Hey everyone. I am new to this forum and so far I love it. I am a first year PhD student and was wondering lately about one particular issue. Everytime I send anything to my supervisors to read, they always have feedback. Which is good, and I always learn from it. But I was just wondering is it normal? Like, has anyone here had any experience with sending materials to their supervisors and not getting any feedback - or the only feedback they got would be "that's great. nothing to add"?.

There's always something to add. Maybe in 3rd/4th year you start getting stuff back with minimal comments.

You should notice a change in the type of feedback you get as you go through the process. It never stops, though!

Have had barely any feedback. Wonder if they read it at times!

that is great to hear, thanks.

I am so sorry to hear that. I hope it's not because they don't read it but because you're just that good :)

I send updates from time to time to my supervisor but it's out of courtesy to keep him up to date. I don't expect a resonse and I don't get one. If I have a specific issue I request a face to face meeting which both of us prefer but that is pretty rare. Things have changed in the last few weeks now that I've had feedback on my thesis draft and we've met more often as he remembers things that I should add or change. The whole PhD has been largely hands off supervision though and that's how I personally prefer it. Just need to dig myself out of the pile of crap I have landed myself in with some changes I put in this week and then I can relax a bit.......
I would definitely expect more supervision at your stage of your PhD though and it sounds like you are getting it.

Yes that sounds familiar. Some friends of mine doing their PhDs have a similar experience. Not me though. It seems like maybe because it is the beginning - my supervisors are really involved. Which is great because I am also at the learning stage myself. But sometimes it makes me wonder if I am not good enough and that's why they're always giving feedback? But then again the feedback is never the same, it is always something they want to add or remove so I guess that's ok. Especially after reading here that it is such a common experience - I feel better :)

In fairness my situation is not too common. Being a lot older I knew exactly what skills I wanted to achieve during the PhD and I really only wanted pointers from my supervisor. When I was 21 I dont think I could have succeeded in this way. Now I am using the PhD to prove to myself I can become almost completely independent. I found that in reality I need specific types of support and for that support to be given in specific ways. Found out a huge amount about myself. It has been quite a journey and I wouldnt change any of it. You will have your own set of skills you want to have by the end. As long as you get most or all of them you will be fine. It is good that you care. Dont underestimate the importance of that. It means you are trying to self improve. If the feedback is varied then this is excellent. If the feedback starts to tail off once you start getting published then this is brilliant. Just play it by ear and see where it goes. There will come a time when you care less about your supervisors feedback and start to realise that you are capable of assessing your own performance. When your own assessment starts to match that of your supervisor then you will be ready to graduate.

pm 133 - this is such a great advice. I will save this post and read it when I am having doubts. thank you. all the best to you :)