======= Date Modified 11 Dec 2008 20:45:01 =======
You might find better advise on US forums, but as a person who has had experience of US applications and acceptances, I think you may be much better placed with higher scores. While your quant scores on the general test look good, I think they take it for granted in science programmes that you will have a quant high, and therefore that 780 may not become your 'edge'. They will look at the other two with interest, which is where you have a lower score. I have not had experience with subject tests, but assuming they are there for a reason, it is obvious that someone with a higher score is higher on that count.

That said, if you have great essays, engaged and detailed references and great transcripts, this may emerge to be a non issue.

good luck!

Okay Okay, I'm a dirty stinky PhD Bug!

:-(:p

And, now may we start the real business of this thread? Hehe? the elusive end of term review?

let's put on our thick lensed glasses, get a cup of hot coffee, stick our chins on our palms and ponder on the past....

(urrrg, i almost travelled back to sherlock holmes and watson!!)

Outfit? Uhhhm? I havent changed my Forum outfit in a week now ....

Ahhhh!!! Another "ist" joins the brigade of the big bad "ists" :) :) :)

Okie Dokie, floor is open to all the years!!!

======= Date Modified 11 58 2008 18:58:40 =======
Hi Everyone in the PhD brigade!

Feel like some stock taking of where the first term has gone? Positives and negatives?

Here's the thread for us to post in and feel good abt ourselves and be constructive about what we need to do :)

Best!

I dont know if there are many people here on similar issues, but this is a HUGE area. Subscribe, first of all to the AoIR mailing list, its the association of internet researchers mailing list. next i suggest go on to google scholar and locate the key readings, if u have access to elecytonic journals great. Its a huge area with researh being contributed from media and comm, information systems and so on but mainly these. For one instance, there is a ton of research on anonymity and trust and privacy on social networking sites, search with these terms on google scholar and u shall find plenty. As a great place to start with a list search for danah boyd on google, go to her website, i think its called apophenia.org and she has a list of research on thse sites, in which you shall find some starters on anonymity, trust and privacy and then from the bibliographies of those pievces you can move on further.

good luck!

hiiii


i got a distinction on my MSc last week toooo!!!!!!!!!!!


I got a D in 4 put of 5 papers, and the one in which I didnt I got a 68 (2 marks short urrrrgh)


and a 75 in my dissertation!!


Congrats stressed! Am happpppye for us :)

mule

slump

Thanks Eska, so glad you liked it :)

Pamw, ((hugs)) :)

Listen, this sounds stupid, but the answer to this, is to write. Scratch it out. Write. and Write. and you'll get it. My strategy was always this: I know I couldnt start writing at the sophistication of 25 yr experienced profs. BUT, it does help to read across journals, mainstream ones and make a note of these things:

1. What is the way in which people STRUCTURE their thoughts? For instance, which literature reviews do I find the most exciting: the answer is usually those rare creatively themed ones that manage to straddle diverse differences and locate a way forward. Lit Reviews can be so creative, so interesting, so engrossing, if imaginatively done.

2. Second, what is the way in which people write about their colleagues. Note the ways of neutral reference, implicit agreement, explicit agreement, vehement disagreement and guarded disagreement. This helps in the way you develop you own critique.

3. ALWAYS a great strategy, as my supervisor reminds me EVERY time she reads something I write: WHO is it you are arguing against? WHO did they argue with? WHERE are the debates and disagreements and then, how do come together and make sense in what you wrote. THATS how you make sense of scholars and scholarship.


For me, these three tools ALWAYS provide a route. I start off sometimes with a mind map, noting scholars arguing stuff, moving them around on my writing pad....shifting people around the 'Room', every new article adds a new category, or sometimes deletes an older one.


If I am not too familiar with the broad area, I note down 5 studies I find engrossing, and ask what were they asking (Research question), how were they proposing the answer (method), what did their results show (evidence) and what is their ONE central argument (debate). And I do this for all 5, and there you are....you find a pattern, and themes to write an effective review (or even a great chapter).


Some of my friends do the same, but not with graphical aids like me....thye think better in the flow of writing...for me, I need to PLAN out my writing...before I start it....


Hope this helps

PBug

Hiya, there's been a thread on this (more of collective ranting with the exception of a few luckies amongst us!) about facilities for Phd students...a longish thread....

is Stressed around? She can help and I think she shall have a very positive account to provide to you :)

I am doing my phd in the same place as MSc....and its lovely!

======= Date Modified 08 Dec 2008 12:10:52 =======
Hi Louiese,



I am sorry to hear you are feeling so low, and naturally, anyone would with all this. Yes, sometimes, people are just either to brazen to be called 'human' and sometimes, well, they just refuse to realise that with all our faults we are grad students, not professors with 20 years experience. This IS, our first piece of research, not our last.





While my doctoral supervisor is fantastic, I had a brief stint with a disastrous person earlier in my grad school life. And one earlier as well in my undergrad life. They used to literally 'seek out' opportunities to haul me up anywhere, just anywhere, including a Sunday evening, outside on the street when we just happened to meet. I was even told that I wouldnt get a job, that not just my work, but my choice of research interests itself is stupid and I am working with dead, useless fields.



I remember being *distraught*. I guess what I am trying to say is, really difficult to implement right now,. but remember your work is *not* what they make of it. As far as positives are concerned, if there wasnt anything positive you wouldnt be a final yr PhD in the first place. So, once you are feeling a bit better, take a break, talk abt other stuff, see rationally what their 'constructive' feedback was, take what you feel is necessary and then, move on..



its easier said than done, we all know that. Best wishes.