The meetings are related to my PhD; but when the meetings starts to dip into other areas which I'm not directly involved with, I start to wonder whether I should be taking extensive note taking or whether they are taking advantage!

Hi (fellow PhD girlie!) :)

I have to admit I was rather shocked by your original post. I find your friends reactions quite upsetting and insulting. To assume that just because someone hasn't got the academic background than someone else, does not make them any better than anyone else! Surely higher level education is not for everyone. I might add, that I know people who haven't gone to university, or completed higher education courses are just as bright/intelligent/knowledgable (if not more so) than someone else who has spent years in higher education. I think your friend is being highly prejudiced and needs to get a life quite frankly!

I'm almost 9 months into my CASE PhD studentship.

I seem to spend a lot of my time writing up notes for my frequent meetings within my own department and with other professionals from other unis. Does anyone else do this?! I kind of feel like a glorified admin/secretary person! I don't mind taking notes in meetings,in fact, it does clarify my own thoughts about my PhD and other projects, but at the moment, it seems its almost expected of me to take the bulk of the note taking, despite being surrounded by other researchers, (abliet non phd)! Any thoughts/comments will be appreciated. I'm probably being a little moany, but surely, my time could be better spent working on my ethics applications and my literature reviews (like other first years I know are involved in!).

Hello! I'm a first year PhD student...

I had a meeting today regarding various projects within our department. I came out of it feeling really deflated, unmotivated and unworthy of my position. Has anyone else felt like this? Its a shame as my meeting with my supervisors the other day went really well where I felt completely the opposite!

I'm just wondering whether the other research workers (who had been in the department for much longer than me) felt a need to exert themseleves with their intelligence and competitive nature. Ok, Im relatively new to the field, but I definitely felt underqualified and that I needed to read heaps more!

http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/519892

Here you go! Its fantastic for my PhD work. I had to replace my old laptop!

I've just brought at Toshiba laptop from PC world for £349!

I've got my own office space. My neighbours in the department are all academics and research workers. I would probably prefer an office space with other PhD students; as it gets a bit lonely after a while!

I can't really complain though.

Opps, agree with everyone else, dont wait-focus on other chapters/aspects

My supervisors are ususally very good in getting back to me, usually in a few days.

Hello!

Im currently enrolled on an ESRC CASE studenthship. I was just curious to see if anyone else is on such a similar funding opportunity and what your experiences are like.

For me, as the project was created by the department, I spend a lot of my time in meetings and actually meeting and greeting other departments interested in our project and conducting literature reviews around the topic. As a result, my PhD seems to be sooo different from other PhDs! Im not complaining as I get very frequent supervision and help each week, but just wondered if this is what other CASE PhD students are doing!

Hi forum!

I'm feeling a bit down in the dumps at the mo, and I was wondering if any of you have had similar thoughts. I started a PhD in sept, I receive nearly 15k from the ESRC and am getting used to PhD life. But, Im wondering whether Im academically good enough for this course and as a result, feel unworthy of this position. My PhD is in a different yet related field to my undergrad and MSc degrees, and it has taken a while to get used to the field. My boyfriend is very supportive and has more faith in me than I have in completing this project!Does anyone have any tips to get out of this slump? I'm hoping this is a phase!

Thanks for that Otto! Im feeling exactly the same! I haven't been able to get in the swing of things since the easter 'holidays' started. I thought it was just me, and Im beginning to get really annoyed with myself and my procrastination!

Hiya! I got a career development loan from barclays. I ended up getting out 7k to live and pay for fees. Barclays were great! They were understanding and allowed me to top up when I was in need of cash. Noe that ive finished my course, the repayments are a bit steep though! Thank God for my PhD studentship!

Yep i had to put two references for both of my MScs.

It will definitely help to push through a PhD application if you have a keen supervisor. You could argue that as you have a 1st and you've been doing research for a year, you may not have to do further research training? Anyway, whatever happens, good luck with your MSc and PhD application! My PhD is looking at quality of life issues with older adults and residents with learning disabilities.