Hi Everyone!

Well I had my viva this morning and it went very well. I passed with minor corrections and am delighted! It really wasn't as scary as I thought it was going to be and I actually almost enjoyed it!

My advice would be to stay positve and try to be as confident and as positive as possible and take your examiners comments on board. It's hard to say anything else as I think no matter how many people told me it would be ok, I didn't believe them.
So good luck everyone it will be ok!

Great to know I'm not alone, although it does feel like it :-(

Trying to gain all of my positivity, but keep having such doubts, I'm really finding this hard!

I haven't exactly found the PhD process easy and don't think I'm cut out for Post-Doc life, but I have started a new job which I love (not research based), but I do have to pass!

Lara - have you had your viva yet?

Hi
Thanks for the replies, I haven't had my viva yet - it's next week (arrghh!) will let you know what happens!

Wish me luck!

Hi everyone,

I submitted my thesis at the beginning of Dec and have my viva in a few weeks. I'm really worried, every time I read my thesis I find more typo errors and end up having a panic. (I had a submission deadline imposed by my new job and was really against the clock to get my thesis in, ideally would've like another week to have had it proof read by a friend) I'm not feeling at all confident about my knowlege and understanding and am really worried about the viva. I have published 1 paper from my results, but that hasn't really reasurred me.

Did anyone else feel the same and does anyone have an advice/ suggestions please?

Thanks

Congratulations! That's great news!

I think it is important to try to gain as much classroom experience as possible prior to applying for a pgce, to give you a good understanding of what you are getting yourself in to and whether teaching is really for you. Many schools will offer a shadowing placement if you contact them. Timing is also something to think about as most pgces start in Sept and it depends when you are finished with your phd as to whether you will have to wait until the following year to apply.

Hi,

I just wanted to empathise, I too am the only one in my lab and it does get very lonely. It's also easy to get anxious and worried because you don't have people to talk / compare progress etc. I am in my 3rd year and would say that if your supervisor is positive that's a good thing do you have a good relationship with him and trust him? Perhaps confide in him some of your worries, remember he's on your side.

Thank you!

I am feeling more excited than nervous at the moment. I'm worrying a bit about things i have no control over -i.e. the weather! But generally ok I think. I just want to be cool and calm ( hehe i doubt it!)

You can of course see some photos when we get back - I'll work out how to do that!

littlemissworry; It's a shame you can't bring it forward - things can be done more cheaply than you might think - have a look at hitched.co.uk forums for great advice on planning etc.

Hi
I'm getting married in 9 days! and am coming towards the end of my second year. I have spent the last year planning the wedding in little bits (it's going to be abroad) and have really enjoyed having something nice to think about when the PhD isn't going so well. Having said that we are having a small and simple wedding and the last week or 2 at work i've struggled to conecentrate - so wouldn't recommend doing it all a year later. Why not bring it forwards and do it sooner?!

http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/staff/c.clack/phd.html

well it says it here!

I'm sure the examiners don't care - but wondered if anyone else has heard it was all.

I don't know where I heard this, but apparently it's a neatness/ psychological thing. Has anyone else ever heard this / knows where I got this idea from please?

thanks

I'm sorry you're going through a difficult time. My boyfriend and i had a long distance relationship at the beginning ( i was just at the start of my PhD too) and in the end he found a job in Norwich, I was really worried about him doing that, and didn't want him to feel tied to me, (or me to feel responsible for him possibly hating his job) but in the end it was his decision and he loves his new job now (and we got engaged). I would say communicaiton is the key and total honesty. Tell her that you want to committ and that you see a future together and that you will wait. But also make it clear that you want to know if there is no point in you waiting. I would let her know you are there but leave the ball in her court for now. good luck

thank you

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thanks!