I'm not a third year, but really curious about this as I've heard of it before (someone in my office says the same). Do you think it is a purposeful decision, like oh, they're third year now, let them do it all by themselves without support?

Oh I'm sorted. Just sharing what I found as a solution for anyone else experiencing the same problem. You can actually change to Outlook Light version when viewing mails through the browser. Instructions here:

Hello

This is a bit of a techy question and may be better placed on a different forum, but I thought I'd ask here too...

Does anyone know if you can view your outlook emails (university email address) through a different web app? I hate the Microsoft outlook interface, as the current version does not allow you to view messages individually, it insists on grouping them as conversations. This is quite complicated when you are corresponding with several participants who have all replied to your single email. It clusters them together as a conversation, and sometimes my heart skips a beat when it displays as though my personal reply to one participant has been sent to all of them (in fact it hasn't but the silly conversation feature makes it look like it, and possibly makes it more likely to happen by mistake).

Any advice about alternatives to crappy outlook interface appreciated.

Thanks

I absolutely agree with Semaphore. I know people who didn't publish during their PhD also. They are now working on turning some of it into publications or a publication (depending). If you talk to more people at your institution I am sure you will find that not everyone has published already. So yes, normal.

Be proud of yourself that you have got this far and will have yourself a PhD.

Absolutely agree with Mr Doctor!

Hi Storfisk,

Are you sure you want to quit? Might you benefit from having a week or so holiday and coming back with a fresh head? If you're sure or pretty certain, I'd suggest talking to your advisor.

If you do decide to quit...

I know someone who quit their PhD (engineering) and he is very successful. Apparently it was no problem with potential employers for him. At the end of the day, people do realise things are not for them. And no doubt you will have gained some valuable experience/skills from the last 2 years.

Re the funding repayments. Are you sure?! I have never heard of this. My Masters was funded by the same studentship as I am now on for my PhD. And if I quit at any time I am not obligated to pay anything back. Equally, if you were asked to stop because you weren't meeting the standard, you could not be expected to pay anything back. The only thing that would need to be paid back as far as mine is concerned is if I had received a payment for that month and I had quit/was in the process of quitting. Then I would have to pay back that month. This is outlined in my funding guidance. Do you have a similar guidance document you can check? Otherwise, ask your advisor.

Good luck with everything.

Tudor.

Yeh, I agree. It can be annoying but just swallow it and move on when it happens. Annoying but it will probably get better as they get to know you etc and you take more of your own charge as ToL says.

Sounds rather worrying. I don't know what others think about this, but I think I would even consider making my supervisor aware of the situation. Your supervisor may indeed suggest that you report it to her institution. I would certainly take it seriously and be very careful (!). She could try to damage your reputation, for example (not sure how, but I'm sure she could be creative). That is why I think it would be good to let someone at your institution know sooner rather than later. Hopefully the Facebook reporting will work. Good luck.

Done, all the best

Hi Hopeful - congrats on your acceptances. Persevere for funding! I am not in arts and humanities (though I've done some teaching in that faculty at my uni as there is some crossover with my topic). So coming from a different area but perhaps equally competitive, I have two possible suggestions. First, outside of your Masters do you have some research assistant experience? If not, it might strengthen your application if you could get some - maybe by volunteering if no paid roles are available. Second, I would ask each uni for specific feedback, i.e., how were others' profiles stronger than mine, and what would strengthen my application next time. Finally, a slightly different approach but perhaps a possibility. A friend of mine was so determined to do her PhD that she started it by self-funding. Now she is nearly a year in (part-time), and she is applying for funding. It is a risk, as she may not get it. But her supervisors think she has a good chance, as she has already demonstrated that her project is up and running and has a good chance of success. So my final suggestion is that you could find out if there are funding opportunities available for once you've already registered and embarked on your PhD. I defo agree with Chickpea that part-time PhD would be preferable to a third Masters!

Apologies. My response was short because I wasn't sure what you were asking. Actually, I thought some of your questions were rhetorical. So I tried to get to the heart of the matter: what do you want. If you want it and will put in the hard work, then chances are you will get it. But if you don't really want it, and/or will not put in the hard work, chances are you won't - so perhaps choose something else to do.

If you are determined to do the PhD then you will. Otherwise, probably not. It sounds like you need to decide whether you want to, and then see about what you can do to get you motivated again.

A lot of people I knew weren't enjoying their PhD at 3 months - myself included, actually. Then it got better. It's worth hanging in there if it is what you want. On the other hand, if you think you will want to quit it every time things get tough, then you may as well quit now since there'll be plenty more of that ahead!
Bottom line - do you want to do your PhD? I think you will start to enjoy it if you persevere. : ) At this stage, maybe talk to someone you find inspiring or motivating - an old advisor or lecturer for example. That could help. Also, with the tasks at hand (e.g., lit report) set yourself small achievable goals/sections. Good luck!!!

Thank you - good to know. I will check with the individual then out of etiquette I think, even if the journal itself doesn't ask for it. No, it is not general advice or acknowledgement or thanks - it is personal communication!

I don't think so, if the data are completely anonymous e.g., variable name and a bunch of numbers. People use data for examples in lectures and in textbooks even. But you could always ask your supervisor or a colleague to check it.