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PhD or new job conondrum
T

Depends how much you really want to do a PhD.

No Job 5 months after graduating.
T

Quote From yashnv:
A PhD is not worth much except that people tend to think that PhDs are intelligent (which they probably aren't anyway)


Yeah, we are all dumbasses on here; I wouldn't waste your time conversing with us if I were you. We are all losers that know only theory and have no experience. Hey, why don't we all pack up and quit our PhDs now?!

Study into Human Animal Relationships £20 prize draw.
T

Completed! I liked it, there's some interesting and funny questions there!

PhD embarrassment
T

Quote From Mackem_Beefy:
[quote] I wonder how many PhDs have working class origins?


Definitely me, although about 70% of the British people in my lab are from middle class families, London, and/or one of their parents is an academic.

Changing PHD's. Is it a bad idea?
T

You also have to consider references, are you going to tell your advisers that you want to move? Do you need them to be your referees?

I think if you want to take this road, you can only do it directly and honestly, because otherwise it's not going to work. I can't tell you how to word it; all you can do is write it sensitively, directly and honestly in your covering letter when you apply for the PhD.

I'm not sure how favourably it will come across, and the academics might just reject you for that reason alone, but equally they are likely to reject you anyway if you are evasive in a interview about your reasons for leaving your current PhD.

Also consider what will happen if it doesn't work out: how will you advisers feel about you as a student? Would they question your dedication? Would this affect the success of your PhD?

How to find a science job?
T

Hi, sorry to hear of your situation. Can I ask what type of jobs you are applying for? I can't say I know too much about the science job market yet, but I think you should be able to find the type of job you describe in industry? If you have had 8 interviews, you must be doing something right.

I also think that you are more able than you are giving yourself credit for. I don't think anyone with a science PhD can be useless at maths and English. Perhaps you should consider obtaining a diagnosis regarding your possible dyslexia. Maybe this lack of self confidence is coming across in interviews?

How long to 'write up' 'revise and submit?
T

I hope you are not being overly ambitious because my deadline is September 2015 and I only have about 25% of the thesis written so far and still a lot of lab work to do!

I think you'll be fine though and I do think it's realistic. I'm aiming to submit by March 2015, with 3 months extra time to definitely submit by June 2015.

Changing PHD's. Is it a bad idea?
T

Hello Faisal,

I think you should probably be honest in this case, because there is overlap in the research and it may benefit your application. I also think you should make a good case about the funding, rather than you think the new uni would be better, because that seems like a more realistic reason for the move.

500 Word Research Proposal - Please Help!
T

Ordinarily I would agree with you XJR, but this person has to submit a proposal in the next two days and is reactivating an 8 year old thread for someone to assist. This doesn't sound like a person who is trying to get an idea of a layout of a previously successful proposal before submitting their own, more like a person that has left it rather late with their application and is pretty desperate. But hey, how much should one assume from a few sentences?

Contacting two potential PhD supervisors within the same university department?
T

Is this in the humanities or social sciences? It would be pretty unusual not to have any students if it was the sciences, and it would probably mean they are not in a position to take on students.

Another rejection...how many did you guys get?
T

I'm assuming English isn't your first language? Do you mention this on your applications? You probably should because it might make the reviewers a little more forgiving.

There really is no 'good' layout, but this website covers the tips that most people mention:
http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ld/resources/presentation/using-ppt

You will also need to ensure it is constructed logically and outlines all the information that should be in a proposal.

Technically you shouldn't correct mistakes after you have submitted the final version of a dissertation, but if you know that there are errors then it will look better to correct them (and let's face it, they are highly unlikely to find out you've corrected it after submission).

500 Word Research Proposal - Please Help!
T

Plus you really should learn not to copy from others. It's not a good trait for a prospective PhD student.

Would I know if I was going to get kicked off the program?
T

Just ask them in your next meeting - don't wait for an annual surprise in the review!

Tutor is making me miserable - in need of some advice
T

This is a very common situation. All you can do is try to appeal to your supervisors' reasonable sides, and tell them that you are trying your best, you find it better if they do ABC and not CDE and that you have set these goals for yourself based on their feedback and ask them whether they agree.

This way you are trying to ascertain what they want and work on something that is good for both of you.

Bear in mind that some supervisors are just not reasonable though and you can be the best student in the world and still not good enough for them. This is their problem, not yours, but you have to learn how to manage this.

Would I know if I was going to get kicked off the program?
T

You are unlikely to be kicked off without prior warning. Check your student handbook. There are informal and formal processes to grow through before they can just kick someone out. I wouldn't worry! Try to not take his lack of engagement personally - he is probably just focused on other things. If you need more supervision, try to address this with him directly.