Hi Al

Wow, you're getting close now!! Sounds like you have a good plan for preparing, and you also sound very ready!! Good luck!!!! Keep us updated on how your week pans out!! Remember to breathe, do what you can, and don't let it overwhelm you.

I rewrote 4 chapters in my week off, now have to reread and edit the whole thing again by Friday, then full draft to sup. It's all coming together, which is lovely. I also had a couple of nights off, with partner and friends so that's good too. And thank you for your kind thoughts about my dog AL, we're taking it one day at a time. She's still happy, even though not so mobile, and we're spending good quality time together.

AL, are you planning some time off after your viva? Any holidays planned? I'm finishing in less than 5 weeks and will take some time off, but just can't bring myself to organise anything as I don't actually believe I'll ever be finished....crazy, eh?

I'm in social sciences, and have 5 papers published, and will finish soon. 4 of these were co-written with my sup. In my area, it's really essential to publish as much as you can, otherwise I'd have no chance in the job market. Still, take your supervisor's advice.

Hi AL and everyone

Wow, your viva in a week!! That's good AL, soon you'll be Dr AL!! You can do it!! One of my sups gave me some good advice for the job interview I bombed, which could help you too - be confident and own the space. I like the concept of 'owning the space' - shows we're in control, we know what we're doing. AL, think positive thoughts. As you've pointed out, everyone else believes in you, you should too. You're going to do brilliantly. And do you really need to summarise each page of your thesis? Sounds like a huge amount of work - can't you just summarise the main points of each chapter?

I've got this week off work to write - have another week to rewrite 3 chapters, then read and edit the whole thing again so I can send off to my sup. Getting there...life has settled down a little for me, which is so good, so I can concentrate on the thesis. My poor sweet dog is getting worse though, and we think she won't be here for much longer...if I had've finished my thesis on time, on one of the many deadlines I missed, we would've done it all together! Looks like she won't make it to the end with me!!! Which saddens me incredibly, but I'm coming to terms with the inevitable....ah, life is still hard...

Yes, champagne all round when we're all done!

Hi there

If you're planning on staying in academia, you'll need to develop a profile to help you in your job hunting. So you need to publish, present at conferences etc. My sup has been brilliant, and we've published 4 articles together - so see if you can be second author on articles you could write together. Also use your sup's network of contacts, they should be looking for you too, to present at conferences, work with people they know etc. Let them know you want professional development, and hopefully, if they're any good, they'll make opportunities for you.

Hey AQ, glad to hear you're a bit better. What a terrible situation, but at least your sup has apologised, and the examiners won't think it's your fault. Excellent you've picked yourself up, and are ready to keep going. Honestly, this is such a torturous process, wouldn't wish it on anyone. We really should have a virtual party when we're all done - thing is, whose time would we use, so who'd be the ones drinking champagne at breakfast? ;-)

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I had the interview for the dream job, and it went terribly. I didn't understand some of the questions - they gave me a long, convoluted question about methodology, which ended in 'how would I manage a national survey' and I started stumbling through talking about research design etc, and they didn't want that. I started talking about managing a project, and they seemed to like that. They asked me how I'd feel, as a qual researcher, about working with quant researchers - what was I supposed to say to that?? At the end of the interview I realised that I hadn't even talked about the research project they were advertising, which is my area of expertise. Instead I tried to show them I knew about lots of stuff, and blathered on inarticulately about related matters.

What a schmozzles. Oh well. It was in my home town, where I hated living and left years ago. Going back just reinforced my reservations about moving back there. Maybe it was a case of self-sabotage, even though I've studied and practised for this job for weeks. If it's meant to be, it will be. Gosh, must be the wine talking (am on my 2nd wine, waiting for my flight), am philosophical already...

Oh AQ that's just terrible!!! That really is the pits!!!

I thought my putting my submission date back a month (again...) was awful, but your experience takes the cake! This really is worth a formal complaint - as Walminski says, telling you the day before submission that you have corrections to make is not on. Hasn't this sup got any concept of planning? Or responsibility to his students? Obviously not. I'm so outraged for you!! But no, you can't complain to the uni, as we need these people and can't afford to burn bridges.

Can you have a few days off? Do something nice, forget about his horror for a while, sleep and eat and recharge a bit.

We're with you AQ, outraged but confident you'll get there. Honestly, this really is the worst thing to go through! Hugs to you!!

Hey AL, the non-thesis work is for my benefit, so can't say no. But have actually refused to rewrite a chapter like she's suggested, am just going to tweak it. So that's something. And I need to work hard, otherwise I won't be graduating till November NEXT YEAR!!! I need to submit by end Oct to have even an outside chance of graduating in May next year - if I miss this, then I have to wait till Nov 2011. This system just sucks.

Hi AL

Yes, I explained this to her, but she was adamant that she wants to see the whole thing - a new version of the whole thing - again. She also wants me to cut 5000 words from the thesis, which means sitting down and reading and editing it all again - last time I did this, it took me a solid week, and that was when I didn't have paid employment to do.

I can't bear the thought of not graduating till Nov next year - 14 months away - so somehow am going to have to get all this work done in the next 6 weeks. Gosh, am so tired, have only had one day off since May, and that was when I was sick.

Sorry for the whinge. Right, I'd better get to it - she's also given me some additional non-thesis work to do, so had better do it.

AARRGGHHH!!!!!

My supervisor isn't going to be able to look at my work for another month. She's given me 4 chapters back, which I haven't been able to rewrite because of job hunting, and now she wants me to do these first and then she'll read the whole thesis. She wants a complete draft - I gave her a complete draft in July and now she wants another one. I was hoping she'd read the rest of the thesis while I was rewriting the 4 chapters, but no, she's waiting for me to give them to her.

So that puts me behind by weeks. Was hoping to submit in 6 weeks, but this just drags on and on and on and on...and if I don't get it in soon, I won't be able to graduate till November next year.

It's all torturous and a %$$@**(& pain. Over it!!

Hi Matilda

You have a lot going on! Try and do as much as you can, but don't be too hard on yourself - it's not worth it - the health of you and your baby is the most important thing. If you're planning on submitting in 6 weeks, and have 4 months of pregnancy to go, you still have a bit of time. Be kind to yourself and good luck!

You need to check your university's guidelines on this - some will let you use an editor, others won't. I wouldn't suggest an editor, as these can be very expensive, and can lead to a lot more work if they want you to change sentence structure/arguments etc. But I definitely recommend getting a proof reader - and a professional one, not just a friend. I have someone proofing my thesis, and the things she's picking up are amazing - lots and lots of small mistakes, and inconsistencies. I've checked my thesis and just didn't see these mistakes. These are the kind of things which annoy examiners, so I highly recommend getting a proof reader.

Congrats AL on submitting!!! That's huge!!! Well done!!!!Yes, I bet it feels weird. Hope you've been able to have some time off, especially if you're not well. Sorry to hear about your blood test results, but fingers crossed it's only the cold causing the infection and you'll be fine. Waiting for test results is just the worst, worst thing, keep working to take your mind off it, and try not to worry too much. PM me if you like, if you start to freak out.

If your internal examiner is double booked, that could be a good thing? Could put your viva date back, and it not be your fault? ;-) But you know how to study AL, do it little by little, tomato by tomato, and you'll get there. Soon you'll be Dr AL, and that'll be fab!! Breathe, make a plan, and work steadily.

Thanks for the good wishes too. Am also taking deep breaths, and diving in doing interview prep!

Hi Rick

Thanks for your kind words and support. You're right, I did need a breather after the good news - but didn't get one as I had a job interview the same day. And then it was madly onto the next task. I didn't have any symptoms, but the drs were concerned at a routine screening, so am feeling well. Glad you're well too, and good luck getting published!! And getting a date for your viva.

After the interview for my dream job on Fri, I'm planning on taking a whole day off! Will spend time with my partner and sweet dog, make her as happy as I can while she's still well - and while we all live together, 'cos if I get one of these jobs I'll be off to live in a new city by myself for a bit...

Hi everyone

I'm OK!!! Hooray!!! Test results have come back negative, which I'm sooooo relieved about - the waiting was just horrible, the whole thing has been awful. But I'm ok!! And the dog's doing ok, so things are good, just an insane amount of work to cope with.

Haven't been on here as my internet connection went down for a week, but has magically fixed itself, which is nice. Have been insanely busy - preparing for 2 job interviews - one down, one to go, the dream job interview is this week, and I've done little prep so far. Have written a grant application, which took longer than expected. And working and interstate for a family event...just full-on.

AL, how are you? When are you doing your viva? How's your health?

How is everyone else? How are people going? I'm behind with the thesis (surprise!!) and won't be submitting till end Oct at the earliest - this thing drags on and on, and life gets in the way too. But am optimistic, and working hard, and have also had some fun too. Onwards!!!