The daily mail is not a good source of info indeed, but this doesn't mean that the problem does not exist.

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 always wanted to become one... It's a dream of life.

Congrats!!!

Well done Dr Delta!!!!

Good luck Pineapple, that's right, don't get stressed, that progress meeting is happening for a good reason. NB: No sign of my examiners report yet.

I recently read this article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2033782/Didnt-job-Blame-lookism-discrimination-ugly-new-racism.html

I wonder if your looks have determined how 'successful' you are as a PhD student (getting the jobs for TA assistantship or getting the funding, being popular in conferences, your course results, etc). I have some experience on this during my PhD (unfortunately negative, since I am very average looking, older that the average PhD student and a foreigner.

Don't quit! You will get surprised about how much you can do in 5 months time. If you struggle with time, ask for another extension. Your work is not a waste if time. NOTHING is a waste of time. Try method B, ask advice around. If your department is not helpful what about those colleagues you met in conferences? Ask them for a second opinion. They will direct you towards the right direction. Good luck! Remember, we need to take risks and challenges in life in order to succeed. You will get there in the end!

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Apart from the obvious (see health, happiness, etc) I want my PhD. After that R&R I really want that PhD. Desperately and asap. I also wish I were a bit slimmer (I put on 30 kilos in the last couple of years - metabolic problems + stress).

I had told my family and my parents in law about the viva. I had also told a few friends of mine - and news travel fast. When I received 'revise and resubmit' I never mentioned it - when I was asked I would simply said I have corrections to do, both minor and major and leave it as it is, without clarifying things. However, my family and my husband's family know about the R&R. My MIL in particular was certain that the viva was the absolute end of the PhD; of course, since she doesn't know the potential results of a PhD viva, even thought I had tried to illuminate her on this. She had even taken time of work so they visit me on the day after the viva for a surprise party. When she called that night and I told her about the R&R in 12 months she was not sympathetic at all. My parents congratulated me for everything saying that I did a great job and with a bit of extra effort I will be done with it, but MIL was acting like a b...(sprout)

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Jummy, Pineapple and all of you who have received a R&R, this is not the end of the world. We have received a second chance. If our research was not good enough then the examiners would have failed us altogether. The examiners are not mean; they are only trying to help. This extra time we need to work on our thesis is NOT A WASTE OF TIME. It can make our thesis better and more publishable. In the meanwhile we can participate in more conferences, keep our research up to date, publish as much as possible, promote our work. We receive advice by the experts (the examiners), we need to listen to them and co-operate with them. I believe that after we get through this we will publish our work a lot faster than others, as our information will be fresh in our minds and up-to-date. Moreover, the advice of the examiners is better than the advice received by the editors of the various publishing houses, and as the examiners know their topic they show a commitment and interest in our work. Moreover, by getting R&R, we receive personal and more intense attention by both our supervisors and our examiners as they don't want us to fail. A fail of a PhD costs a ridiculous amount of money at university institutions. It is bad advertising for them and it means that their chances of getting funding drop significantly. Come on! We' ll get through this together! We know our topic very well. Our research is pioneering and we really enjoy it. Another few months, even another year, is nothing compared to what the future will bring! (up)

jimmynew, you are not alone. I received 'revise and resubmit in 12 months' for the same degree (PhD) one month ago. I still haven't received the examiners' report but I am determined to work hard, resubmit and hopefully get that degree! In my university (also in the UK) we have minor corrections= 1-3 months, major corrections = 6 months, revise and resubmit = 12 months, then award of a lower degree of straightforward fail. I got my r&r after 4.5 years of work (FT). I have found out that about 1 in 12 theses gets revise and resubmit, but the vast majority of the resubmitted theses has a happy end (i.e. PhD awarded). We simply need to do exactly what the examiners want us to do. We can do this!!!

No, there is no limit at starting a PHD or taking a scholarship and I wish you the best.

I wanted to add that there may be issues if you are a lady - you know, how to manage your time (and age) around the house, children etc. but I do not think that would be a major prolem either, unless you suffer from infertility like I do - in that case age could be a problem.

Hi there

I thought I should introduce myself too. I am a Phd student not-mum-yet-but-hoping-to-be-a-mum with infertility problems, PCOS and pre-diabetes. I have abandoned TTCing after receiving revise and resubmit... 32 years old and time's ticking...

Take some time out with your family and enjoy it as much as possible. You are worth it. (gift)

I would like to say a big thank you for your support. It's nearly a month after the viva and the 'revise and resubmit' result; Xmas is coming and I am in better spirits.

I spent a 20 day nightmare after the viva, in deep depression - but I do feel slightly better now. I have received the support of my man and my parents but also nasty comments from my MIL who always felt that my doing the PhD was completely pointless and that my job is washing up in the kitchen. Anyway... Small things for small minds.

What strikes me the most is that when one receives a 'revise and resubmit' the beholder always focuses on the negativeness of things - after all this hard work I have been doing for 4.5 years, nobody congratulated me on my efforts. We need encouragement - not pity.


I still haven't received the examiners report. I did a bit of chasing and it looks like I may have it soon. I only hope I don't receive it on Xmas Eve as a Xmas present.
(sprout)

In the attempt to chase the internal examiner for the reports I received an email by himself mentioning that I will receive a 'joint report' on the post, produced by both examiners 'with a detailed list of recommendations' (he calls them 'recommendations'), plus the thesis copy of the internal, who has probably made an effort to address some individual problems on the actual copy itself (typos, mistakes in my 'evidence', you call it). Judging from the last incident, I realise that the examiners have not abandoned me but rather they do wish to help somehow. At least I do not feel completely abandoned in the mercy of any superior creature up there. I have not heard back from my supervisor after the viva; but I know that we will meet up after I receive the reports so we address the issues (probably after Xmas).

I remind people that it is not certain I will have a second viva and that the external thinks that I will be probably done with the revisions before the time frame of 12 months (crossing fingers here). I still do not know what role the supervisor, the internal and external will play in these revisions but hey, I will do my best and I hope they do help a little bit too.

In the meanwhile, there are two major things that have crossed my mind: a) I need to make the most of this extra time as a PhD student and probably try to publish another paper before I resubmit. So far I have only published one paper (yes I know it is embarrassing) but also several book reviews and conference reports; I have also given plenty of public lectures on my topic - I need to keep advertising myself no matter what - a name is ever so important in academia, especially in humanities.

b) I have had some weird thoughts lately: can one take six months to a year off the PhD after a viva and a 'revise and resubmit' outcome? I wonder if I should take some time off the doctorate and concentrate on my family issues instead... (and these are many). Problem is that it may be difficult to get back to it after that time off - maybe it's better to get on with it asap. That's why the last is a bit iffy to my mind for now. I will see what the report says and take it from there.

NB: By the way, I have found out that the best way of dealing with a revise and resubmit result is 'IGNORING WHAT PEOPLE (e.g. the other students, etc.) SAY AND WHAT OTHERS DO IN THE DEPARTMENT'. I mind my business and they should mind their own. After all I typed a whole thesis in a foreign language - this is by itself a colossal effort to me.

Sorry for the long report and thanks for reading. Sending you Season Greetings!
(tree)