Thats really nice of you to say that, I admire you as well you seem to consistently work so hard just to be able to do your PhD - that shows real determination. I think anyone that is doing a PhD is a genius though, I may appear organised and together but I'm really not!

Just wanted to say that I agree with you, I would stay, you clearly love it there and have been able to make links outside of the university through conferences and publishing, so its not like you are in an insular bubble there. I also think that your supervisor is thinking of you, if she thought it was in your interests to move elsewhere for a post-doc position she would be helping you to search for another position rather than spending her time on securing funding for you to stay. I know you've said that others have had trouble with her but it sounds like you get on really well with her and have a good working relationship - I'd make the most of that.

Thank you all for the replies, I hope I can respond to them all properly. I expected a variety of honest responses and I really appreciate that.

At the end of the conversation I had with my tutor yesterday, he told me to keep an open mind and that I "might" get into this university but he also mentioned others, and said that I could stay where I was if they managed to get some funding for me, however he is unsure about that due to the economic climate. In the field I'm in the other university and my present university stand out, and there is quite a lot of networking between them, so I wouldn't be at a significant disadvantage for staying where I am. He also said that it would be a shame for them to train me up only for me to go elsewhere which I was quite touched by at the time - I do think that I would be treated very well as a research student there, the other PhD students all actively teach and publish and thats what I want. I have also been told by another senior academic to keep an open mind, and he mentioned others although having looked at their websites I'm not really sure - he doesn't know me so well anyway.

The proposal would need significant work; there are theoretical frameworks involved that are new to me and although I understand them conversationally I need to read up on them to establish my own take on them. I need to go to see other academics at my university as well as it will contain elements from another discipline. So its a case of exploration and making things fit together properly. I would ideally like a week after this deadline.

The trouble is, with how things are going at the moment I'd feel lucky to get a merit for my MSc, which isn't good after my 1st at UG level, and its not what I wanted for my Masters. I haven't submitted anything or had any work back yet so have no evidence to prove that I'm not doing as well but I just don't have an especially good feeling about anything, although I am really enjoying it. I don't feel really out of my depth, I know I have the ability, but I have had some difficult things to deal with at home that have knocked me for 6 really, I never really had that at UG level and it all seemed to come so naturally to me. I could try to get an extension for one of my MSc assignments but that would only be for another week and my new modules start straight after so I wouldn't really have that much more time anyway.
So my confidence has taken a few knocks and I feel more fragile than I did before, when the other university rejected me at MA level I felt terrible and I don't want to go through that again, I have enough going on.

I hope I've replied to you all properly, and thanks again for the useful and honest replies, Natassia x

This is a really interesting topic - I am only at MSc level but in Psychology/Sociology, I seem to think about myself a lot and it is sometimes encouraged, I also do all qualitative research and so to be reflexive I guess a bit of sensible self-analysis is required. I think that with any degree, particularly PhD level, you are effectively working through a research process and that comes from something that is internal to you, that you have a special interest in. Therefore, it is like a practical exploration of your psyche, gradually becoming external and recognised critically by others. Therefore, during that process you are going to look at yourself constantly, as it holds a lot of meaning. I hope that makes sense!

Apologies for this being so long!!

I'm doing my MSc at the moment and from the beginning have planned on applying for PhD supervision with two very well-regarded professors from another university, as my research interests match very well with theirs and I like their work. They were also recommended by one of my tutors on my MSc course. However, the same university rejected me at Masters level for quite thin reasons (my tutors at the time were all shocked and thought it wasn't a good decision). Although I was discouraged by this it never really put me off, although recently I have had second thoughts, kind of like a gut instinct. I have also looked at other universities and had other academics recommended to me.

However, I contacted one of the professors from the original university and he called me yesterday to ask about my research interests. Basically the call went well and he seemed to think I would be ok in terms of fitting in with their interests and academic ability, however he wanted me to be more precise with what I actually wanted to research and the area I wanted to focus on. I told him the theoretical background I wanted to come from and the methodology I want to use and that was it basically. He was pleased with the work I had done and with my proposed MSc dissertation topic, and told me that he hoped I would apply.

Today I had a long conversation with my MSc tutor and we developed a proposal idea that I am really pleased with and excited about researching. I had always had that kind of idea in my head but never really articulated it, and I'm really pleased with how today's meeting went - I feel more confident that I have a workable idea now. I would use it in a proposal for the original university I wanted to apply to, however now the timing isn't good.

I need a good few days' work to get it perfect, I have written quite a lot but it needs more background reading. For that university the whole application needs to be in by the 8th Feb, I also have a MSc deadline that day and another 2 days after, and three before then, so it is a really busy time. I effectively lost a month's work time before and during Christmas due to family matters, and they are ongoing, so really I am working hard to try to claw back time now. I still worked during that time, but my heart wasn't in it, I went through a bit of a depressed period really.

I've made a decision, which hasn't been easy, to not apply to the university that I really want to go to and to wait, make my proposal perfect after my MSc deadlines and to focus on my MSc for now, that needs my time. I would apply somewhere else around the middle of February. I'd really appreciate any comments, good or bad on this, am I being too defeatist or am I being sensible?

Sorry its so long again, thanks for reading. Natassia x

I feel like I have far too many, usually things that I really can't afford. Things that spring to mind are expensive take away coffee (Starbucks etc, all adds up), books that I don't get time to read properly, makeup that I don't use very often (how many lip glosses of very similar shades do I actually need?!). I also have a bit of a thing for celebrity 'documentaries', was probably the only person in the country to watch Kerry Katona's one, and loved Jordan and Peter!

Thanks! I'm not normally nervous on the phone at all, but I know that when I'm waiting for the call I'll be terrified! I'm making sure I have an empty house, or I'll just take myself somewhere quiet!

Hi Leaf, you're so right but its difficult to believe that they are genuinely nice and approachable when they are so important and everything they say matters so much. I sent an email on Friday afternoon basically saying what I had done and what I'm doing now, and what my interests for PhD study were, my tutor told me to keep it quite brief so I did, I think it was probably only about 150 words in total, if that.

I didn't expect to hear anything until at least Monday, but he got back to me today, says that he's interested and going to call me later in the week to discuss my ideas further! I'm so pleased that things are gradually starting to materialise but nervous about the phonecall, hope I don't say anything stupid.

Glad to hear the colour went well Satchi - I'd go for the pink Kerastase range now, probably the Chroma Riche shampoo, it will keep your colour in for longer...treat yourself to expensive shampoo as your colour isn't costing you much!

If you mean a chapter in an edited book thats been written by someone else, in the text I do (author, date if its there, in author of book, date of publication). Then in your list of references reference the full title of the chapter then the book its in, hope that makes sense. But thats using the Harvard system that I have to follow, yours might be different. Basically you don't do them separately, when you're doing it in alphabetical order use the author of the paper. Not sure about figures as I don't really use them in my subject but I can't see that being much of a problem.

No you can only get Kerastase from good salons. Headmasters and Rush do it, and some independants, there might be a stockist list on the website http://www.kerastase.co.uk/_en/_gb/home/index.aspx

Hi, I'm doing my MSc at the moment and know how you feel, I have a lot of deadlines at the moment and I feel ok at the moment but I won't be next week I'm sure!

If it helps at all I think I am quite similar, I got a First at undergraduate level and didn't think I really deserved it, I really enjoyed my studies and worked hard, but the night before a deadline, I would always be up until about 3/4am, tearful and wanting to quit my degree because I was so stressed and thought I would fail - I certainly wasn't thinking clearly. I didn't really think of 'finishing' the essay, more 'being too exhausted to do any more'. I seemed to think that if the time was there, I should use it. This was not an effective way of working and indeed living, but it was like a cycle I couldn't really stop; I always got good grades from it so there was no real harm done, only to myself as others have said. But looking back on it, the disorganisation that I perceived at the time was probably a sign that I really cared about my work and wanted it to be perfect, I think that could be similar for you. I always started assignments early, but as the pressure increased my confidence in them seemed to decrease.

Also, like others have said, people have different ways of working. A very good friend of mine from my undergrad degree always used to hand her work in early, like a few days before the deadline as she felt better doing that, especially if she had something else on that week. I would hand things in about 2 hours before the official deadline, still shaking with emotion, caffeine overdose and lack of sleep - I used to be in a right state. Neither of us could imagine working how the other did, yet we still got First class degrees, in fact I did a little better than her (we were always a little bit competitive :-)). So ultimately how you work doesn't really matter, as long as you get the grades you deserve and are happy with the work, you should do what suits you; the most important thing is that you look after yourself and try to think positively, try to stop comparing yourself with others. Good luck, Nx

Are spider veins the same as thread veins?? A friend of mine had one on her eyebrow and she had some kind of injection, it may have been electrolysis actually. It was painful and it took a few treatments to work, but it stops them from coming back. You can sometimes get them treated in beauty salons, the one I go to has someone come in once a month to treat people.

I guess they're a circulation thing, maybe exfoliating/body brushing could help?

Thanks for the replies, I know that everyone has to go through this process but it is quite daunting; its one thing having all these ideas that sound good in your head but then you have to express them to someone who has probably heard them all before!

I could send them a sample of my writing, I have some things that I did well in during my final year, or possibly a section of a MSc essay when I finally have one finished!

As for my ideas, I spoke to my tutor before Christmas and he told me to speak to him again in the New Year before approaching anyone, just so he could give me some guidance. I think my ideas are good at the moment although they aren't yet stable, I don't think thats expected at this stage though. I think they're quite ambitious in terms of methodology as I have never attempted anything like it before and will have to be taught how to do it (its a bit like psychoanalysis), therefore I am definitely pushing myself there, as well as with some of the theory I hope to use. I don't have anything approaching a research question yet though!

Sue - I think I'd rather email than call at this stage, however I can see the advantages of calling them. I've always emailed my tutors though and I think that is the convention at this university as well. I agree with you though in that I am just another student to him, I'm not doing anything unusual in contacting him about my research interests!

Thank you all for helping me to plan my email though, I think I'll email my tutor now then see what he says, its all quite exciting!

I love this space as well, have a little side-interest in hairdressing so its nice to share!

Blue - I'm pleased that you have been to see a doctor, maybe go to see a trichologist as well unless your GP refers you. I don't like to make diagnoses as your hair loss could be due to many things, even hormones. I know I keep recommending products to people but Kerastase has a new range for thinning hair, the shampoo is Bain Prevention and the spray product is Stimuliste. I don't think they are a replacement for anything a doctor can give you but I have heard very good results for them from clients. I hope you can sort it out soon, and please try not to worry too much although I know its difficult.

Satchi - hope your colour goes well!