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#7PhDSecrets by Maria Gardiner and Hugh Kearns

7 PhD Secrets

Secret 1: The care and maintenance of your supervisor.

You have to take more initiative. Stop waiting.

Secret 2: Write and show as you go.

It’s show and tell – not hide and seek.

Secret 3: Be realistic.

It’s not a Nobel Prize.

When you are doing a PhD you are learning how to do research.

Secret 4: Say NO to distractions.

For 1 or 2 hours close the door, turn off the phone/email alerts and focus.

Secret 5: Treat it like a job.

That means working nine to five, but you get holidays. Regular routines.

Then you can have time off and not feel guilty.

Secret 6: Get help.

It’s OK to ask for help. Ask your supervisor. Your department. Other students. Support services.

Secret 7: You can do it!

A PhD is 90% persistence and 10% intelligence.

Hang in there. You can do it.