Angel, I was really sorry to read about the horrible day-outlined above- and the difficulties you had been facing. It does sound now that this experience has actually led you to reassess your life and priorities and you seem positive, happy and genuinely excited about the future. Best of luck with this and the final submission.

If this is of any consolation (that is if you need it), beginning back at work in my new role and juggling all of the study remaining in my Masters thesis; well-my priorities have been reassessed as well. I am determined to complete this Masters thesis in the next six months to the best of my ability and have certainly not ruled out doctorates in the future, but I know that I will need a couple of years 'think time' before I do and that is 'if I do'. The thing is...I had these unrealistic expectations of what the Phd was going to do for me-in terms of self-esteem and making up for some traumatic experiences in my life from earlier years. It is certainly not about that...anyway, my point being-

your posts show that you have made a really difficult decision and that there is life beyond the Phd-which is a really important goal and pathway for many-but certainly not the only one. And while achieving the Phd is a great accomplishment that anyone should be proud of-again it is not the only determiner of intellectual or personal worth-nor is it the only accomplishment out there. There are many ways to achieve and a myriad pathways to happiness, personal and intellectual growth and career development. So good luck Angel- and enjoy exploring your new freedom.

Thanks Ogriv, no I am in Australia, so the time when I was posting was around 9pm at night but this time is always registered as a time in the UK-so while I usually post (during working times) before and after work-or sometimes during the day on days off-it tends to look like I have posted at some outlandish time-or during the early hours. Thanks also for your replies and the best of luck for the future also. The anti-bullyiing activity and assembly went really well, I thought-especially considering that I gave students the opportunity to comment on the mike-always a risk!

Hi Ogriv,

Ive had a really 'vile' day at work but a good really participant interview and then lots of family interaction, heard very sad news from a work colleague-had to finally wind down with a couple of glasses of red wine and its only Thursday night! Tomorrow need to face several hundred middle school students in bullying awareness activity- oh joy! But important for their development so I really shouldn't complain!

Anyway, look what I wanted to say was, you do what you need to do-but you don't need to justify anything. Anything. Your friend is an adult and she can do her own research. Discuss a few general issues by all means, but friendship and support doesn't mean propping up and giving away things that you have worked hard to learn for yourself-at least not until you are ready to submit and/or publish-really! I'm generally regarded as a 'nice person' in workplace- which is full of people who are not so nice believe me- so if I am saying this then it really isn't evil advice-well that's my theory anyway.

Don't hide to avoid her -just change the subject when it starts to go along this trend or 'tweak it' so it goes along different lines a bit. Yes, you do discuss work but your actual methodology is your work!!! Methodology is it!!! It is the bones of your research- you do not need to educate her. The whole thing about postgrad research is that one becomes independent-even from supervisors. You do your own research unless you are part of bona fide team! Then it can be collaborative! DON"T FEEL GUILTY... totally inappropriate guilt is the plague of modern society. Nice people feel it all the time when they don't need to and not so nice people take advantage of these feelings to get away with things they probably need to be pulled up on. Must go now-that second glass of wine is really kicking in on top of the fatigue-hope you are not offended-take care Ogriv

Cheers:-)

Hi Ogriv,

Can I put a slightly difference perspective forward? I don't think this needs to be about 'the greater good' or any form of intellectual obligation to the future and the field, etc (if you get my drift). And it doesn't have to be about you thinking that she should experience it for herself- in a sort of parental way.

If you feel uneasy about it-simply say no. You have a perfect right to and not to give any reasons whatsoever. This is your work and I think there is a real difference between discussing overall methodologies and general issues involved in post graduate study-and your friend being party to your intellectual labour so that she can improve her own after yours has been submitted. I don't think it is intellectual stinginess-I think that your 'gut instinct' is correct here. This has nothing to do with your friend being a really nice person-and its great that she can submit a bit later. Yes being able to extend deadlines due to extreme job pressure is valid, so that's fine as well.

But as for the rest...no. It is your thesis- your methodology- your struggle. She is not your supervisor- neither is she your partner in this thesis. So why should you feel as if you should share all of your difficulties before you have finished so that someone else can do better. I know it might not work out like that anyway-but where is it written that you have to share everything in order to be a good friend or study buddy. As a friend, you give her moral support-as a study buddy- you help each other with accountability and a few process and supervisor tips- that's it. A friend is not obliged to do someone else's work for them.

Hope this helps-and if you take this road and set this boundary-don't feel guilty. If your friend sort encourages the guilt then she is using a bit of mild emotional blackmail-so just be firm and be a friend to yourself-focus on your own work.

Cheers Ogriv

Hi M-Heneghan,

Ive wondered this at times. But my own experience is that I received very high grades for both undergraduate and then post graduate qualifications and courses to date. You do have the advantage of not having to focus your attention over a wide variety of subjects in post graduate work, plus you are usually working in an area that (initially at least) you were passionate about or interested in. You are also usually far more experienced so more efficient-so that might be why grades seem easier to achieve. What I have found harder is sustaining the intensity, when really all of the drive and motivation has to come from within and once you are past that initial hurdle-no one really seems to care whether you reach your goal posts or not.

Those issues make the Master's thesis harder (but not so much the coursework-that was all fine). And when you come to the point in your thesis when you see it as a piece of work that you need to complete and shape and rewrite and not this 'magic' talisman that makes you special or something.

Hi Button,

Guilty of all of the above. As well as this, I have had to conduct interviews after work-sometimes after heinous days- and I can tell I am emotionally tired-listening really well becomes very difficult. I also find that if the participant is a little emotional, I feel really bad. Afterwards, I tell myself that it is a difficult topic but putting this in framework and discussing it might be helpful in the long run-but part of me worries that I am exploiting them. I understand just why the ethics process and approvals were so stringent now.

However, I don't like listening to transcripts-I sound lame as! Like you, I am hoping it is par for the course-and of course-am working towards improvement as well. One thing I have done though- is not follow the structure of my interview scripts so thoroughly but to watch for body language as well as hesitations and try to 'clarify'- (explore further) an area that I think might have more to it-if you know what I mean. Doesn't always work though.

Put simply- no.

Hi Rahman,

In Australian Universities, a Phd may be possible without a Masters if

1 You have a First Class or 2.1 Honours Degree (2.1- meaning Second Class 1st Division). Scholarships for such degrees for International Students, that pay both your tuition fees and provide living expenses would be more competitive though; that is, if you are coming from overseas.

So you usually do want to have a very, very good first-many universities here have a way of grading first class degrees as well, particularly with their really competitive courses and for lucrative scholarships. (First class division 1- division 2, division 3, etc).

2 If you don't have honours then you need to have completed a course that includes a substantial research paper or thesis OR you can prove that your publications are equal in value to a very good honours degree or a Masters thesis. The grades for your Masters thesis ( or substantial research paper) must be distinction or higher.

For most universities in Australia, (particularly the higher ranking instititutions) having one of the above is mandatory whether you are a domestic (local) or international student.

However, the course that come with substantial scholarships are extremely competitive and most of these are retained for local students. I think that scholarships for international students would be far more competitive still. (This is because the government make a great deal of money out of international students through the fees-so they are not as generous with the scholarships).

The best way to get the information about these though, is to search for courses that you are interested in, then go onto the website of the institution that offers it and check out the information under the Research tab. This is usually really extensive and very detailed, so it takes a bit of time and patience.

However, this information applies to Australia, so there may be different opportunities in other countries that other posters might be able to tell you about.

Good luck-don't worry too much about the grammar comment-it is important to write clearly for your studies. However, most countries have moved beyond the belief that only BBC standard English is acceptable nowadays thankfully. All forms of discourse, dialect and linguistic codes are acceptable provided they communicate clearly and appropriately. (People tend not to use 'text speak' too much on this forum however.)

Good luck(up)

Not quite the same situation or response but similar in a way...mine has responded a few times to my queries and requests about time lines and tasks-
'yes but research isn't like that'... or when I had another supervisor during the first few months during the research methods component...'well I'm afraid Dr XXX and I don't eye to eye on that one'- this when Dr XXX was the one marking the specific methods component and was a stickler for time but supervisor was still official supervisor. From what I can gather Dr XXX and she just had a big argument and any grades required for that component were just put on hold until I complained 8 months later to admin and they took my case up. Final one is 'research is messy'- used many times when I've been trying to pin one of her requests down to something more precise! Fully empathise...but you know, KB, when your study is complete and it is really really good, all this will be water under the bridge, cheers

Was reading this a couple of days ago and not sure if on this thread or stupidest things thread...but was amazed by a comment Eska made about being the 'dumb' one in her family...same here. I was the practical and creative 'dumb one' in mine as well. Not the same now though...it was only in high school and really uni-that the family snidely acknowledged that I was probably intelligent...

Geekish tendencies only 13.6.

Actually, I what I meant to say was you are certainly just as intelligent as you always have been- pre or post phd-just read how the 'stupider than before' one might actually have two meanings! Cheers and good luck!

I think another thing that makes it seem worse is that when you apply for a job-you often come with this sort of unofficial record of being a really "smart person" (cos you are doing or have done a Phd, Masters or just did really well on your initial degree and some of this was on your CV). Then when you do make the usual sort of new person mistakes, you can feel like everyone is thinking "What the? Arn't they supposed to be Dr, Mr or Ms Smarty Pants? How the h@#! did they do that?".

Of course chances are no one is thinking this at all...it's just in our heads and really if they are? WHO CARES what they think...But practice in the real world makes perfect. You are certainly in no way more stupid than before.
GTG- to my own workplace now- I really shouldn't be posting at all given work and study at present...I'm on a strict regime but this forum tends to tempt one! Cheers:-)

I reckon you will Helen. Good luck with all the final processes as well; but I'm guessing for your innate talent and hard work will get you through, so the luck factor is merely an extra. Cheers