Hey guys! I have been avoiding this thread a bit because with my new deadline I'm panicking enough as it is, and sometimes it's easier to avoid thinking about it, but it's good to hear how well everyone is doing. I hope to have a final draft of my thesis ready in 2-3 weeks time, with two weeks left to put it all together and sort out the formating and cross-referencing between chapters etc. I think I can do it, but my fellowship application is barely off the starting blocks and that deadline is earlier than my thesis one!

Pink_Numbers, hope you're doing okay. Sounds like you're having a really horrible time, but I agree with your decision to go ahead and try to submit on time. Whilst extensions can be a godsend in times of need sometimes I think they just extend the problem rather than getting rid of it, and if you think you can get it sorted then go for it! And to be honest, at least it will go some way to taking your mind off the other issues in your life- well, maybe, that's how things tend to go with me anyway!

Right, I'm off to make progress on my application. I have to put forward my own project proposal but my brain is so focused on my PhD that it's really hard to think about anything else at all right now! Enjoy the rest of the weekend everybody!

Best, KB

======= Date Modified 25 Jun 2011 10:23:09 =======
Hey Slowmo, it does vary a lot but usually in our department the viva usually is 2-3 months after submission (but nearer 3!). As Dunni said, mine is after 6 days, but that's really unusual and due to certain circumstances and also having very flexible examiners who have agreed to do it so quickly. Orinigally my viva was set for 2.5 months after submission before everything was moved forwards. I'm not quite feeling the luckiness of having it so quickly yet, but I think once I've done it I'll be glad it was all over so soon! Best, KB

Hey! You're definitely not alone! I'm also in my last few weeks, 5-6 weeks until submission and I'm seriously stressed! Usually in these situations I manage to keep my nerve and get the job done but it's easier said than done this time. My nerves are more to do with the viva then getting the thesis finished really, but as my viva is only 6 days after submission the two are pretty much hitting me at the same time (at least it will be over and done with relatively quickly though!). Each day I go from normal to stressed to anxious to crying and back to normal again...I try to calm myself down and I exercise like a bat out of hell every day to cope with the stress but I think I'm just gonna be like this until it's all over, there doesn't seem to be much I can do about it. We'll all get through to the other side though...we're most of the way there and not everyone gets this far :) Stick at it! Best, KB

Hey Sneaks, how long is long? I only have one small qualitative study in my thesis (1 qual results chapter vs 4 quant results chapters!) and it's about 10,000 words. It was accepted for publication at that length, although I had to be quite selective about the journal- not that many journals in my field allow a 10,000 word paper (excl refs and figures). One comment I had at peer-review was to make my quotes longer to provide more context, so I wouldn't skimp on that too much. I guess the main thing I had to cut down on was giving two or three quotes that I really liked, where in fact just one would have done the job. Personally, I would keep writing the paper as you are doing and then look at the word count at the end. That way you've got everything down that you wanted to say, and if it's too long then you can think about how to edit. Can you get an idea from your sup or a previous PhD student regarding how long it should be? Best, KB

Hmmm, thanks all- this all sounds reasonably reassuring! I think I had it in my head I needed to have re-read every single reference and have written answers to hundreds of possible viva questions. I am going to a viva prep workshop at my uni next week but I'm worried this will scare me senseless rather than reassure me, so not really sure if it's a good idea as I guess it will be geared towards most people having a couple of months to prepare. Anyway, thanks for your suggestions, that's really helpful! KB

Hi!

A question really for people who have already got through their vivas and can look back and reflect!

So I have my viva in about 6 weeks, just 6 days after submission. Whilst this is good in some ways, I am also panicking about the lack of time I will have to prepare. Normally I prepare for any assessment thoroughly and leave myself plenty of time to cover all possible questions. Unfortunately this time I won't be able to prepare so comprehensively. I don't anticipate having much free time to prepare before submission either, as I'm trying to put together a project proposal for a fellowship funding call with pretty much the same deadline as my thesis.

So quite simply- looking back at your own experience, what do you think would have been the most useful things you could have done if you'd had only a week to prepare? Any advice or suggestions appreciated!

Thanks in advance, KB

Done! Good luck! KB

Congrats- you must be thrilled! Hope you're out celebrating! Best, KB

======= Date Modified 21 Jun 2011 18:58:14 =======
I've been thinking about this- I'm applying for academic jobs whilst also waiting for the outcome of a grant application. I won't be informed of the outcome until Jan/Feb and I was thinking I'd just apply for jobs anyway because I'm worried that the grant won't come through and then I'll be kicking myself for not applying for the jobs that are coming up while I've been waiting. But if I did get say a research assistant post and was then offered a 5 year post-doc position (which is what the grant is for) then of course I would want to chuck the 1-2 year RA position and take the 5 yr post. I'm gonna have to be very careful if I get offered another job in the meantime to see how much notice is required and how quickly I could take up another position. It's not something I want to do...but I'm kind of backed into a corner really :(

Hey! I agree- you just don't know who you are up against in these situations so don't be hard on yourself. I had an interview a few weeks back for a job I didn't get and they actually said that the interview was really good- I was just up against someone who already had a post-doc under his/her belt. In addition to this issue you never know if there is an internal candidate who has been lined up for the job- I've seen this happen in my own team. People travel from all over the UK for the interview, and it was only ever going to go to the internal anyway. So you may well not be interviewing badly- it might just be that you've been unlucky with the competition. You should ask for feedback too- if you've got as far as an interview then most people are willing to provide you with feedback. Ask specifically about things you could have done better in the interview if you get a chance to speak to one of the interviewers- aside from having more experience etc, you could ask if there was anything that you could have said that would have made a difference. I wouldn't be shy- you'll probably never meet or hear from them again anyway! Finally, getting interviews shows that the background essentials are there- or esle you wouldn't even be getting as far as the interview. If you keep getting interviews at this rate it'll only be a matter of time before you land something! Good luck! Best, KB

Hey Sparkles! I'm not sure I have much advice but I am 6-7 weeks away from my viva and am feeling the same even this far ahead (and I haven't even submitted yet!). I think you just have to focus on the fact that it's almost over, and in a few days you will be able to celebrate. It's natural to think the worst even when everyone around you is assuring you that your thesis is strong enough- I too am dreading a verdict of really major revisions even though everyone says that won't happen. I think you need to be kind to yourself and accept that probably nothing will change the way you feel right now or ease the doubts that are there until you have had the viva and know that you've got through it okay. I don't have to do a presentation, but in a way it might help ease you into things, rather than having questions thrown at you right away without a 'warm up'. Humour me, I'm trying to see the positives! Your examiners will expect you to be nervous, and if you stumble a little then it isn't going to matter. If you forget to make a point then they will ask you about it anyway- so try not to stress about that. So easy to give advice to someone else isn't it- I am so nervous even this far ahead that I had a crying fit so bad that I threw up my dinner a few hours ago! Perhaps that was too much info- apologies! It would be great if we could all take our own advice :) Wishing you loads of luck and I look forward to hearing your success story on here in a few days time. Best, KB

haha, Phdbug- my brother once made that exact error and ended up with a powerpoint presentation entitled 'Pubic Transport'!!! KB

Anyone else ever gone to type a word, only to find that your fingers have just typed a different word to the one you were thinking of?

I just went to type 'delay' and when I looked up the word 'deadline' had appeared on the screen lol! Yeah, thanks...as if I didn't know!

Hope everyone's having a good weekend!
Best, KB

Hey Matt! Well if you can't work then you cant work- definitely take time off if you need it. I haven't ever had a wisdom tooth out but about a year ago a dentist was supposed to be giving me a filling, but by accident he drilled into my nerve and then left it exposed. Of course I didn't know at the timne because I was numbed up, but after the anaesthetic wore off I was in absolute agony down the whole side of my head and I could barely stand up. I have never felt anything like it- it's amazing how much pain a tooth (or lack of a tooth in your case!) can cause and it took 5 emergency dentist visits and a root canal job to fix it :( I think some of my colleagues thought I was exaggerating a bit but it was horrendous- take all the time you need! Hope it gets better soon! Best, KB

Fab news ;) Congrats! KB