Hi Rose, your studies sound really interesting, I take it you're a horsey girl like me!

I did my BA and MSc (social sciences) at the same university without a break in between, I'm just finishing my MSc now and start my PhD in January 2011. I feel really settled and supported in the department as I have been there for over four years now; my course is in an emerging discipline and so there aren't many other places in the UK I could have moved to. I registered my interest in doing a PhD in November last year so quite early on in my MSc. Then I was going to apply somewhere else and decided not to for various reasons, and decided to stay where I was. Then I had a bit of email communication with the director of postgraduate research and she quickly allocated me three supervisors based on what I wanted to do; this was all quite informal as I had only given her a short overview of what I wanted to do; the professor who was to become my lead supervisor helped me with this. I had a very informal interview with her as she had already given me the place and she made sure I was happy with who was supervising me and talked through the PhD process. I then submitted my application to the Registry just so that my place was protected.

This was very informal and straightforward - I think because my supervisors already know me quite well there isn't a lot they could have learnt from interviewing me. I think it is a good idea to contact the supervisor first then they can help you with your application and potential funding - the source of funding depends on the course and university. Unfortunately I haven't got any funding because there is no money available but I have some inheritance to pay for it. I will also be doing some teaching for the money and experience, although not straight away.

I hope this is helpful in some way and good luck!

Natassia x

Wow - I know it hasn't been accepted yet but sounds like you have a chance. I hope you get the outcome you're after! You and your supervisor seem to make quite a formidable team!! Nx

Really interesting question - I love threads like this!

1. If I wasn't starting my PhD next year I may be training as a psychoanalytic therapist instead, I am very interested in psychoanalytic theory and I pursue this in my PhD. I was thinking of becoming a therapist and doing some teaching/research as well but at 22 I think I lack the confidence to help others properly, I think I'm too young. I may still do this later on though. If I hadn't started my MSc I may have gone into journalism, a friend of mine is a showbiz journalist and it seems like a nice life! If I hadn't gone to university I would still be hairdressing and earning much more than I am now!

2. Not at all at the moment, I think there will come a time when I want to try different things, like being a psychoanalyst, but at the moment I'm just excited about starting my PhD! And I definitely don't want to go back to hairdressing or anything in the service industry!

Unfortunately I feel a bit like that as well today, now I have to leave for work in 1/2 hour. I really think I've gone into hibernation mode for the winter. Hopefully it won't be too busy at work so I can get on with things there.

I've been out A-level tutoring this morning so have already done something...sort of. I have to go to work at 3pm so goal between now and then is to write at least 500 (decent) words on the chapter I'm working on, then email it to myself and carry on at work. Am going out on a date tonight and a party tomorrow so need to get enough done to justify having a couple of evenings off!

I have classic fm one the radio (have to have some music but can't have voices when writing) and a chunky cardigan on with a scarf and bootee slippers, 2 radiators on and I'm still a bit chilly! Might have to invest in some thermals.

Have a good day everyone.

There is defintely a way of accessing your library online that is probably very simple to use - I just haven't worked out how to use it and I don't really need to. If you find out how - let me know!

How's your Lumie clock been working, are you still getting up naturally?

I use Mendeley and after a little while getting used to it I find it really easy, I have never had a problem with how it formats my references either, like it rarely 'makes mistakes', the only thing you have to add afterwards is the page number if quoting something. Its free as well which is always good! Only thing is I haven't worked out how to go back and forth from the Mendeley on my desktop and the online version so I can only use it at home which is a bit annoying, but I work mainly from home so it's not too much of an issue. You can add notes to text and highlight it etc and that can be useful. I've not used any of the others but went to a workshop about using EndNote - in my opinion Mendeley seems a bit more simple to use.

Fingers crossed! It probably is still in there if you were using there and haven't been anywhere else. It's an easy think to leave behind!

"can be attributed to"?

"originates from"?

Nx

Sneaks - I've wanted one of those for ages as I always have to get up early and find it difficult to stop pressing the snooze button unless I've gone to bed at like 10pm the night before. If you think it works I'm going to treat myself to one!

Natassia is here...

I would just take it back as you're not going to have enough of the white solution as it's carefully measured out, also I think exposure to air wouldn't do it any good. The 'white stuff' is the colour developer but it comes in different strengths so it would be difficult to get the same strength that was in your bottle.

I think that they'll exchange it if you just apologise for throwing the receipt away - good luck! Nx

Natassia is here...

I would just take it back as you're not going to have enough of the white solution as it's carefully measured out, also I think exposure to air wouldn't do it any good. The 'white stuff' is the colour developer but it comes in different strengths so it would be difficult to get the same strength that was in your bottle.

I think that they'll exchange it if you just apologise for throwing the receipt away - good luck! Nx

Hi everyone, I've had to use Google Scholar to find a few apparently rare texts that I can't get hold of in the library or on Amazon, but there doesn't seem to be a way of printing them off (I don't like reading anything long or difficult from a screen), I can only add them to 'My Library'. Does anyone know how to get around this?

Thanks, Natassia xx

I'm using Cambria for my MSc dissertation at the moment and quite like the change after years of Times New Roman!

Wow you're submitting so early - well done!!

I think a new name should be similar to your current one so that everyone remembers who you are - I like pug dogs so out of that list I'd choose PhDPug! I quite like Thenewbug as well.

Hope you're well chick, Nxx