I agree with Cakeman, is there any reason you have to be in London? And don't necessarily just look at what very specific projects are - look at how you could take them and shape them into the area you are interested in. My project scope at start and what I ended up with at the end were quite different, so it would be worth finding out whether certain projects you can take the lead and twist and turn it or whether the supervisor is looking for a very fixed outcome to it.

Also you seem to be applying to very prestigious research centres, which is good, however you will be facing a lot of intense competition from many other as suitably well qualified applicants. I'll try to put this as nicely as possible, but when faced with many applications at somewhere so prestigious, it is possible that someone with a degree from the university of Greenwich isn't viewed as highly as someone from a more well known University (Russell group, or international reputation). It would be nice to think that isn't the case, but unfortunately academia can be quite a closed circle at times, at least from some discussions I've had with academics and what I have read on here.

Deffo get your CV checked over as well - it's surprising how you think it can be good and then someone with interviewing/recruiting experience takes one look at it and picks it apart (I can say that from experience!). Anything to give you an edge is always a bonus (up)

Just to point out as well some masters degrees don't offer merit, only distinction and pass. Some I have heard don't even offer a distinction. It's very institution dependent.

It's like walking on clouds.

I had three for my PhD and it can be quite tricky at times managing the expectations of each. The strategy I adopted is was to work out who you want to be the "leader" - that may not be your actual main supervisor! But the person whose opinion you trust most. Don't just treat them equally, it will lead to conflict. Value each of theirs contribution, of course, but make sure you have an idea of whose view is the priority.

Hey indoctorate, a great question!

The further I went through my PhD the more realistic I think I got about what a PhD is and what the expectations were. I think as well having got my PhD, I am able to reflect backwards on it.

There seems to often be the assumption you will have to make some great discovery and really shift ground to get a PhD. Fortunately that is unrealistic and the true nature of the PhD is reflected as such. A PhD certainly is about doing something new and making new ground in some area. But that may only be a little extension of what is already out there. My own PhD grew out of work from what someone else did, and it made perhaps a small improvement. But that's what research is often about, making little but continous changes that then expand outwards. My work is already being picked up by someone at my old Uni as a means to step forward with it. Little but important steps, not a giant leap.

As for will anyone read it? Okay, let's be realistic - unless you've done something really ground breaking (in which case, well done, but you are in a very small minority) hardly anyone will read it. Your supervisors, external, maybe the odd PhD student reading around for their literature review. And yes, ultimately the thesis is what your PhD is about. But don't be disheartened - if you've published papers, these will get a wider audience. If not, well it gives you something to work towards. That's where the "real work" is done in my opinion.

As for what I expected to get out of it and what I got - well, true, there is a big mismatch. But not necessarily a bad one. I don't think I could even tell you half of what my thesis is about and I only graduated last summer. The skills I have got out of it, however, have been the useful thing not the subject specific matter (although I don't work in research/academia so it's probably a moot point anyway).

Sorry if that's a bit garbled. Beer at lunchtime is a bad idea.

Whoever told you is either a) having a joke with you, b) incredibly naive or c) incredibly stupid.

I've met a few people with both MBA and PhD, they are very different degrees and it's quite possible to do both.

Or just do as I do, think "what's the worst than can happen" and just send it without thinking about it all too much :-)

Well... I'm trying the online dating. And... I have a date :) I am very excited!

Although well remembered to Wally about my party trick! Maybe I should wait until the second date for that?

Depends on relationship you have really. If she's the type you could have knocked on the door and asked a question easily, then email. If she's the type who hates being bothered other than in supervisions, perhaps wait.

A PhD won't necessarily bring that many greater financial benefits than a first degree - and I did read somewhere that it's earning power is about the same as just having a masters degree. Experience really is far more key.

There has to be a certain amount of love to get through to the end anyway, even if you totally end up hating it after you need something to keep you going through the dark times!

MS is the term used mostly in America for a masters (science) degree ; eqvuialent of MSc from a UK university. It's just the letters to designate it.

When I was doing my PhD many moons ago, I was living with my then boyfriend for part of it. And he was the most unsupportive, ungrateful b*stard that ever did roam this earth. As I used to work from home a lot (we had massive open plan office and I was near girl with foghorn voice so couldn't concentrate), he seemed to think that I would just do all the housework and cook his dinner and sort all the bills out and everything. As if my PhD was some little pet project or just a little essay to write.

It sounds as if there is a common theme through some of the posts - partners who haven't experienced a PhD often don't understand that it is a full time job but more than that it's an all consuming full time job. You don't just switch off when you leave the office.

SO he'd moan when he had to make his own dinner or when I'd ask him to put the washing machine on. Always the same argument "you'r;e here all day...". So? Okay so sometimes I would watch Jeremy Kyle and play computer games but that's not the point! I'd also sometimes work 100 hours a week because I was "in the zone" and my creative juices were flowing.

So in answer to your question, yes, put your foot down about it - communication is vital in any relationship (preferably with each other directly and not finding out via mutual friend that your sh*thead of a partner is trying to arrange a threesome with the couple down the road). But don't just put up with it like I did. Relationships are about equality, as much about what you want out of life as she does and she needs to understand that compromise.

(turkey)

Whilst I don't miss the academic life, I do miss intellectual people who don't talk utter bo**ocks incessantly all day long about stuff they clearly know nothing about and think by saying it louder it makes it correct (oh, was that a sly dig at my colleagues by any chance?)

So where does one go to find intellectual stimulation? I mean, real life intellectual stimulation - as much as I love you guys and gals on here I crave a proper academic battle now and again. I have a friend who is a world expert genius on something or other and is great, but I cannot rely on one person alone. And I think the cat is bored of my ranting, though he did purr louder than usual when I was telling him about radical feminism the other evening.

Do I need to move back to a University town? Maybe that's the problem, there are no intellectuals here where I live. Maybe I should set up a website meetanintellectual.com ?

Humour me people, as you normally do, DanB loves you all :-x

I went on a course last year and we learned how to do it in VBA Access, I remember it wasn't that straightforward to do.

Okay, another random DanB offtopic thread, this time - dating. I've made it my mission this year to go dating more as I'm fast approaching 30 and been single for far too long.

The trouble is... it's actually been quite a while since I've been on a date and have kind of lost my confidence a bit about it all. Not sure where to look either - I've tried online dating (some nice enough people, made some new friends, but not really found it good for dating), friends of friends (including one who seems remarkably scared of me now) and... well that's it really. I'm not really very forthcoming either about these things and just assume nobody would be interested.

Sooooo what to do? What are you dating tips/advice/success stories? I long to meet a dream hunk in aisle 10 at Sainsburys ("world foods"). But I think that's more of a myth scenario than a reality!