Got to stay up late and finish writing for a deadline tomorrow... Anyone else still up and procrastinating?

Hi, yeh, I think a lot of anxiety can be there at the start of the PhD, simply because you don't know what to expect (or what is expected of you). It will vary by PhDs - some supervisors actually like their students to be in the office from 9 to 5 (or other stipulated hours). When there is a structure like that, I imagine that it is less stressful because you feel like you are "coming in everyday" and therefore, you must be doing enough work (so goes the reasoning!).

Do you know about the set up of your PhD yet?

Also you are right about experiment times. In my PhD, recruitment of participants holds things up for ages (I twiddle my thumbs and the stress builds up during those times), but then when I am actually collecting the data, suddenly there isn't enough time to do everything I could now be doing (eg. coding the data as it comes in).

You'll settle in to whatever yours brings : )

Haha, I remember asking people that. Yeh, it is possible. I know people who work 2 days a week and have kids and do their PhDs. Personally, I think I could fit my PhD into those hours and fewer days a week, if I following a strict regime and was very self-disciplined. (In fact, I did used to be more disciplined in that way... but I think the PhD has a way of changing your working habits... sometimes you end up just working solidly until midnight simply because you feel like you CAN work on that particular day... especially as the day before you sat at your desk for 7 hours staring at the screen and maybe managed to write a single sentence, which you then deleted later as it was rubbish anyway...). It is pretty dynamic - you'll probably just end up adapting for what works for you (unless you have other big constraints in your life - which may actually help you get that structure and be more disciplined). But it is doable in those times yes.

Hi Iwan

I am not in your field - just a disclaimer : )

A couple of things though. Advising someone not to rush isn't necessarily the same thing as saying slow down. So it may be that your pace is fine, but she may just want to warn you to stay cautious and focused on detail (because things will come back and bite you later if you haven't thought about them in enough detail now). Is there any context here? For example, did she say she was pleased with the device you'd designed, or that it could do with a little more work? If in doubt - ask.

For me, my pace has been a bit too slow. I know this because I have a clear timetable that outlines when I should be reaching certain milestones in my project. Do you have one of these? It can give you some reassurance when you feel like you're floating around. Also, if you come up with a timetable and agree it with your supervisor, then you will both be on the same page regarding the measure of your pace and progress.

I hope this helps.

T

I believe education at any level should be "free". So in that sense, what you're experiencing (having your debt wiped out) should be the norm for all your fellow citizens. Just my humble opinion.

On reflection... there is no harm in postponing and then following your career passion. Five years will fly by, and you'll be free of all that debt! What is 37 compared to 42? Yep, on second thoughts, I'd pay off the debt and fulfill your career aim later.

(changed - see below)

Thanks Pjlu. It does help to hear what other have done. I will see what my supervisors say about it anyway. To be honest it probably doesn't deserve a whole section (most of the implications are practical for this paper), and could be summed up in a sentence or two that says theories need to consider this because we found it played a role.

Thanks again :)

Hello,

I know what a theory is... but when discussing theoretical implications are you necessarily discussing a specific theory?

You see, my paper has a number of implications. Some are practical (so clearly - practical implications). And then some are not practical but relate to what the findings actually means for doing future research and for our understanding of the topic. Am I right to see these are "theoretical implications"?

I feel like a nitwit asking this (can I not see the wood for the trees anymore?) but would be glad of some advice from people who have written their thesis/papers.

Thanks
Tudor

Hi Canasian

I think you should go for it if it is the path to your chosen career. I do think you should make sure that you have strategies in place for if what happened before recurs - as it is a real possibility that it will (a PhD is more stressful than a Masters - because of the lack of clear structure and because many issues that can occur along the way that are beyond your control - e.g., with recruitment, null results that you think you can't publish, etc - may be specific to my field).

Re getting on a program/getting funding. Really considering the realities of what you are letting yourself in for and having strategies in place for when things arise will put you in a good place for application writing and interviews. It would also be worth considering what you will disclose about your previous experiences (if you decide to disclose any of it) or what explanation you will give about leaving your previous Masters (if you decide to tell them that... maybe there is another way to explain a gap on the CV - or maybe you prefer to be open but think carefully...).

I don't know the details of your situation but I'd be inclined not to even see your previous masters experience as a failure. Whatever happened happened. You are probably now stronger because of it.

All the best
Tudor

I agree with ToL. It sounds like it is just a procedure - so do it - and fingers crossed no amendments will be needed.

Yeh don't worry about this one. If you get it you get it, wayhay. If not, then not. You just have to keep on applying. Maybe for the future you could come up with a little tip sheet for if you get sleepless beforehand - things you want to remember to do. Keep it basic... e.g., make sure I'm polite, maintain eye contact, whatever.

Good luck!!!

I felt similar to this at the end of my BSc. Everyone was so happy and excited about finishing, and I was completely depressed. It was only when I got into my next venture that I stopped missing it and actually began to see it was a good thing that it was over and done with! I think it is a comfort zone thing. No one wants to leave their comfort zone (unless it is really really uncomfortable! And even then there is a tendency to look back at it with rose tinted specs as you reach the end of the torment!).

I think you have to decide whether you think you can (and want to) overcome these hurdles or whether you would prefer to go somewhere else. Maybe you could set yourself a limit, say 3 months. And say, if things aren't going better and I'm not enjoying myself more by X time then I will leave. And in the meantime, you could make yourself a list of tips to help yourself get through... e.g., if supervisor x says such a thing, I will respond in such a way (rather than reacting negatively), and in terms of the project some goals as well.

This is how I would deal with this. In fact, I did set myself a limit in the first year of my PhD. First it was 3 months and then I extended it to 1 year. And things really did get better so I am glad I didn't leave. : )

EXACTLY!!!! Which is why I am saying - hey what is the standard procedure here?