======= Date Modified 24 Aug 2009 15:35:32 =======
Thanks everyone, PhDbug - yes I am quite similar to your description actually! The writing advice is really useful and I'm going to get hold of some shorter journal articles today and see what I can do. I'm quite concerned about losing the ability to write over the holidays, as well as not being able to write to Masters level, so I need the practice. I know different people work in different ways, but how did/do you go about doing this writing? During my undergrad dissertation I kept a written diary type thing of my research which I found quite helpful, and also I did quite a lot of free writing for chapters/essays before building them up - out of interest what works for you?



KB - Yes we are in similar fields but I think you're more 'clinical' than me, I'm doing my MSc in Psychosocial studies which is an emerging discipline, sort of at the interface between psychology and sociology. So its all qualitative methodology, and influenced by psychoanalytic theory. I think it would definitely be possible to do a similar type of research for MSc and PhD as I guess the PhD could be a sort of continuation of the MSc. I say this because during my MSc interview the professor asked me how I would make my undergrad dissertation into something of MSc length and standard, and in a way he made it sound as if it would be something I could actually do. I wouldn't do it as personally I want to research other areas, but I can't see how researching something similar would be a problem, my department does seem quite relaxed as well. I do know who I want to supervise me but I'm scared to ask them...but it has to be done sooner rather than later.



Thanks, Natassia x



Ps. Craig, you'll be fine I'm sure and well done for getting the funding, they obviously have faith in you - good luck!

I've just had official confirmation of my place on my MSc course after getting my degree results and after a bit of general panic and cold-feet, I am really looking forward to it now. Its at the same university as my undergraduate degree and the majority of the staff will be the same - I got a First so hopefully they have some faith in my ability. I want to do a PhD straight afterwards all being well and am deciding whether to apply to other places or stay there, however at the moment staying is quite appealing because the university stands out within the field and I feel quite settled there.

I ultimately want to have an academic career and so I am starting to think about publishing (if this is possible during a Masters), although at the moment I am feeling quite naive about it and not really sure where to start. I know I won't be able to do much before actually starting but what can I be doing now to give myself the best chance? I have done a bit of reading (from suggestions) and put quite a lot of thought into what I might want to research for my MSc dissertation and possible PhD, but its hard without speaking to the tutors and I don't think I should really email them during the holidays when they're probably busy sorting the course out.

I have enjoyed my time off but I'm getting to the stage now where I just want to start, but at the same time I'm worried about starting. I know I'll be thrown into the deep end at the beginning and I want to prepare myself for the leap between undergraduate and postgraduate study. I'm quite bored now actually and want to get back into the habit of working again, it feels like I've been off for much longer than 2 1/2 months!

Any advice appreciated, Natassia x

I worry all the time about 'tutor etiquette'....silly really but you're not alone!

It does sound unusual, paticularly if he has emailed you since you sent the work and didn't mention it in that email. I would just send a little email to check, sounds like you get on alright with him so even if he has already got it and been too busy to read it, I don't think you'd be offending him!

I got mine 3 years ago, practically failed them (under my school's standards) after doing quite well at GCSE and was really upset. Just about got into my 2nd choice university, loved my degree and got a First...starting my MSc next month! A friend at school who was deputy head girl was asked to make a list of everyone's results as most of the girls would have graduated this year, I'm sure most of the teachers will be very shocked to see mine!

Thanks again for writing such a detailed response, I never compared this to proper research council funding or a studentship as they don't ask for references or any information about my course and/or proposed research. Like you said, it seems so much more to do with marketing than proper academic funding. I guess this late into the year they know that many postgrad students will still be desparate for funding (which I'm not really but a little bit of money would be nice) if they missed out on research council funding, so they will do this as a sort of last resort. I wasn't looking for funding but saw the link so had a quick look.

I am definitely going for research council funding or a university studentship (am interested in 2 institutions at the moment) if I do a PhD afterwards. I'm already worrying about the application as it has to be completed so far in advance, so looking into some potential areas for research at the moment. Obviously I need to talk to my tutors about this in much greater detail in September but thanks for clarifying things about this particular company.

Also, is it quite 'normal' to pay for a Masters yourself and then get funding for a PhD? Would there be many questions asked about why I paid for the Masters myself?

Natassia x

Firstly Jane, thanks so much for taking the time to go through everything for me...I feel a bit naive and stupid now, especially with all the posts about successful ESRC funding applications around at the moment! I've never made a funding application before basically due to a lack of confidence from coming from an ex-poly, but as I said now I have my First I feel a bit better.

Admittedly, I didn't like the website much when I first looked at it as it is so different from the ESRC website. It makes you wonder who is actually looking at these applications and what they base their judgement on...they probably aren't experts in any field or whatever. I think I will go for it, even if I do get it I can always leave it off my CV if that would be a better idea than putting it on, and £500 would pay for a few books at least. I don't know whether its worth bothering any of my tutors about this, they do know me as I did my undergrad there at the same university.

I start my MSc this September, yesterday on my School's website I noticed an advert for Postgrad solutions and the £500 bursary (2x) that they are awarding for 2 students on any course at any British university. My plan was always to pay for my masters myself, then get a studentship/ESRC funding for my potential PhD but I thought I might as well go for this as I've got nothing to lose, and now I have a first class degree I feel a bit more confident about trying things like this.

My main questions are whether anyone knows about or has any experience of Postgrad Solutions Ltd, and what I could do to maximise my chances of getting funding. As there are only 2 bursaries being awarded I know my chances are very slim, as I can only use 200 words to support my application I need to come up with something quite special! I am in the social sciences as well, and studying at an ex-poly, though the state on the website that there is no institutional bias.

Any advice really appreciated, Natassia

When I applied for my MSc I included all of my A-level results in the space provided, despite achieving quite sub-standard grades for my school (B, C, C, D). At the time of applying for my MSc I was still completing my undergrad degree and was on the borderline between a first and a high 2:1 (ended up getting a first). I was told by a tutor at university that A-level results didn't really matter, however when I went for an interview they asked about the discrepancy between my A-level performance and my degree performance. I replied truthfully - when I was in 6th form I had wanted to go into medicine and so taken science subjects that I wasn't good enough at, I then went on to study Applied Psychology and Sociology and did well, and realised that was the career path that I wanted to follow, etc etc. I didn't get offered the place but was later assured that was for totally different reasons, and got accepted onto a better MSc course soon after my rejection.
So I don't think A-level results matter too much, they may well ask about your N grade but with a good predicted degree classification, references and personal statement it shouldn't hold you back too much, particularly if it is in an unrelated subject. Good luck though, what are you applying for?

Sounds difficult, is this a Masters dissertation you're submitting? Is there any specific reason that contact with him has been discouraged (eg personal problems)? Its the summer holidays so could he have gone away for a few weeks? Its annoying, but if you feel you can carry on for the time being I'd leave it another week then maybe send another email? Is there any other tutor you could see? Something similar happened to me shortly before my undergrad dissertation submission and I sent a quick email to my personal tutor and she asked him to contact me...he'd been away and had so many emails to go through when he got back that he hadn't seen mine. He was very apologetic about it and helpful afterwards, I know that approach wouldn't work for every situation but I'm sure your supervisor doesn't mean to have not replied, do you generally get on well with him?

I haven't got any experience of this myself, but have you thought about doing a Masters in a field more relevant to what you want to do a PhD in first? That should give you a good background of what you will be researching, as well as prepare you for PhD study. I'm in social sciences and I know its very difficult to get supervision for a PhD without a relevant masters, might be different for physics/engineering though.

As its going so well you might resent going for your second choice if you end up doing that, I would stick with what you know and enjoy. Good luck, Natassia. Ps where are you studying?

I think you need to play her at her own game (I'm assuming student is a 'she'...), if she questions the philosophical aspect again adopt a slightly patronising tone and give her some recommended reading, along with a detailed explanation of why you are doing so. She'll soon get the message and leave you alone when she realises that she can't get at you any more, and she will hopefully end up respecting your PhD a bit more.

You never know, hers might not be as wonderful as she thinks it is, she obviously has her own insecurities as well. I remember girls like this at school getting competitive about A-Level results, but there was hardly any competition during my undergrad degree...sounds like she needs to grow up!

I would speak to your tutors about it. How are you getting on with your degree at the moment? It sounds as if you are committed to the subject so it would be a shame not to pursue it if you want to because you are worried about the competition. I want to stay in academia as well and as far as I understand it is always going to be competitive, but as long as you have something to offer to the subject you have a chance of success. That is very oversimplified, but I think you should always follow what you really want to do first.

I really feel for you in this situation, but as you said it probably is part of the whole PhD experience. I am only an MSc student at the moment, but I think that as PhD research is the beginning of an academic career, there is going to be competition among students for opportunities (funding, conference places, writing) and this could lead to tension and the sniping that you are experiencing. Do you know how long this other student has been there for? They had no right to talk to you like this and no reason either - your projects are totally individual and your 'failure' would not lead to their success. Maybe they were having a good week and so felt a bit cocky...but next week could be totally different if they get some negative feedback or something...they might turn on the charm and approach you for advice.
As long as you are getting on with your supervisor well and enjoying the other aspects of your PhD - that is the priority. You have as much right to be there as they do, you need to believe in that and that will come with time.

I hope that I've made some sense and helped, hope it improves for you soon, Natassia