======= Date Modified 15 Nov 2012 22:25:53 =======
I had similar trouble, didn't know if or when I'd get feedback and when I did it was minimal which made me doubt my work had been read. I'm with eimeo, I didn't want to take action but knew I'd feel worse if the thesis received a fail and so I contacted the research office and had my fears recorded. Do what you must to protect yourself.

AQ, I've sent you a PM.

No, don't tell her, as it would serve no purpose and might knock her confidence. Hopefully, she'll determine her own path in life and if she wants to be an academic I don't think her age should hold her back.

No, don't tell her, as it would serve no purpose and might knock her confidence. Hopefully, she'll determine her own path in life and if she wants to be an academic I don't think her age should hold her back.

======= Date Modified 28 Oct 2012 21:14:15 =======
Actually Bewildered, if someone is paying for something they should expect to get what they have signed up for and are paying for and academia should be no different. Unless I've picked something up wrong, the academic agreed to act as a supervisor (having seen a proposal or such) and is now attempting to change the topic to one that better suits him. If someone is funded it is often because there is a project that needs doing by an academic or department and so very often a funded PhD student has less control over the design or topic of the PhD but that's understandable.

Sorry, I meant more *right* to call the shots.

If you requested a different supervisor, within the same department, I can't see what problems there would be for the department or the university (aside from some additional paperwork). You're self-funding and so you've more rights to call the shots (try to remember this). Just be tactful in how you deal with your current main supervisor.

As regards the other offer, you may not necessarily have to move. If it's lab based you will have to move but otherwise could you not work from home? Perhaps you could discuss this with staff at the other university before you make your decision. I didn't move for my PhD but worked from home and just went to the university about 9 or 10 times throughout.

It's better you change your mind now than much further down the line. What is your gut instinct telling you? At most, your main supervisor will be annoyed but three years down the line you'll have been supervised by someone else who knows your work and they'll be the one who you'll be looking to for a reference.

If you are self-funding, could you not get your 2nd supervisor to become your 1st supervisor? Reading your post I have to say if I was self-funding I know I would be alarmed at how things are going and would try to nip it in the bud. Could you not even seek to do your PhD at another university? I say this because you are bringing money to a university.

Supervisors can make or break a PhD and so do what you think is right.

Start looking and applying for jobs NOW. I started looking 18 months ago and very seriously looking 12 months ago and I'm still unemployed (2 rejections today) and I've read other posts on here over the years and my experience is not unique. You need an employer more than they need you, in this climate and so please start applying now. You wouldn't want to be in my position - trust me!

It's amazing what you can do in a short time. In your post you produced a 'tick list' of things you need to do. Starting doing them and ticking them off. You can make it happen.

Good luck!

I'd have grave concerns about self-funding because that's a lot of money to invest in a PhD (added to the money you'll not be able to earn because you're busy doing a PhD) and PhD's are not always useful or take you to where you hope to go. Please give the advice you've been given serious consideration.