Hi guys,

thought this would fit in here as it is still part of the PhD experience.

Having passed the viva with "minor" corrections before Christmas I am now going through the list of corrections and amendments. Although termed "minor" it still seems to be a lot to do. I am not talking about typos, grammar, language etc. but the parts that say something like "contextualise this"..."expand on that"...."explain in more detail why...". and so on. It shows that it isn't over just yet and that there can be a different kind of limbo after the viva. You know you don't have to do the viva again but you still need to do a good bit of writing. And, this may sound petty, it also may affect other parts of the thesis which are ok, such as new page numbering, new table of contents etc. It just adds up.

This sounds like a rant and maybe it is because I just don't get the feeling that it's done and I absolutely hate to have to revisit my thesis and write again (I'd rather be concentrating on finishing a paper, plan my next research etc.).

Oh, and a happy New Year! ,-)

Danzig.

Firstly, Happy New Year to you Danzig!

And I understand how you feel - I kind of wish I didn't have to do so many corrections as it's just prolonging the agony when I have so much else to be doing, especially at this time of year! I sympathise with the page numbering etc I was thinking yesterday "Oh no, I have to go and change all the references to figures!" and then just went and did something else more fun as the thought of that was a bit depressing.

But we just have to keep chipping away at it and remember that it'll all be worth it in the end :-x

======= Date Modified 31 Dec 2009 20:29:30 =======
Hi DanB,



thanks and Happy New Year to you, too! :-)



Yes, I know you are absolutely right, it will be worth it in the end and it may seem I am a bit ungrateful having gotten through the viva process and am now "whinging" about the corrections. I did do all the grammar and typos so far. It is just the real work that's now getting me down. Having to go back and rethink certain decisions I made for example, justifying certain aspects which have been shown during the viva not to be entirely justifiable etc.



I haven't been given a time limit but was hoping to carry out all corrections by the end of January. It seems doubtful however, as I cannot get myself to do it or raise the energy to do it.



And from reading what you wrote I know I am not the only one without energy which makes me feel a bit better. ;-)



Maybe a motivational thread for all who have still minor or major corrections to do after their viva may be in order? Also (to the ADMINS) is there a possibility in future for a post-doc section (e.g. Post-doc life) for this forum? Would be great to continue reading about how and what people are doing after their PhD experience.



Danzig.

OH thank god I read this thread !!! am loosing my mind with "minor corrections".

It is certainly making me so depressed, I just couldn't do it, it is like my brain stopped working!!


another thing which is making me so depressed is I like my project and I have to leave and won't be able to continue in this area. i feel a part of me is taken away from me, i have become so attached to my project!!! and when I go through the corrections i just remember a lot of things, and ahhhhhh am so sad now i finished don't know what to do, don't know when it will get better.

Happy new year  (snowman)

Hi someone3,

yes, it's like there's a barrier now that your brain has to get through.  I honestly did not think it would be like this. If these are minor corrections how do the major corrections look like?

As for your feeling of loss, I think I read somewhere that some students will suffer some kind of "bereavement" after completing their research thesis.  I can believe that, certainly after what you said it must be quite depressing. I myself do not have that feeling (or maybe it'll wait till it is really over, after submitting the corrected version and graduation?).  It's almost schizophrenic: I want this thing to be over and done with but I don't want too look at it again either. :p

Danzig

======= Date Modified 31 Dec 2009 21:06:41 =======
hello Danzig again,

thanks for replying, it is nice to share, am really glad that someone talked about this, as no one understands me and my friends and family are making me feel guilty and say am never satisfied and can't be happy quote " what do you want more than what you have got ? just be happy and enjoy your success"
where did you read about bereavement after PhD please ? may be i can get some tips on how to get over this again.
it seems there is no rest with PhD no matter what you do there is always a challenge to overcome.(turkey)

Hi Someone

I understand your feeling of loss too - when I finished my last Masters, which took me 4 years, I went out to dinner to celebrate finishing and sat there in the restaurant crying. It was terrible - I was glad to finish, but loved what I was studying and didn't want to stop. I also think finishing can bring about a certain kind of identity crisis - we won't be PhD students anymore, but what are we? The unknown future can also be really unsettling. Yet another grim moment in the Phd process! I think the depression maybe can be avoided if you have plans for more work - journal articles to write, conference papers etc etc, draw from your work what you can while also planning the next part of your life - well, that's going to be my plan.

Good luck to those of you making changes - keep going!!! You'll get there and then the world will open up!

======= Date Modified 04 Jan 2010 10:42:26 =======
Hi guys,

well, I managed a sentence here and there for my corrections but am still avoiding the main chunks of it. The more I try to do it the more I hate it and have an (almost) physical dislike of doing anything with it. This is weird. It should be over but it isn't and I really cannot see how they can term these corrections "minor". Blasted thesis. :-s

EDIT: Sorry someone3 I only saw your question now. I read it in Rowena Murray's book on how to write your thesis. I must say thought that in the end all the books I bought on thesis writing etc did not really help me really. I had 6 months to go, didn't have a first draft then and had to do something. About 2 month before submission date I had my first draft ready. Got it back with suggested changes. Did it over again and submitted 3 weeks before my deadline ran out. So, maybe this may give some people hope, yes you can write everything in a month if you really have no more time left but I wouldn't recommend it. For some, like me it was the only option as I did not heed my supervisors' advice on starting to write early.

Well, I finally bit the bullet and made all the corrections over the last three days. I think they are ok but I now have to wait to find out if it is enough so I can print the thing off again and hand it in (for the final time). The snow helped as I was house-bound. (snowman)

How's everyone else getting on with corrections and amendments? Wish you all the best and all the energy and strength to get it done quickly. I'd say my final post will be once I know that everything is completely finished.

The corrections have been accepted by my internal examiner today. So final steps are: just printing off the corrected version on quality paper, get it hard-bound and submit it. It's finally over.

I wish everyone the best of luck, whether you are at the beginning with your research, in the middle of it or at the end, fingers and toes crossed for you all! (up)

Danzig :-)

Thank you very much Danzig! My best wishes to you for a very successful future!

I wish I reach the same point, I have submitted and waiting for internal examiner to reply to me, am just so tired I can not do any more corrections any more, wish me luck :(

by the way did your internal examiner asked for more corrections? I mean did you correct and that was it, or he had to ask you to do some more ? offfff when the day arrives (final submission) I will write a happy post too, hopefully soon :)

Final last step for a long long journey :$
Sorry sounding so negative :$

Just sent off my revisions! What a relief, it did take longer to repage the whole thing than do the revisions!! Now just need to see if they are accepted. That and try and find out the date of graduation, with a full time job I need to arrange a day off.

Thanks walminskipeasucker! And the same to you!

I know how you feel someone3. I really do. Thankfully, they accepted my corrections the first time around and did not ask for more. Printing the thing off at the moment, almost got a stroke 'cause I ran out of photographic paper for inkjets. Drove into town, first two shops (office supplies etc.) didn't have any left. The third one had some left and they work perfectly now.

All the best,

Danzig

PS: Best of luck Tt