I know, Miss Hopeful, it really is soul destroying. Since my RPM rejection came on August 23rd last year, and it seems like they tend to notify doctoral applicants first (although, of course, I know there is no real rhyme or reason to it), I was hoping it would come quite a bit earlier this year. But no. And the worst thing is that we're being forced to hold out hope for something that probably isn't going to happen. I just don't understand how the process can take so long when they have different people working on every panel. :-(

I can recommend exercise for working out the frustration though. When my letter hadn't arrived, again, this morning it was very hard to drag myself to the gym, but I'm glad I did because I managed to get rid of some of my anger and nerves. Not that the effects lasted very long...

I really feel for you all still waiting - its a total nightmare! :-( I know its no consolation, but it does appear that they are getting them out faster this year than last - but when you consider that its been nearly a month since the decisions were made the fact that they still can't get their backsides into action and get letters out faster is just totally out of order :-s

I've known 5 days now and although I'm still nowhere near happy and in limbo again waiting for the uni this time, at least I'll know as soon as they do!

The thing is, if its positive then you could have missed out on housing or whatever, and just so stressed out and upset by now that yes, it will be wonderful but you're so emotionally exhausted you can't enjoy the moment so much, and if its negative... well, weeks of stress and waiting just to be let down.

I just hope (and I do mean that genuinely) that all of you waiting will get some good news - you deserve it so much and I'm rooting for you all xxxx

Dear all, it's a relief to have found some people to wait with as I'm also going round the bend. I've just done one year without funding, and if I'm not lucky this time I'll have to call it a day, it's not impossible but it's quite frustrating to fit it in around paid work. To make it worse, I seem to get one thick envelope delivered every day - full of junk! best of luck to everyone- it could come tomorrow :)

Thanks stressed :-), I'm glad to hear you are coping. I think I am, but I'm not sure I (or my masters dissertation) can take much more of this!

Misshopeful I wouldn't worry about them on the other end of the phone. I decided not to call them up till the end of the week. If it's in the post I'll get it soon, and if it's not I'll have to wait.... Knowing where it isn't going to make it any easier. It just moves the tension around to someone or something else.

Good luck to you all still waiting with me, I hope it's going to be a good week with plenty of T/FLoJ

You're in good company bagofnerves! I'm in similar situation, self funded the 1st year of my PhD and might have to call it a day if (more likely when) I get the dreaded letter. Unfortunately a Uni studentship won't be enough...

MissHopeful - I spoke to the first person that answered the phone about the status of my app. she didn't get a chance to transfer me!

Stressed - You're a star for your continuing support. I hope your Uni will have good news for you soon!

Don't forget we are all in this together - I am truly humbled by the support on this forum, long may it continue!

two more TLoDs spotted over on facebook
:-(

Nothing for me today.
Boo to the TLoDs!

i'm with Soarous, i'm not ringing them again until friday. and if it hasnt been generated then, i WILL be upset. until then im going to do my best to forget about it, despite all the preparations im making for both going and not going. although naturally i'll still come here 3 times a day to share in your pain!

Just had an email from the AHRC (sent it before I phoned yesterday) they have changed their story a little. Letter has been generated but they have no idea when it will be sent!!!!???? Hopefully I should receive it by the end of the month!!!??? WHY!!!??? If it's generated why can't it be sent?

I'm confused, what is going on???

GoingNuts, that is just absolutely ridiculous!! I can't believe that an organisation as big as the AHRC can't simply generate and send letters (or, as has been said emails!!) as soon as they are generated.
If organisations such as the examining boards can generate tens of thousands of results, all dispatched to arrive simultaneously at schools across the country, and universities can likewise have exam results posted to thousands of students (albeit online in my case) at the exact time to the hour that they predict will be the case, why can't the AHRC with just over 3K letters to generate do a mass mail shot in the couple of days after the decisions are made - get them into envelopes and post together within a week of the results? The only applicants who would miss out are those on the reserve list - they can be informed of that - there must be 50-100 max!
Crazy, crazy, crazy!!! I just feel so badly for all of you :-(

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhh. No post again, so I caved in and rang them. I asked the person who answered if she could tell me if a letter had been generated and she put me through to the awards officer for my institution. She agreed to check (although she sounded pretty annoyed about it). No letter has yet been generated, but 'they will all be sent out by the end of August, so you should hear in the next two weeks.' Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh why did she say that as if it would be a comfort????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!! Two more weeks! The reason I caved in and phoned today was because I'm ALREADY at the end of my tether. I can't handle another two weeks. She also said 'We're still in the process of working out who we're going to be able to fund.' WHAT??? I know some people turn down their awards and those have to be reallocated, but surely that only applies to a tiny minority. Only one person from my panel turned down their award last year, and it must be much the same across other panels since internal university and college scholarships are generally offered to people on the basis that if they get AHRC funding their scholarship will go to the next person on the list.

OK, well at least I can stop getting so worked up for the rest of this week, but the fact that it could be another two before I hear is a killer. I'm also tempted, since she said they're still making decisions, to rationalise that whilst I still might have a chance of getting it, it's probably only a borderline chance, as if the decision were positive they would have just sent the damn thing already. My more rational or, rather, less hysterical side is telling me not to read anything into it (especially since it was the representative for my institution, not for my panel, I spoke to). Please tell me the rational side is right!

Its all crazy,crazy. I cannot believe that letters are not been sent because decisions haven't been finalised. Decisions made on an ad hoc basis like that would result in chaos. Although it might explain this ridiculous process....
Not everyone who's letter has not been generated can be on a reserve list because of the disproportionate amount of people still waiting- as you say Impending hardly anyone turns down an award. In my case a letter has been generated but the letter has not been sent, how do they explain that? Might they change their decision? I doubt it.

Personally I don't believe anything their telling us at the moment. Best to sit tight and meditate....

well obviously i caved and rang again, and whereas yesterday they told me my letter had generated, this time they said they dont know whether or not it has, and "not to panic until the end of the month." yeah, thanks for that.

======= Date Modified 19 Aug 2008 12:29:10 =======
Altogether now - adopt the lotus postion, shut the eyes and chant ohmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :-)

Seriously though - as I said earlier, this is just not on at all :-s How can they justify this - it's causing so much upset, anxiety and concern and, I think it could quite feasibly be argued that it is potentially damaging the prospects of those who are still working for their MA!! How can you concentrate and give it your all when you're so worried and waiting waiting waiting?? It can do nothing other than prey on your mind and that is wrong! Ok, so you get a rejection it throws you completely - I found out last Wednesday and today is the first day I've been able to sit down and get on again - its taken me that long to get my head sorted enough to contemplate it, what happens if you don't hear til a fortnight before submission??? - dragging this out is just so awful. For those of you, and I'm hoping its ALL of you left who get an award even then you're going to be 'distracted' for a few days!!

Nothing for me today. I totally sympathise with those of you trying to write MA/MPhil dissertations. I'm supposed to be finishing a chapter which I haven't started, as I'm afraid of getting really into it and then having to abandon the PhD altogether. But at least I can ask for an extension- my poor supervisors should be used to that by now! I'm slightly afraid of all this info resulting from the telephone calls, it sounds like total chaos in the AHRC office. Where is it located again? maybe we should march on it and demand our letters...