I don't know whether everyone feels like that. From a certain point of view it would be comforting to know that they do, but on the other hand I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I am writing up. My funding ran out before it should have done (I won't go into it), so I have both had to rush, and finish writing from home. My supervisor took another job before I left at a different university, and my thesis doesn't seem to be his highest priority. The other academic who was going to help me unfortunately became ill, and has been in hospital the past month.

I have a postdoc lined up abroad, but I have been delaying it, and delaying it, as my supervisor helpfully overestimated my finish date when my prospective boss asked. Im worried theyll lose patience with me, withdrawing the offer.

Also, I think that my thesis is terrible. It is too short, only 120 pages, most in my field (physics) seem to be at least 150. All my supervisor does when he has actually given me feedback is tell me to remove things.

I have managed to unintentionally re-produce one of my own papers, and I am worried about about self-plagiarism. AND, my internal examiner hates my supervisor, and would love to fail one of his students / discredit his research.

I am supposed to submit this week, but my supervisor still hasn't read my discussion and results sections, despite me repeatedly asking for over a month. Today he acknowledged that there may be an issue with some of my findings (I based some inferences from an as-yet unpublished paper by him on his instruction), yet still can't find time to read it. Now he goes abroad for a week, and no feedback. I am supposed to submit tomorrow!

I just did a read-through and it reads terribly, and seems to be a mish-mash of styles. I don't know what to do.

Sorry, a bit of a rant etc.

Hi Muhah, sorry to hear of your troubles, and sorry that your post went unanswered! How are things now?

hi Muhah,
it's the end of February now. Are you ok? Assuming you have submitted?

People do get the "I'll fail" feeling, its normal. Everybody rants too. All of us go through loads of ups and downs in our phd process. Take it easy. There're many ways to seek help. Speaking to someone in your university etc.

There are lots of very helpful people here actually. I'm guessing your post went unanswered because perhaps it came up when most people were too occupied (yes like I have nothing to do today :-)) or people went offline (I did so for a couple of months).

Whatever it is, don't give up.

love satchi