Thanks!
I dont think im particularly good actually, my supervisor although happy probably could be happier. But its a discipline thing. Its just good to hear im not the only one who seems to not be a 9 to 5 disciplined person. I agree though Ruby its hard for us last minuters doing PhDs because they cant just be knocked off like an ordinary paper. But we will have to just soldier on!!!
x

Hello all.
I think this is honestly a bit of a rant- a defeatist rant at that! I have so much respect for everyone who can work, do lots of work everyday. Sometimes I am writing a few hundred every day and even then that's not everyday.
I'm one of these people who find it difficult to work without a thumping big deadline kicking me up the backside, even at masters level I was a night before kind of person and worryingly it got me through and got me through well. Now in the third year of my PhD, im blessed with a wonderfully talented and supportive supervisor and I just know I'm not doing myself any favours by not being as focused and driven as I should be, by not submitting what I promise her I will.
I just can't seem to summon up the energy or the drive a lot of the time to do it. I dont know, a lot of my friends seem to think its something which is born out of feeling its not possible and so It becomes too big a task.
I dont know. Sometimes Im really calm about the whole thing, Sometimes Im very far from it. Im in a department which I live quite far away from so Im not in everyday and I work at home. The other PhD student in my year is a mature one and frequently regales me with how much work they have done and I just feel pretty useless about the whole thing.
I think im the worst PhD student ever. I don't think I have met a worse one in my whole time, and although I know when I sit down to do some work and i start analysis when I find a new way in I get really really enthusiastic it just doesn't seem to be enough to get me being regular with my work!
I feel like I have really disappointed my supervisor and even though I have had international conference success I just can't seem to fathom how to deal with the world of academia.
Very rambling entry I know, I think it was more of a cathartic purge for me. But I would love any comments
xx:$

Gosh lucky you being able to write quickly and well. I wish I could do that. Don't worry about it. Its something which will come with finding your own voice, and also sounding tonally like a well respected scholar is never a bad thing.

Im totally relating, been completely cacking myself with moments of calm and moments of complete panic. I do not have 80,000 words written- if only I did! I feel like the worst PhD student in the world as the only people I read about are those who are just so good and disciplined. Have a thought for us meanderers!
x

Hi all,
In the last year of my PhD and still have masses of work to do (thats an entirely different post) but I just wanted to ask you all, are any of you getting a gate fever about what you are going to do after your PhD is over. As in into the 'real world' again, 9 to 5 and things like that. I must admit my brain is in a complete tizz about it, I don't even know where to begin!

conflippingratulations! I hope this time next year im all handed in as well!
xx

Very jealous of you Pineapple!!
I have my office at home but no office in uni there are far too many of us but I confess I am quite happy working from home.

Thanks smilodon sometimes its nice to have someone tell you it will be grand!

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Hiya Andy, please try not to worry your publications as the other very on the ball folk before me mentioned wont determine the marking for your PhD. My supervisor mentioned to me that publications are nice to have but not essential. Her reasoning for doing them during PhD was she said we would be more focused on the work because we would be writing up anyway. But I don't think you should worry honestly just be so thrilled with yourself for being ready to submit.
Well done(up)

Hiya Andy, please try not to worry your publications as the other very on the ball folk before me mentioned wont determine the marking for your PhD. My supervisor mentioned to me that publications are nice to have but not essential. Her reasoning for doing them was be

======= Date Modified 17 25 2008 20:25:49 =======
I'm sure many of you know the feeling of sheer panic, mixed with a degree of complacency when there isn't an immanent deadline which goes along with a PhD.
Now I have a year left (submit next sept) and I have another 5 chapters to write and I seem to be refocusing over again and tightening my scope more and more. I just feel like I should be further along because I'm still always reading.
But other researchers in my dept seem to change their stories as to how much they have written/needed to write so I just don't know anymore!
I haven't published yet but I have some major conferences under my belt was just hoping that during the year of writing I can redo some conference papers to publications.
Can someone please tell me I have time!! Its an arts phd btw

:$

Honestly? It was expressed to me in no uncertain terms when I was applying for funding that paying for your own PhD is not done.
Now I can't say I know very many academics at my university who have paid for their own research but when the whole idea of people paying for their own comes up its usually greeted with an attitude of 'its not worth the paper its written on if no one wants to support it'
As I say I don't know too much about the self funding aspect, just what other researchers, post docs etc say. I think I would worry about the fact that often having your PhD funded seems to in some way validate it as worthwhile (whether or not that's fair remains to be seen) it could just be academic snobbery I don't know.
Its a pretty hard slog anyway and without being paid for it I cant imagine how hard that would be. I was lucky enough to have a choice of funding because I was very very fortunate to have two funding offers and even with a lot of the finance taken care of the worry and stress is still huge. So I would honestly say think about holding off and applying for funding next year. Even if you can afford it sometimes its quite nice to know that your fees and some maintenance is taken care of. And also if it all goes very wrong and for whatever reason you don't finish, or if you do and cant find a job, at least you are not horrendously out of pocket.
Maybe I take a bit of a safe view on it, and I cant ascribe to the opinions of my colleagues as far as self funding is concerned. But please just remember its your decision. It is a very hard 3 years and not to be taken lightly. Sometimes being paid for it makes you feel less like an idiot for doing this to yourself!
:$

Well hello all,
Today I am mainly working (tonight really) being a late night worker its often me and the tv and my trusty laptop typing away with some dodgy programme in the background. I have become highly knowledgeable about sign zone and all sorts of random quiz shows as they trundle along in the background of my evenings work. But hurrah along comes the Olympics and my night working is a bit more jolly and Im not as entranced by a woman trying to sell me a yoghurt machine. So yay Beijing I thank you for cheering up my middle of the night and may I recommend the games to all other night workers out there.
OOOooo the gymnastics is starting...
xx(up)

Id go for it 27pence, he knows the process having been through it as a second supervisor. You prolly will have a second supervisor, I send my work to both anyway. Go for it.
x

Hi olivia,
I have found a bit of that in Irish studies but in drama theyre pretty proressive and they do get all excited about new things in the field.
Does that help any?