I have been unsucessful at securing a PhD this year. I have a first class degree with an award for best dissertation and a year in industry. My year in industry was in molecular biology. I cannot afford to do a masters. How do I get more "relevant experience"?. I want to work in in molecular biology (cancer research). How are you supposed to get more relevant experience when no one will give you a chance? Sometimes, I think it is used as a cop out. If I am stupid and hopeless I would prefer to be told. Why don't people have the guts to tell me straight instead of fobbing me off with rubbish excuses?
e.g "If there was nothing wrong with my interview technique then why didn't I secure the PhD? Argh!"Oh the other candiate had more RELEVANT EXPERIENCE"

What is my best option for securing a PhD for next year?

I know someone who had fantastic qualifications. But he was turned down because other people were more enthusiastic about the project. They HAD to do it, it was their lifes abition.

Im not saying that this is not you. But are you going for PhD's that are connected with your industry/undergrad dissitation? Are you going into the interview full of enthusiasm about the project and about the work.

Of course you may be doing this anyway. All im saying is you need to come accross as this is my lifes dream to be doing this and if I dont then I will die.

Anyway, just some ideas.

It's a good point Richmond makes. We're not saying you're not enthusiatic or motivated, but in the light of having many very capable students (like yourself) to choose from, they often go for the one who appears hungriest and, to be blunt, the one they think they can work with best.

You could try and get a head start on other students by getting to know your potential supervisor ahead of the selection process. This is what I did such that my potential supervisor went to the panel and argued the case for me. Thankfully he succeeded.

The main thing I can suggest is to think what can you do to stand out from other students both on paper and in the interview.

E.g., your dissertaion may well be publishable.

Hey thanks for the advice. Yes Dan, they responded to me. I was unsucessful, no reason was given. It was another supervisor from a different institute that said the other candidate had more relevant experience.

This is my lifes dream (I changed careers to do this) but I find it very hard to convey this during an interview without sounding crazy!.

I feel totally passionate about my subject. How do i convey this?

The main problem about my interview technique is that I get nervous. My mind goes totally blank, but as soon as I get out I think about all the questions and all the things I should have said and asked.

My placement was a top placement. Do you think it could be the Uni I went to? It is very low in the times league table?

I would love to get work published, if only someone would give me a chance to.

Well, which uni did you go to?

I am trying to keep some anonymity so I dont want to say but it is between position 80 and 109 in the times leaue table

My advice would be to ensure you know your project and placement stuff inside out. What I did was prepare(in my head, but you may want to write it down) a logical runthrough of my undergrad project. Sort of like what you would do for a presentation of your work. Make sure you can talk for a least 20mins on it. Then, when the prospective supervisor asks about your project, you can go on and on and on. You will look like you know your stuff, really enjoyed the project, and really into the subject area. I think the less the interviewer has to prompt you about this sort of stuff the better.

Just make sure you have endless stuff to talk about with it. That way you can get into a really good discussion with the super about it as well.

its not the end of the day, and there are still some amazingly good phd's out there. if you are wanting to get into cancer research then there are many ways. Dr R Airley at liverpool john moores is very very good and has many links to guys the paterson institute. It may be a good idea to put in a prospective cv with her [email protected] i think. There are plenty of good phd still out there. Cardiff uni has a very good reputation also (i'm starting in october there). What i'm trying to say is i wouldnt give up yet.

Hi Dan I can not do a masters as I can not afford and my local Uni does not offer a masters course that I would like to do.

Richmond, thanks for the advice. In some of the interviews I could have been more prepared. Although I have found it very hard to prepare.

In one particular interview I had a day to prepare. The interview was at such short notice as someone had dropped out. Also, at one particular institute I had an interview for 3 different projects. In hindsight I should have swatted up on the project I wanted to do the most.

What would be the best thing to do now to secure a PhD for next year?

Its a total pain in the arse relocating so often.

Thanks for that advice/contact details Mr Chipz. I will try Cardiff and Liverpool.

Masters: Not only can I not afford to do a masters. I have been put off doing one. Many of my friends did masters (at various places) and not one of them enjoyed it or recommended doing it. My brother did a "cowboy masters" in America he said it was okay but that was in teaching.

mrchipz is right, there is still time to get a PhD. Esp if you have a borad mind on what you want to do.

As to the questions, I think it depends on the supervisor. Some were interested in what I knew in relation to there project. Others were not so bothered. Still it is good to know enough basic stuff on their project to be able to talk to them. Try and read their papers (though not one of the interviewers once asked anything about their own work). I think it is probably a good idea to ask them questions about the project, try and get in depth about the techniques etc.

Still, the emphasis (from my experience) is on what you did for your project/placement. I did both, so there was lots to talk about.

What about your current/undergrad instituation? Do they have any PhD's going? I would guess that you have a good relationship with some lectures there (those with first usually do!!). Maybe they could help (either directly, or with contacts of people they know at other places).

Hi Richmond. The University where I obtained my degree takes on very few PhD students. My lecturers advised to apply to places with a good research reputation and that were more research orientated. My lecturers have good contacts but not in the field I would like to go into. I am definatley going to have a word with them. Im just a little bit miffed at why I cant secure a PhD. I don't know what else I can do. Problem is I know what I want to do but can not do it. If I wanted to work in an office or something I would have taken a business degree. I dont I want to be a biologist!!

I know that you have ruled out doing a masters. In my case it was the best thing i did for so many reasons. I was not confident to do a phd but tried applying after my degree but found that I wasn't getting there. So as a last minute decision, started a masters, then it became more easier and effective in every way. I got to know people with links to projects, supervisors, then found an opportunity to do some related voluntary work and the lecturers in my masters gave their best support in helping me to try for a phd place. This is my stroy and hope that it will help you in some way. Have you tried all the cancer charities and their links, its never too late, I hope you will find a place

Hey thanks for that Sheena. Sorry about my last post I was just getting a little frustrated. I am having a bad day. Not only did I get refused from yet another PhD but i got fined 12 pounds for not paying my credit card bill on time. So, my Nature subscripton ended up costing me 86 pounds instead of 74.

Im never going to give up. I cant afford to do masters though. There is a masters course at my local Uni but the next intake isnt until Jan thus I will miss next years Oct PhD intake. I am thinking about getting a job in industry for a year. But this is a task in itself as it means relocating (no biology jobs where I live)!

What annoys me the most is my friend who is a lazy bastard managed to get a great PhD. He got a 2:1 and opted not to do a year in industry. He did work a year after his degree but the experience he had was far from relevant to what he is going to be doing!

I had best get writing to every single cancer charity in the UK.