Hi,

there is always the difficulty regarding comparing qualifications from different countries. I would presume if you would have done a PhD in Germany that that would normally also be recognosed as a PhD in the US. A doctorate as such is not by definition the same, yet I would suspect that you would be able to to postdoc work in the US with that. Saying that perhaps it would be a good idea to contact US universities regarding the issue before you start anything to save yourself problems later on!

Have send in my (revised) research proposal about a week ago. I know this is not very long and one needs to have patience. On the other hand it is a bit of a waste of time. What do people do in these interim periods of time? I mean do you keep on reading or are you writing on another part of your research? Or just the opposite use it as time to relax. Is it worth writing (another) summary or to try and look at things from another angle? Would you consider to try and publish something?
Just interested how people schedule these episodes in a constructive way.

Hi Jochma,

welcome at the forum.

I think the trick is, as your are indicating yourself already to ask a lot questions. Usually there is someone who can help and it is also a good means of reflection.
Also in my opinion you may need encouragement now and again as everyone seems to go through up and downs. This forum may provide you some support regarding this as well.

Hi Seabird,

know what you say, and sympatise with you. It is awful that you have to wait so long.
My recipe is: Keep on pestering (in a postive way), best by phone or personal, as E mail does not seem to make a impression. What also helped, in my case, was talking directly with the professor and he then talking to the supervisor. Finally I bring forward lots of new info regarding my research and why it is important to action now (again in an enthousiastic way).

Hi Jennifr,

you are very welcome. Please do not hesitate to bring forward questions or issues which are bothering you.

I at the early stages of doing my research and this is related to quality in medicine.

Hi Oz,

do you feel Langenscheid is good? I not so sure. Oxford obviously always a good choice as is PONS.

Hi Chris,

Dictionary = woordenboek

the great "Van Dale" would normally be considered the gold standard, but may be a bit too extensive for what you need. And is expensive!

At secondary school we used "Prisma woordenboeken" which I suppose are relatively basic yet not expensive.

I remember now that we also used some black dictionaries, yet unfortunately cannot remember the name, apologies regarding that.

Hi,

the Open University had quite a good name and reputation. I think most employers appreciate if employees work and the aside of work do a distance learning course. For example the MBA is recognised and accredited. Obviously it is not the same as getting full time education at a well known university.

Well done, Juno

this famous song is normally sung by 3 year olds, so proves that the Phd keeps you young and happy!

Hi Jojo,

thanks for encouraging people: Over this weekend I re-wrote my research proposal as suggested by my supervisor. Looks good, if I may say so, and have just sent if off!

So your suggestion has helped me.

How did you get on?

Ha, Chris,

just read your posting, good to see that you are making progress and also that you are happy with your paper. Must be a nice feeling to have it (more or less) finished.

Maybe not to put too much more effort into it at this stage if your supervisor is still going to make corrections anyway?

Hi Cryogenics, Juno ("Boterkoek"),

I see what you are saying and I feel exactly the same: I can't stand that everything takes ages! I do not believe that things have to take such a long time, often the reason is that someone has just left your proposal / letter etc. in a drawer and forgot about it or does not care, until after waiting for a long time you remember him / her about it.
In a the normal world one would say: Just leave it, I will go somewhere else, yet in academics one seems to be stuck with " the system". Really annoying and probably the reason why it takes ages to finish something!

Hi LOstinOz,

like Corinne is saying you are not on your own.

I have been to a conference a few months ago, was there on my own and found it really difficult to start a conversation at the tea breaks. Quite hard to go to someone and say "How are you?, please allow me to introduce myself" etc. Even harder to do so in a group of people.
Anyway in the evening there was a party, and I thought I cannot stand down here on my own the whole evening, so I actually started talking to some people and surprise, suprise they were very friendly and down to earth, yet turned out to be editors from some medical journals and really encouraged me regarding my research. So after all it was a very good experience!

Dear all who said they would write this weekend,

how are things? Are you making progress?

I went to the library this morning, looked at some books and wrote a few things on paper, then thought things over (or just stared at a wall?).
Later at home I decided to crack on and wrote on the computer and actually made quite a bit of progress, accepting that it is not perfect.

Tomorrow will work again on it an then will send it to my supervisor.

Hi JJ123,

at medical school my hours were usually 8.15 till 17.00 /17.30 during the first 4 years. Saying that the mornings you did not have to attend, the afternoons were mandatory.
During my hospital years (2-3 years) hours were something like 8.00 - 18.00 hours, regularly you had a 24 hour on call.

While specialising you will have to accept long hours.

As said more recently things have changed and there are better opportunities regarding part time work and also the emphasis is more on learning new skills than on hours.

Even so it is not an easy option