Nice system DrSeeker! Altho I've found that counting words doesn't work for me - are they original words or rewritten words? If only original words count, then editing and rewriting doesn't count, which of course it does.

Have woken up after not enough sleep in a horrible hot night. Am studying at 5.30am to finish referencing an article due with my sup today. Also had a dream about being in an exam...funny you all mention PhD nightmares, I think I've had my first one...

....references await...

Hi Teek

Don't stress!! Let your guilt go, it doesn't help, start from now. Remember, take little steps, just do a little bit of work, start making that plan. Just get yourself to do that, just do that one task. Then a bit later, start doing another task...you can do this! You've come this far, breathe, calm down, and take it one step at a time. Don't freak out over the big picture. Don't give up yet! Do your plan, and see if it's still realistic for you to finish on time. Let us know how you go. Good luck!

Hey Rick - a draft thesis - excellent!! That must be so nice!!:-) Well done you!

My workload is manageable. I love my topic and am a bit of a workaholic, and mostly like doing these things. There are opportunities around, and I think I should grab as many of them as I can. I'm trying to change career later in life, so don't have time to waste. I've had the occasional melt down and then have scaled things back, but at the moment it's going prettty well. However, I am really looking forward to getting a bit better work/life balance after I submit - for now tho, must push on!

Hi Bilbo

That's very exciting!!! May - wow!! That's great! I know the viva will be hard and stressful, but at least you'll be Dr Bilbo soon! If I finish in June, I have to wait months for the thesis to get marked, then do corrections, then resubmit, then hopefully pass, then wait until the next graduation ceremony at uni - so unlikely to happen this year and will be a miracle if I make the Nov graduation. Would much rather be over and done with, so I can move onto the next stage of life. So - think yourself lucky Bilbo!;-)

And Poppy, sounds like it's all coming together for you - go! Keep going! I'm not as advanced as you, but think I'll start to be excited when I've done the first draft. Was looking at a rewritten chapter, with a whole bunch of little things I need to follow up, and thinking that yes, these types of things will take ages.

Have almost finished an article with my sup too, so that's good. And need to do a powerpoint presentation for a conference paper this week - all distracting really, but good.

Productive vibes to you!

Yes, the scholarship letter says 4 weeks holidays a year, but I know other students who take more than this. There was a thread on this recently, just before Xmas - have a search for that for how many holidays others take too. There's also been other threads on how many hours people work, patterns of work, combining work and family etc.

======= Date Modified 11 Jan 2010 10:24:33 =======
Hello! How're we all going?

Have been back in the 'real' workforce work a week, going OK studying and working. Am seriously procrastinating at the moment - it's sooooo hot here still, even tho it's almost 9.30, and I can't concentrate. Has also been a spate of burglaries in the neighbourhood, neighbours right behind us just recently. Makes me very jittery - think I'm going to have to take my laptop to work with me...

Came up with a great idea for a post-doc over the w'end - now I just have to finish, and make sure I graduate this year!

Ah well, too hot to think, so maybe I'd better start that referencing I've been putting off (for 3 years!!).

Best to everyone!

(snowman) This is for me, and any others in the southern hemisphere who are sweltering at the moment...think cool thoughts...think cool thoughts....

Hi Spandangle

How many hours you're on campus depends in part on your field - if you're in science and doing a lab based Phd, your on-campus hours could be different to others. I'm in social sciences and am on campus once or twice a month - I do most of my work from home. This is the beauty of research - the hours are flexible. If you need to pick up your daughter each day, do it, and do it even if you need to be in a lab. Tell your supervisors your hours - the ones I know have very flexible working hours and are fine with everyone else working flexibly too. I go to the gym during the day most days, and then work at night - so I tailor the hours to suit my needs. Most people I know in social sciences do this.

I'm on a scholarship which states that I can have 4 weeks a year holiday - so your amount of holidays will also depend on funding. If you're self-funding, take as many holidays as you need to, but remember that you do need to put in essentially full-time hours over pretty much a working year if you want to complete within 3 years.

Keep going Chrisrolinski!! You're so close!!! Keep going, you'll get there! Think how you're going to feel in 7 weeks!! :-)

======= Date Modified 10 Jan 2010 06:27:05 =======
I've always done short covering letters - for my PhD and for jobs and am normally successful. IMO cover letters are just introductions to the package of info that you're submitting. So I only do about 3 pars, something like:

i) I wish to apply to undertake a PhD at xxx, as advertised in the xxxx (or however else you found out). Please find attached blah blah blah...

ii) I am confident I have the necessary skills, experience and knowledge to undertake these studies. Then go through these, but in an overview eg I possess considerable quantitative skills in xx field, gained through (previous studies, work etc). Keep this really high level - remember, just an overview to get their interest and let them see you're a contender.

iii) Enthuse about the institution, how much you'd like to do a PhD there. Mention if you already have support from a potential supervisor. Say something to convince them of your commitment - try and make this really strong. When I did mine, I stated that my commitment was evidenced by working full-time while studying and still achieving a distinction average, working in the industry etc etc. Try and make this personal - it will help them remember you and make you stand out. Promote yourself; don't be afraid to gush a bit about the uni. Applications always sound a bit over the top.

Then contact details. Keep the letter to a page.

Good luck!

Am envious! Would love to be snug inside looking at some snow, working away happily! Instead, it's almost 40 degrees C where I am, in a house without air conditioning. We have fans going everywhere, but still doesn't do enough to counter the hot winds which are like the breath of hell, and the omniscient heat. I'm sitting here in front of a fan, only exertion is typing, and am still sweating. My poor dog can barely move, except to slump onto cool tiles in the laundry. Just horrible. (down)

I live 3 hours away from my uni, so am not on campus much. I meet with my supervisor about every month for a couple of hours to discuss my work, and we're in email contact just about every week, more when we're working together, like jointly writing an article. Works well.

======= Date Modified 09 Jan 2010 21:07:23 =======
Hi, my two cents worth. I've always coloured my hair - well, continuously for the past 20 years. Have alternated between spending years being a bottle blonde and a nice red - now that I'm older I'm sticking with red. My hair has always been in good condition, and the colour always looks good, and I almost always use a kit, getting it done at the hairdressers is too expensive. My partner dyes it for me. So - nothing wrong with home kits in my opinion! I use Schwarzkopf Brilliance colours, works well.

If I were you, I'd get it done professionally the first time, then use home kits. Natassia is right about colour and grey hair tho, so if you're going to use a kit, make sure it's one that says it's suitable for grey hair. Have fun!

Hi. There was a big discussion about this a while ago - see this thread started by Wj_Gibson - http://www.postgraduateforum.com/threadViewer.aspx?TID=12934. It's fairly depressing....

======= Date Modified 08 Jan 2010 22:31:24 =======
Wow, that's terrible, like a PhD is something you should be ashamed of!! Maybe you're aiming too low, if employers are put off by you having a PhD? But I understand the need to just work while you're waiting...in regards to your last interview, I wouldn't go back and say anything, I think this would just make it worse, like you're trying to explain your cover up. Explaining now is unlikely to make them offer you the job if they've already decided not to do so. So, just let it go. If they do get back to you and mention it again, then I think you should let them know about your studies. In future interviews, I'd also tell the full story that you've finished etc, but then also have a spiel ready for why you want the job, to allay any concerns that they may have that you'll leave when something better comes along (which you will!).

So, congratulations on finishing, and good luck job hunting!