Overview of Mackem_Beefy
Recent Posts
No idea where to start re: finding a uni!
Human resources is not my area either, however, my blog might offer you a little help. Ensure you include funding in the equation.
http://www.wearthesis.talktalk.net
Other than that, Screaming's comments hold true.
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
in a mess
======= Date Modified 02 Feb 2012 08:35:28 =======
Hi Sneaks, also hello to the well known others in this thread,
Sneaks, first of all I think you will be fine, taking into account your postings on this forum, I think you will be one of the best prepared and probably one of the most gifted in this PhD process.
If you think you need to prepare more, then I would focus on the viva and say that should be your main priority over the next four days. Thus make sure that every day there is a fixed short episode for preparation, say one or two hours. Focus on "Bilbo's five".
The other things, like your article, although related, should not be the main priority and probably can wait for a few days (unless a deadline). Also the teaching can be low key, no need to do extensive preparation. If at all running out of time, perhaps say you are ill for a day. In one day you can do more than enough preparation.
Head up, you will pass!
Agree completely with the above. As regards the later bit, I don't think that anyone would ever suggest you take a sicky before your viva. Now that would be unprofessional. Ahem!!! :$:-)
in a mess
Originality: What makes my research distinct from other research in the field, how is it different?
Contribution to knowledge: What has my research added, contributed to the field?
These are the two most critical questions you must be able to answer in a viva (hmm, slight amendment to my blog coming). Delta, nailed on!!!
Funnily enough, I was never pressed on these two questions during my own viva. :$
I've added an account of my viva to my blog and that might help.
http://www.wearthesis.talktalk.net/
http://www.wearthesis.talktalk.net/vivavoce.html
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Too old to do a PhD?
JillW,
Assuming you did your undergraduate degree at the normal 18 years of age and emerged when you were 21 / 22, that would make you 30/31 now.
That's how old I was when I started my PhD. I feel going back as an older candidate helped me approach the PhD in a far more mature manner. I got through quite a long time back with only minor corrections.
If I'd gone in at the youngest I could (23 / 24), I don't know if I'd been mature enough to handle the pressures a PhD puts upon you.
For general help on this, take a look at my blog.
http://www.wearthesis.talktalk.net
All the best,
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Failed PhD any ideas?
======= Date Modified 31 Jan 2012 09:03:51 =======
Alternatively, in trying to gain employment in industry you could say (as one of my line managers during my first post-doc did) advertise your Uni. period as working on a given project rather than a failed PhD spinning a few positives such as analytical and people skills (i.e. the teaching) where possible from it.
That was something I meant to say as well. I love your honesty and while it is a quality that should be valued by employers and very much is, they only tend to appreciate it after interview. Sadly, honesty, however well meaning (and I say this from experience) may not always secure a job. Just check Google to make sure your PhD can't be traced and do as suggested by Mac.
If he's failed outright without even an MPhil, there shouldn't be anything to trace as no viable document will have resulted. The Uni. will take the name off the current candidate list and any feasible trace on their website should disappear fairly quickly. A document will only result and appear on the Open Repository for an MPhil or PhD (latter will also obviously appear as a record on Ethos or other national equivalent).
I say 'should', as my PhD University still lists a failed / withdrawn candidate from a few years back as a current student. He comes into the place where I work as a third party inspector, doing his best to avoid me with me knowing about his past. He's clearly embarrased I know whilst as far as I'm concerned, it just doesn't matter.
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Failed PhD any ideas?
======= Date Modified 30 Jan 2012 15:56:53 =======
As said by others, there are people who manage a career in lecturing without a PhD. I know of one at Sunderland (my undergrad Uni.), who is also well respected as an industrial consultant. However, I would try to pick up a teaching qualification then probably start out at Tertiary / Sixth Form College level first. Alternatively, in trying to gain employment in industry you could say (as one of my line managers during my first post-doc did) advertise your Uni. period as working on a given project rather than a failed PhD spinning a few positives such as analytical and people skills (i.e. the teaching) where possible from it.
Your Uni. (one of five names comes straight to mind - Saford, Liverpool John Moore, Bedforshire, Derby, Manchester Metropolitan) seems to have used you as a cheap lecturing option during your last few months and I think that's disgusting to be honest. The other institute needs a wrap across the knuckles for the way they've handled the situation and when funding disappeared, it would have been kinder after that first year to allow you to pull out and give you a chance to pick up another PhD studentship elsewhere.
The situation you describe deserves a complaint at the least (it's clear from what you say an appeal won't succeed), making sure you don't attach blame to your supervisors (a potential job referee). However, I understand you just wanting you to leave the whole mess behind you.
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Ph.D. Dilemma
My blog might help a little as regards general PhD-related stuff.
http://www.wearthesis.talktalk.net
Specifically, you need to be happy with the environment in which you're going to do your PhD. If you can switch your funding to the new supervisor and group, and that's where you believe you'll be more comfortable then do so. A PhD is a marathon and not a sprint, and you need to have the best environment and support possible to survive and succeed.
Explain to your original supervisor the reasons why and tell them that the alterntive project is that you really want to work on. Supervisors will be used to people initially accepting then declining a position. If they are truely professional, they will understand a candidate needs to be 100% happy with the decision they have made.
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Passed after R&R within 12 months
Give yourself a couple of days off then deal with the minors.
You'll still be a bit shaken at the moment, but that will go with time.
Well done!!!
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Tricky situation
======= Date Modified 26 Jan 2012 20:29:33 =======
Some of the statistics I'm doing are beyond me. Time and again I've asked my supervisor for support (they designed the project), I get it but don't feel they're entirely sure about what they are doing. Some of the work has been picked up as wrong (after I've followed my supervisors advice) and when I've checked with my supervisor after revising things and got their OK it's still flawed.
There's no-one I can approach in my department. I'm reluctant to be associated with research I'm embarrassed by. Thankfully, I'll soon be able to break ties with my supervisor. I wish I'd dropped out just prior to submitting but obviously have to follow through on the corrections or else I'll fail.
Any advice?
What type of analysis are they asking for? If it's probability of populations being different, are we talking normal distribution, student 't', analysis of variance, etc. I'm talking methodology, BTW.
Translated, I may be able to help a little as I've done some statistical techniques.
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Viva corrections
======= Date Modified 23 Jan 2012 11:43:24 =======
Your comment that the thesis has become repeditive in places shows they've probably not read it through completely and skipped bits here and there to save time.
I had it said to me way back for M.Sc. that there was no way they were going to read through the entire disseration. I get the impression they did that for my PhD thesis too, as I know of a couple of other typos that were missed by the examiners.
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Can I accept more than one PhD offer (initially)?
Do so as funding can be a fickle issue as Delta said.
I actually got a couple of hundred more in funding from my ex-poly Uni. than the established Uni. I nearly accepted. I'm puzzled how the other Uni. calculated a lower amount.
I get the impression that some academics will try to bring on a PhD student without the hassle of chasing up funding and the associated administration, either leaving it up to the candidate to pursue this and failing this, self fund.
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Dr Bond!!
Congratulations lass!!!
I never got the chance to nurse a hangover as all my colleagues were away at seminars on the day of my viva. :-)
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Viva corrections
======= Date Modified 23 Jan 2012 11:25:47 =======
Approach your examiner. But if needs must I'd just put the correction in. To be honest few people are likely to read your PhD thesis after it's finally submitted in bound form. If you want it to reach a wider audience you should look at publishing papers from it, or publishing it in book form. This can be done even if you are no longer in academia.
Getting the corrections to the satisfaction of the examiner is a formality IMHO, hoops that you have to jump through to get your PhD. Do not agonise over them too much.
I had minor corrections, which the internal examiner was happy to check BEFORE I hardbound the thesis. That said, I didn't try to be clever. The one change I disagreed with (asked for by my primary supervisor) I retracted later in a journal publication with supporting evidence.
Don't even think about the above, because if you get caught you'll be looking at the very least being made to hardbind with corrections inserted for a second time. I don't think the PhD award will be withdrawn, but you'll certainly be reprimanded for trying to pull the wool over the examiner's eyes.
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Dr, Mrs or both?
I have been studying at university continuously (yes, that's right, non-stop) since September 1998. I will be using the title Dr all the time - and my husband doesn't mind because he knows how hard I am working for it.
I enjoyed being a student (especially during PhD), but after 13 years I'd personally be ready for a change.
I can't say much as when I finished the PhD a few years back, I'd spent 10.5 years of my adult life as a student (2 years HND, 2 years to upgrade to degree, 2 masters - thought I'd failed the first hence the second, five years back in real world then the PhD).
Ian (Mackem_Beefy)
Why do you most want to be a Dr?
Delta, speaking as someone stuck on the outside, how true your words ring!!! :-(
