Hi All, I have just had the feedback on my draft thesis and I've been told I should be ready to submit in 2-3 weeks. I would be elated if I really believed it could happen in this time, it seems like there is so much left to do! I'm plagued by self doubt: Is it original enough? Was my analysis robust enough? etc. Because I don't think I'll achieve it in this time, I'm procrastinating, which is bad I know! Also I work full time and I'm finding it hard to find the time and energy for the PhD in the evenings and weekends. I feel like I've given up my life for so long for this, I want it back! But I know I have to knuckle down if I'm ever going to get to the end!
Just wondered if there is anyone out there in a similar position? Or if you have already submitted, what were the last few weeks like? How did you make it through?

I'm really sorry to hear that FF, hope you are OK.

I agree, a journal article has much more prestige. It's a shame that that's how things are weighted, but that's how things are at the moment. Having said that, a published chapter in an edited book is much better than no publication at all. Some people also might publish their work in the book and then develop / extend the work / give it a different focus for a journal article. Personally I published my literature review (incl where I think research could/ should go in future) in an edited book and saved my major empirical findings for journal articles.

I think that sounds fine. I always write my conference papers in the present tense (seems more concrete). I think this is the norm, although I have seen some in the future tense. I have never written a cover letter for a conference, just a short note saying 'please find my abstract for conference X attached' etc. Good luck!

This seems too short to do a meta-analysis of 50 studies...surely that would take months not weeks??? What field are you in?

I went at the end of my second year. I really enjoyed it, especially meeting other students and finding shared experiences. It broke up some of the PhD isolation I was feeling strongly at the time. The evenings were a lot of fun (going out to the pub etc), the mentors were supportive. We did an excercise where you do a mock application form for a job and then you do a mock interview and get feedback - that was quite valuable. It was also good to think about potential future goals and career plans and practice presentation skills. The only thing is its fairly intensive - I was expecting a bit of a holiday but no such luck! I would recommend it, unless you really hate meeting people and self-reflection (you do quite a lot of both).

hi there, its perfectly normal to feel anxious before submitting and want to keep adding to it/ wondering if you should. One of my friends even contacts the binder and got them to unbind part of her thesis to swap her pages for those where she had made some changes...I think its best just to submit and accept its likely there will be some corrections. As long as you can justify your choices for inclusion you should be OK.

Tina, I really sympathise! I am also at the end and am having related difficulties, but as my field is social sciences it's slightly different I think...the issue for me is originality. At first i was told to contextualise my findings with the literature, drawing out the similarities between my work and past studies. But then when I did that my supervisor suggested that this meant my findings weren't original...I have been told i really need to draw out the key original findings of my own work as that is a key criteria for a PhD. I'm not sure how truly original PhDs there are out there? or if it is a question of confidence in your work and the right emphasis?

Hi, if you are doing some teaching (tutoring, lecturing or demonstrating) whilst doing your Phd your university might run a teaching course for postgrads (postgrad certificate in teaching or something similar) that is affiliated to the Higher Education Adacemy . It should cover theory of how people learn, and perhaps involve some observations of your teaching. At my uni when you become a lecturer you are required to take a course in your first 18 months as part of the conditions of your probation. This course qualifies you for full membership to the Higher Education Academy, but you can't take that course until you are a lecturer, although occassionally postdocs may be able to take it. Do you want to be a secondary school teacher after your PhD? To be a lecturer a PGCE is not required, although a few people do have it.

Hi Zelda, I've received the articles you sent via the postgrad team, many thanks for them! :) Thanks to you too for forwarding them postgrad team.

bring a note-book and pen and a note of any questions you have to ask her...that's all I usually do before supervisions.

no its not

It is very difficult to say as it is based on your individual application. My guess would be that you would have a fair chance with a 2.i and a masters but it would by no means be guaranteed. I was funded by ESRC, I applied with a first class degree and a masters from highly ranked universities. I think a well written, well researched application is crucial, rather than just the grades you have.

I only applied for one, the PhD I'm doing now.

Happy Birthday! Enjoy the last hour of your bday!! Hope you had a good day.