So exciting for you Sneaks. Its such a difficult time but you are very close so hold your head up!

Thank you everyone! My phd was in biology, thankfully we don't have a viva in my country. But I do have to wait for the examiners reports which usually at least request minor changes to the thesis.

Dunni, how exciting for you. You are so close. Take a little time for yourself each day in the last few weeks and don't let it stress you too much.

Slowmo & Nathalie, stick to it! There will always be the hard days but don't let it overwhelm and concentrate on the achievements that you've already made.

Best of luck to you all in your PhD and/or future careers!

After 4 long years, almost to the day, I am finally submitting my thesis! Just waiting for it to be finishing printing. I honestly didn't think this day would ever come.

Just wanted to post it here because I know that everyone can truly appreciate the amount of pain, sweat, tears and long hours in front of the computer that comes with writing the final thesis.

Best of luck!

======= Date Modified 20 54 2010 04:54:10 =======
Hi, need some advice about my current situation.

I get the impression that my supervisor is not keen for me to leave the uni and he is making it very difficult for me to finish.

I have been writing full time for the past 7 months and very close to having my thesis in shape for submission. I had originally aimed to submit by August but my supervisor keeps adding things on to my list of things to do. Just recently he has decided that I should do another experiment/chapter to add to thesis. I'm not so keen on the chapter because its not directly related to my project and it involves using a machine which has been broken all year! All year I have had huge distractions as I have been expected to fill an RA role- teach new students and a new academic methods, locations of lab equipment ordering etc.

He suggestion today was that I also should publish one more chapter before I submit the thesis but I really don't think this is possible within a short timeframe. He is incredibly pedantic and difficult to write with, the last publication I wrote had to go through 40 drafts over 1 year, going back & forth before he was happy!! Not necessary just improvements but a lot of the changes were results/ literature he decided to put it, take out, put back in, reanalyse, do more labwork etc. I have 3 other supervisors who were happy with it after first draft.

I should mention that other post-docs and students have had the sameproblems. Some have had to work for months without pay, trying tofinish. Other students have quit, sick of the stress and difficulties.

I'm not sure what to do as my scholarship is about to run out. I have a mortage and its not fair to expect my partner to keep working overtime to cover my share. I just not sure I have the energy to tackle another chapter and another publication at the moment. I have told him many times the date I would like to submit but he just seems to ignore me. I realise that I am the main researcher on the project and it is difficult for him once I leave but I have had enough (emotionally & financially) and just want to finish!!!

Sorry for the rant :-)