sorry to hear about the tragedy. Regards satchi

nice advice from A116!!! Sometimes I do approximately 2,000 words per day but again it depends on what I'm writing about.
Sometimes I become depressed and dont write anything for days.
Then miraculously I come out of this no-writing-no-working phase and then get back to it.
You'll be ok.
cheers satchi

hi keenbean I've also had difficulty with ethics stuff, from writing the draft of the application to making the changes to getting the "official" approval which took ages and ages and ages..... I also missed deadline because of reasons which could have been avoided.... I know exactly what you've been through!!!! heres to a better tomorrow--and days to come!!!!
cheers satchi

yes I've used an essay writing service. I paid them online to edit and re-structure my letter of motivation. But I wrote the essay myself. The editor also gave me very good advice.

I don't know where you can find people to write the whole thing for you but I want to say that essay-writing editors do give good feedback on your writing.

hi coolstuff09, sorry I cant recommend you any schools/programs. Have you looked at your own university's language programs? surely there must be one for chinese. Go for those Conversational Mandarin classes. They're good fun.

the best way is to speak chinese with your friends (I guess its mandarin you are looking at?). You might make them laugh, why not. Part of the learning process. Get into those chinese streaming sites and watch chinese movies! if they come with subtitles, you might learn something!!! remember that you should be watch mandarin and not cantonese... (if you want to learn Mandarin) HAHAHA

If you are learning to read and write, I guess it would be harder (honestly). Find a sifu.
love satchi

congratulations! and thank you for the wonderful post :-)(up)(up)(up)

lots of good advice from everybody... best of luck!!! love satchi

thanks so much for all the cooking tips and recipes. I have lost my appetite these days with the long sun hours! that happen to anyone else?

have u got any particular university in mind? or have you narrowed down which area in biomedical sciences you want to do? you can email prospective universities/supervisors, ask them. They should give you clarifications on your qualifications, for example whether or not Supervisor A wants to take on a student with your MD background etc. Good luck.

hi SavvyRookie

"I am planning to continue my full-time job while doing my PHD. I also have a family (wife, 2 kids)"
If you still work full-time it may be even more difficult to manage your phd. You'll have to be highly motivated and organized; and sometimes it is challenging to manage a full-time job with a phd AND running a family all at the same time.

"I want to get an idea of the study habits that are required. How many hours during the week are typically spent studying."
Study hours really depend on the individual. It also depends on the kind of phd that you are doing.

"Do you think it is practical to pursue a PhD with a full time job + family?"
It is not impractical but it is also not impossible. You will need very strong support from your family; especially your wife. If your children are very young, it could take a toll on your spouse. Look at all the options you have, for example grandparents. If you have the support of your parents or in-laws, it could be easier for you to manage childcare etc.

"Can you recommend any tips that I can follow to get used to PhD life during my applicatioin process?"
"Thank you"
There are lots of tips, you can get those from those PHD advice-books, how to write, how to do research etc. Its too long to post it here :-)

CONGRATULATIONS rubyw!!!!!!
love satchi

CONGRATULATIONS!!!
List of things to remember:
1. Extra cash (for downpayments or use before you open a bank account here)
2. 1 big warm coat (better to be warmer)
3. Bedsheet/pillow case (choose the lightest) (some places dont provide)
4. small pack of spices/food/things you really like to eat (from your home country)
5. lots of tissue paper (you dont want to rush around buying tissue in your 1st few days here)
6. an extra handphone for your UK sim card (so u dont have to buy a new cell immediately)
7. 1 pair of warm gloves (the rest you can buy here)
8. 1 good lipgloss/lip balm (before u have time to settle down your lips may be stressed)
9. an extra set of spectacles (u dont want to risk breaking anything, plus spectacles are expensive in UK)

Make sure:
1. you have comfortable shoes to wear (you'll be walking a lot)
2. you use luggage-bags with wheels (buy a really good one)
3. you are warmly clothed (it may be cold during flights/in airports)

List of things to cut down
1. Stationery (bring those only absolutely necessary)
2. Toiletries (these are relatively inexpensive here)
3. canned food (dont bring these unless u really need)
4. pots and pans (my friends did this, and were forced to abandon at airport)

ok happy getting ready
from satchi

Yes I have felt this way. I did my BSc. in a foreign language so writing my 1st thesis in my native language meant translations, plagiarism never even occured to me (!) although I knew about it. Yes I did cut and paste. Sometimes I twisted and turned-other people's words. The worst came during my 2nd master thesis, the examiner had copied out a few sentences, did Google search on them--and the papers TURNED UP (I was CAUGHT!), all this I did while not being aware although years ago I knew about plagiarism (!!!). Thankfully the whole thesis wasn't written like that and I passed the viva.

But I felt so bad and so bad, I couldn't look at my thesis for some time (to make the ammendments). I used every ounce of willpower I had left and did the changes in two days, re-printed, re-submitted and now I have the 2nd masters degree.

This time for my phd thesis, I will be more careful. You'll get over it.

yes they gave me the european scholarship.
For PhD, I did not get the ones I was on reserve list.

hi sleepyhead I have to admit I havent kept up with the posts in this thread. I'm just saying HI and I hope things are better for you at home now! And that your flatmate is OK too. Love, satchi