

I think I wrote the exact same post on here two years ago when I was in the same position (also social science)! Keep reading - it seems like a random and difficult process, but the more you learn about the general area the more you notice where the gaps are and can start formulating your own ideas. Don't worry too much about the proposal - I haven't met anyone with a proposal that even vaguely resembled the finished thesis - but use it as a starting point for further research.

I felt exactly the same about 'going with the flow', but it does get easier I promise!

Jay2007 - I know exactly what you mean. Everytime I write a new paragraph it seems to change my structure. I know what I want to say in general, but keeping it moving is difficult because I always feel I'm going to back to change things or I am having to deal with arguments that don't seem to fit. Each argument can take you off onto other points that need to be addressed - keeping focused is so hard.

Your uni will probably be shut for a week after Xmas so you won't be able to come in as all the staff will be off until after New Year

Start writing - even if you chuck these drafts away, it will focus your thoughts and make you see how your ideas will fit together. You can't tell how your arguments will work until you start to use them.

I'd also be really interested in any advice on this. I know there are some problems whereby the US tends to 'look down' on UK PhDs because they do not include exams - is this a problem with post doc positions?