Demystifying the PhD

Often cited as the pinnacle of academic endeavour, the highlight  and aspiration for many wannabe scholars, PhDs are perceived to be the peak of a career.The reality is spending at least three years trying to find a "theoretical contribution", or something new or novel within the research discipline of your choice. A doctor of philosophy (PhD) doesn't have to mean researching philosophy but it originates from the Latin meaning of philosophy which is the love of wisdom.

Essentially a PhD is research project on a topic no body else has focused on and the more obscure the better. To apply for a PhD  you will need to identify something that has not been investigated how you will research it and why any one should care about the outcome.  This can be in any subject you can think of. There are many reasons to pursue a PhD, to increase your knowledge of a particular subject or topic, to further your academic career and become a lecturer, to research areas you feel are overlooked or to avoid getting a job in "the real world". They should never be seen as an easy option or a three year doss, they are hard to complete mainly as you have to juggle them with many other lifestyle choices and commitments such as families and relationships.

What will you do in a PhD
The process of applying to doctoral research programme includes either applying for a studentship or writing your own proposal and seeking funding independently. A studentship is a funded place at a university on a particular project. Once you have done this, finding a supervisor is the next step, basically your PhD manager, responsible for guiding you offering advice. After this you will start a full time (3-4 years) or part time (4-6 years) of study and research. Writing a background to the research (what has been found out on the topic previously, what the controversies are, what you will do, how you will do it, what  you found out and what it means).

After this you will write about  your project, often in 50,000- 80,000 words. This sounds like a lot, however think of all the essays you have written in your undergraduate degree? It's probably about the same. When this has been completed and handed in you will then have to complete a spoken exam or a viva voce. A Viva Voce is where two examiners read your thesis and ask you many questions about what you have written and why, what are the implications and any clarifications that are needed. At the end of this you find out if you have failed,  passed with corrections (having to amend some of your thesis) or passed with no corrections, i.e its perfect. Most people pass with some corrections, after this in the UK you are allowed to be called Dr.

PhD's require:

• Stamina, ( it's more of a marathon, not a sprint); 
• An excellent team of supervisors- they are the key, they can make or break your motivation 
• Sanity or the ability to surround yourself with people who will keep you sane
• A very good support network- people who will understand you and be there for you unconditionally
• A good system of file back ups, - I have heard horror stories about people who have lost their whole 80,000 word thesis in a currupted file. Use google docs or dropbox or both
• No fame seeker behaviour: Don't do it for the fame or apparent respect you may receive- many people don't know what a doctorate is requires. Not many people will care if you have a doctorate in the bacteria of dung beetle wings...
• Understanding that you will be emotionally battered and bruised, academics like to remind each other that in fact they know nothing about any thing, that's what you will discover when you pursue a PhD. 

So if you feel like spending 3-7 years banging your head against a brick wall and despairing- go ahead and apply for a PhD.

The case of Trayvon Martin

This case has sparked national and international protests and exposed parts of America's laws. In February 2012 George Zimmerman, a neighbourhood watch man of a gated community in Florida shot Trayvon in an alleged act of self defence. In the trail which culminated earlier this month, (July 2013), the Jury acquitted Zimmerman of manslaughter and second degree murder.

The background
George Zimmerman is a 29 year old man who was part of the local neighbourhood watch programme in the twin lakes area (a gated community) in Florida. The area had reported some burglaries in the year hence why the neighbourhood watch committee had been set up.  On the day of the shooting, Zimmerman reported spotting a black youth around the estate, looking 'suspicious'. This person was in fact Trayvon Martin, a 17 year old boy visiting his dad and step mother at his step mothers  house. After Zimmerman calling the police and relaying what he had seen, he still pursued Martin. An altercation occurred which ended in Trayvon being fatally shot. Zimmerman after the shooting was not arrested but questioned and released after citing not enough evidence. As Zimmerman had acted in self defence after the 'Stand your ground law'.

Stand your ground Law 
The stand your ground law is a self defence law which gives individuals the right to use reasonable force to defend themselves without the need to run away from the perceived danger. This means if an individual believes or perceives that a situation is potentially dangerous and life threatening that individual has the right to use reasonable force to remove that threat. In the case of Trayvon, Zimmerman allegedly perceived that he was in danger and therefore shot him.

Why is this case important?
This case has inflamed international and national american press. The killing of a young black teenager who was unarmed and seemingly innocent, who had nothing but a bottle of iced tea and a packet of skittles is the main bone of contention. Without knowing the intricate details of the trial itself, I cannot judge the accuracy of the testimonies or the techniques of the defence or prosecution; however what is apparent is that Zimmerman had used a form of judgement to assess the intent and reason why Trayvon was in that area. Stereotyping did play a role in this case; Zimmerman judged Trayvon incorrectly as someone who shouldn't have been in the area and posed a threat. The outcome was a dead teenager.

University tips

For those of you that have finished A- levels or equivalents and are going off to university in October this post is for you. These are the top tips I wish someone would have told me before I started university.

• Don't buy all of the text books brand new!- Buy second hand from x students or assess and find out how crucial they are to have, you can get by just using journals. 
• It's not about how hard you work, it's about how smart you work! Find a technique that works for you and your learning style. Utilise past papers for exams and study the most frequently occurring topics. (Study some spare ones too just in case your topics do not come up in the exam).
• Use your holidays well! Yes it may seem that you have a gazillion years of holidays, term/semester lasts from 10-12 weeks leaving you free to live your life, chill and relax. This is wrong! Well i'm not saying you can't relax, but UTILISE your holidays, if you need to work, work, internships are everywhere, think about what you want to do. Use websites like www.skillspages.com and www.indeed.com to view opportunities. 
• Don't worry too much about the subject you do for your degree. Unless you  have only ever wanted to be a doctor, nurse or teacher then do those degrees, otherwise chose something you enjoy. Most degrees won't lead you to the perfect job a lot you will have to get more experience after your degree or further postgraduate study. 
• It does matter more to some extent where you do your degree, in this super competitive world reputation of the institution is quite important, so consider this when you have to choose where to invest your 3 or 4 years.
• Learn how to cook and clean! This is a MUST, I remember week 6 at university  I was in the laundry and a guy came in with his mum and didn't know how to operate the very basic launderette style washing machines which just required him to press a button. Me and my friend had to tell his mum how to use the washing machine, he was just standing there looking. I was outraged. Learn how to use a washing machine, wash dishes and cook on a basic level!
• Consider courses with work experience elements. Many universities have placement years attached to their degrees these are usually called sandwich degrees. These are extremely good degrees giving you an edge over other graduates and crucial practical experience.
• Consider doing a year/ semester abroad. I have always been jealous of courses that offer this element, its a great way to travel to other countries and gain an insight into different systems, plus meeting new people. 
• Lastly enjoy it whilst you can, University especially undergraduate years will be the making of  you.
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I'd like to say thank you to all of those people who replied to the Facebook message I sent, those responses contributed to this post.