The Higher Education Megathread

There's at least four of us who've gone through the process of application in this thread, Red - Karl, Jenuall, Mini E and myself. I can't speak for the others but if you need anything while you're going through the application or want to vent about the process, I'm usually around at least.

Oh, and good luck if you decide you want to go for it! I think all four of us in here agree that although it's a strawberry floating brutal, draining process at times, completing a PhD was one of the most worthwhile things we've done.

Yeah always happy to chat about PhD related matters, we in the Official GR (Real) Doctor Club are a friendly bunch!

Thanks, guys. I feel like such an imposter when it comes to academia. Much more comfortable digging a big muddy hole. The PhD is on the antonine wall so it's super cool, and I know both supervisors, and got decent marks with them, but I don't know what my chances are realistically.

The Antonine wall that stretches through the central belt - Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth? Amazing! I live very close to sections of that wall.

Anyway, if you’re being encouraged to apply then the supervisor clearly wants to work with you, and thinks you would be a great fit for the role. You got a distinction too, right? You’re definitely not an impostor. If you are interested in the project, you should definitely go for it.

Good luck Red. If you're passionate about the subject, and you get along with the supervisors, and you've been encouraged to apply, then I reckon that adds up to you having a pretty good chance of getting it!

Corazon de Leon wrote:There's at least four of us who've gone through the process of application in this thread, Red - Karl, Jenuall, Mini E and myself. I can't speak for the others but if you need anything while you're going through the application or want to vent about the process, I'm usually around at least.

Oh, and good luck if you decide you want to go for it! I think all four of us in here agree that although it's a strawberry floating brutal, draining process at times, completing a PhD was one of the most worthwhile things we've done.

It is a pretty hardcore endeavour and can be quite a solitary one, but if you are in a field where the outcome is valued and you can get one that's funded then jump on that as quick as you can. The proposal should explain what you plan to do, how, and what it would add to the field of study. This is all liable to change as you go based on what you find/don't find and I think is fair to say is an expected part of the process.

Red wrote:Thanks, guys. I feel like such an imposter when it comes to academia. Much more comfortable digging a big muddy hole. The PhD is on the antonine wall so it's super cool, and I know both supervisors, and got decent marks with them, but I don't know what my chances are realistically.

That is 100% normal; every PhD comes with a free subscription to Anxiety The Magazine:


and it is easy to see other people and think how effortlessly they're doing it or how amazing their stuff is, and beat yourself up about not going to enough conferences etc. However if you don't go for it you'll kick yourself forever more. I'm very glad I did.

[quote="Red"][/quote]

Just to confirm what Corazon said at the top of page. Happy to chat at any time about the PhD Application process/PhD experience itself. I'm immensely proud to officially be Dr Mini E in my email signature and Twitter handle, but it's a really, really tough road (that I'm still kinda getting over 17 months post- completion ).

If you want to see my original scholarship application or anything similar (although mine is medical rather than mud related).

Re: Imposter syndrome - this is 1000% normal. I still suffer from it on a daily basis.

Have a read of:

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf ... joms.12344

https://brill.com/view/book/edcoll/9789 ... 000045.xml


To me, imposter syndrome just demonstrates self-awareness, which is absolutely a good thing (and leads to a really strong work ethic). The academics I have met who claim they don't have imposter syndrome are usually lazier, put in less effort for their students, and are generally less inspirational in their roles.



Edit: Also - if you want a proof reader for your application (for spelling/grammar/syntax after it's turned into an absolute blur because you've read it so many times), just let me know.

Anyone here done a part-time University course? I'm finally thinking of looking into going to Uni, but I still wanna be working. If anyone's done a part time vs full time, what were your thoughts?

I worked full time and did a post-grad degree full time at the same time, so it's not quite what you are thinking of but not too far removed either. The one piece of advice I'd give is that it's very difficult to balance work and academia, and you'll need to put in a lot of effort not just in actually doing the work but in making time to go to seminars, attend lectures, be involved in group sessions and academic life(even if you're thinking of an OU course) so make sure you aren't going to be put off by the time commitment. If you're sure it's for you then I'd strongly recommend going for it - completing a degree in a subject you're genuinely enthusiastic about is a brilliant accomplishment.

Gonna have a minor essay marking rant as someone who's been on both ends of this. Going through the last few mark ups for a class I'm helping out with on the Cold War and the most frustrating thing in the world is seeing someone who's done the work, read the books and carried out the research, but not taken that last step from descriptive writing to proper analysis of the topic. I so badly want to give this student a higher mark because I know they've worked hard on this, but I can't justify it. Hate this part of the job.

Thanks, guys, that's really helpful

Mini E wrote:

Red wrote:

Just to confirm what Corazon said at the top of page. Happy to chat at any time about the PhD Application process/PhD experience itself. I'm immensely proud to officially be Dr Mini E in my email signature and Twitter handle, but it's a really, really tough road (that I'm still kinda getting over 17 months post- completion ).

If you want to see my original scholarship application or anything similar (although mine is medical rather than mud related).

Edit: Also - if you want a proof reader for your application (for spelling/grammar/syntax after it's turned into an absolute blur because you've read it so many times), just let me know.

Would love to see your application if you've got it handy! I'll see how close to the wire my submission is but if there's time then proofing would be really cool. Thanks for the offer.

Corazon de Leon wrote:The Antonine wall that stretches through the central belt - Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth? Amazing! I live very close to sections of that wall.

Anyway, if you’re being encouraged to apply then the supervisor clearly wants to work with you, and thinks you would be a great fit for the role. You got a distinction too, right? You’re definitely not an impostor. If you are interested in the project, you should definitely go for it.

Aye that Antonine Wall - an overlooked and very cool monument (as with most Roman remains in Scotland - if you've never been to Ardoch, Rough Castle or the museum, currently being revamped, in Melrose, you really should) everyone who excavated it originally to modern standards, in the 50s-70s, is retired now and Historic Environment Scotland are desperate to get people in to do further work on it so this is a collaborative doctoral partnership with them and Newcastle Uni to get a fresh look at the data and collections in museums etc, do some geophysical surveying, update the literature, feed in more recent work on Hadrian's Wall and the German Limes. It looks great but I have to address all their needs and come up with a plan and theoretical framework and whatnot. At least they have some requirements I can hinge some elements around.

Fortunately I really love Roman Scotland (well, the whole north of Britain) so I've visited and read up on most of the stuff already.

That’s really cool, sounds like a great opportunity too. It’s really incredible how many people think Roman activity just stopped at Hadrian’s Wall and have never heard of the Antonine. I live right in between where two forts of the Antonine Wall used to be(Bearsden to my west, Kirkintilloch to my east), and this part of the world is huge on it(as an obscure example, our local housing association was called Antonine Housing Association until it folded a couple of years ago). Rough Castle is about fifteen minutes in the car from me and lamentably I’ve never been.

I’m not sure how much of this is true but I first got into history reading about Roman activity in Central Scotland and remember reading about a massive Roman fort near Stenhousemuir that was demolished for stone in the 18th century, which boils my blood.

Anyway, as Mini E says, if you ever need anything from proofing services to an overview of what PhD life is like, I’m usually around! Good luck with everything.

Also, I completely forgot that Trelliz also has a doctorate, in war studies I believe? Anyway, there are almost tens of us.

Corazon de Leon wrote:
Also, I completely forgot that Trelliz also has a doctorate, in war studies I believe? Anyway, there are almost tens of us.

War! Huh! What is it good for?

Funded PhDs

Alx wrote:Anyone here done a part-time University course? I'm finally thinking of looking into going to Uni, but I still wanna be working. If anyone's done a part time vs full time, what were your thoughts?

I tried doing a part-time distance learning degree years ago and then started back at uni last year (different degree, different university). In my own own experience I much prefer studying full-time. I personally find it easier to study without having to think about balancing it with work. I do still work, just Saturdays and then during the holidays, or least I did that before covid. I tended to struggle more with part-time distance learning but that's more to do with how I work rather than a fault with part-time learning.

I know people who did the Foundation Year with me last year who are studying part-time and it works out well for them. I think they had an initial worry about falling "behind" those of us studying full-time but generally it seems to be working for them.