Thanks, HazyJane and Huxley. The MPhil will definitely help me achieve my long term goal. I can also prepare myself well to apply for a PhD in the future.

It is me again!

In the previous messages, I mentioned that I applied for PhD programs to different universities and unfortunately got rejections from all of them. But a few days ago, I got a confirmation call from one of them, informing me that they will give me an MPhil offer with a full studentship. Although I can't get any PhD offer, I think that I am lucky enough to be admitted as an MPhil student.

But the reality is that my friends, colleagues and even my family do not understand at all and have kept telling or persuading me not to accept the offer. They said things like 'you will be jobless after graduation', 'you will earn less money than you do now', 'it is not worthwhile', and the like. Well, I do understand what they mean and thank them for their advice. I am turning 30+ or so pretty soon. I also have a decent job with a decent salary. If I don’t take the offer, I can travel around the world, buy a house and car a few years later like most of my friends do.

I agree with what they said to me and understand the difficulties ahead of me. But I know full well what I want in my future - developing a career as a researcher and teacher in academia so I still want to give myself a chance. I believe that nothing is easy at all and I don’t want to have any regret when I grow older.

I am not so sure if I can make my dream come true. But I will do the very best I can to prove that I have made a right decision.

Just want to share my feelings here. Thanks for listening.

HazyJane, availability of funding may be one of the factors. I think there may be other factors that I am unsure of. I will ask the Professor about that when I meet her in person.

Mackem_Beefy & Chcikpea, I completed one research methodology course and a research thesis in my MA program. I got As for these two courses. Do you think I have got enough research experience from the program?

I am also thinking if I should talk to one of my potential professors again for further feedback on my PhD proposal. He gave me some comments on my proposal before even though my application has been rejected. What do you guys think?

Thanks!

Thank you for the replies, buddies. the Mphil program is a funded research program.

The Professor said to me that the Mphil program would give me some substantial research experience in my selected area of study. If I say yes, I will most probably be re-interviewed and need to revise my proposal to fit in with an Mphil thesis again. But after doing all these, there is no guarantee that I will be given the offer. I am just thinking 'negatively' and 'pessimistically' that I will get nothing even though a large amount of time has been spent. My effort will be eventually in vain. This makes me so frustrated and confused about whether or not considering the Mphil program.

Of course, I will try to apply again but the deadlines for PhD applications for 2014 - 2015 have been over in my place. I cannot afford to do a PhD overseas because I know it is hard for me as an overseas student to get full funding. Anyways, I think I will say yes to the Professor and see what will happen next.

Hi Guys,

It is me again. I am feeling so upset. All of my PhD applications have been rejected. This morning, I got another email telling me that my PhD application (my last one) is not successful. But the professor asked me if I am interested in being reconsidered as an Mphil applicant.

In the email, the professor said I have the potential to do independent research but feels that it would be more appropriate if I complete an M.Phil. degree before pursuing a PhD. I have obtained my MA degree.

Although I am not told that I will be admitted at this point, I am thinking whether it is worthwhile. What do you guys think?

I have just got rejected by another university where I was not invited for an interview even though I submitted two versions of proposal to them. My chance is getting lower and lower.....><

Hi Satchi,

My performance was just so-so. I didn't ask that question.....I never thought that the interviewer would say something like this. I said to them 'I will think about it' and 'I haven't decided yet'. I am not planning to do another MA program because it will not help me get a PhD offer or develop my career further. I am over thirty or so....... I am just thinking if I do a Mphil and then a PhD, I will turn 40 when I graduate.

Hi Chickpea,

The interviewer did not say that I should take a longer route to getting a PhD. But, I just think that they think that I am not good enough to be a PhD student at this stage so the interviewer gave me another choice. Anyway, I did my best in the interview.

Thanks for your comments.

This time I wasn't as nervous as before even though some questions, again, were a bit difficult. I am not so sure if I could give them 'correct' answers. At the end of the interview, one interviewer asked me if I would accept the Mphil offer in case the university could not offer me a PhD place.

I know that I have little experience in and knowledge about doing research. But I have got a MA degree with research components in it (I did my MA thesis and took some research-related courses). If they did offer me a Mphil place rather than a PhD one, Should I accept it? I am talking about full time Mphil with a monthly stipend provided.

What do you guys think? I would like to get your advice? Thx

I have my 2nd PhD interview tomorrow. But I feel that I am losing confidence in myself after I have got rejected by the first university. No matter how well I have prepared, I don't know what the interviewers will ask me and whether I can give them the answers they want. Is my performance in the interview considered as the major factor for successful admission to a PhD program?

Thanks for your replies, guys!

Just got a letter from the university where I had my first PhD interview, informing me that my application is unsuccessful due to the keen competition for the limited number of places available. Really upset. I sacrificed my one month holiday, sitting in the library to write a detailed proposal. I spent at least 10 hours per day (from Monday to Sunday). Although I got some feedback like "my topic is interesting", etc..., my application is eventually unsuccessful. I just want to give up now!!!!!! Just think that maybe doing a PhD is not suitable for me! I should focus more on my career. Really depressed!

Just back from the interview with three professors. The interview lasted around 30 minutes. The professors took turns to ask me questions about my project. I think most of the questions were not difficult. But I was so nervous that I did not answer them well because my brain did not function at all. Sigh!

I did prepare a lot before the interview but eventually my performance was not as good as I thought. During the interview, the professors said my project is interesting and gave me some constructive feedback.They did not say anything wrong about my research methodology except for one thing that the project is too ambitious (because I raised a lot of research questions in the project). So one of the professors asked me to choose one aspect to be the major focus. Although I did try my best to answer their questions, I am still not happy with my performance today. I am so stressed out that I may not be able to get an offer.

That's just a rant.....just want to share my feelings here. Thanks for reading my message.

Thanksa lot,Simonand MeaningfulLife. I am in the English Language Studies field specializing in (critical) discourse analysis. It seems hard for me to talk to any student supervised by my potential supervisor Coz no relevant info can be found on the dept website. I am afraid they will ask me difficult questions that I cannot answer well at all. What should I do to cope with such questions? Thanks again!

Hi guys,

I have just got a call from a university, inviting me for an interview. I am so nervous. To prepare well for the interview, I am reading my proposal again to get myself familiar with the theories and concepts covered in the proposal. What else should I do to prepare well? Could you please give me some advice? Thank you for your help.