Maybe they are a new mutant giraffe which can philosophise!

Theres a massive banner ad with a load of blimming giraffes on it! How can people miss that?!

Anyways, when I first did a search for help with interviews, the first link was straight to the forum and not the main site. If people are just googling their queries, they may miss the search site.

CDLs are still available: I have a small one to supplement my partial funding. However, the US company Sallie Mae which recently started business here has closed down its UK operations. I preferred their loan scheme: you could request as much as you needed instead of having an upper limit (may be more than 8K now) and you could use the funds for anything. If you want to pay your fees with a CDL, you can only use it for 80% of them and come up with the rest yourself, AFAIK. Luckily for me, my fees were paid for me. :)

Co-Op do the best ones IMO: their rates are lower and I reckon they are a pretty decent bank, compared to Barclays and HBOS.

I am a take-away fiend. Unfortunately. :S I just love curry! :D

So yeah, theyre expensive. Don't fall into the trap of "Oh Im just too tired to cook!" and order a minging pizza in too much.

Eventually yes and hopefully it wont come back! :S

But it was horrible: losing work and everyone getting angry at each other. :(

XD Mambo No 5... makes me sound like the fifth clone of myself! XD

Aww, I know how you must feel. *hugs* Ive had stuff go wrong in the lab, recently we've been having a load of cell culture trouble, affecting everyones work and not just mine. Its been getting quite a few people down.

I'd try not to worry about it too much, they dont expect perfection from a Masters project. In fact, Im sure a lot of first year PhD students have similar problems. Its just a matter of finding your feet, its just that Masters students dont have the luxury of time to endlessly repeat things.

If youre getting to the point where its seriously depressing you and affecting your work then I would personally have a word with a supervisor or welfare tutor.

The OP is quite clearly a genius...

Damn I wish the Internet conveyed tone of voice! :P

The problem is an MPhil is also the award that is given to PhD students who dont quite make the cut to progress to their second year. So, you would have a problem trying to convince future employers its not a "failed" PhD. Its often what you will enrol on as you start a PhD before they truly classify you as a PhD student, especially if its a 4 year course.

Im writing up my lab report. Its a very slow process, I keep finding bits I hate and tearing them out! :D Also, weve had a shedload of lab problems so its really stressing me out. I also have the daunting prospect of going back to my old job since I didnt get a PhD place to start as soon as my MRes finishes so thats making me fret as well. :(

So yeah, I know how it must feel.. also I lived with my parents after graduating and that was kinda crappy. Just make a plan of what you have left to do and count down the number of Mondays you have to go. Makes time fly for me! :D

Thankyou very much. :) That sounds like me!! :D I cant help but get stressed out at interviews, Im a natural worrier anyway! XD But yeah, the hunt continues.. :D

Woah thats brilliant. Ive been trying to get a place with a 2:1 and a MRes and still no luck. I cant bear the thought of going back to my old job with my tail between my legs, I really didnt belong there. I dont suppose you have any advice for keeping motivated because with every rejection my confidence gets a massive knock... and ironically the feedback Im getting points to "lack of confidence at interview". Vicious circle.

I had two interviews at Nottingham and on both occasions they were pretty damned rude to me: both virtually spitting with laughter at the fact that I'm a Birmingham Uni graduate and current postgrad. So that put me straight off them, the last thing I need is a snobby supervisor. But that's a personal thing.. apparently Nottingham is the best Uni in the UK for Medicine (apparently, I say as I'd always thought it was Oxbridge... ???) and I would also "rank" it above the others as well.... then again I reckon a decision should be made on a number of factors as well as which is the "best" Uni.

On a more personal note, I know exactly how you feel. I have social anxiety disorder and I have been to counselling three times for it now, the counselling service here is rubbish if you ask me. :( Making friends has been really hard for me but once you get over the initial hurdle of speaking to people on a level besides course work it gets a lot easier. It is that first step that's the trouble though. I started French lessons here, the Uni provides language lessons. As you HAVE to talk in the sessions its gets conversations started for you and all students are eligible. Two PhD students attened the same class as me. :)

Anyways, congratulations on getting the PhD, Brum is an awesome place and I will miss it when I go. :(

I'm at Birmingham at the moment, doing my MRes! In which field are you studying?

By and large, the Uni has a load of societies which are a good source to meet people. Although tbh their postgraduate society could do with a good kick up the backside. They have a seperate space but the damned thing is always locked. I joined RockSoc, its mostly undergrads but there are some postgrads and some sabbatical people. Its the most popular one besides the religious societies so if you're into that kind of music I would say thats a good source of new chums!

Birmingham also throws a LOT of postgraduate networking events so sign up for them as soon as you get the email, its a good way to meet other students in almost every field. There's also an induction course which AFAIK is compulsory for research skills, depending on the type of PhD you are doing (I doubt arts students need to know how to dispose of chemical waste! XD). So they do make sure the PhD students mingle.