Hey hairui--um, have you seen the number of threads on this forum from British students on being bullied by their supervisors? I assure you, this is a widely-experienced phenomenon, not one which only affects the internationals.

God yeah chris! I have experienced this--and it hurts like hell, doesn't it?! So frustrating, my sympathy goes out to you. I hope you don't have to go right back to the drawingboard???

No, but I have to say I'm in utter shock at the moment. A fellow PhD student in the department dropped out over Christmas, and the reason everyone's so surprised is because he was so enthusiastic about his project.

BadHair, I think your barbed comments are inappropriate. It's interesting that you say that 'there's something to be said for accepting the unfairness of academia', yet in most of your posts you have been doing quite the opposite (ref. supervisors, the frustration of being unable to find work post PhD, etc) I'm not attacking you, I just think that your posting was unjust.

I have to agree with BadHair--the field has a major bearing on this. As an Arts & Humanities student, I'm stuffed basically. It's notoriously difficult to get a lectureship in the A&H, which begs the question--Am I mad or what? (seeing as academia is really the only career path for A&H PhDers)

What your describing sounds just like most people's experiences of their first few months/first year of the PhD. I would actually say this is absolutely normal, based on my own experiences and discussions with first year students. I don't know if that actually helps, but I can assure you that a majority of PhD students spend most of their first year panicking.

Oh, and think of it this way--if she does confront you about not meeting with her yet, you can tell her that you didn't want to waste her time (sups big on this one), that you wanted to complete the reading list she gave you so you could talk about something concrete

Hollie, rest assured, you have no need to panic. You've just started your PhD, so the sups should be aware that you're taking time to change gears and get adjusted to PhD life. You've already been having supervisions with your first supervisor, so it's not like you've not been having supervisions at all. If you hadn't had any meetings yet, then I'd be worried.

HA! I've just managed to really p*ss my supervisor off. We had a right barney today--probably not the best day to have a sup with him, seeing as we all seem to be experiencing some sort of cosmic indigestion. So, you all are in crappy moods as well? Thank god we're not in the same room together eh? These are my instructions: buy yourselves lots of chocolate, put on your most comfy jim-jams and socks, and barricade yourselves in your bedrooms, creating some sort of fort-like structure from your sheets. If anyone tries to enter, hurl one of your most weighty tomes at them. If that doesn't keep them at bay, hurl them all.

Actually olivia, it's not the weather. The weather doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I'm miserable in the summer, and bouncy in the winter! This is something else altogether. It's a mystery. Think I might make myself somethin nice for tea, or get a lovely chinese takeaway--always cheers me up!

anyone else out there having a strange few days? I don't know what's happening, but I'm feeling extremely lethargic, can't be bothered, am in a right mood today, and just feeling blah. The people I've run into in the past couple of days have reported extreme lethargy as well. I got in a right strop about the stupidest thing today. Anyone else experiencing this odd cosmic energy? I think I'll go hide under my duvet and sit it out...

Hey everyone! After my last post, I thought it would be funny to hear some feedback on common health problems experienced by PhDers. I'll start the list off: insomnia, indigestion (from all the crap I'm eating), repetitive strain injury (from constantly lifting my bag o books), depression (from general feelings of uselessness), back problems (from sitting and reading for endless hours), weight gain (again, from all the crap I'm eating) and social anxiety (from being in solitary confinement in the library).
I'd love to hear your lists guys!

pawm, I have the same problem as you. I actually forced myself to get up at 8 this morning, which is probably why I haven't gotten anything done! Someone mentioned this in a thread some time back--have you noticed a time when you feel you are most productive? I find around 7pm, I start to feel more awake/alive. I'm useless in the mornings. It's impossible for me to sit and read for 6-7 hours solid, and when I do I feel absolutely dreadful (achy, irritable, exhausted, sick) for the rest of the day. I'd love to see a list of the most common health problems experienced by PhDers!

oh, why does UTube have to be so tantalising? (anyone seen some of the PhD stuff on there?) I just can't seem to focus today?! Sat myself down this mornin at the ungodly hour of 8, with the greatest of intentions. I was going to read three books today (hehe)...then, thought I'd just quickly check my emails, and some funnies from the bandit comedians on UTube to get my in a good mood before I started...6 hours later I haven't done a lick of work! Anyone else messin about today, or am I the only skiver?

Oh yes, the originality question. Fear not eddi, this is common amongst PhDers. In fact, I'm having to completely re-route my PhD at the moment after finding material on my topic. I was speaking to a PhD student last week who has had to change direction after three years of research (can you imagine?!)! I attended a seminar on the pitfalls of research yesterday, and the speaker was saying that most PhD students he meets are constantly on edge, and the best way to avoid being in perpetual emotional turmoil is to realise that the PhD needs to be treated as a long journey of incremental steps. I found that comforting.