I know what you mean about job ads. Maybe you could say that if they give you the job, you'll demonstrate excellence!

By the way, did you apply?

I just passed my PhD! I have minor corrections to do, but officially I have passed. Now my question is, when can I start using the term 'Doctor' or including PhD in my testamurs? I'm applying for jobs at the moment, and on my CV and applications and stuff I've been putting PhD (in progress). Now I just want to let everyone know I've passed.

By the way, don't hate me, but in Australia (at least at my university) there is no viva. The thesis stands alone on it's own merits. I guess that could be good or bad depending on your point of view, but I must admit I was quite glad not to have to go through it.

There have been lots of really good snacking tips in this thread, but I just wanted to add my own diet advice, discovered since I moved to China two months ago.

Eat whatever you like, but use chopsticks! :-)

I've found Endnote unnecessary as Word 2007 includes a more than adequate referencing system. It works fine, so I don't see the point in using two programs when one will do the job. There are a couple of little foibles though, like if I have two authors with the same last name, it will include an initial for one of them in the in-text referencing, which I don't want. However, this is easily overcome by converting the reference to static text and removing the unwanted letter.

I don't know about engineering equations but I've used Word for my thesis and it seems OK. I didn't want to have to learn a new program.

You mention having a co-supervisor. Can you go to them and explain the situation? Perhaps they can act as a mediator between you and your supervisor and help to get things sorted out.

However, it sounds like it might be time to get a new supervisor. If he is passing off your work as his own, as you say, then you need to do something about that. It is your intellectual property and you deserve to have your name attached to it. If you can't get help from your co-supervisor, then go to student services or your head of school. These issues need to be addressed now.

Misspacey, I don't need to advise my word count to anyone, so I haven't really been worried about how many words are in my table of contents. Just as well, becuase it goes over four pages! As long as I am under 100,000 words I'm OK, and I'm up to about 90,000 now with contents and references included.

Thanks for that reply Danzig. Just after I posted I realised I could just call it a List of Tables. I don't know why that didn't occur to me before. Obviously my brain is turning to jelly! :$

I'm working on formatting my thesis and putting it all together. I've just been wrestling with my table of contents, and I have included a table of figures. But I also have a number of tables in my thesis as well. How do I list those? A Table of Tables sounds stupid. Any ideas?

Magictime - did you used to be Santa?!!

My PhD isn't on a weird topic at all, I'm studying gifted education, but if I had to choose another topic I would love to do a PhD on Harry Potter. And I know there are some people who have!

I think it really depends on what the chapter is about and how it is structured. I'm in the humanities (education) and am working on an 80,000 word thesis. I also have a chapter which is about 30,000 words, but (in my opinion!) it is well-structured, and broken up into lots of smaller chunks so it is is easy to follow. The chapter presents the results of four separate case studies, so theoretically I could split it into four, but I think it works fine as it is. They are all results so they all belong in the results chapter.

What does your supervisor think?

For when you're looking for that perfect word, try this site:

http://www.onelook.com/reverse-dictionary.shtml

Just describe your concept and a range of words will be suggested. It's very useful.

I've been doing my PhD by distance and it hasn't been a problem, although it wouldn't be for everybody. I live about an 8 hour drive away from my uni (that's each way!) and I've only been there twice in two years. My supervisors and I sometimes Skype, sometimes teleconference, and exchange emails regularly. The library is not an issue, as they are well-equipped for dealing with distance students and will post books out. And of course, many journal articles are available online. They also offer regular online tutorials for various research skills. I have also forged links with my local university and have been able to do some teaching there, so I am gaining that experience as well. If you are considering working this way, you must be self-motivated and able to work independently even when there is no one looking over your shoulder making sure you are working. But if you can do that, it is perfectly do-able.

I would think your Masters supervisor would be the best person to talk you about that.

I agree with all of the above, and just add this extra bit of advice:

Buy your kids an Xbox! :p