Hi,

I can only go of my previous experience,i am currenlty undretaking a Mres in Marine Biology and would not swap it to do a Msc.It depends what you want to do after? I went for a Phd and got it, i spoke to my supervisor after and he told me a couple of people at a slightly higher level to me applied (they had distinctions) but they had Msc's, he said he viewed a Mres higher for this particular topic as i have spent 9 months in the lab, and feel very confident in numerous protocols and methods. so in my case i dont think would have got my PhD if i had done a Msc and to me that was worth paying for. Sorry if i have confused you more?

do you think there will come a time when athletes are literally at the peak of physiological limits where it is impossible to break records, and if so how far off are we, i mean you can only push your body so far.

Also do current atheletes have an unfair advantage over previous Olympians due to increased knowledge in regards to training, diet, equipment ( funny looking swimming suits etc) meaning its is no longer a personal achievement rather a team achievement, further excluding minority countries due to money and technological advances?

Sorry to put a downer on things; i respect these people immensely i just wanted your guys opinions.

I decided to go to St Andrews. After meeting both supervisors, i felt the St Andrews project was better. It is slightly away from my comfort zone, but that's always good right? I will be looking at plants instead of marine species, but he assured me the skills i learn will be completely transferable across both areas. (i am looking at methods of integrating phylogenetic diversity,GIS and trait diversity into allocation of conservation hot spots in the monocots) so i see that this will be a broad area leading to plenty of scope, something that was important to me. Furthermore, this is a CASE partnership with Kew gardens so will be a good experience.

i think its important to take a holistic approach (sorry am writing up my Mres dissertation at the moment) and view the package as a whole rather than as individual points, as after all its the total experience that matters. Like i said i am slightly out of my comfort zone, but met with my Mres supervisor yesterday and he told me i should submit my Mres to Fish Biology Journal, which although not a high impact journal is nice to know somebody who dosent have to may want to read what i have done!

hi,

yeah i cant wait! Know i shouldnt wish away time but i cant wait. Have finished all my lab work and am currently head deep in minitab, primer and dambe ( all exciting computer programs) so to be honest anything is better!The problem is my Masters is not linked to my PhD so kind of lost all motivation

Got all my stuff through the other day like my new email address, id card etc and cant wait!

Hi,

I have thought this a couple of times do you think a thread could be set up where people post requests for articles cause i am sure if we pool our resources we could get anything? The reason i haven't suggested it before is because of copyright issues; what you think?

Hi,

yeah that was interesting i am currently reading a book called the shock doctrine which looks at some of these issues, is well worth a read.

Economic Left/Right: -6.50
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -4.56

Hi,

I am starting a PhD in St Andrews this year and it appears there is a grad skills day, outlining the transition from being a master’s student etc to a PhD student, with talks from a selection of staff and students.

I was not planning on moving to Scotland until early October ( my masters finishes on the 15th September and i have to move up from Plymouth) However this grad skills thing ( plus orientation week) is on the 26th September ( my birthday!).

So is it worth going? My flat is not free until 1st October so i would have to stay in a B+B or something for a week. I understand all experience is good, and i could do with some advice with structuring etc but can’t i go next year when i will be writing up? And how important is it to meet people from the offset? I am sociable so wont have much trouble making friends but i don’t want to miss out on things?

Thanks

Hi,

I was in the same situation a couple of months ago. I emailed the first University and explained i was waiting to here from another uni, they gave me a deadline to decide by ( a couple of weeks i think?)

I than emailed my prefered uni explaining the situation and asked for a quick decision. I heard little back so i took it upon myslef to phone the potential supervisor, i had a good chat with him and the next day i had an unofficial offer and a promise from the supervisor.

I contatced the first uni and explained.

One piece of advice.. be honest but dont mention names. DOnt say i have an offer from x but i really want yours, science can be a very small world and you never know who knows who!

Hi,

I accepted a place a few months back and start in October, i was unsure if i had the place as the panel didnt give alot away, i actually thought it didnt go great. I actually rang the supervisor a month after my interview to ask what was happening as i had another offer and didnt want to accept that if i had his, he emailed me the next day offering me the place!

Would love to take time of but am currently doing a Mres and it is lots of work until September the 15th, then my birthday then i start in October. I am very excited, kinda wishing away my masters as i prefer my PhD topic, i understand thats probably not the best attitude!

thank very much for peoples help; regarding google searches of course i shall do these things i.e read journals etc, as you say i am doing a masters now and have been accepted to do a PhD and therefore i do know how to research. I was just after some advice from other people not asking them to do all the 'hard' work for me.

Hi i am currently doing a mres and have been accepetd to do a PhD in St Anderws in October looking at allocation of biodiversity hotpsots based on phylogenetic and trait diversity. At the moment my feeling is when i finish my PhD i want to move into working for charaties or conservation organisations(national trust, marine conservation society, JNCC etc..)

I have spoke to my supervisor and he thinks i should start 'rubbing' shoulders with people i.e networking. One of the best ways is through conferences. The problem is i am moving to a new field and therefore my masters contatcs arent very helpfull. I have had a look through google and cant find a website advertising conferences? Does such a website exist or is it a case of checking many websites and hoping to stumble along a conference? I understand when i start my PhD it will be easier but i was hoping to attend some before this.

Thanks

Well done! I recently accepted a PhD from St Andrews with a case partnership with Kew gardens. Went to Kew the other day and it all seems so interesting.. want to fast forward my MAsters! What area of conservation biology is it? The reason i ask is thats the filed i am in.. where will you be based and whats your project?

Mine is the integration of phylogenetic diversity and trait diversity into the allocation of conservation hotspots.

I would, like you said the worst they can do is ignore it, it won’t count against you, plus you will need to write one in the future so is good expeience.

I included one even though i wasn’t asked and when I had my interview they referred to it a few times. Just say why this position, why this topic etc, gives you a chance to sell yourself.

Thanks, i was thinking about Dundee seems like the best option regarding jobs, but im just not sure what Dundee is like? i have heard mixed things.

Hi,

I have just accepted a studentship at St Andrews, however my girlfriend is coming with me and needs a job for a year before doing her PGCE. Jobs will be hard to come by in St Andrews as its small..

i was wondering how many people commute and over what distances they travel? There are obviously down sides but how bad are they?

I will be doing molecular work,and am unsure how much time i will spend in the lab?

Thanks