Hi everyone!

Just wanted to let you know that I passed with minor corrections and no need of a second viva.

Incredible feeling!

Best of luck to everyone!

Layne

Hi all,

I finally submitted my thesis after receiving a referral over a year ago.

With the new thesis, which was definitely a major improvement over the original, I also submitted a 16 page document that was an exact copy of the examiner's recommendations along with my point-by-point description of how I had made the correction and the corresponding page numbers in the thesis that exemplified these.

I gave 200 per cent to this version of the thesis, and addressed every single point in question. Still, I'm concerned I won't pass - I guess this is the shock residue left from the initial referral! Otherwise, my supervisors and I don't know what more I could have done to meet the requirements.

What are the realistic chances that I'll pass this time? Can the examiner still fail me even if I have addressed every issue?

Thanks,

Tenzin

Well, I got the extension, which took a lot of pressure off of me. I would have not been ready by the due date.

And my supervisors have now given me a big OK to submit. So I'm happy about that - I'm just checking over and over again. And I'm going to let the thesis just sit for a while and take another look.

This is nerve wracking because it's my last chance on this one. But the thesis is 100 times better than the original, which was, now that I look at it, really not good at all.

Fingers crossed. I'll report back when I submit! I'll be really nervous about it! But I really didn't think I'd make it this far.

I would consider getting a suspension of studies if this is the case with your PhD. It would be a shame to abandon all of the work you've done thus far. Definitely talk this over with your supervisor, or the post graduate tutor of your department. If you've been able to meet other deadlines satisfactorily, they'll know that you're not a slacker! Also, I would reevaluate writing three papers in such a short time - along with your other responsibilities, I don't know how realistic it is to try to get all of this done. Perhaps this would also be something to mention to your supervisor.

Tenzin

I think I might have to get an extension - I feel like my head is about to pop off some days! Today I realised that I forgot to send in the exam form for submission of the thesis - this is due at least 3 months before the final due date and I've got 1 1/2 months to go!

Will keep up with this site in the meantime - there have been lots of encouraging words here!

I'm back on the forum after 16 months of furious writing, rewriting, crying some and writing some more.

And I'm almost done - my supervisors are very pleased with the new thesis, and I feel a lot better about it.

There is only one chapter that is still giving me fits; and now I'm in a real conundrum. One of my supervisors took over two months to get back to me on this chapter, which was a disaster (I still do that!). Three weeks ago we had a Skype meeting after she finally returned the chapter comments to me. I've rewritten the chapter and sent it off to be looked at. Only to discover that both of my supervisors are on strike until mid-March. I live in the US now, so this was quite a surprise to me.

I am to resubmit mid-April. This is cutting it sooooo close. In addition, my father is extremely ill and has only been given a few more weeks to live.

So I don't know what to do. Any advice?

I don't really know! I think I'll have to muddle along for a while and then go back and for between possible research questions and what comes out of the writing. This is a strange way of writing, though!

Hi all!

So for my revise and resubmit, I must rewrite the whole thesis in accordance with an outline the external examiner has given me. I was told that I would have to 'adjust' my research questions, but I'm not sure how to do this. It's a situation where I have to write before I can really figure out what she wants, but I need to have some sort of research questions around which to centre my writing.

So I've got three chapters (out of six) 'finished' that follow the outline of the examiner, and they need to be adjusted to centre around research questions. But how do I figure that out?

I'm getting really frustrated again!

Tenzin

Congratulations Faded! Your story is an inspiration! Best wishes to you!

Or . . . to put things in perspective: You have only one chapter to rewrite and you also have a pass.

I'm not whining too much about this anymore, however, I was 'awarded' a revise and resubmit. I have eight chapters to rewrite and have no idea if I'll pass once I resubmit.

I would gladly be in your position, although I can completely understand how you are feeling.

Little bits at a time! This is great advice, and one that is helping me a lot when I start to feel overwhelmed or undermotivated.

You absolutely can do this, Grumpy Mule! Just go for it!

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

I think probably the first step is to talk to the supervisors again about this, and bring up the issues you have all mentioned. I'm incredibly burnt out right now, living in Nepal and getting ready to start a new job here.

I'm going to take a few days to think about it all first.

Hi all,

I got my referral to resubmit after my viva in early October. Once I got the examiner's list, it became apparent that I have to rewrite the entire PhD - some of the original material can be integrated, but much of it (about 60 per cent) has to be thrown out. My methodology was the biggest problem.

So my supervisors and I decided that to begin on the methodology chapter would be the best strategy. Immediately after receiving the examiner report, I started working on the chapter. I don't know if I've even worked that hard on the original thesis, and when it was finally finished almost three months later, I turned it in to my supervisors.

I just got their feedback today - the chapter was a disaster. From the comments from my supervisors, it's obvious that I just don't know how to argue my point. And I'm thinking, well, if I don't get it by now, I'll never get it.

Throughout this whole process (the viva, decision to resubmit, etc.) I've been miserably unhappy. I won't find any positions in academia due to my age (53) and the almost complete lack of academic positions in my area (religious studies). I'm only hoping to complete this PhD because I started it.

Today, however, I was really devastated. Sometimes I wonder if it's better just to let it go - this is expensive, draining, and it seems pretty pointless now.

So I'm looking for feedback, advice, insights - please no chastising - I'm at the end of my tether today.

Tenzin

Hi Cole,

I am also in the 'upper age' bracket for PhD students - I started mine when I was 46. I'm also in the humanities - religious studies. I was told very bluntly on several occasions at the 2015 AAR conference that I was 'too old' for the academic job market - so in addition to the lack of available academic positions, my age would be a great deterrent to finding a job.

So I think this is something to really think about - I'm now processing a referral, and the prospects of finding work in my field after re-submission, should I pass, are very slim. I'm also in education, so I will most likely return to my previous career as a language instructor.

I love my thesis subject, too, however, with the above givens, had I known four years back what I know now, I would have not pursued this avenue. It's been both rewarding and difficult, but the 'expense' of this experience is now far outweighing the 'returns'.

This is not meant to be overly negative, just an account of my personal experience. There are surely people that have had more positive experiences than me.

Tenzin

Hi all,

Well - I got the list of corrections from the examiners for the referral. It's pretty clear and very detailed, including a suggested outline to use for the thesis itself. In fact, it seems I have to rewrite all of the chapters of the thesis. It seems like a monumental task and I'm feeling extremely discouraged.

Any of you who have gone through this process - were your corrections this extensive?

I'm feeling completely overwhelmed right now.

Tenzin

Thanks everyone for your thoughts - I'm always curious about different perspectives, so your answers have been very informative.

I really don't want the drama of an appeal, and I'm ready to make the corrections as indicated. I think the only time I'd seriously consider appealing is if I continued to follow directives, and failed. And by then I think I'd be too tired of it all to do anything about it anyway!

Keep correcting and carry on! :)