oh thanks it's such a relief to know you're like me.

Dear,

listen. The department's reputation and history and your supervisor matter for sure. However, and I am sorry to deliver the reality as it is, red brick universities, prestigious universities and high ranking universities with a history of hosting some of the world's best scholars are the best choice for any aspiring doctoral student.

However, if you have funding from this university you got into, then take it.

Hey guys. Since I began my PhD 7 months ago, I have changed. I very rarely socialize. I leave my phone off. I can't be asked to go out with friends. I only make time for my best friends whom I see once or twice a month although we're in touch on phone. I just feel so bad. I keep saying no when people ask me out. I keep avoiding people.

But I have no choice. I have deadlines and these people are not PhD students and most of the time I feel they don't understand me. Anybody with a similar experience?

DEFINITELY GET MARRIED :) WOOHOO.

all the best :)

Do you want to share why you feel your topic is not refined and won't get you anywhere? Maybe we could help!

Mokey so sorry about the 2 years mix-up. I just wanted to uplift your morale by making you look at the fuller part of the glass.

Regardless, I am also 6 or 7 months in and I suffer from general anxiety disorder and I do kind of have an idea of what you go through. Sometimes I feel it's not worth it, sometimes I feel my topic won't get me anywhere, but these are normal feelings... I deal with them and try to get myself through my first year.

I sincerely hope you don't give up.

Phds are tough and that's why not everybody can follow them through. Don't give up. That's just silly. You're not someone who gives up because you've already survived 2 years. So I know it's just a period.

I want you to take the time to look inside yourself and try to remember why you loved being a phd student to start with.

But, don't give up. You'll never forgive yourself for it.

Weren't you warned about how TOUGH phds are going to be? I was. And I keep facing so many hurdles and I am just in my first 6 months. I cry. I feel tired. I feel unproductive. I complain. But I will never give up. Just keep venting your feelings. Take a few days off. Go somewhere for vacation or just socialize and do a few fun things. Then get back to work. If you approach your work with all the negativity you've got, you won't get anything done. Just be confident. It'll all work out. You've done 2 years so far. What's left is not easy but it's closer. After all this hard work and when you finally pass, you'll realize that it was all worth the pain. You'll be Dr. Mokey.

ProcrastiPro, thanks so much for your reply. We'll see how it all figures out.

Sleepyhead,

I am only 6 months into my PhD so I am just starting to actually put together whatever methodology I aim to use. So far, I will use a lot of sociological application into my work but not really any theoretical framework because it will frame me and I don't want that. But also architectural history is major in my work. I too am using other works on other cities for my city. I am doing a city, tripoli in lebanon from 1920 to 1943. I am very worried about my primary sources, which are only court records, governmental archives in france, and press. Do you face the same problems? And what are your approaches and are you applying any theories?

Hello everyone. Firstly, I have to say I am very thankful for this site because it puts phd students of different backgrounds in direct contact with one another, which is much rarer in real life.

Okay, to introduce myself: I am in my 7th month as a Phd student. I am working in the field of urban history. However, recently I've been feeling that the city I will be studying does not have much sources as other cities. I am tending to change or modify my topic but I am afraid to confront my supervisor in fear of appearing unprofessional. Besides, my supervisor keeps reassuring me that the sources are enough... I think my fear stems from the fact that I have not actually started my fieldwork so I have not worked on the primary sources yet which are mainly court records and archival sources.

Any advice?