Open Universiy VS other universities (PhD)

[Chandra]

Hi, I have been accepted by a good university to do my PhD, however... I'm feeling very tempted by all the advertising of the OU. How effective is the supervision when done at long distance? Any experience? I expect that whether I go to the Open or not I would be working from home so it's going to be very lonely anyway, but just wanted to found who offered the best oportunities to stay motivated through out the course.

Aaargh!!! Have just had a look at Courtauld's web site and my dream supervisor works there! I have the grades and the background to apply at C but how do I convince DH to move to London? How do I get my current supervisor to write a recommendation letter for a more suitable supervisor without getting him offended? Oh dear... Elbell, you are a star!

Sadly my other two options look PALE compared to this one. I guess I will contact him to ask about the possibility of a part-time PhD long distance (someway I know I'm asking for an imposible but anyways, will try.) I'm getting throuugh the treshold between sensible and unrealistic expectations I supose...

No. You're not asking the impossible at all. You said in an earlier post that you could get to the British Library fairly easily, so you can't be that far from London... Plenty of people work on their PhDs more or less long-distance. I did part of mine at a distance, and have seen plenty of people do the same. Obviously it does create some practical problems. But you already know that you are going to have to work hard to combine PhD, motherhood, etc, so the organisational aspect is hardly going to come as a big surprise. Contact your dream supervisor and ask if you can go up to meet him/her. Explain that you are a bit worried about asking your current place for a reference in the circumstances. They may have other suggestions... Most people (but it DOES depend a bit on the person) are not so petty as to write a bad reference for someone just because they would prefer them not to move. If it's any consolation, I moved jobs 18 months ago and was in exactly the same position - had to ask my Head of Department from the old place to write me a reference for the new one, even though I knew she really didn't want me to go. I know she did it through gritted teeth, but she didn't let me down...

Good luck. Go for it! (And apologies to your dh if I've just gone and complicated his life .)

Definitely try asking Chandra! It's not as though you'll be seeing your supervisor on a daily basis in any case. My mother (I kind you not) did her PhD in Bristol whilst living in Edinburgh (she was in her late sixties by this stage). That was English Literature, but she managed fine with occasional meetings and lots of email. Do ask!

Some of the people I've known have done it from a different country...!
Good luck

That is a different country

And they do things differently there.

Sorry

(oh, and I do know it's "kid you not", honestly- that's not a Scottish way of saying it)

Ooops.... ... Apologies to all Scots (and Welsh, Irish, etc... I just don't view you as being 'abroad', iykwim).

Well done to your mum, Tamum. I have supervised and/or helped out some wonderful PhD students in their 50s, 60s and even 70s... It's never too late (though I don't think I'll bother doing another one when I retire, somehow...

Just an aside but def agree that it depends on the supervisor. My pre & post DS experience of PhD changed dramatically as, apart from all the childcare issues and emotional rollercoaster of being a Mum, I got a new supervisor.

He has 2 kidlies himself and was way more supportive than my previous female supervisor whose kids were grown up. She had the battle scars of breaking thru an Oxbridge glass ceiling that unfortunately didn't help me ... ie she was of the pull your socks up variety rather than the supportive.

Looking at it from a different point of view, my PhD supervisor had a baby when I was half way through and she mellowed enormously!

me too ! realise how privileged I am to be doing what I want as well ...