Of course it's demotivating being told to 'run with it' and not knowing if you will submit or not. Your supervisor must surely see that that is intolerable for you. But how is the decision to submit made exactly and by whom? They are not the examiners, after all. Sometimes I think you can definitley have too many cooks on a PHD project.

Is it clear to you what their objections are exactly?

If you and your family can come to an agreement on how to manage financially then go for it if it's what you really want. I'm a good bit older than you and had my daughter during my PhD. What does your wife think about this idea and can you manage financially - they're the only other things to consider. My husband took a couple of years to really get on board with the idea as he was afraid it would turn out to be a passing whim. Once he realised I was really serious and in it for the long haul it was fine. I agreed to either go fully funded or work and go part-time (I'm funded). The financial complication for us has been the added cost of childcare.

I think people don't like excuses - even when they're genuine! I agree that it may be best to discuss strategies - whatever works for you. Probably back-to-back sessions are a total no-no and you may need to do more pre/post-reading. Discussing with others may actually help - ask questions and let them run on explaining it all for you. Could you audiotape some presentations of particular interest?

I have terrible problems with attention and lectures or presentations where you sit passively can be a nightmare. I have also found that a whole day at a conference is counterproductive and I need breaks - and to pick and choose carefully. An hour can go by in a heartbeat and I have absolutely no idea what was said. Somehow I have survived though.

I have a very good friend with dyslexia who is now tenured. It was tough but he was very discplined and determined. I used to read to him a lot when we were younger.

Me too Chrsi! I made an early enquiry ahead of summitting at the end of the month as I actually don't really expect to get into this journal and don't want to waste time over it. So I am braced for rejection any minute :p

Nothing ventured nothing gained though8-)

If BOGS said apply and CamSIS has processed it then I would assume you will go into the pot with everyone else.

Ah yes - I sometimes get random comments that are then forgotten. At least I know that if I don't agree with a comment I can just 'forget' I heard it.

I really doubt that if I were to disappear one day he would ever actually wonder what had happened to me......

A rather patronising and unsupportive post, Ginga. I hardly think Heiffer's sup could be described as over-controlling. Even you may find that from time to time you would like to meet with your supervisor and have them read your work.

Oh don't get me started. definitley feel your pain with these two:

''I wish my supervisor would read my work. I know it's boring, because I read it myself, every day. But the difference is you get paid.

I wish my supervisor would turn up on time to meetings.''

I am due to submit in 3 weeks and I am still waiting for feedback!!!!!! Feedback, feedback, somebody give be FEEDBACK AAAAHAHHHHH!!!

:-s

I'm surprised to hear this as a criticism - are you sure it is meant as such? A lot of academic writing is clearly written with a total disregard as to whether it can be easily understood - it's so much more important to be seen as clever. I have had to try and be a little more formal and dry than I would normally - but I spent many years working on educational materials for primary schools and my style often relfects that - I really do try to be as clear as possible. People seem to appreciate it - I've given presentations which I thought might be too, er, child-like in parts but were then well-recieved.

Don't worry about being too simple - I really don't think you can be! But perhaps you just need to be more formal and less chatty?

I've gone to a couple of local conferences as an observer - they were highly relevant to my field. I think it's a great idea and I would do it more if only I could afford it. I usually feel I have to present at least a poster just to justify the expense.

Ditto as Timefortea has said.

I was in a very similar position last March. Just finished a final data collection with the analysis and bulk of the writing ahead of me (you've got a lot more writing done). I think you should let go of the September deadline. Make some short term deadlines - say month by month then broken down as you reach each month. I'm submitting March/April, but bearing in mind I'm on 2/3 normal time, I think Dec/January would be realistic if I were you. I got very stressed when I realised I wouldn't be done by Jan - but that just wasn't realistic for me and I the stress eased up when I set myself a realistic, doable deadline. I'm sure you can still apply for you clinical course.

I also work in blocks of 3-4 days and find it very difficult to mentally switch gears and do 2-4 hours in the evening on other days - unless as pp said it's something fairly mechanical. You don't have to work flat out all the time all the way through - pace yourself.

I think this is a tough schedule to keep up for so long. One year yes - but 3 is tough. I know your finances are immovable but is there any way you could factor in some complete breaks from your PT jobs? It would be a shame to burn out. From my own experience this tends to happen after a few months of working at absolutely maximum capacity.

Also your PT job sounds very demanding - is it possible next time to get something really non-challenging - something that doesn't use the same mental resources as the PhD? The warehouse job mentioned is the kind of thing I would go for (no idea of course how that would fly financially but shift work is somtimes better paid because of the akward hours).

Don't get downhearted - we're all only human you know

;-)

There should be other postdocs in the lab who can help - you should ask your supervisor specifically who could help you.

I don't see my supervisor every term, let alone every week.