I hereby apologise to everyone on this thread. Perhaps I am too negative at the mo but it is so tough and all these nights alone in this room are not good for my mental health. Without excusing it, I've spent the last 60 nights working on this and having day job and unfortunately I know that I have to repeat the same to even complete the chapter I'm working on. This are difficult times.

And I disagree with the last statement: it is what you say rather than how you say it that matters. Sometimes the world needs harsh words, otherwise bad things continue to happen.

I think this is all getting out of control. BHC is just a bit angry at the world - understandably - after he completed his PhD but lost his girlfriend, wasn't offered a job and is now a Postdoc with some weirdos who delete other peoples' work. On the other hand, Smilodon tries to be nice and has a good point to make but then this Smishawateva comes in and talks rubbish. So let's all be friends and cool down - like the current British weather.

what makes me angry is the generous use of CAPITAL letters

Without offending anyone or taking party, this Simuzosha is a pain in the neck - or did I just lose my patience with this ridicule attempt to defend stupid requests by brainless idiots who are too lazy to conduct a Google search?
Anyway, peace on Earth and PhDs for everyone.

"Anyway I've noticed how stressed a lot of PhD students are here, to the point where they're collapsing or feel depressed, and worthless and want to quit."

That's a good observation.

Life after PhD? Even thinking about it adds to the stress immensely, so I don't think about it. Thinking about this question is potentially painful and may trigger feelings of hopelessness and even desperation. On the contrary, not thinking about this fundamental question at least leaves us with a tiny bit of hope that things will, in fact, get easier.

I think you're wrong.

Even the dullest amongst us need to realise that PhD research is tough and that a lot of self motivation and independent activity is necessary to even make it through the first months, so if they don't learn it early on but expect spoonfeeding, will that make their life any easier?

Well, Simuzosha, I've read a lot of nonsense and also said and written a lot myself in my lifetime. But your half hearted fight for the "poor" International Students with silly requests is just that - absolutely ridiculous. Your answering to this post nearly three months after the request was made, how helpful is that? Being an International student myself, all I can say is that I completely agree with everything BHC and others have told you in the other thread.

If some people are too lazy for a simple Google search, then they really should not think about doing a PhD.

If I'm correct, there are the old, traditional universities with centuries of history like Oxford, Cambridge, St Andrews and so on. Then, there are the red bricks, these were modern "old" universities, prior to 1992. And then, there are the former Polys which are neither red brick nor traditional. But then, at last, there is the question: who cares?

As others have said, there are more important factors than the choice of university. In relation to examiner's choice, many prefer to select someone from an old university for the viva because they are sometimes less strict and more relaxed than people who feel inferior and want to prove themselves and could therefore be extra strict. But in the end I reckon that the real challenge is to submit the thesis and not to get through the viva. Or is the real challenge to remain mentally intact and to find a proper job? Who knows?

I think you should really think about your question and the limited sense it makes at this point in time: with more than 50% of Ph.D students never submitting a thesis, your priority and concern should be to manage doing a PhD, not the institution. If you do manage, there are millions of ways to increase your "market value" through publications and so on.

Now, however, I think your question is very silly.

Problem is, even if the sup is absolutely great, nice, friendly, constructive, supportive, the question arises whether (Ph.D) research can really be fun. It sucks, IMO.

Also, I'm getting fed up with your "Get on with it" attitude which becames evident from your previous postings, BB. Do you realise that it is not always possible to get on with it, because supervisors may slow you down or data is incomplete or other committments arise, or because we don't feel very well, etc. Therefore, although we'd all like to "get on with it", this advice is in fact, USELESS as it is too generic. If you understand what I am saying?

Every PhD is different, so only because you've done it a certain way doesn't mean your way is the one suitable for the entire PhD population. I work in short, effective bursts, too and this is the way it works for some people, and not for others.

BB, why don't you just shut your mouth and go elsewhere? If you find this boring, then stop reading, you moron.

Apparently you have no idea about the Ph.D process and how difficult it is to constantly produce great work, so I find this thread inspiring and very helpful. Moreover, it definitely helps to tell others about success and progress,no matter how small the steps taken at a time are.