I've been looking for a PhD for a while in between research jobs, but I've actually had pitiful opportunities to actually talk to existing or recently graduated PhD students about how they coped/ worked in their 3 year course.

For those of you currently on or have just finished, please could you share your experiences of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd year etc, tutor support or problems, confidences, jobs etc, just an idea of what the process actually feels like. Alternatively, if you know of a decent blog or article on the subject, please post that too.

Hello Tree,

Thanks for the reply. I kind of hoped that was the case, seem a bit weird to me, but who am I to complain? I'll do some digging and get my paws on a contact address.

I'm interested in the following PhD, but its listed as "Applications accepted all year round" without an end-date. I'm sure I'm being dense, but what does this mean?

Thanks

http://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=5845&LID=735

Hehe, thanks Satchi, love you too.

And thanks too Tree, I'm in no rush, might find something else interesting in the meantime.

Rejected....crap.

Alright, thanks for the help guys and gals. I'll have to find something else.

Smeg I hate being unemployed.

A little surprised how well that went actually, but I always interview well, even if the anticipation at home this morning had me retching my breakfast. Ugh, such a pansy.

Yeah, thanks Tree. Your help is always appreciated.

Still, done all my prep, I'll do another session this evening. I think I've done all I can, so...like a thousand commanders on a thousand battlefields: I wait for the dawn.

Thanks Aelys, I've been applying to specific projects, I don't really want to do my own proposal just yet.

Can anyone suggest specific questions I can ask them myself? I have a habit of researching my own queries beforehand, thus being left with little to ask during the interview itself.

Thanks guys, I'll have to do some prep then.

Agree with Mackem. I'm not a PhD [yet], but I'm an RA at the moment. When people ask what I do, I just say I work at the university and leave it at that. Most people don't pry.

As for pulling us down a peg...delightfully cynical, man after my own heart. "Those who cannot, criticise those who can"

Thanks Blu, surprised anyone is still checking this topic.

And your advice is good, although I absolutely suck at number 3. Guess I need to take lessons.

Must concur, never disparage staff infront of your students, it is extremely unprofessional. and peers is one thing, not students though.

However, to address your original question TC, can I strongly suggest you try to reason with your supervisor, explain exactly what you've been doing, how you think that you've been excelling, and what her demands are. If you think those are still unreasonable, then speak to another senior staff member you can trust.

After a lot of applications, I've finally got a decent interview. I work in a university anyway, so my boss and department are going to help with my prep, but can anyone remember how theirs went, or specific questions/advice on prep?

I've spoken to the supervisor by phone already, and we seem to get along reasonably well. And I'm generally quite good at interviews and public speaking too.

And help would be deeply appreciated.

PS: Since when did this place become such a spam-haven? I saw half a dozen topics promising false passports on the first page alone.

Does anyone have other advice or suggestions?