Sounds reasonable to me. Personally I like using old references if they were important and then I add the more up to date references as well.

See, I love two spaces after a full stop. My mum was a secretary and taught me that :)

I used blue. I changed it to a darker blue than the default Word uses though.

I printed mine 'free' at the department too - although a few months after I left, my supervisor emailed to ask me why my printing costs were so high!

I used a different colour for headings too. I liked it like that. I doubt my supervisors/examiners did but they didn't ask me to change it so I was happy about that :)

Hi Newcomer,

Of course we don't mind you posting here - that's what the board is for!

Regarding your essay, I think you are overthinking it a bit, which is understandable, given what's at stake.

If I was writing this essay, I would approach it initially by "discussing the points put forward by academics so far that claim that paganism IS a religion, and weight them against those that claim it is NOT?" Like you said.

I would get my main ideas down first and then think about linking it effectively to the title and maybe have a paragraph on the academic study of religions.

First off - congrats on getting an interview - that is brilliant!

My best tip is practice, practice, practice. That's the best way for me to overcome nerves. And visualise yourself giving a brilliant performance.

Good luck!

I reckon you'll be fine to get on to a PhD once you have a MSc, or even before you get your MSc grade, particular if this is in science. Even better if you apply for a MSc at your MSc uni.

How many references is it asking for? Just try to put some random information in another reference field and see if it will accept it then?

Have you tried contacting the organisation directly?

Sounds like you have already got some very expert opinions though and which probably carry a lot more weight than someone on here?

I can't help anyway - I have no clue about stats stuff.

That's quite odd Hugh, but I have seen once recently that's open until December. I guess they are happy taking their time to find the right candidate!

I agree with everything ApolloBullit said, but I would like to assure you PaperLantern that it sounds like you are keeping up with everything as you should.

It's totally normal at your stage to have your advisors talk about papers you haven't heard of - they are experts in their field and you are just beginning your career!

You have two papers and you are only in your first year! I know plenty of people that graduate from their PhD with no papers!

In science, I think comps are done in the second year, so I'm sure you're fine and your advisor isn't worried about your progress so you shouldn't be either.

You will be absolutely fine.

I'd be interested in joining :)

I didn't join any societies because they aren't really my thing, they are less common for postgrads as well I think, although I do know several PhD students that were in societies.

There was no freshers week specifically for postgrads, but you could join in with the undergrad stuff if you wanted to. There were a few specific events for postgrads, but I didn't go to many of these.

My social life during my PhD was quite department specific - we had PhD student presentations once a week and we usually went to the pub afterwards. People also tended to go to the pub on Fridays. We had things like departmental quizzes/bbqs and then as a lab we went out for lunch once a month as well.

People also tended to send emails around like 'going to xxxx on xxxx, anyway want to join let us know/meet us at xxxx'. We also had several postgrad reps that arranged things. It was quite easy to get involved with stuff if you wanted to.

I imagine most places are pretty similar in this respect.