This time around I will be depending on hubby's salary while finishing writing up. May have to start ironing a few shirts.

But in the past - when I 'dropped out' (was kicked out?) of my first PhD attempt I did indeed sign on. And grim it was too. After a while I was sent on a word processing and typing course. Then a job placement (unpaid of course) in an estate agents office. Then at long last, thank merciful spirits, I actually got a real job.

You could do private tuitions - A level stuff maybe. But really you just need to write up and get it done (that's how I feel anyway).

I know of quite a few examples of this happening. In one case - the student is now married to her former supervisor. In another - they broke up and it was very difficult while she was submitting. Another refused advances and is now having troubles that are hard to explain without getting into the whole business.

It's an absolute PITA to be around but I suspect no good will come to you if you complain.

No idea about managing the money. My grant is about the same but mostly goes on nursery fees - so if hubby wasn't working I couldn't manage at all.

It is VERY VERY difficult to use a car in Cambride. Is your dept out of town (I know a lot of the science labs are)? It will be great if that's the case - but in Cambrige itself driving and parking is a nightmare. I cycle in - there's nowhere for me to park a car. Buses are pretty unreliable too I'm afraid.

St Johns is my favourite college based purely on the architecture! Very nice choice. Not familiar with Clare - but there are so many colleges and I don't know all that many first-hand.

rjb - the parties at Darwin are pretty good too!

I live in Cambridge (home-owner, married, small child, the whole nine yards). As a postgrad you are required to live within 10 miles of the city (3 miles for undergrads). I'll try to remember to ask next time I go in to the dept (could be a while as I'm working at home over easter then going to the US).

Do you have a bike? You MUST get a good bike. And a very good lock for it.

So if there are 2 choices - you could put a really popular one first and a more sure bet second. Don't put really popular colleges first and second - they will not take being a second choice.

Well that's exciting! What kind of college would you like? I'm at a postgrad college - Darwin. It's quite small, in the centre and on the river. I has a lot of international students and I espeically like it because I am a bit older. There are 2-3 (I forget) other postgrad colleges - but I definitely like this one best.

It can be hard to get a place at the very popular old colleges because many of thier postgrad places are taken by students who were undergrads there (e.g. Trinity, Kings). So if you put them first and don't get in you will be assigned a college without further choice. So it might be worth picking a college you are likely to get in to so that at least you get your own choice (I forget if you put 1 or 2 choices).

I usually describe my postgrad experience here like this. As grad students, you are told to swim out across the ocean to an island. Then you are thrown in and told to get going, no whinging, no complaining no asking for help. Some will be eaten by sharks. Some will drink the water and go mad. Some will get lost and never be seen again. Some will make it to the island, where their supervisor will be sitting in a deckchair smoking a cigar and drinking champagne.

It's the Darwinian system of supervision

Wise words rjb. I have found the total lack of support challenging but then I have seen others micromanaged and pushed too much. And then for some it seems to go well. Definitely check out that particular option carefully. Basically the same advice for anone going anywhere.

Hi there - I'm at Cambridge and like most places it varies a lot depending on your dept and supervisor. Think about whether you like the project and supervisor - and perhaps talk to people who work in the dept and see if there are any problems you should know about.

If you are thinking about industry I guess I am not in your field though.

I would go if it were me. The important thing was to see her before she died and you did that. If you family were really eager for you to go and needed your support that might be different - but if they are understanding I would keep to your plans. Perhaps you could visit them soon after and visit the grave.

Working to make up for going to the US to visit family for 10 days from the 27th.

Eagerly awaiting my April 1st payment here too!

My experience from my dept is that you really need a good first and a project that falls into their priority areas to get AHRC funding - no expereince with ESRC.

I like conferences. I have often met up with people while trying to find my way or while queuing for something. Peers tend to stick together - so PhDers tend to be with other postgrads and postdocs. Which is fine and makes for good drinking buddies.

I have occaisionally targetted people to talk to but not too often - only when I really have a common interest to talk about. Mostly I am open to anyone friendly and that has served me well.

Dress - smart casual.

I use the cauldron range (they do some nice marinated tofu for stir fries) and quorn. I get a bit fed up with quorn though. I like to get a lot of fish but it is very expensive.