and I proved that my French is so non-existent (after living there for a year) that I even got the question wrong
that my to intellectual overload

don't do that insomnia otherwise the thread might die due to intellectual overload!

was the essay you want to send them recently published or do you just want to write it up now for the purpose of submitting it with your application? if it was published I would send a copy of the original paper and state in not to many words that it was submitted prior to your application and is now published. Otherwise I agree with the other: wait and see. With sending things after the deadline it could make the impression that: you did not take your time before, your were not organised enough to send everything, you did not take this one serious but now got declined another one and want to make up...

Congratulations to the unconditional offer! Try to get an idea by reading the latest publications on your topic and apart from this it will be a good chance to exchange ideas (which will be changed later on ) it will be ok! Most people start not having an idea about what they are going to do but the next three years are about learning and not you knowing everything.
You can do this!

Even I am going to be very unpopular with this - I really understand what you mean. I am bored stupid and it is something you really are not allowed to say as most people find it very hard work. For myself I try to analyse why I am so bored and changed my attitude towards it. I see it as a 9-5 job now, try to keep connection up and running by publishing with my old collegues and just don't take it that serious at the moment. I am sure there will be a time when I am going to get really busy and unable to cope but at the moment there is just not enough to do - I was working in research before as well. I would try to enjoy the quiet time, set yourself tasks e.g. I am going to write a lit rev paper and try to go to e.g. training courses on things you are not familiar with or anymore.

it is so good to hear that others have the same problems! My husband finds it quite hard to realize that I have work commitments. He sees me as a student and asks me all the time: what are you doing tomorrow? WORK! Oh...
Peppermint, did you manage to speak to your bf? I think he needs a reality check as well but I know how difficult it can be for people who have a 9 to 5 job and never had the urge to work at midnight because they just found the answer!

I copy in some links I found really helpful
- the last one includes useful phrasis
http://www.gcal.ac.uk/student/coursework/writing/reporting.html
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/celte/languagesupport/aez/resources/reporting_verbs/#Q1
http://www.uefap.com/writing/writfram.htm

http://www.wmin.ac.uk/sshl/page-2224

Holadaittijo

Hi,
I just post you a link for shared accomodation in Halle
http://www.studenten-wg.de/Halle%2520%2528Saale%2529,mietspiegel.html
it is really cheap and I have lived from less money for years still going out every night. Especially going out is much cheaper (entrance fee for a club is about 3 Euro). You shouldn't have to pay health insurance or tax so you have plenty of money. Shopping (apart from cloth) is cheaper then in the UK no idea for USA. I don't know Halle but for all the places in eastern Germany I know they are not boring. You can hardly tell the difference between east and west nowadays if it wasn't for the low prices
I would take the chance as it looks great on your cv.

Try not to do the layout on a small version and get it blown up as the graphs and pictures end up not having enough pixels and get blury. You can set A0 and panorama or portrait and then just view 100% on the screen. This makes the design easier. To check the size of your fonts you can print one corner of the A0 on a normal black and white printer (in printing options).

I know how hard self doubt can be BUT if I would work full time as a lecturer, bought a house AND writing my thesis I would be a complete mess and certainly would not stand upright anymore! I think you are achieving a lot there! regarding the mock -viva you had, I know it does not feel good when it goes wrong but their is a saying in drama that the dress rehearsal has to go wrong in order to make the opening night a success! See it like this, you had a chance to realize what can go wrong and you are not going to do it again! And try to be less harsh to yourself - as long as you give your best it is enough!

I think, judging by the size I am now, my examiners would feel so intimidated by talking to my big bump (shall I paint a smiley on my t-shirt? would that help?) that I would get an automatic fail! But I try it as my 1st year viva seems to be on my due date - the secretary did not really get the point why I want to shift it.

and 1600 - I have done it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1599 - started on a Friday

1598 started on a Thursday