I was excited when Strathclyde NA-ME dept invited me for PhD interview. Since am far (Pakistan) I requested for telephonic one, they said not possible!. I made arrangements to travel and told them am coming. Recent earthquake ripped my family apart and I simply could not go...I called the prof. requesting a weeks delay, explaining my situation. which was turned down saying ''we are sorry''.

I feel like a looser right now and think I should quit dreaming bout PhD.

No complains!, just sharing for others to be considerate...when able or in the capacity to do so!

Thats not something to feel bad about. If small setbacks like these pull you down, then you should not be leave your country and go to a foreign country.

A: I don't really think the recent earthquake could be called a 'small setback' for Goldfish (!) - and he/she's not even complaining! You have my sympathy Goldfish. It's a really bad situation, but keep trying - you got the interview oportunity at Strathclyde so you're bound to get another!

Goldfish, don't give up. A lot of people go through various setbacks and pull through it okay. Clearly you probably have other things to worry about at the moment, so deal with those now and then go out and try and sort your PhD out. Remember universities don't always just take on in sept/oct time.

i recently had a bad experience with strathclyde uni. i was put under a lot of pressure to change my proposal and they forced me to defer my entry when i asked for a couple of days to confirm my situation. all am saying Goldfish is that, don't worry, its not you that's the problem, its the uni. take heart and try again - elsewhere. i managed to get into another uni of higher standing where people are a lot more considerate.