Me too!

Matlab has excellent graphs and things!

Sorry to hear about your grandma sleepyhead. Don't worry about the money side of things, the university should have travel insurance (if they don't they should be shot!) so don't let that influence you.

Does this conference happen yearly or only every few years or is it a one-off?

It really is up to you, maybe talk it over with your dad. I don't think anyone on here will want to say to you to stay or go.

Olivia is missing today?

veritas, what is your definition of a scientist?

Excellent news! Enjoy it next year

Sounds great Chris.

Out of interest, what happens at your panel? Is it like a mini viva?

I think you need to find out from your department on what the requirements to fulfill a MPhil are. I'm not sure about this but I think they can vary in time spent, work submitted etc.

Yes confidence definitely increases. In my final year, I feel that I'm able to talk absolute crap and get away with it totally. Previously I felt people questioned my crap but now I know this isn't true.

Seriously, it really does. The more you have to explain your research/work to other people, meet people at conferences etc your confidence really builds up. I used to be very shy in my younger years, I reckon I would have suprised my old shy-self.

I too am suprised with some of the comments on this thread. I didn't even realise competition existed between PhD students. When I first started, I got lots of helpful comments and ideas from the more experienced students. I now relay my experience on to the new starters and try and help them if they have any questions.

For me, a PhD is a very individual thing and if I do better, it would be for myself and not to be better than anyone else in my research group. If someone does well, gets a publication, wins a scholarship, I don't feel jealous, I feel glad that they are reinforcing how good our research group is.

Well if a graduate job wants BSc 2.1 or above, the company will normally not bother offering more money to a PhD when they can have a BSc for the amount they want to offer(doing exactly the same job).

My experience is from the pharmaceutical industry. Normally, to be a "senior" scientist, you need a PhD (or about 4+ years experience after first degree).

cc, your main problem is location. Obviously I understand that you may not want to or can not move but you could easily hit 25k with a senior scientist job down south where all the big pharma companies are. I sympathise, being told you will get such a low wage but that is one of the issues with "up north".

I don't think it's about going into a PhD assuming that you automatically get a pay rise. The job I'm after is very specialised and I need a PhD to do it. Obviously the salary I will be offered will reflect on the fact that I have specific skills and not just any scientist can walk into that job.

I think you should ask if you can attend that conference in 2009. If she says no, then you need to start thinking about funding options and sort it out yourself. If that other guy gets to go and you don't well you need to find out why that is.

No, I don't think it is. I've never heard that!

I know some people can have allergic reactions (if allergic to eggs or mushroom products) though. Don't see why it would be banned.

Olivia, try Quorn! High in fibre, low in fat!

I think it's suprising how little protein adults actually need. I think it's less than 50g for an adult female. You can get this by eating a cup of sprouted lentils (high quality protein). Some of the cooked meat you eat is a waste and not considered highly quality protein.