...and now people don't want me because I don't want to do molecular biology but medical microbiology which involves lot of molecular biology. And I don't have 'the relevant experience'.

I'm the same. Couldn't get a PhD in microbiology as I didn't have enough molecular biology from my BSc. So did a masters in molecular biology and virology...

....therefore, the thing that i keep getting is that i dont have this background or i dont have that background. Its really starting to wind me up.

Hello mate. I have recently been to two interviews and have just been told that i have not got any of them. I am tired of it already. I thought that i would be ok as i have a years research experience in the USA, but i am still finding it difficult. The problem i am having is that my experience is in a different field to my degree and i want to continue along the lines of my past experience, not my degree.

I gradueated in 2002 and am looking for a PhD in molecular biology. However, as many of you have already found this appears to be a lot more difficult than I first anticipated. While I am getting some interviews, the outcome is always the same - I'm told that I interview well but ultimately dont get offered the place. I already feel that I've wasted a year and dont want to end up in the same situation next year. Doing a masters seems likely to put me in more debt without any promise of employment when finished. Any advice?

Get some lab experience too.

I had a series of interviews in a department (6 in a row) a few weeks ago. I was suprised that the focus of the discussion was often the supervisor selling his work to me rather than vice versa. The obvious question you will be asked is 'Why do you want to do a PhD in general'. Other than that I did well by just reading up on the research of the interviewer. All in all, it was nowhere near as stressful as I expected.

try www.phd-survey.org/advice/advice.htm
If fund it quite useful

Dear All

I have a PhD interview soon and I'm wondering if anyone has any helpful advice for me (or any one else!!) on how to conduct myself during the interview and on what sort of questions I may be asked.

Is it like a job interview? please help.

Many thanks in advance.

sorry, that was a 1 hour viva - not '1 viva'

Well, interview number one out the way and it was an absolute nightmare. Essentially, it was a 1 viva, and i was torn to pieces.

You think you are pretty smart, and within an hour, you wonder what the hell you have been doing for the last four years cos you feel like you know nothing!!!

Sorry - got a bit carried away!!!!!

tell me aboutit. I have a good degree and experience in industrial research. Everyone is very positive at interview telling me they will give me a place and then knock me back when I tell them I am interested. My suspicion is a lot of places are going to their final year project students regardless of ability. Probably pressure from the university to keep them there.

i am working in the pharmaceutical industry doing research and I know from experience that to get anywhere in this field you need a phd. If you have any plans to stay in science and are ambitious then a phd is a must. The pay is vastly different: on average a graduate can expect to start on around 20K compared to a PhD who will start on 25-30K probably nearer 30K. You will also get a lot more respect from co-workers. If you have no intentions of staying in science then its a personal choice.

Dear Fi,Please constantly be in touch with your prospective supervisor so that he doesnt forget about you.Say if your work would start some time during August or september, its still good 5-6 months away and anything may happen during that period.The supervisor may loose interest in you, may opt for some other candidate or may just run out of funds.Keep mailing or calling him up at least once in two weeks.This will give him an impression that you are really interested and may compell him to try that much more for funding your research.