What's the general procedure of entering, the first, second, final year, what's expected?

1st year-reading, thinking about and working out theoretical framework

2nd year-drafting, attending conferences, seminars, testing ideas out in wider academic circles (absolutely frightening but essential for building confidence in one's own work). THis may also be an ideal period for churning out papers, articles and book chapters.
Also, tutoring and lecturing to accrue necessary experience.

For me, the bulk of socialising and interaction with others happened in the 2nd year and the beginning of the 3rd year.http://www.postgraduateforum.com/images/smiley_cheeky.gif


3rd & 4th year-redrafts, editing, hibernation, crazy hours and panic!

5th year - suicide

6th year - end of max. registration period. PhD still not finished.

First year - Pub, back home by 4:00pm to watch random TV shows
Second year - realise I need to do some work, Pub, back by 5:00pm to watch random TV shows
Third year - job hunting as grant runs out this year, writing up, pub but only for a few hours a night...
Fourth year - hell on earth as editing thesis and working full time away from home... realise that pub was fun but probably not the best idea for 3 years..

First year - collect papers. Try to think of some way to collect data that doesn't cost money.

Second year, lots of teaching for CV; realise that data collection will need money - mine from my grant

End second year - have baby (this is optional).

Take year out. Write book chapter.

Take another year out. Collect data that should have been collected in second year.

Final 'third' year. Get ready to write up only to be persuaded to collect yet more data and do more teaching. Try desperately to write up without going too far into.....

Fourth year - funds run out. Desperate to submit thesis. Apply for postdoc grants. Do some teaching to ingratiate self with dept in hope of getting job. Promise husband will actually earn money eventually. Try to justify using childcare while not earning said money.

1st Year - Create a theoretical framework that is going to shake the very foundations of your subject, a framework that is so profound you wonder why nobody else has thought of it before.

3rd Year - Realise why nobody else has thought of it before, and end up changing research focus completely. But end up (hopefully) with an idea that is even better (and achievable).


Basically, expect to throw a lot of your first year work in the skip. The hardest thing to do is leave it out, because you feel you've worked so hard for it, but keeping it in might dilute the argument of your thesis.

you have posed 5 questions in 2 days on pretty much every aspect of considering a PhD. I am curious why? You are coming to the end of your masters? you are thinking of going on to PhD? you ask about age, gap periods and thesis completion for a masters.

My own research is on the social and personal identity of PhDs as a category and so your queries are for me very interesting. I was mid forties when I started mine and took a year in between MBA and PhD. Shop around for the best supervisor, it matters more than the university brand. Interview THEM, not the other way around. You are going to have to bear your soul and all your perceived inadequacies to them for the following 4 years so the chemistry and trust has to be just right - for both of you.

I suspect s/he is just nosey - like the rest of us.

"Basically, expect to throw a lot of your first year work in the skip. The hardest thing to do is leave it out, because you feel you've worked so hard for it, but keeping it in might dilute the argument of your thesis"

coastman that's sooooooo true!! well said. my first year was a pile of poo and had to change projects. then the next project was rubbish too. but now my supervisor wants me to write about it, because it took 3-4 years, but i still came up with nothing, but makes no sense for the rest of my thesis and data. grrrrrrrr

entrepreneur
that is excellent advice! i wish i had such advice. i basically took the only phd that was offered to me, after going to 2 interviews, one rejected me, the other one told me to apply again, then they offered it to me, when they did 2nd selection of interviews and realised i was the best candidate (no idea why! i really wasnt lol)....

bad decision though, taking that phd.. i dont even know why i did a phd. i guess parental pressure. because i didnt get into medical school. so they wanted me to do something else that was just as worthy. and i did enjoy biology and everyone else on my msc course was applying for a phd, and i didnt know what else i wanted to do. i was so silly and immature! i wish i could go back in time, and slap myself lol

The PhD will unfold into the depths of hell sweetheart, believe your auntie hamilton. Expect to be medicated quite heavily by the end.

Only messing...just be prepared for frustration but you'll be really pleased with yourself when you find a way round it and make it to the end!! Its character building so good luck!!