PhD - 1st year review

Rowan9

Hi - anyone out there who has been through the 1st year review process? I'm doing Literature and would appreciate some thoughts on the chapter submission, especially after a tough meeting with my supervisor yesterday.
Thanks
W

scottishblondie

Hi

I've been through my 1st and 2nd year reviews, but I do computing science so it might be totally different! I had to write a report which included a literature review of the subject area, some case studies and a chapter on a "mini-project" as well as some other bits and pieces. I also had to give a presentation and answer questions.

I asked around my department and got some reports off of other people just to give me an idea of what I should be doing, and my supervisor gave me some good feedback as I was writing so I knew I wasn't way off the mark.

Good luck!

Voyager2002

Your supervisor is the main person who makes decisions about your continuation, so you need to find out what is required to satisfy her/him, and make sure that that is what you deliver.

Do you have only the one supervisor? It is good practice for departments to give each student more than one, so that in case of personality clashes or whatever there is still another person available to give guidance.

Rowan9

Thanks to both of you! My main supervisor has gone oh oliday now until my first yr review. I had not realised that this holiday was looming so had treated the submission as a draft to discuss. I have a 2nd supervisor so have made an appointment to see her on Mon. I realise the shortcomings of my draft but feel a bit overwhelmed by a barrage of negative comments , followed by a 'you can do it' as I went out the door.
I will pick myself up but hadn't expected to deal with sarcasm I suppose. The written comments, now that I've had time and space to look at them, are ok, but that attitude was not what I'd expected.
There are positives though, so i will work away.
Many thanks folks! I realise that this is a long haul but I hadn't expected comments like 'oh please don't' when i suggested that I might follow a line of argument. It kind of smacked of real rudeness. Is this just something to get used to?
W

melancholly

welcome to the world of academia!! lots of feedback telling you you're not quite there yet!! anonymous peer review is exactly like that - sadly!

there is a big jump in the level of writing needed from an undergrad degree to a phd - most people get a very tough ride whilst doing their upgrade report, but in the long run, knowing where you need to be by the end of it all is worthwhile. different supervisors work in different ways - the most important skill you can obtain during your phd is 'supervisor management'.... that will be very specific to you, but there will be many points during the process when your priorities won't line up with the priorities of your supervisor. learning to make the most of their input is a key thing.

just out of interest, are they many other phd students in your department? it can feel quite lonely so it's worth getting to know other people going through the same thing so that you can help eachother out (even if that just means tea and whinging every now and again!).

Rowan9

Hi melancholly - thanks. There are about 10 of us and i meet up regularly with 3. I'm seeing one of them this afternoon - she has the same supervisor.
I did my Masters part-time while teaching at FE fulltime and also doing my PGCE so am used to the quantity of work and know that a higher level of writing is involved. I also mentored new lecturers in my last post, helping them learn planning of essays for their Cert Ed - those who'd been away from essay writing for some time. I think what has got to me is the cutting and quite sarcastic approach. I've regrouped my thoughts over the weekend and am off soon to have another go. Some of the others have had 'depressing' comments from their supervisors and we are kind of thinking that some are more adept at putting over criticism than others.
Yes, I will think of your point to make the most of my supervisor's input. That's a positive way of looking at it. I was just left feeling I couldn't 'do it' but have picked myself up from that and will look for the positives .
Thanks again
W