Eventually I learnt to handle them through the use of hypotherapy, going on presentation skills workshops and the temporary use of prescribed drugs (beta blockers) and then by just making myself do them every opportunity I got. The farce of it is I am normally very chatty and reasonably confident - the sort of person that gets pushed up the front to do the group presentations! Madness. I am now doing a phd and actually applied for and got offered a fulltime lecturing post. Even more madness. The point I am trying to make is - if you want something badly enough sheer bloody mindedness will carry you forward. It will be hell at times and, yeah, maybes you'll end up feeling a right fool becuase you've had a panic attack at smelling a rodent (you'll smell 'em way before you get that close ) but it'll be a temporary setback and you'll get there. Goodluck.

When I finally returned to uni I got a zero for one part of an assessment as it involved giving a presentation and I found I actually couldn't walk into the room as I was hyperventilating so much - never mind actually get to the front of the room and use the OH projector. We had to progress very slowly with me. My first 'successful' presentation took place on the strict condition that the lecturer turned the lights out and pulled the blinds and that everyone (staff/students) faced the back wall and I faced the front wall. I still couldn't stand up(!) but I managed.

Lol - if its any consolation I used to have a phobia about speaking in public. I actually passed out on one occasion because my dissertation tutor kindly thought he'd help me prepare for my viva by allowing me to practice with just him present!!! I think he felt differently after I hit the deck, knocking his papers akimbo and leaving him to get me a glass of water

Hi,
I am doing a phd in chicken feeding behaviour and have just got a quote back for some operant equipment. £15000 - I nearly past out!!! I am now going to make my own equipment and just wondered if there are any engineers out there who's brains I could pick about purchasing a motor that could be used to turn a lazy susan carrying up to 500g feed and that could be interfaced to appropriate software to allow control via a chicken pecking a key! I have started looking at meccano sets, etc but engineering is definitely not my field...

Lol - this is exactly how I am feeling at the moment! I have just started my PhD this week and I am feeling totally overwhelmed at the moment. Thankfully all my supervisors are lovely which helps but I am still terrified by the enormity of what I have taken on...
but very excited/thrilled also

Hi Ophicus - are you still about? I have just found this thread and wanted to add some words of support. I have been through almost exactly what you have been through and, like you, I lodged a formal complaint and took it all the way to the OIA and, unfortunately, lost. That was three years ago. I thought my phd opportunities were dead and buried and was so desperate to do one that I considerd selling my house and self-funding. Last month I got awarded a prestigious, wellpaid scholarship in the same field so it can be done but the last three years have been emotional hell. If you need to talk then please PM me. I am sure that the nice guys who run this site would pass on your details if a direct pm is unavailable. For obvious reasons I am not leaving my name/details on this site!

well Pink Neuron - did you get it??? fingers crossed x

Hey Pink Neuron, go for it! I am in the same position and waiting to hear (very anxiously) and there is only 1 scholarship in my case - and 30 applicants But...
if you don't try you have no chance

Ditto. I have an under grad degree from a bottom 10 red brick and had to work pretty damn hard to get a low first. I am now at a top 10 uni and work alot less hard to achieve similar grades. It might just be that I am not quite such a tight arse swot anymore though so maybe my grades have improved as I am not uptight about my grades, etc

Do you like your supervisor? I joined one uni as an undergrad on the the basis that afterwards I would like to do a phd under the principal lecturer (very well published, wellknown, etc, etc, etc) there. After three years I was certain of one thing: I couldn't stand this individual and would probably end up killing him if I had to spend 3 years in close proximity to him!!!

Goodluck!

cockadoodle-doooooooooo!

Great - if I get in and am in Ed. we'll have to meet up for a drink!

The Scottish Agricultural College....
Where is your institute based?
Funnily enough mine would be in, er, Scotland!
I'm not sure yet though - I know partly in Ayr at the poultry station but beyond that I am unclear at the moment. Will be either Glasgow, Edinburgh or Ayr.

Hey Tricky - that's ace. Where are you based?