Just been invited to interview for a PHD next friday.

On top of this they want me to do a 500 word written document by Tuesday using an assortment of references theyve provided (only about 30 of them!) and a 5-10 min presentation on my undergrad dissertation on Friday.

What was going to be a chilled weekend has suddenly become quite busy

I guess I should really be excited but at the moment Im now feeling a bit sick and shaking quite a bit. Hopefully the shock and nerves will die down soon!

Is this a really competitive field? My uni didnt even ask for an interview.

Dunno tbh, its not like Ive done many!

It is a fully funded PHD for 3 years so its £13k a year for me, plus the uni fees, plus equipment costs, so I am imagining that not only is it the uni that will be on the "panel" but people from whoever funds it, to make sure theyre happy. The RSPB in this case I think.

I think that in general over here any funded PHDs and Masters get a lot of applicants, especially at the moment. Maybe theyre trying to filter me out as I dont have a masters, by setting silly tasks in short deadlines, who knows.

Some Do Sam.
IF they want you then your in as they get you to contribute to other things in the UNI normally but some will interview and basically job interview for their PHD positions.

paid 13 grand ayear for going to a fancy collage ? , no wonder this country is broke

Fake it til you make it Confidence is key!

Youre clearly massively interested in your subject (I divined this through the medium of internet) so get stuck in and best of luck! Almost everyone I know whos done a PhD has had a ball tbh.

As Soy says I think your passion for your stuff will come through easily, you probably just need to put it on a firm footing. Good Luck

Does this mean well have to call you Dr. Zpyder?

Quote from: chaotic_ukpaid 13 grand ayear for going to a fancy collage ? , no wonder this country is broke

Thats just what I get paid, theres what the uni gets paid on top of that

Quote from: CeathreamhnanAs Soy says I think your passion for your stuff will come through easily, you probably just need to put it on a firm footing. Good Luck

Does this mean well have to call you Dr. Zpyder?

Im interested in ecology, but this subjects a bit new to me on the fringe of my experience. The more I read whilst sorting out this essay thing, the more I am getting into it though, which is good!

Technically Id be Dr. Moody. Though I might have to resist temptation to change my surname to Doom or Death

What is the subject OOI?

PS Dr. Zpyder is is definitely cooler

"The ecology, impacts and control of Crassula helmsii"

Its basically a mega invasive semi-aquatic plant from OZ/NZ that is taking over our ponds and wet places at an alarming rate, with very little that can be done to remove/control it other than pretty much wiping out all plant life where it is growing, best way Ive read so far is covering it in black plastic for 6 months.

Well that could have gone better. Why is it that in an interview with more than 1 person you always get a good cop / bad cop thing going on. In this case it was the good the bad and the ugly, with one lecturer who I like being all positive and happy, another lecturer who I know and used to have being partial, and someone else who sat there with a frown the whole time. Ill let you guess who was the bad and who was the ugly hah.

which one would be your supervisor?

in my experience (admittedly limited, I interviewed for 4 of which I was offered 3 and was 2nd choice for the 4th) , if the project supervisor likes you thats better than half the battle.

The one that likes me is the primary supervisor, the one with the frown was from the organisation thats funding the PHD though

Quote from: chaotic_ukpaid 13 grand ayear for going to a fancy collage ? , no wonder this country is broke

Hes not mentioned the name of the college yet youve concluded its fancy. He has however mentioned that the funding is coming from the RSPCA, so nothing to do with your perception that this country is broke.

On the other hand you dont appear to be able to even spell college.

lol Dave.

Typical chav reply from Chaotic who clearly does not appreciate that more education is a good thing for the economy.