Hi Pineapple.

I have just finished my corrections, which sound quite similar to yours in scope and nature. I re-submitted last week, and am now anxiously wondering how long it will take to find out if they are satisfcatory or not!
I did have trouble getting them done, my motivation was low as I was so exhausted from the build up to the viva, so the first thing I did was have a few weeks off! In order to get myself focused I found it helpful to set up a Microsoft excel spreadsheet where I kept a log of all the examiners' comments, suggestions and required corrections. I ordered these in the order of the thesis, and assigned a priority based on whether they were required or just suggested, how long they would take and how fundamental they were (in terms of some changes affected the whole thesis, some just one section). I then started by choosing one big one and one little one to work on at a time. I found for example that just doing one or two small changes in a day or a week was good for saying that 2 or 3 chapters were done (where there had not been much needed doing). As a matter of fact, I even used the spreadsheet to share with my supervisor what I had done to address the changes by adding comments to each row, and sending this off with my revised chapter. The contents of this then came together to form the basis of a letter to the examiners to highlight my changes at resubmission.

It is hard to stay motivated, if you are anything like me you will be sick of looking at parts of it! Perhaps start by choosing some changes that feel as though they make a big impact? Anything to get them done - good luck!
I am not sure if mine was a successful strategy as I haven't had the results back yet, but at least I got through them fairly quickly. Hope this helps

Well I have submitted, in my Uni it is not the done thing to contact the examiners yourself so I couldn't do that, but I did pass all my changes through my supervisor who checked them all through in detail. I am confident that I have done everything I can to address the required corrections as well as most of the non compulsory suggestions too. Guess I just have to wait now, but I am hopeful that the outcome won't be an mphil as they were very positive at the viva, ANC said I don't need another, which gives me a little more confidence. Still got that worry at the back of my mind though so fingers crossed!

Hi all.

I am all but finished on my corrections now, am just waiting on some comments on the final bit from my supervisor. Once I have resubmitted, how long does it normally take for the examiners to review the corrections and get back to you? I realise this depends on the corrections and the examiners, but if anyone has any experiences they could share to give me an idea that would be really helpful. Mine were not minor, but not major, and really there were only four required corrections which included rewriting various secions, but lots of suggestions which i have also tried to incorporate. I have written a detaile dletter outlining what i have done so that should help.
I would love to hear your experiences.

Thanks

Hi everyone.

As some of you will remember, I did my viva in january, and got corrections which were partway between minor and major, (mostly minor corrections, but as I work full time they wanted to give me longer than the standard period for minor to re-submit) so they had to go for the revise and resubmit option. I have now completed my corrections and am ready to resubmit. i was told at the viva that I didn't need another one (they told my supervisior the same thing) so i am not expecting to have to meet with them again. my question now is, what happens next? Presumably they will be sent my thesis and will read it through again, with particular attention to the changes. I have written a long and detailed letter to explain these changes and where they are/ how I made them. Will they then write to me to let me know the outcome? i am assuming they can require some more changes (such as typos etc) if what I have done is satisfactory? Cant wait to get this finished off now!

Hi, just wondering if anyone uses Smartdraw and can help - I drew a data model in it for my thesis, but have been asked to make a correction to it. I had a copy of Smartdraw but it has expired, and I really didn't want to have to pay for it again for just this one thing, so got the free trial. I did my amendments but have realised I cannot export the file to word to go in my thesis as it has a big watermark on it. Does anyone know how I can do this without forking out all over again?
Thanks for any help!

I agree with the others, it is laborious but I found it really worthwhile transcribing by own interviews. I did 46 of more than 2 hours each, so I really do sympathise! I had software that played back my recordings at about 50% of the speed, but I found I did better writing longhand (well not longhand but a combination of qords and invented shorthand squiggles) than typing, though i am generally a fast typist. It just flowed better somehow. I then either typed them oup myself afterwards, or asked my OH to type them up exactly as I had written them to help me out which was great. I found writing with a pencil was easier. Worth a try?

Hi Pineapple

I think I did all of those things on the list
1) I missed quite a few references from my list despite checking it about four times
2) I didn't go anywhere near my original contribution in my abstract - in fact my abstract was basically crap
3) I had loads, and I mean LOADS of typing errors in there
4) I veered between the topic being too large and too narrow, in different parts of the thesis.
5) I had a short intro, and a comparatively short discussion. I had really long results chapters - 70% of my thesis was results

As you may remember, I passed with corrections.
I have to check the spelling and the references (of course)
I have to re-write my abstract
I need to expand my scope in my intro where I have become too narrowly defined, and curtail my scope in the discussion where I have wandered off towards the end. I have not been asked to expand the intro, just to re-specify it. My discussion will be a bit longer when I finish, but that is only due to the way i have re-written it, and the fact that I have added a bit about my original contribution, which i had completely left out before

My examiners were happy that I could at least tell them verbally about the positive things I had done, and the negative things were about writing and organisation, rather than a criticism of my research. Sounds as though it will be the same for you.
However, i do understand your nerves - i was so bad on the day I was sick afterwards. The nerves overcame me so much when they asked me to leave the room i began to cry quietly and didnt stop until I got home, even right through discussing the outcome with them and sitting on the bus. I was also so releieved to get it over with I actually took my shoes off in front of them (they were killing me) in a kind of daze!

A week to go. Prioritise your prep, but also prioritise eating, sleeping, a little light exercise and some relaxation, at this stage it sounds as though these things will do you more good than more prep. You know your stuff, you know your stengths and weaknesses. You are bright and creative. You can do it.

Another one done

Hi everyone. I am confused and i am hoping you can help. i currently have a very good job that I mostly enjoy, though I am going through a hard patch at the moment. I have just seen a job advertised for a criminology lecturer which is my topic area, on less money, and don't know whether to apply or not. I am completing the corrections on my PhD and many years' of industry experience in the justice system - and may have a chance at it - who knows! I half feel as though I should take the chance to move on, but half of me is terrified of leaving behind a good thing where I get a lot of respect and make a good living, and have potential for the future maybe.
If anyone has any thoughts I would be grateful!

Done!:-)

I recently underwent training at work so that I could have full oversight and editor control of the information 'universe' containing all of our HR and financial info that we report against. The training certificate on my wall certifies that i am a qualified

'master of the universe'

Can't get better than that! Shame I cant do anything about the petrol prices though!

maybe 'ill suited' or unsuitable as the previous poster said?

Good luck W, not far to go now!

Hi everyone
Could someone recommend a good methodology book which looks at grounded theory and different epistemiologies? One of my corrections is to strengthen the methodology section that talks about the approach i took! I know my reasons, but need some back up!
Thanks

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Thanks eveyone for your kind words. One thing that has been amazing to me is how tired I feel after the viva! No-one tells you how you will feel afterwards - I don't feel elated, just concerned that i am not going to be able to make adequate corrections to pass. I feel I gave a good account of myself in my viva, but the overwhelming feeling is tiredness, and a feeling of anti climax. i think it is good advice to any student to not view the viva as the end of the line - I think for most students there will be corrections of some form to do, and building the viva up to be 'the final day' can do more harm than good in terms of raising pressure and expectations.
On a positive note, i had a lovely email back from my external saying how well they thought I did in reposnding to constructive feedback which is nice. Also, it is friday! I was in work again 8am Thursday the day after the viva and have been writing an audit report which in istelf has been exhausting!

How did you all feel afterwards? Do you think that there could be more done to prepare you for these feelings after the viva? it is a bit strange to expect elation when you feel flat, especially when your family and friends are all congratulating you and you find yourself arguing that you have not even passed yet!