pf329, that sounds ideal! Sigh...!

It can't be too early to find out when they will be letting you know. You could ask that question on the submission date. I'd try and get hold of them now before they close for Christmas if it was bugging me that much. Good luck!

Have you tried contacting them to find out when they will be letting you know?

Yeh, it is actually positive that he encourages you in the way (although it can be pressurizing by the sounds of it). I wish mine would say things like that. I find myself doing a lot of "self talk" trying to appraise my work and encourage myself to do things better etc. It would be really useful if my supervisor pushed me more, but I can't make her - it's just her style.

I am quite happy with this. The only thing I might change is to have more detailed feedback on things - which I might request for the next thing I am submitting to them if it is really minimal again.

Hi dotdottung

I don't get much input really... at least that is how it seems. They'll say very broad things like "come up with some more research questions", which I then do and they comment on - but so far quite minimally. I was talking to a friend who is now a postdoc and he seemed quite surprised by this. It seems he had a lot more guidance/actual input. I'm in the 2nd year but this is how it has been since day 1.

In terms of meeting, I meet once a month with mine (mostly because of data collection etc taking so much of my time and meeting being not really necessary during that).

Thanks everyone - really helpful as usual. This tells me that there is a lot of variation and a lot depends on your particular circumstances. I will be sure to ask my sups for some guidance.

Hi all

Feeling rather overwhelmed by all the stuff out there on thesis writing...

I have one basic question, which is... should I be writing it now? I am a quarter way in my second year... I have a first year upgrade report, some of which will be useful for the introduction. I'm in psychology and will have four main studies (they aren't quick experiments). I know no one can tell me if I "should" be writing my thesis now... but it would be useful to hear when you started writing. In your final year? From the beginning?

Also - is it the norm to go over your funded period and still be writing?!

Thanks in advance!

I've also never heard of loss of funding. I do know some who work as teaching assistants part time and receive a stipend in return. Maybe that could be an option. But still that stipend would be for living costs only, not equipment etc.

I always have done so far, but I guess I meant on an abstract that you've already had feedback on but you're thinking of rewording slightly and submitting elsewhere.

Cheers awsoci, I will ask my sups. By the way, on that note - do you always ask your sups before submitting anything?

Good idea Ephiny, I may raise that if the discussion runs dry.

Yeh, how safe a space it is depends on who is there... this one isn't only PhD students but also postdocs and higher level staff (some of whom can be a bit judging).

Actually it depends - if several of you are doing research in the same area it can be really helpful - you actually want to read the papers, and have questions and issues that you genuinely want to discuss.

On the other hand, if people's topics are a bit disparate it can be a bit tiresome (especially if someone chooses a boring paper... oops)!

Ah! Yeh I have heard it called that before too!