shani - that's an interesting response. If I interpret it correctly you fall back on the student label when you are struggling or feeling under excessive pressure? Perhaps ther is comfort in the 'student' ie not yet expert during those periods?

Be as creative as you like. I recently had to present my formal proposal and the technical blips were in full play - not working. So I explained that 'today we will not have death by powerpoint' which was well received. I ad-libbed everything and passed with flying colours. To be honest I think they were relieved at the refreshingly original performance. Examiners and supervisors have to endure a lot of dull presentations - you will be doing them a favour by giving something else BUT the video dependance is one you will need to ensure has no chance of failing you.

thanks chris, was beginning to think perhaps the question appeared loaded

What I mean is at what point do you feel like you have become a PhD student?

When do you categorise yourselves via your PhD student identity and when do you still regard and introduce yourself as a biologist, engineer, mathematician, chemist, psychologist, economist, geographer etc? I appreciate that this will vary for part time and full time students but am in my second year and still consider myself an entrepreneur who is 'doing a PhD' as well.

Just curious how others modulate their identity in everyday interactions.

Of course there is a third option.

You have spent many years directing your own path through your PhD so why not utilise those skills fully and form your own business? Ok I'm bias but why wait for academia or the city to 'give you a job' when you could create your own and make sure non of the aforementioned nastiness spoils your efforts.

I have never had a job in my life other than the ones I've created and I've employed over 2000 others. You could become an entrepreneur but the name on here is already taken

The PhD is the most self indulgent occupation you will ever encounter. Many of our academic colleagues wish they could do another one because it is so self expressive and unstructured. Just like setting up and running yourown business in fact.

you have posed 5 questions in 2 days on pretty much every aspect of considering a PhD. I am curious why? You are coming to the end of your masters? you are thinking of going on to PhD? you ask about age, gap periods and thesis completion for a masters.

My own research is on the social and personal identity of PhDs as a category and so your queries are for me very interesting. I was mid forties when I started mine and took a year in between MBA and PhD. Shop around for the best supervisor, it matters more than the university brand. Interview THEM, not the other way around. You are going to have to bear your soul and all your perceived inadequacies to them for the following 4 years so the chemistry and trust has to be just right - for both of you.

very witty and although another disguised grumble it did make me laugh. I'd like to know if your phd was a tall dusky passionate lover once or a stable serious dependable type to continue the relationship metaphor? I mean what got you into this relationship in the first place? Lack of alternatives (stable) or an all consuming need to explore your topic (passion) 'cos that's what you need to recognise so you can relight the flames. As for your illicit affair with facebook it is probably just a crush and will also phase out eventually.

As someone who has taught both tutorials and lectured undergrads I discovered the secret was not to give the impression you are a world authority on the topic - you're not after all. Teaching is as much about learning as it is giving out knowledge. You may be surprised how much you learn from your students particularly if you have an internationally mixed group. It's great, you'll love it.

when you know it doesn't excite you to get out of bed and face the working day of being a researcher, surrounded by other researchers in a place that doesn't make your work sparkle. That's when it's time to leave whatever you are doing, academia, job, anything. Every day can't be sunshine and smiles but it ought to have a purpose. Have you looked at how competitive the industry job market is in your area of interest? That may help you decide where to go next.

I think having an unsupportive or even antagonistic supervisor is the worst possible way to attempt a PhD. Alas as some of the posts on here point out it is very common. It is a traumatic situation for both parties if you just don't respect one anothers views. After nearly 2 years of having to bite my tongue whilst being humiliated and ridculed in front of other fuculty members I spoke up to his superiors. You might want to consider doing the same thing.

I am a little surprised at the utilitarian view shared here of reasons for taking a PhD. Surely the years of study have included a personal transition that few other occupations can match. As for your age, well being in the mid career age range certainly has its advantages for coping with a PhD in the first place, as well as being almost automatically assumed to be experienced in life. Something recruiters will fight for.

Thanks for posting the Guardian article link. It plays right into my topic and as I don't read the Guardian it was an easy shortcut to current thinking on what it is to be a postgraduate student, nationally if not regionally.

misspacey - if you or your contact are genuinely interested in being interviewed email me at [email protected] my contact details are available to anyone search MBS anyway so not giving out any data not readily available elsewhere. Hope to here from anyone who is interested

North West is also Cheshire and no there is absolutely no incentive for participating other than to get to meet me and perhaps consider for the first time how people's label of postgraduate student features in the wider scheme of things.

research participants needed for my PhD
Hi Everyone,
I am looking for 6 postgraduate students to take part in my research on identity. There are some sample perameters as you would expect. Firstly you must be a North West of England resident, mature (ie over 30) self funding and studying in the UK.
Mine is a social psycholgy argument which compares the internalised/externalised identity features of local (high achieving) students and entrepreneurs from the same region. Anyone interested in letting me quiz you for an hour or so? If so get in touch via this forum initially. Cheers