I'm not sure, I just thought if people want all the links in one place that will never disappear and have access to update it, then a wiki page was in a good position to do that. A link on this forum disappears into the abyss unless people comment on it daily. I don't have much experience with the delicious-style websites as I just use my own browser bookmarks. If anyone knows of an online bookmarking site which doesn't have the drawbacks that have been mentioned in the previous comments and is public, then that would probably be a better option.

Wednesday is fine with me :-)

How does #phdwiki tomorrow at 7pm sound?

Ok, should we all maybe get together on twitter at some point to talk about things like what we will call the article, accounts etc? My twitter username is indoctorate

Yeah that's a good point. It would be better letting everyone have the ability to update the site. How about setting up a wikipedia page?? That way we can all update it, and organise in the usual wiki format.

I'll do all I can with my page to help out :-)

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Hey, I don't know if it's exactly what you want, but I could very easily add a tab to my website, www.indoctorate.co.uk specifically designed for all the useful links that you have given here. Infact I was actually hoping to do something like that anyway. I could keep checking this thread incase anyone adds a new one, people could email the web address or I could add a comments box devoted just for useful links and then update my site accordinly in an organised way as chuff said. What do you all think? If you like I can make up a design and you can tell me if you like it or not. Let me know :-)

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Another point to add on having an older, more established supervisor. Although I've raved about mine, there is one downside (depending on your outlook) that he is not very keen on publishing until he has one big article covering everything. For him that is fine, but for someone looking to make their name I'm not sure how big an impact this will have.

Not that i'm saying I like the idea of publishing just for the sake of it, but I still think publishing when you have one set of results is better than waiting until until you have the full story. If not for the sake of myself, then incase somebody comes along before you and gets the credit before you.

There is quite a mix of genders at my lab, and from the looks of it, that doesn't seem to come into play too much.

I can access it, is there somewhere I can send you the Pdf??

Yeah, it gets to the stage where if he sees me at his door his face just drops now. I think he maybe forgets he has 40 years extra experience!

Yeah that sounds like good advice. I chose my PhD because my initial supervisor was excellent, so helpful. But he is now going into retirement. He's in maybe one or two days a week now. So I've been handed to this new supervisor and apparently I am his first student. So I've no idea how he is going to turn out. I reckon he is probably getting a feel for it as well. I'm just hoping like emma says that it will get better as the days go on.

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I'm beginning to get to know each of my three supervisors now, and each leave me wondering what everyone else is going through with their supervisors?

Basically, I have one supervisor who is like a grandparent, one who just seems agitated any time you need to ask him anything, and another who seems like a friendly guy but isn't altogether that interested. I've got more details on them in my blog, www.indoctorate.co.uk, I just wanted to see how everyone else finds their supervisors.

Also, i am trying to find out how the system works. I.e, what does the supervisor get in return from taking on students? Is it purely a case of of them delegating work, or are there other benefits as well?

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Don't worry, i've often felt the same. Like how everybody seems to be just so knowledgable and enthusiastic about everything, not just there own project. I struggle with my own stuff sometimes, never mind all the other topics that are going about. Still, 3 years is a long time and a lot can be learned in that time. Just try and keep the head up. The chances are every other person you see will have had doubts and feelings like yours at some point. I'm writing a little blog at www.indoctorate.co.uk where I try and make light of some of things that can get you down in a PhD. Feel free to have a read :-). Good luck with it!

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Hey,

First off, congratulations on being in the position to start a PhD. That in itself is a good achievement. I decided to go down the route of a PhD, but I think there were plenty of reasons floating about my mind that made me worried if I was making the right choice.

For example, was I doing it because everyone else I knew was doing it? Was I doing it because it was the easier option? At the time these thoughts were really playing on my conscience. But, now, I realise that as long as you have the passion for the subject, you can feel justified in opting for a PhD no matter what other reasons were going on in your head.

I'm finding life as a PhD really fulfliling. Kind of like life as a student only without the hardships of no wage. I'm writing a blog ( www.indoctorate.co.uk ) on all the fun sides to a PhD just now as well as an article which is actually exactly all to do with your question, http://www.helium.com/items/2057057-why-do-a-phd There are around 20 other articles there that would hopefully be of use to you as well. I think the being an authority of any subject makes the cause very worth while.

Hope that helps :-)

Hey Jenny
I'm really sorry to hear your feeling that way. I'm only three months in to my PhD, a little anxious as to how it will all turn out. I find just trying to find some way of escaping it helps, like finding a hobby. Nothing serious though, you don't want to get sucked into something and then find you don't have any time for the PhD. Personally, I quite enjoy blogging about some of the funnier sides to doing a PhD on www.indoctorate.co.uk . After doing it I tend to usually feel quite refreshed about my PhD in general. Hope it all works out for you :-)

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Never before has the word escapism meant more to me. It really is the key to keeping moral in the first year or so, or even the entirety of your Phd. Find something you really enjoy that you can pick up at any point without hesitation.

I write this blog, www.indoctorate.co.uk, basically for two reasons: It takes my mind off things, and as I blog on things to do with life as PhD student, I try and write about the funnier side of it all. Makes things seem less complicated ...