Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a very merry X'mas and new year.

Sorry haven't logged in for ages so belated congrats on the job Sue. That's such great news. I'm really, really happy for you!! So glad you got a job that you wanted, on top of getting the Dr title, after everything that you've been through.

I'm doing ok, still liking this new city and uni that I now live and work in. Only downside is that my thesis corrections deadline is coming up and I have no motivation whatsoever to do it! I've been given some corrections to do after my Viva, which can probably be done in no more than a few days' time (in a very comfortable pace), but so far I've been putting it off. I'm so sick of the thesis - whenever I try to start working on the corrections it put me in a very bad mood! I know it's the very final step so just need to pull myself together and get on with it...

Well done again Sue and have a great 2011 everyone!

I also think it may be best to upload it somewhere and send a link to them.

Alternatively have you tried zipping the file/folder? (right click and choose "compress file").

I was thinking of buying a thank you gift for my main supervisor but not sure what to buy. I don't know him that well and don't even know if he drinks. So not sure if I should buy him wine or whiskey (which seem to be a popular choice for my fellow PhD students). I was thinking perhaps chocolates, or a nice pen (not sure if I should get it engraved in that case, and what to engrave though).

What have people bought/are planning on giving their supervisor(s) as a token of thanks?

It's strange to come log in and there's no new development in this thread. But I guess this is a good sign as we are now mostly finishing/finished and everyone is busy with their new life/ holidays 8-)

I passed my Viva! I created a thread about it http://www.postgraduateforum.com/threadViewer.aspx?TID=16670 but wanted to come back to this thread and thank you all especially. You guys were my life savers and I can't thank you enough for all the support in the last year. I would have been a lot more miserable and struggled a lot more and probably would have taken longer to finish if it wasn't for your support and advice, and knowing that we were in the same boat. So a big fat THANK YOU! :-x

Hope you're all doing well. And would be great to stay in touch!

Monte xxx

Thanks for the replies! I did bring my typo list in, but forgot to mention about it until the very very end, AFTER I was told I'd passed, and when my internal started to talk about corrections. I then brought up the fact that I had a typo list then and there, but they didn't seem that interested. So I guess it doesn't matter all that much what you do. But I think it's good that I had the typo list with me anyway.

Hi everyone,

I passed my Viva (with minor corrections) earlier this week. Just wanted to come back here and say thanks to you all. This forum helped me a great deal especially in the last year or so of my PhD. I struggled quite a bit and there were so many times when I couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel. Coming on here and knowing I wasn't alone, and having good advices from you really helped.

To be honest it hasn't quite sunk in yet that I've passed. I still don't feel proud or overly pleased or that I'm a Dr. In fact I still keep thinking about the questions I was asked and kicking myself for not answering as well as I could have. But I guess overall it wasn't overly bad, as I did pass, and my examiners have given very positive feedback. I'm glad it's over though.

For people who're preparing for Viva, I would suggest not to overlook what your internal examiner might ask. I made the mistake on focusing on re-reading my external examiner's work and trying to figure out what he might ask, because my internal examiner doesn't work in the same area as my thesis. However what I neglected was my internal has done some work in a area that is actually related to one of the things I've discussed (but NOT part of my major themes/aims) in my thesis. But as I didn't re-read the literature and refresh my memory the questions he asked about that particular area of work threw me. I suppose I didn't do too badly but I could have done so much better - after all it's something that I'd read and learnt, I just couldn't remember the details at the time!

Again thanks everyone and good luck with your thesis/Viva/job!

Monte xxx

Hi all,

I am keeping a list of thesis typo and corrections as I'm reading the thesis for the viva. I know we're supposed to bring this list in but what are we supposed to do with it? Discuss the list with the examiners? Give it to them? Cross check if I've already got them on my list when they ask to have something changed?

I had similar thoughts the other day, when I found out about a friend getting pregnant. Which made me feel such a slow starter as I'm the same age as them, I've only just started my first proper job, and yet they've already worked for many years, on the property ladder and starting families. And then I reminded myself that this is what I chose to do because I like research, and everyone's life works out differently.

I read an article about happiness the other day and read this quote: "happiness is not having what you want, but wanting what you have", or something along this line. So I guess that explains how you felt comparing yourself to your friends, and vice versa.

Like others have pointed out, having all these qualifications at your age is great achievement! It shows that you have the brains and the motivation to work towards your goals and get what you want. I'm sure your career will work out fine! Good luck!

I found out about my viva date about 2 months after submission. So I went though all those worries too. I also asked my sup about it while I was waiting and he advised me to just wait. Some people I know waited for just over 3 months, so it does happen... Also like Bilbo says it's a busy time for academics.

Well done for submitting and try not to worry too much about this (although I know it's easier said than done). Good luck!

Sorry this is late but CONGRATULATIONS Sue!! Well done you!!! (up) Super proud of you that you managed to get it done despite the number of difficulties along the way. I guess you must be on holiday now as I write. I hope you're having a super smashing time 8-) Very sorry to hear about your doggie though, it brought tears to my eye reading it. I'm sure she's so proud of you too.

My viva is next Tue, so only about 4 days left now, technically a bit less because it'll take me half a day on the train to travel to my old uni. I can't wait for it to be over and done with, but at the same time I'm really dreading it! I was only given about 2 weeks to prepare, and then for a week of that I was down with flu! I still haven't finished re-reading my thesis. I guess I've read about 3 quarters so far, and have found so many typos :( I'm finding it difficult to read too, the theoretical bits are so dense and heavy. It's strange to think that I was actually the person who wrote this! I think I haven't done much intense thinking since I handed it in, and now Im finding it a little difficult to get back to the mode... Also I'm full of self-doubts. I know I'm over worrying but just can't help it!

I def agree with Alpacalover - we should create another thread with another name. I'll surely still need support from you all lovely people. And it's so nice to log in and read about how you guys have got on.

Enjoy your well-deserved holiday Sue!!

Monte x

Hi everyone,

Sorry to hear about everything Sue :( I'm sure you'll come out of all these stronger. Hope you've managed to get better sleep since you last wrote too.

You are so close to submitting now Sue! Best of luck with the last push! Yes if you can try get a little holiday or at least a long weekend when you're done. You so deserve it. Also - well done on the grant!!

My new job is going ok thanks. So far have spent most of my time collecting data, going to various discussion groups. Haven't done any writing yet even though I know I should (papers based on my thesis). To be honest I feel may be a little underachieving/unproductive even I'm busy at work everyday. I guess because in the last months of my PhD I worked so hard and got so much done in so little time that in comparison life seems a bit too easy/normal now! That's so strange isn't it! That I actually need to re-adjust to the "normal" world again!

Oh and I"m still waiting for my viva date...

Hope everyone is having a good week!

M x

Sorry this is a little late but - WELL DONE!!! (up)

Thanks for the detailed account too! I am still waiting for my viva date but i think i will search for viva-related threads here to look for the advice you mentioned here when i start to prepare.

Congrats again! V happy for you!

So sorry to hear that Sue. But your CV sounds brilliant and like others I think other things will come your way! I like the idea of broadening as well. The job that I got is in a different area to my PhD. I met and talked to a few post docs in this new department that I'm in, and they all did their PhDs on different topics than the ones they are currently working on. I guess we all managed to convince the interviewers that although we aren't expert in the particular area we have what it takes to become one.

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry too much about jobs for now as it may affect your motivation/mood in getting the thesis finished and you don't need that.

Best of luck with thesis and with future job-hunting!

Monty x

Hello everyone! Sorry I have not checked in for ages, but because life has been too hectic in the past month. Anyway the news is that I submitted in late Aug, then packed in less than 48 hours and moved to another city, then went abroad for a conference and a few days off either side, and have now started the new job! So just settling in. Thank you guys for all your support in the last year, it helped me no end. Without your support and advice, and the amazing tomato timer that you introduced me to I don't think I'd be able to finish in time. My supervisor certainly thought I'd need at least one month longer than I planned, but in the end everything moved on so quickly, and he was happy for me to submit too.

Alpacalover: best of luck if you haven't had your viva yet!

Sue: sounds like great progress you're making! Well done! I really don't know how you can manage the phd and a job! Hat off to you! Glad to know you took some nights off too. Breaks are v important!

xxx

Ooh I missed this thread. So glad for you Algaequeen! Almost there! (up)