to have a moan about my studies and invite you to moan and/or offer wise words?

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

It really is just a moan, nothing serious, but if anyone else is also in the mood for a moan and particularly about work/studies, do join in.

I am working (still) on my PhD and have had a plan to finish by the end of this academic year (September) which my teachers agreed would be doable. I've kept checking with them I'm on track and have been. Suddenly they're insisting I could take another year to finish but are being cagey when I try to work out why. I'm feeling really glum about it because an extra year will be expensive and, frankly, I feel like a failure for not getting done on time. My plan is just to get my head down, work hard, and prove I can do it, and I have done a load of work since I saw them so it is going ok. I just can't shake feeling down about it.

Also, it is bank holiday and raining! Grrr.

Over to you ... moan away.

Oh porkyandbess! How fookin' rubbish of your assessor!

commiserations :(

Im marking 2nd year physics undergrad lab reports...

I didn't get the phd bereavement thing as I was too fecking glad to see the back of the bastard.

I also had an uncomfortable moment with my supervisor when she said 'so are you aiming to submit by easter', and I said 'nope xmas', and she said 'oh shit I had better get those corrections back to you then', and I said 'indeed'....we are friends again now...

LFT the fact that you will otherwise have to get a real job is the best reason for doing a PhD....I real job in 4 years time is SOOO much better than a real job now. Also you may never have to get that real job...I haven't yet!

well most of the time it doesnt feel like a real job...

Thank you Bettybat!

I am also annoyed that it cost me £25 to post it, and now it will cost me the same again.

Where do you stop !! My methodology is going on and on how on earth do you know when enough is enough. Rant over guess no one has an answer why have we not got a dedicated study weary section on mumsnet !!

I'm undergrad, but I'm on my research project right now and it just seems endless. Three weeks and it's all over, though!

imnotmymum you stop when you reach the deadline

Thanks for replies. I felt really motivated after starting this thread so I've been sitting in the coffee shop working and got a reasonable amount done - thanks!

In reply to questions - it's English Lit/Medieval Studies. I love it to bits and I am very glad I'm doing it, so thanks for reminding me to think of that (and yes I am sure it will feel a bit funny when I finish!).

I am not marking at the moment, and anyone who is, has my sympathy. Especially if you're marking exam scripts - not fun!

dialsmavis - wow, tomorrow?! Congratulations! Shame about your supervisor - he does not sound wonderful.

lafata - I can add to the voices of people encouraging, against your mates naysaying. It is a long time but it is great to spend time on a subject you love and I think it is a good opportunity to learn lots of things that aren't just related to the PhD subject, too.

bettybat - onwards and upwards! It does sound grim but you will be so proud when you are done (I keep telling myself this stuff). Also, helps.

Phd?! Wow! I'm losing the will to live just finishing my access course! I have 3 essays due before half term but can't get my arse in gear to sit down and do them, someone come and kick me please.

I'm so sick of skimming topics but it's all so nearly over now and at least I've handed my research project so so that's a major headache gone!

Btw, entropy, I wish my supervisors were a bit more like that!

What's the course focusing on then? Good luck with it!

Glad you are feeling better about things LRD! God, I wish they could bottle motivation! All I have between me and soul destroying unemployment now is one last dead eyed stare at my books, a sleepless night and a 2 hour exam

LRD right well given we are/were phding in pretty much diametrically opposite disciplines then I doubt I have much useful advice.

What I was going to say is that drawing a line under it can be the hardest part. In science phd's there is always one more experiment/calculation you could do and I would imagine there is an equivalent in lit/history.

But it is kinda done when you say it is! As soon as you have enough material (and it is possible to vastly overestimate what you do actually need) and a reasonable story arc then draw the line!

I finished an MBA in 2009 and did it in two years. It was very very hard work combined with a full time job and two children at schools in opposite directions. But I did it and the sense of achievement was FANTASTIC, especially as I didn't have a degree to start with - I did prof quals a couple of years before that and should have had a degree to do them too. I hadn't studied for 25 years.

Just keep slogging away and ask for an additional tutorial to explain why they think you might need the extra year. Is it objective - they think you will scrape only or is it subjective they want you to do really really well and want an additional year's funding for you (might not be what you pay but what could be payable from the centre in relation to the number of enrolments they achieve next year - lagged funding).

Thanks dials - will be thinking of you in that exam!

entropy - well, we can at least have fellow-feeling over the horrors or marking. Actually, some of the best advice I've had is from a mathematician family member who could remember how it felt and how to keep calm. I'm sure you're right about knowing when to stop, too.

married - congratulations! That sounds fantastic. Especially when you think you essentially did in two years not only the MBA-worth of work but also got up to speed on things other people took 3 years to do as undergraduates. Wow.

I don't really know how objective it is, TBH. They won't give me extra funding for it, though - PhDs don't work like that (or not in the arts), so once my funding is gone they won't pay me any more.

It isn't about whether you will get any more money but the university's overall funding might depend on the number of enrolments they have for next year so it's money they might receive (or might lose) that could be issue.

No, it doesn't work like that AFAIK. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has heard anything like that? Is that what happened with your second year, do you know?

I don't think my supervisors are quite that manipulative, either - I have been very clear I am worried about the financial issues so I'd hope they'd understand where I'm coming from.

I have my first year exams in the next week or so. First one tomorrow..I don't feel anywhere near as prepared as I would like even though I've studied religiously for weeks. Aaaagh!

Good luck!

(And if you felt perfectly prepared you might not have that edge of adrenaline, right?)

Hope they go well.

Course is English Literature and History. I have been very good and annotated my Macbeth. My essays due in are on Ancient Greece, Spanish Civil War and Macbeth. After half term there's two exams on Rome to look forward too and a seminar on a novel of our choice!

Oh, we're doing the same then. Your course sounds really nice - good luck with it. Are you watching the Mary Beard programme on Rome btw?

Thank you. First exam went very well, only 2 more next week then freedom for the summer
I love the sound of your degree too, really interesting. (That isn't meant to sound sarcastic btw).

Arrgghh can totally relate - have one due tmrw (should be finishing off - but on MN) and another one due on bloody Sunday ! which is Mother's Day here in NZ!
Was hoping to spend a nice day with mum and DC's and DH but gonna be working for at least a bit of it and stressing a bit. moan moan.

It is now Wednesday and feeling panicky Got a discussion to write, then conclusion, abstract. Please shout at me if I come on mumsnet

Macbeth essay is to all intents and purposes done! We're without broadband at home because we're switching supplier, this is a good thing!