Sorry, haven't posted in a long time as there was a problem with my account, it has been resolved now.

Things really aren't good at the moment, it basically started after a change of superivisor after my previous lead supervisor took up a position at another university, the new supervisor wanted to change the project in terms of the theoretical approach and the methodology, and it slowed things down a bit. Fortunately it has started to resolve itself now, after me standing up for myself whilst doing my utmost to please him.

I am heading towards my upgrade and have to have 3 chapters for that, one being the lit review that has been a real 'sticky point'. I just can't seem to get it right despite working so hard and adhering to my supervisors' comments, it's as if they all want different things, although they aren't especially conflicting in supervision meetings the lead supervisor tends to have all the input and the other two don't say much at all whereas my previous lead supervisor wasn't especially involved. I have my third draft to email them on Monday and it is almost there, so I am hoping that this will be enough to secure my future, if it isn't up to scratch then my progression is threatened, basically.

This is because I had a progress review meeting in July, which my supervisors had to submit a report for beforehand. They said that I was working hard and that the project was progressing, although they were concerned about the lit review, and without that they couldn't quite recommend my progression. There was no indication that I was going to be asked to leave though. So following that, I have another progress review meeting on the 17th Sept to review what has happened since then. I am sending my supervisors the chapter on Monday and then they are going to read it and produce a report for the panel, I should be meeting them beforehand so I will probably have an idea of the outcome before the meeting. Basically if there is obvious progress then I will be okay and be able to enrol and continue towards my transfer, if there is no/not enough progress then other suggestions will have to be made, although I won't be asked to leave at that stage.

Before my supervisors went on their holidays at the beginning of August I sent them half of the revised chapter and although there was constructive criticism, they did agree that there were signs of development and that it could be a really good chapter, and that they were looking forward to it being finished and me being able to get on with the rest of the project. They still seem invested in my project and wanting me to continue. But I have these niggling doubts, it is as if I am used to my lit review being terrible (and it hasn't all been terrible, there are nice comments as well), so I don't think I'm good enough to do a PhD. I am still motivated and have a temp teaching contract as well, so I really want to stay.

Has anyone else been in this position?

was a problem with my account, it has be

Sorry, did spell check and it started repeating the post, I meant to add at the end that any advice was appreciated and thanks in advance, Nx

hi natassia
how are you? I was at KT1, ended up going by car; it is a nice part of london. I got the walkit app; but ended up not using it as the Maps on iphone was a lot faster (!). I also did the touristy stuff like going to see the EYE. I did not pay to go up in the eye. Queue was too long, and didn't really want to spend money on it, so I just stood near and took pictures.

please don't worry about your literature review. From the August chapter you sent them, your supervisors had agreed that your work had shown signs of development, this is a good thing. I don't think they will ask you to leave.

I've only know one person who was asked to leave. But he was a brilliant student. The problem with him was that he did not even hand in anything (!!!), he could not finish writing even short reports on time; he couldn't even turn up at the lab on time (!!!); he was having a nervous breakdown, poor lad.

As for my writing, I've had my supervisors change and cancel out A LOT of my writing, I've become NUMB to it since then.

While it is true that we may feel some loss of confidence and possibly some niggling doubts (!!!), I think we should ask ourselves are we going to see this through--and keep reminding ourselves that we do GOOD work, then we are GOOD writers--and we can persevere! :-)

You ARE good enough to do a PhD!!!

please don't worry, you'll be ok
love satchi

Thank you Satchi, and I'm glad that you enjoyed your time in London, despite all the travelling!

I'm just editing the chapter now and will send it this afternoon. To be honest, I just want it out of my hands now, I know I've given it my all and there is little else I can do really. A departmental colleague (who has a PhD) has read it and he thought it was good, which was reassuring.

Time will tell,

Natassia