Hello! Congratulations on your PhD offer!

I started mine in January, but due to some issues with the university, I only actively started my PhD in February. I don't know if you're funded or not, but if you are, which is my case, make sure the university has all the info and get the paperwork part done first. It took my university a long time to do it and it was really stressful for me.

A second point is, I don't know if you are a good writer or not, but I'd recommend taking language/grammar/how to write a thesis classes or workshops. It will save you a lot of time while writing your proposal or thesis. I'm only doing that now and it's soooo annoying. I wish I had done that before.

Just like you, I get stressed very easily and have high levels of anxiety. However, since I am finally doing what I love after years being stuck in the corporate world and feeling miserable, I am happy just for the opportunity. If you work hard and know you're doing your best you'll be able to control your stress levels because you know you're putting in your 100%. Anywhere you work these days will cause stress or anxiety. It is our century's disease. You just have to learn to live with it, breathe in, breathe out and keep going.

As for procrastinating, so far what I can tell you is start writing from the beginning. That's what I've been doing and it works. And in regards to the $$$ situation, all I can say is, work hard and you'll only be broke for 3 years. Can you imagine not being able to finish the programme in 3 years and having to be broke for another 2 years?

My PhD experience has been good so far and I know yours will be too. Have a little faith that it'll all work out.

Good Luck!

PS: I apologize for the typos... This situation is really getting to me, I can't even type about it apparently lol

Hello,

I'm an international student and have received a partial studentship to purse my PhD, which means I get a stipend but still have to pay a part of tuition fees.
I had a rocky start, all because the university's research department is very disorganized. I had a proposal, the one that granted me the funding, and they made me change topics, locus, everything. I went from Cross-cultural management to entrepreneurship. All without having a supervisor. After I delivered a short proposal in entrepreneurship I still had to wait 2 weeks to finally have a supervisor assigned to my project.

When I met my current supervisor, all went well. I started developing the proposal further, as well as the research questions, following his tips and advice closely. It's been only 6 weeks since the program edffectively started for me and I was happy, he had complimented my progress, ideas and critical thinking. I have been basically doing everything he told me to do, keeping up the good work. It was all fine until he assigned a second supervisor, his subordinate in the department to work with me. She has NEVER supervised anyone.

The first meeting with the 3 of us was a total shock to me. He changed everything he had previously said to me. Literally everything in order to agree with her. suggestions. I asked him several times during the meeting, "But Dr., in our previous meetings you told me to not use that approach" or "Dr. remember you specifically told me not to follow that route?", etc. because I was so confused. His responses? "Well, that's not really what I said." and "She is raising an important point." I was confused, hurt and in shock. It's the only way I can describe it.

It was like he had a whole new personality. She is basically now in charge. Not only her approach and advice don't fit into my proposal, but she refutes any suggestion or points I make. For example, I showed him a book I started reading about authoring skills on a PhD. She told him right away: I don't like that book, she needs to read a different one, I'll let her borrow mine.

Well, that was only the first meeting. You can imagine how I'm feeling. Please, can someone advise? I'm already feeling so down-hearted after this. Don't know what to do. Help.