I think what he said was untrue, inappropriate, and pretty dumb. I know some people think he has the right to say and think what he likes, but I think he is in a position of authority and should be more careful. I don't think he should have been removed from UCL though. A simple apology would have sufficed, although he wasn't actually sorry though was he? He stuck to what he said and said he was just being honest.

second class upper

I would put to present because then it looks like you are still employed, rather than becoming unemployed in August

If you get an interview you can tell them the funding ends in August

don't select pass if the only options are 1, 2.1, 2.2, 3 or pass as pass is the lowest of these!

Just select 2.1 if you're not sure

I think you should scan all of them because that's what they usually ask for

I don't think you can easily convert satchi. If you can avoid it, don't write you have a 2.2 (lower) because that's not a very good grade.

In the UK most of us write annual progress reports so we use those to work on our writing. I'm lucky, writing is one of my strengths so I was already good at it before starting my PhD but others are not so fortunate. Some students are terrible writers when they start and they use the annual progress reports, papers and thesis writing to improve. There's nothing wrong with that. Of course it's better if you are good at writing to start with though.

Similarly, some students do learn their subject whilst doing their PhD. I feel like I forgot everything I learnt in my BSc when I started my PhD. I wish I could start my PhD all over again with the knowledge I have now.

So what I am saying is, yes, it's great if you know your subject, and know how to write effectively before beginning your PhD, but hardly anyone does, and that's why we are called PhD students and receive a stipend not a salary.

Tarina can you please stop posting ads every five minutes. Thanks.

Be honest with them. Tell them what you've just written here and see what they say. You could ask for me time to produce the papers ie have them less frequently so that they can see that the quality will improve and they will appreciate more what you are capable of.

I know that inside people are all the same Kimwipes. Most of my closest friends are not English - they are from Africa, Asia, South America, Indonesia and are atheist, Muslim and Christian. There also are plenty of English people I can't stand to be around and who feel the same about me. I also found plenty of Americans who I could relate to and would have been good friends with if I didn't move back home. I'm talking about the face Americans present to the world, not the people they are inside.

I also love learning about different cultures and languages; I find it fascinating. Cultural differences are one of the best things about travelling or working away, but it's not really surprising to find that I am most comfortable with the culture that I grew up in. This is because I understand the nuances of facial expressions, unspoken words, and saying one thing and meaning another that are common in English people. I have had to explain many times to my international friends the intentions of my supervisors because they don't get it. I probably didn't spend enough time immersed in US culture to understand it in the same way I understand my own culture.

I know that every culture is different and I embrace these differences, but I don't have to like them. I can't help it if I found directness and politeness to be disingenuous and superficial; it's not in my culture to be friendly with every person I meet, nor to enquire about their life like we are best friends, so I may interpret things differently to the way they were intended. I can't help it if I love the way English people ignore each other when passing in a corridor, getting a smile or a nod at best.

I'm sure many Americans did find me to be snobbish at times (not sure about rude and arrogant but you never know!).

Also, we should be careful about thinking that what we see on TV reflects reality. I don't think racism is any different in the UK or US, and from what I saw, social mobility was no better in the US than in the UK, and in fact was probably worse.

I wouldn't write it like that. I would just start the second sentence with 'In particular, ghrelin has been' or 'ghrelin is one of the most....' or 'of these, ghrelin ...' something like that.

They really should be paying your expenses Cherub - the interview I attended did and so did those of my friends. But yes, go anyway, the experience is worth it