Hello All,
Thanks for the advices, I really did not about all these regulations here, it is my first time to look for a job in UK :$. I feel I'm more informed now. Any advice is much appreciated. (turkey) (snowman)

======= Date Modified 19 Dec 2009 21:27:40 =======
I think am the most confused or may be the most ... well i don't know, you judge.

you all lightened up my night and warmed my feet in this snow  ;-) (snowman)
Such a nice bunch of people here, your conversations made me laugh, i really needed that. I feel much better now.
i like your good sense of humour, unfortunately I don't know what to say, so I would just say thank you.:$:-x(up).

======= Date Modified 19 15 2009 20:15:07 =======
I was bored really, needed to distract my self, so i thought to post a thread to find out who is the oldest member here? (I mean the first who used this forum) the most active? the best supporters? the wisest ...etc.

Just a thought (gift)(tree)(turkey):p

hello phdbug,
thank you very much for your nice words.

I like my supervisor a lot, and their project too, i realy like working with them, i feel it is the right thing for me, in fact I am obsessed about the project, it is so interesting to me. I will give it a go and see what happens.

======= Date Modified 19 Dec 2009 11:11:51 =======
please don't spare my feelings, and don't be afraid of what you think, just give your honest views, that is all i want from you.:p

if you are looking for a job, and your mentor/supervisor knew about it , but they are not offering you any jobs, i never asked them before, but do you think if they wanted they will offer you one without asking them? would you still ask them for a job?

am so confused your views will be much appreciated.:$

======= Date Modified 19 Dec 2009 10:10:57 =======
======= Date Modified 19 Dec 2009 10:09:28 =======
hello lilmiss..
I had my viva last week , and it is definitely not too late, if you work for the two weeks I think it is enough.

Based on my experience here are my advices:

1- read your whole thesis and know what is there exactly, i mean don't just skip through it, read it carefully.
2- make a summary (write it down) of the most important findings of your thesis
3-read the papers published by your external examiner ( cause that is there area of their expertise)
4-read few up to date papers which has been published in the last few months.
5-if you can, find a list of weak points in your thesis and prepare replying to them if you have been asked.


if you can not do all of them don't worry too much, i know it is hard to do, but the examiners will put you at ease and only try to make you talk about your project, so don't worry so much.

start focusing on these things now and don't listen to what every body says, it will confuse you, just see what is the best for your field.
and if you can, do a mock viva one week before the actual one, that should make you realise what you need to focus on the chapters that might need a bit further reading, just to remember what you have written.

This is getting interesting.... 8-):-s

Oh thank you so much bonzo, am so touched by your genuine advices it really lifted my spirit. I will try to buy the book soon, i love these types of books.

wish you the best and thankkk you soooooooooooooooooooooo much (up)

======= Date Modified 18 Dec 2009 16:01:09 =======
yeh , i don't think that is a big issue.

you can just say I like this project and I can not find it in my university.
or you can say i read your paper about ... and although i didn't understand most of it, but it intrigued me and i like to learn more about it by doing research in this area.

Ok and without sounding "cheesy" i think it is always good to change a place, it is advisable actually not to stay in the same place, because changing location will give you the chance to experience new things, learn about a different university and create a wider network, going to another place is always a challenging experience which expand your horizons and abilities, open the door for new possibilities.

you can say I would like to change environment.
good luck
(robin)

yeh, i agree with the ace, if you are doing lab based PhD it is not possible to do it part time, in my experience you need full dedication.
at my University they only agree for part time if you work for the same uni as a technician part time (may be working for your supervisor) other than that they don't allow part time students.

and it does not matter if you left 8 years or not, you will learn something new so it doesn't help that much if you are recently graduated or not.
Good luck

Hello Alterego,

OK, I can not say if you are a PhD material or not, only you can decide that.

In my experience PhD does not require a very high intelligence, it needs determination and enthusiasm for the work also a good supervisor.( of course you have to be smart but, you do not need to be a genius).

Some supervisors accept any type of student as long as they are hard working and i think they can decide when they meet you to judge your abilites..etc.
others only accept A grade students, so it depends on the supervisor and the (money, vacant position ...etc)

another question to ask yourself is why you did badly in those previous grades? was it because you were not working and you know you can do much better if you had the chance to work hard?

am sure grades are not a sign of intelligence or abilities but, if you were able to do a master, that means you are good enough, that is what i think at least.

this is my honest views, and I don't know really how you can ask for advice ...etc I don't have much experience my self in these things.

BUT what i think is : if you think you are good deep down, then you do have a chance, but ask the right people, someone who knows you are good.

hope that answers some of your questions.



(tree)

======= Date Modified 18 Dec 2009 15:09:06 =======
NO Maria, you are definitely not paranoid, it is possible.
if people spending too much time on PC at work doesn't necessarily mean they are working all the time.
At the same time i feel it is not so possible that we are talking to our colleagues, because the are few users who are always using this forum, it is not a big number ( I think ).

But i think everyone will keep quiet even if they knew you, because it will expose them as well.

You know sometimes I feel that I know a person from their "writing personality", i imagine them as those in my work place, I'm sure it is not them, but I sometimes I feel they are, at least they have similar characteristics.

Who knows
(gift)

======= Date Modified 18 Dec 2009 15:00:26 =======
thanks alterego,

yes i did speak to my supervisor and I was working in a different place, but now things changed because the place i was working in changed its location and is no longer there, so i have to go back to the original place, which i hate. i will see what happens.

by the way, i have voted for you as a helpful user ;-)

======= Date Modified 17 Dec 2009 20:08:55 =======
hello you can find it on Pubmed.org
and if you got athens account you can access it, your uni should get you one.

i have got the paper if you want, i can send it for you.