I've just received the worst (well to me anyway) letter through the post - the paper record from my progress review. On the day, it went well, I had some comments but nothing too heavy, overall it was a very positive experience.

Today, I've received the record which states they are concerned about whether I have the ability to engage in enough depth, that my writing needs lots of drafts and I take up a lot of supervisory time. However, I am to progress to stage 3.

Is this really really bad? To me, it's awful. It says to me that they're worried about whether I can actually do it or not, and that I take up too much of their time with drafts and supervision and basically I'm wasting my time. But I'm so confused, why have they told me to progress and why was the meeting overall very positive? My sup has never said any of these things to me before. I'm wondering if I should contact her and tell her what I've received and that it's made me concerned, or whether she'd deem that a waste of her time too! I'm really shocked because we usually have a good relationship and she's very positive. I wonder if she was just having a bad day and I'd annoyed her or something? What do you think? I'm going to go and have a bit of a cry now! I was having such a productive day before I received this letter :-(

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They're letting you progress and so you're doing well.

If you're that concerned talk it through with her but try not to get emotional and stress you want to learn from this progress report and treat her as you always do, that is, don't soft soap her or be harsh. Who wrote it? Your supervisor or a panel? What I'm going to say sounds strange but at least you know where you stand. I never had access to these reports (wasn't allowed), my supervisors provided very little feedback throughout the three years and when they did it was ALL positive. It came as a shock (although I agree with them) when the examiners produced a list of corrections. I now feel as though my supervisors were not sincere or too polite to be more honest (truth be told I don't think they read my work). The PhD for me was not a learning experience and I'm learning more from the corrections. I can see why you are upset but this feedback has been given to pull the best from you. You're a good student otherwise you wouldn't be there.:-)

Thanks Delta, you have made me feel better. I think it's more of a shock that she's not said any of these things to my face, she's obviously been thinking them about me on the quiet! I don't know if I was supposed to receive this form to be honest as I didn't get one last year! It was written by an examiner but a record of what my DoS said about me whilst I was out of the room (it's a bit like a mini viva).

I think I will contact her about it, when I've had a chance to calm down and reflect a bit. Otherwise every time I see her or get feedback in the future I'll be thinking, really? Is that what you really think?!

Yes, do approach her but in the manner you normally would. Again, as strange as it seems this might prepare you well for the viva because the examiners will be objective and will judge you on your research (its good and bad points) and so your supervisor is doing right by you through her feedback. I'm being truthful in saying she doesn't mean to harm you but wants to help you as best she can. She knows you can pass, otherwise she wouldn't have let you get to this point.

Chin up!

Hi Linda,

I find it very odd that you have received these comments via letter, when you actually had a positive experience. Were they definitely meant for you?! This is what I would question, if like you I had had a positive review and nothing had been mentioned before.

I would ask your supervisor, perhaps something along the lines of you received the record from your progress review, and would be grateful of any further info on the points made, to help you progress. I really wouldn't worry though!

Thank you Button, it was just a complete shock opening that letter! I will be sending an email tomorrow when I've had some time to consider, otherwise it'll just be an angry/upset rant! Full (up) to you both for making me feel better :-)

Yes, it does seem strange to be sent comments like that when they're so different to your understanding of the situation from the meeting itself. I can totally understand how that would throw you off! Maybe when the shock/surprise has worn off you'll be in a better position to judge whether there is any validity to the comments (or whether it could be some sort of mix-up!)

But even if these comments were meant for you, I think it's important to remember that a PhD is a very high level, and nobody is ever going to be perfect at absolutely every aspect of a PhD, we're all going to have strengths and weaknesses, even those who then go on to have outstanding academic careers (we're none of us machines, after all). You're obviously doing well overall as you've been passed on to the next level, and if they haven't even raised these concerns with you then they can't be very serious concerns, they may just be observations about where your particular mix of strengths and weaknesses lie at the moment. So don't take them to heart too much.

It sounds like you have the right approach to this, taking a bit of time to get some perspective on the comments and how you feel about them. I think you will need to raise them with your supervisor, just because they'll be in the back of your mind otherwise, but I think you'll be able to broach the subject as a gentle enquiry about not having heard the criticisms before, and then the context will be cleared up and you'll have a better idea of what the comments really mean. And as Delta says, that could prove to be very useful overall.

Thanks Batfink, I'm feeling a lot calmer after reading people's comments, when I first read the letter I was just blinded by shock! I do feel much better now :-)