In my first year I was allowed to put in an abstract for a poster, but not an oral presentation because I didnt have firm data at the time of abstract submission. I think it depends on the conference organisers how much they are bothered by lack of firm data, but I reckon it's worth putting it in anyway and seeing what they say - good luck!

interesting point insomniac, maybe i was bonkers to begin with...
was definitely crazy to start the PhD in the first place!

In my experience the best people for getting info on official procedures and deadlines are other PhD students and the administrators - my supervisor wouldnt have a clue! Its strange that there arent more official requirements for logging meetings etc. but I know people who havent seen their supervisor in months and months and the uni doesnt seem too bothered! I guess its up to you to ask your supervisor to set deadlines for you if you want them etc - some of them need to be asked to do things!!

funny you should say that Goods, I think part of the reason I've found it so hard is my supervisor! She's good in some ways, v proactive and willing to read things for me, but she's completely unsupportive on an emotional level. Also she's away in Australia quite a lot. When I was depressed I spoke to our head of PG studies (as my supervisor was away and I didnt have a 2nd supervisor) who said take some time off, but nobody in the uni ever followed up to see how I was doing - it's very hard thinking they just arent bothered! have seen the threads lately on problems with the system etc. and I would have to agree. Then again doing something that is in some ways so isolating is bound to take its toll I suppose. I just hope hope hope I get there in the end...!

It's strange reading your post compsci, I think it's exactly what I would have written a year ago, its exactly how I felt. I think the second year is one of the worst, and know many others who felt the same way. I did get through it though, for me I found seeing a counsellor outside the university, getting some meds to help me see through the fog I was in, and taking a few weeks off to care for myself and get away from the PhD helped a lot. Its taken a long time to get back on my feet again, and things are by no means easy now, but I just wanted to give you some hope that you can get through it, it might not seem like it now but you will be ok sending you some good thoughts!

Hi, I'm new to this forum and just wanted to say how reassuring it is to see how many people there are out there who seem to feel like me! I'm now in the final year of my PhD (hopefully!) and have been through some severe bouts of depression, particularly in my second year, followed by major anxiety and panic attacks. I'm now trying to write up, and constantly doubt the worth of my work, whether I will ever get there, how it will all hang together etc. Feeling dread about Monday morning is a horrible feeling, but its nice to know I'm not the only one finding it all really hard to deal with. Fingers crossed for us all!