It depends on your subject area and university, but it also depends on what other experience you have. I got a PhD scholarship without a first degree or masters in a relevant subject because of other experience. (Hey, I'm old, I had lots of time to accumulate experience!) I do have a first degree and masters, but in a totally different discipline.

Hi Buttercup, I can get hold of Sobel 1982, but the other one isn't online. PM me if you still need it. :)

‘What’s going on? What’s happening in this place?’

‘Ah, let me show you our latest invention. Pure genius.’ Uncle Carlos led her into the nearest room. It was huge. There were rows and rows of desks with computers, behind each computer an elf.

Jemima stared in amazement. ‘Each of these computers is hooked up to the computers of ten PhD students,’ Uncle Carlos explained proudly. ‘We can monitor what every PhD student in the country does. As soon as one of them comes up with a really clever, original idea, it shows up on that large screen over there.’ He pointed to an enormous screen near the door. It was blank.

‘But there is nothing on there!’ Jemima observed.

‘Ah, yes. There seems to be a bit of a problem. All these PhD students seem to spend most of their time at their computers playing games, posting on forums, checking the news and generally procrastinating.’ The disgust in his voice was obvious. ‘One of them has even started a story recently, encouraging other gullible PhD students to join in and procrastinate even further! And that’s, my dear, where you come in.’

‘Me? But what…’ Before Jemima could finish her sentence the door opened and in came…

"The epistemology of the natural carries with it the fantasy of the image." Not bad! I might use that. :-)

It really was very strange. Valentine’s Day. Jemima suddenly realised sometimes. She stopped dead in her tracks, causing the elf behind her to bump into her. Valentine’s Day, the day her mother had disappeared. And there was something else she suddenly remembered: a pink folder on the desk in her father’s study. A pink folder with hearts all over it. The label on the folder: Valentine’s Day Research.

Jemima looked at the ‘elves’, but they all avoided her eyes. Apart from one, who furtively gestured to her, indicating that she should sit down next to him (or her?). ‘You shouldn’t have got on,’ the ‘elf’ whispered when she had sat down. ‘What’s all this about then? Are we really all going to Santa to make toys?’ The elf pulled a face. ‘Make toys? It’s worse than that.’ Jemima listened in horror as the elf told her that they were so-called ‘research assistants’, slaving away for Santa, who was turning out one research paper after another – without any acknowledgement to the elves of course.

Written on the side of the yellow bus, in large, sparkly red letters, was 'The Omni-bus - going wherever you want to go.'

Jemima and John stood at the window staring. The bus beeped its horn. With amazement they saw the driver waving to them.

On threads you have started yourself you can click on the 'Helpful User' box (next to 'Send PM' box) if you find somebody's post particularly useful. :-)

I've had an extremely unproductive day. :-( I've had a constant headache for the last four days and just can't concentrate. I've surpassed myself at procrastination today. :$ I might get an hour or two this evening, but now I've got to make some food and tidy up.

Oh well, tomorrow is bound to better. (And maybe the headache will have gone!)

Those of you with lots of stars: just remember that the biggest stars can turn into black holes :p

(An astronomy PhD-ling will no doubt tell me that's rubbish!  In fact, anybody who knows more about astronomy than me - which isn't a lot - will probably tell me that's rubbish.)

On balance, I think one star is just about the right number to have. :-)

I'm in the same boat as you - kids, part-time work, other committments... It's difficult to find enough time for a full-time PhD. Like you, some weeks I do well, especially when I spend a day or two at the university (I live about an hour's drive away). Other weeks I'm lucky if I manage to squeeze in an hour or two per day... Like last week - half term, my mother visiting and I was not feeling well. I find it really quite frustrating sometimes. I long to have whole days available just for PhD work, spending a whole day in the office I have at uni or at the library ... Or having a whole day to myself at home to do some work - bliss! I guess it's all about being super-efficient when you do get time to work. I also try and have smaller (and less demanding) jobs which I can do while there is chaos all around me. Now, for example, I'm sorting through my EndNote reference list while my daughter is trying to make a cake, my son is trying to join in and both are doing their best to aggravate each other as much as possible. Aaaarrrgh!

Hi PhDSoup,

just over 10 years ago I felt exactly as you do now. I could have written your post, almost word for word. I was half-way through a part time PhD and by that time hated almost every moment of it. I felt I wasn't getting anywhere and had a lot of problems with one of my supervisors. And yet everybody I talked to reacted pretty much the same as you have described. I kept going for a few more months, until I decided I really couldn't continue any longer, for the sake of my sanity. I honestly never regretted withdrawing from the PhD. I only regretted not doing it sooner! It totally knocked my confidence and it took me until now to even consider another PhD. (I have just started another PhD, full time this time and fully funded - like you I had no funding before - and with two fab supervisors.)

For me, withdrawing from the PhD was definitely the right decision at the time. I still remember the feeling of relief when I finally made the decision. Having said that, it might not be the right decision for you now - but only YOU can know that. :) I really feel for you though, it is difficult. Especially when everybody else seems to think you're making the wrong decision.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Thanks for the welcome. :) I've only now realised how badly the 'failed' PhD has affected me - especially my confidence. I have always seen myself as quite 'academic', so dropping out of the PhD was quite a blow for me. I never regretted that decision though, just wished I had made it earlier! Thinking about one of my supervisors still almost gives me a panic attack... I never considered a PhD again and only came across this one by coincidence. Actually getting it has given me a real boost. :)

Hi, I've joined a while ago but never introduced myself properly. I started a PhD a few weeks ago and am really enjoying it so far! (I know, early days yet...) I'm still very excited about the PhD work itself, just a bit concerned about how to get it all done! I'm doing the PhD full-time, but I've also got to fit it around a part-time job (very part time - only a few hours a week) and family (I have two young children). I've had a 10-year break from proper academia, when I dropped out off a part-time PhD half-way through. (I can really relate to the stories of supervisors-from-hell on here...) This PhD is in a totally different discipline and my supervisors are lovely and very supportive - such a different experience from last time.

I've found this forum very helpful so far and I hope to make some useful contributions over the next 3 (or so) years. :)