Excellent news about the job FrenchyMarie.

Yes, I remember reading my feedback for the first time (having waited six weeks for it) and feeling that pain and anger all over again. I still have trouble looking at the actual document and have transferred each comment, observation and request contained within it into a word document of my own creation - breaking it down into seperate points is soul-destroying at one level but makes it more manageable in the long-run. Hang in there and try not to despair too much.

x

Hi Jouri. I did have a horrid experience in my viva but you know what these experiences are incredibly rare and you do just have to cope with them. I managed to remain polite with the examiners and held up during the time I was there with them until the last few seconds and as I left the room I was in tears - when you're in there if you do have the remarkable misfortune to have a bad experience you will cope an you will come through it.

Do your preparation, you need to minimise any possible risk and this is the best way. As for the rest accept that it is part of the sometimes arbitrary nature of life and there is nothing you can really do to prepare for that except to acknowledge that it is a highly unlikely outcome and then push it to the back of your mind.

FWIW if the anxiety and lack of sleep are causing significant problems you could consider maybe hypnotherapy or something similar. I've just had some sessions to help with these problems and am finding it most successful.

Hang in there and keep calm.

xx

Sarah -> Aaargh!! I feel for you. My deadline is mid March, sadly I've had about six months now though and achieved very little so far. Head down this weekend.

On the plus side I did hear a story yesterday from a colleague who knew someone in our position that when they re-submitted the examiners decided to waive the second viva - we can live in hope!? I also know from a previous conversation with some admin people in my institution and for the re-viva there will be no travel / subs etc paid to the external. I know it's a long shot but it's a nice thought to hold.

So, keep working and let me know how you get on. It's really helped knowing that I'm not alone in this crappy situation.

Thanks for that info Sarah. It still sticks in the gullet but I guess we have to just have to 'suck it up' as Americans say!

BTW, when do you have to resubmit by?

Just wondered if anyone had any information or experiences they could share?
Ta.

Meant to say FrenchyMarie how sad I am to hear of your experience - that is an utter bastard. Try to hang on in there and no matter what keep fighting. It is such a body blow when this sort of thing happens, and just so goddamn unnecessary.
Big hugs to you and the bestest of luck with your appeal.

xx

In respect to the question about the external - we had only three people we could identify as a potential external - I ended up with mine kind of by default. Strangely, but similarly to Frenchymarie, one of my supers knows this woman well and can barely believe the way that she behaved and the harshness and unfairness of her questioning and her feedback. I guess she behaves very differently outside the viva room and with people that she perceives as being of equal status.

Isle

Angel of the North should be re-writing a particularly dull section of her thesis but instead has been out and eaten cake.:-)

If I see just one more pair of ugg boots.... :-s

Dig deep this is one of the hurdles that has to be jumped. It is a draft, not a finished product and the feedback (although hurtful) could get you on the right track and avoid problems later.

Chin up.

xx

Hi,

Just thought I'd give a quick update on my prior message. I've been doing a lot of soul-searching and am starting to find the strength to stand up to the pathetic external and go forwards with the thesis. I am not ready to walk away from it yet so therefore I need to start getting myself together.

I have spent a little bit of time talking to a counsellor and have let go some of the despair and anger, I've got a way to go but at least I feel like I might be on the right psychological path now.

All I can say to everyone is that this is an absolute b***h of a time but I guess they don't give phds away.

xx

I'd be interested in this too as I am in the same boat Sarah, and yet no-one I've talked to has any experience of it. The most I've got is expressions of surprise quickly followed by pity.

All I can do is wish you the very best of luck, I guess at least you know that they are only going to focus on the amendments as my understanding of the situation, from my supervisors, is that they cannot bring new issues to the table and what they have not mentioned in the first viva should be off-topic at the second.

let us know how it goes, I am dreading mine with a vengeance as I had a deeply unpleasant experience at the first.

xx