Has your friend written anything that makes her case? As in her research case? I know my supervisor wouldn't listen to a word I said until I had given her a literature review - then she could understand where I was coming from.

I think many people find their sups know very little about their field. I know within 3 weeks of starting mine, I had already read ahead of my supervisor and she knows very little about the topic. But she is okay at strategy, i.e. they types of studies that make up a PhD.

My advice would be to find a second supervisor to ask for advice, although probably stick with the primary supervisor - having one that meets daily is a massive advantage! Take a step back and decide what the PhD is about and what the 'story' your telling is (no one will tell you this, you need to work it out on your own), then go to supervisors with these ideas and ask them to plan with you a schedule of what's going to happen over the next year i.e. data collection, writing etc.

Just to put this is perspective, in my first year, I met my supervisor about 3 times and she ALWAYS confused me, so I just went and got on with a lot of it on my own, which I now realise was her way of making me get to grips with it myself and forcing me to read and critique the literature (or she's just lazy - who knows!)

omg, hate the stupid sats. Going to have lunch and then get on with MY PhD!

Goal 1 for after lunch: Write up measures used in method.

I haven't had my hair cut for about 18 months now - shocking!

urgh still doing work for student. Does anyone know how to plot 3-way interactions in regression? :-(

ooh, I've done SO much this morning (got up! breakfast, shower, walked dog, checked car tyre pressure, filled up tyres with more air, went to do weekly shop, went to pets at home for cat/dog food, cleaned out cat bowls and fed cats, gave dog bone bought at pets at home, made tea) but NOTHING on my PhD.

I have to do some work for a student today, but REALLY dont' want to :-(

Goal 1: see what I have to do for student

:-( no 5 stars for me. Maybe we need to get more people to start threads. I think the fact you can't rate someone more than once is silly. As for example, Walminski *should* have had about 300 'helpful user' votes from me as he is very helpful.

ooh go on then :-)

I doubt its got anything to do with nationality, the only thing I can think of there is *perhaps* english ability, but your post seems fine.

However, I know, in my department at least, ALL the PhDs go to people who are known already to the department (including me) and many come off the masters course we run and straight into a PhD, or an RA and then a PhD - its getting your foot in the door and getting to know the right people. An application out of the blue would be unlikely to get anywhere - unfair as that is.

I would suggest picking out a supervisor you like, going to meet them and ask for RA work (paid or unpaid). Then that is your route to getting funding.

Or maybe my uni is just an incestuous mess!?

woo done that blimmin paragraph. Luckily, a year ago I wrote 7000 words on the topic I'm now writing a paper on, so....copy and paste..... and there's paragraphs 2,3,4,5 and 6 done :-)

omg, that's so exciting! I imagine you to have a little tiara though - is that wierd?

I go to uni in London - give me a shout if you want me to come and moan about my supervisor!

oh dear, I went for a cup of tea and packet of snack a jacks at 11 and now its 11.45 - where did that time go!?

Goal 2 - partially done. I need to add references.

hello Fm!

I've finished goal 1.

Goal 2: do first paragraph in intro

welcome Sera, have a star (gift)

I'm in a good mood today - lets see how long it lasts 8-)

Goal 1: Plan out Paper 3

Don't worry Wal, I'm with you there. Maybe the newbies can all start threads specifically to give us star votes and see if 5 is indeed unattainable. All in the name of research of course, not because I want 5 stars or anything :$

Although, if I finish my PhD without 5 stars, I will feel a deep lack of accomplishment.

I have no idea about job prospects but do whatever you will find most interesting. You can always forge a career if you want it.

I *should* have done the MSc down at exeter on animal behaviour/psychology as I too would love to work with wildlife - but I didn't and now it will be too expensive to go back and do it :-( so do what you want to do, especially if you're not motivated by salary and want to spend your working life doing something you enjoy.