tell me if it sounds okay. thanks! please feel free to edit, suggest..
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Dear *****
My apolagies for emailing again.

But I wanted to know how do I officially apply for an extension to my deadline? Just incase I do not complete my thesis by the september 1st deadline.

I also wanted to know what are my options if I fail to meet the deadline. (Also based on the fact, that the examination forms take 4 months to clear, and I have not sent them off yet, *****, I have not recieved them in the post, should I be worried they might have gotten lost?)

....

Is there any way I can have my registration with QMUL to remain active IF I do not meet the september 1st deadline?

I read the QMUL guidebook and it says that late submission after the deadline, is liable to a £250 late fee. So if I don't meet the september 1st deadline, I would have to pay the £250 fine?

I would like to know what my options are just incase God forbid that I fail to meet the deadline.

Thanks so much.
Kind Regards,
Lara.

And I have no idea how to respond to my supervisor's email. Any suggestions?

I was thinking of writing something like the following... Using Dale Carnegie's advice, of how people always want to be "right" and admitting to one own's failures first. i highly recommend his books by the way! (how to win friends and influence people, and how to stop worrying and start living).

okay here's a draft:

Dear [supervisor],

You're absolutely right, I take full responsibility for my thesis not being completed. I cannot explain fully what I have and have not been doing for my thesis. But that's all in the past now. Now that I have this ultimate deadline, I would very much like to be given the opportunity to try and submit a thesis.

I will work very hard the next 3 months. I have completely cleared my diary of any other commitments, and I will be writing non-stop in order to get my thesis done, and I will read and understand and revise everything that's related to my subject in preperation for the mock viva and real viva.

I appreciate the burden and time that it's now going to take you and ****** to help me with my thesis, for that I am deeply sorry. If there is anything I can do in return for your tremendous help with my thesis, please let me know.

I would keep it brief and try to sound detached, if you know what I mean, so that you don't come across as if you are panicking.
Say something like:
Dear X,
I am planning on submitting my PhD thesis by the 1st September, and I will have been registered as a writing up student for 12 months prior to this date. I was hoping that you could clarify a few points about the submission process for me. Is it possible to apply for an extension and remain registered after the 1st September, and would a fee be payable if this is granted?
Many thanks,
X.
All you want is information at this stage, and it is their job to give it to you.
Also, are you sure you really want an extension? I know it would make things easier but are you not just prolonging the pain?
BB X

I appreciate you helping me with targets and time plans.

Right now I don't feel like I have much of a thesis, it's all zero drafts and I don't feel like I have anything concrete to show you at this moment. But I will get it all together and produce a plan of how I think my thesis should be, with outlines and notes, and show you in a week's time.

I am afraid I am not as intellectual and a good scientific writer, hence why you and ***** had to work so hard on the papers I had written in order for them to be worthy of publication. I am very appreciative of the work you and **** put in.

I am willing to put in the hard work and become more focused on the "essential" things and topics and subject matter for my thesis, instead of getting distracted by tangent subjects that are only loosely related to my phd subject matter and worrying about revising for my viva and instead fully concentrating on writing the thesis first.

I have read a couple of books on how to write a phd and I hope I can put into practice what I have learnt about writing. But I know I am not a good writer, but I will try my best to produce as good enough polished versions of my chapters as I can.
Regards,

hey BB thanks for your version! that sounds much better !! you're a star. i will send that version:)

well no, you're right. I REALLY want to submit by sept 1st deadline. but I am worried, that because I have not sent off the examination forms yet (i am still waiting for them to come in the post) and they take 4 months to clear. you have to send the examination forms 4 months BEFORE you're allowed to submit your thesis to the senate house.

and i recieved the email from QMUL in the middle of may. and then in brackets they said, examination forms take 4 months to clear!

also, JUST incase my supervisor tells me to do a shedloads of extra writing and write an extra chapter, i want to know just incase i miss the deadline what are the repurcussions. but yeh, i am totally aiming for the sept deadline.

this whole phd has just been a nightmare. i feel like it's been a jail sentence for the past 8 years. i put everything else on hold and always felt guilty about doing anything that wasnt "phd" stuff. even supervisors make you feel guilty if you have a life, and expect you to work 24/7. and always say, when i was a phd student, i worked 7 days a week!..

i so wish in the first year, i had just quit and did something else. i thought everyone would be so dissapointed and my parents devastated. but now my mom said, you should have if it made you this miserable.

but now i must prevail. i just gotta give it my best shot and see what happens. i told my parents if i submit and i fail, or i fail my viva. at least i tried, and it wont be the end of the world. my mom was totally understanding and said, it doesnt matter if you fail. just try your best right now.

I think you're replies to your supervisor are far too personal. What kind of relationship do you have? I would keep it professional - e.g. don't grovel! Simply state that you are completely commited to your thesis, and that you acknowledge their points. Do not keep putting yourself down, especially not in this email. Write a brief message to arrange a meeting. If you feel you need to apologise or what ever, do that in person at the meeting. Do not commit it to print in an email, it could come back to bite you! It sounds like you are suggesting that they are completely devoid of responsibilty. This is not the case, they are your supervisors, they should supervise!

Ok, explain about the forms in your email about the extension, but just ask them if it is possible to hand them in now and still submit by september. Explain that you have not yet received them, and I would be surprised if they were that strict. If you think you need an extension, if its possible I guess there's no harm in applying, but don't make it too long.
x

Ooh, I've just realised that you were deliberately trying to make your supervisors feel good, based on that book. How about just saying that you really value their help, and leave it at that. I still don't think you should be negative about yourself in the email. Stroke their ego at the meeting if need be.

great advice BB you're right! I wont grovel and you're right i shouldn't assume complete responsibility. even though right now i do feel like it's completely my fault. but you're right.

okay i will keep it brief and just arrange a meeting and tell them i will make a thesis plan. and wont justify what i have been doing for my thesis.

thanks BB!!

problem is, QMUL have set the deadline of sept 1st.

but the examination forms have to be sent to SENATE house, and they wont accept a phd thesis unless 4 months have elapsed. so yah will explain that to QMUL

thanks!

talking of which, have you sent off your examinatioon forms?

No not yet, I need to submit it 3 months before my deadline. You have reminded me about it though, so I will do it next week - I just need to decide on the title!

Thanks everyone for your support, you all really really helped me.

I will now put it behind me, and move forward, and no point thinking over and over again about what i should have done and what i have not done. i will try my best everyday...

I am so dreading the meeting with my supervisor

i also keep thinking and dreading the viva. my mphil viva was horrible, and i cried during my viva, when the examiner made me feel like the stupidest phd student in the world, because i did not know how many genes there are in the genome. i wasn't aware she was going to ask me random questions like that, and at the time, my project was rubbish. i almost wished she failed me so i didn't have to continue, but she said, learn everything there is about genetics!
now i feel paranoid that i have to know everything, and i think i get bogged down with tangents that are probably not really relevant to my subject.