What's done is done lilbopeep, if you've submitted then try to make peace with that. It sounds as if you'll be asked to do some corrections (as almost everyone is) so just view that as your chance to revisit the work and bring it up to the level you're happy with.

I'm not there yet myself but I've seen Bilbo and co advising people to check out viva preparation books, would it maybe help you to focus on that for the last few weeks? If you show that you're aware of the weak points and have ideas of how to remedy them, I'm sure you'll both feel better and have a better time with your examiners.

Hang in there and be brave!

Is anyone else using graphpad prism? I'm just starting and while I rather like it, have stumbled at a basic issue. I'd like to add the following labels to my bar charts:

- for the n of the group that bar represents
- for the value of that data point

I can't seem to find the function for either and graphpads help search is a bit useless. Can it be done in an automated way or do I need to manually draw labels? (sprout)

A fresh hell sounds about right keep_calm. Hope you're getting through it ok.

I just got a response from my sup about the first draft of my first three chapters, a rather ominous "we should probably have a meeting to discuss it" :-( I find it hell enough to write the thing in the first place, knowing it's just the start of the torture fills me with gloom.

Sali,
Could you write a list of possible questions that occur within your topic, then just choose to focus on only one or two of them?

Otherwise find areas and choose questions after:
Maybe you could focus by method of promotion; such as internet based, through agents, television campaigns...?
Or perhaps according to promoter; government led, operater-led, independent companies...?
Or maybe an aspect; promotions of wildelife, promotion of nightlife, promotion of local culture...?

If you wanted, you could even consider another similar geographical area, and examine how their model of tourism might be applied to Saangai?

Apologies if they're hopelessly vague, I'm afraid I have very little idea of what your research actually entails. Don't panic too much as your brain will just freeze! Try talking to other researchers, they don't have to be your supervisor. And look at the literature, what questions or topics have others addressed?

I got married about 3 months into my phd. It worked well because I told the institute that it was planned and that I'd be taking a month off if they wanted me to start before the nuptials. If I'd left it til later years I don't think I could have taken time out like that (nor had time to plan it!).

It's hard, I only see a handful of other phds on a regular basis and it took me a long time to feel at home here. For me, joining sports clubs was the best thing. It meant I made friends and gained access to social events which weren't tied to the lab or my partner. Three years in I still struggle for people to call when I decide I want to go to the theatre/for lunch, but I do feel I have more of an identity here.

I think most of us are far too shy. I lived abroad a while ago and remember feeling terribly isolated there, as if everyone already had their lives and really wasn't interested in my friendship. Yet since leaving, several people have visited me here, invited me back over to stay, to their weddings.... turned out I had much better friends than I realised, I just needed to be more confident about involving myself. When you do meet people, don't be afraid to ask for phone numbers or suggest meeting up again.

A friend of mine recently got a job as "international recruitment officer", the university spends a fortune flying him round the world to attract these students. I know that the professors from my undergrad uni regularly go on visits to do the same. As you say, why are the BBC reporting this as news?

That's fantastic Jateet, well done!

Bloody hell kb, 6 papers? That's amazing, at the moment I think I might just have one :-(

If it's really not doable then you have to be honest (bear in mind that everything will usually take more time than you've budgeted anyway). I like to use the magic phrase "If I'm to submit on time..." because most schools want to keep students to time to safeguard future funding.

Ah sneaks, the mental image of your lumbering supervisor stomping about with a column of tippex in hand has just made me giggle through my tea. Unattractive but pleasing.

There you are mathkitty, I was starting to wonder if the dancing numbers had eaten you alive!
I've heard a bit about LaTex, came across in late in the phd though and figured I'd spend more time trying to learn it than I would writing, can imagine it's great when you're typing lots of formulae though.

ch4 hasn't really gone anywhere, had a bit of a crummy day and spent most of it ranting on here about how I don't want a phd anyway :$ oops. Trying to get back on now though.

Make sure you don't work too hard, exhaustion can be really destructive if it builds up.

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B****r. It's a real nightmare having this conflict of interest from your funder.
Could someone else maybe cast a look over it for you? Fresh pair of eyes and all that.

I'd agree with sneaks, if they haven't given you a "we'll let you know by" date, then just contact whichever admin was coordinating the interviews and ask if there's any news. Keep it short and polite and I'm sure they won't mind. Best of luck!