My supervisor, a *star* academic, took me on for a Phd in a year where I had already registered at another university in another country. She was at the time guiding my Masters work. Our conversations, especially over summer, by email, discussing books, the field, the future of the field, articles, papers, conferences, my career dreams, goals, ambitions, has been *amazing*. Even before the PhD started officially, there was such a tremendous amount of intellectual exchange and resonance. All her other students love working with her, as far as I am concerned, her work is outstanding, she inspires me tremendously and brings out the very best in me.8-)

haha!!!

Good replies! I needed this well past minuit (oh dear now French is oozing out of my mouth!), because the brains are currently fried, so is the research proposal and I am ready to drop dead...god knows what I am writing actually..we PhDs cant switch off our computers I think...

Hi y'all,

I've been thinking...what do you guys feel when you are asked questions like "So, whats your research topic?"...mind you, not by people in your niche or your sup but let's say, parents, friends, relatives, relatives' friends, old teachers in high school or your last uni in which area you no longer work!!

I am often flustered! My research sounds so great when I am talking abt it with people who know this work, or sup or even fellow PhDs in my area (social sciences and comunication studies)! but bang, the moment people from "cultural studies", or even anthro or worst comes to worst, my parents from the management sciences asks detailed explanations, I finish saying my stuff in one sentence and it sounds urrrrgh sooooo miserable!!!!!

What do you guys feel?:-s

The most crucial factor i think, for a UK PhD is the RESEARCH factor. I think they measure this in three ways: first, your research commitment and agenda (no matter how you change it later, they see this from your writing, the proposal, if that is brilliant nobody can beat you. Second, the fit: there must be a specific person or persons in the department with whom you have a fit, and in the best cases "a resonance", you ust have done homework on that persons research, again in the most excellent of cases, a 'research vibe', and third, your ability to show potential for being a success, and here it is that references, and grades come into play. So, now set all this in perspective for her, and if she can get the letters and the rest of the package ready, there shouldnt be a problem. Does she have a topic/supervisor in mind? Has she made herself familiar with this academic's work? does she enjoy it? If she has great answers (for herself) for these issues, she can convince her reference writers an eventually the university she is applying to.

Hi Bonzo

Gr8 idea!! I was thinking of letting this thread grow, and it really si growing fantastically in a couple of days, and then, once we cross some figure, lets say 50 or so, we could compile it all together as a kind of 'achievement'! Advice can be categorised, given personal anon examples, with quotes and who knows....this may be a nice downloadable e book too!!

Oh gosh, listen to PHDbug, desperate for publications so much so its running in her forum posts now..urgggh...:p

Hi,

first off, wait for the lectures to start!

more often than not there will be a couple of key readings, and secondary readings assigned, what you are seeing now is for the entire course, when u look at it as lectures, you will understand its spread out in a much ore manageable may and will make much better sense.

Never feel you have to read all thats there on the list, likewise, never feel restricted to the list. creativity and originality in choice as well as depth is highly valued in marking essays and papers!

best!

Also, if anyone has detailed tips on anything, lets say bibliographies and biblio software or manuals for instance do go on and post whatever be your field...

Thanks guys, I am in the social sciences, but please post from any field, as this thread is meant to help all 'first years'!

SNEAKS, chin up!! And thanks all, keep it up!! Charge ahead!

Hi All,

Many of us here must be starting first years. I've been wondering, what if all of us here, whi are into their second years and above or are 'Dr' already :) posts just ONE central advice they feel would help first years...and let the thread grow...of course you are welcome to re-post, and add, but just keep adding your tips (on any aspect of the phd process).

Some topics may include :

1. Supervisors
2. planning
3. research topic selection
4. Lit reviews
5. networking
6. bibliographies
7. conferences
8. job search
9. supervisor-supervisee equations
10. routines
11. targets


this is only indicative!!!

best!8-)

Hi there!

First off, hang in there and please realize that you need to take your decisions for yourself, though its great u r considering your supervisors feelings! That said, take just a moment off, and ask yourself a couple of questions: why did u want a phd in the first place? what would u lose if u didnt do one? Sometimes, in our most irrational of mindsets, the most "rational" of tasks actually work..

My story now: I was accepted this year for 7 phds with full fundings, including 2 fellowships across the UK and the US. I accepted one in a small town in the US, visited, almost fell sick and came back (there were intellectual reasons too, not just city town things)...and then took up a fantastic offer, half funding at the city where I did my masters. For me, I hated a small town as I was always a big city person..

My point is, do that little pen and paper thingy and ask urself some whys, what ifs, what if nots, and try to think clear a little bit. if after that you still feel you dont wanna do this, come out with your chin up!!!

cheers

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