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I figured I’d tweet about my Annual Progress Review today so people who have theirs coming up & can see what it’s like 
I’ll be completely open & honest about the experience for you!
I’ll be completely open & honest about the experience for you!
Pre meeting #1
T-minus 10 mins, my PowerPoint is loaded on Zoom and the ‘room’ is set up. Feeling pretty chilled out, I imagine as soon as my examiners join the room that might change
Overall - excited to chat about my research & progress made during year 1 of my PhD
T-minus 10 mins, my PowerPoint is loaded on Zoom and the ‘room’ is set up. Feeling pretty chilled out, I imagine as soon as my examiners join the room that might change
Overall - excited to chat about my research & progress made during year 1 of my PhD
During the APR: 1
Very chilled - I set up the zoom room and joined in plenty of time. Uploaded my PowerPoint incase screen sharing didn’t work.
Intros & said hi, asked how my examiners (who were lovely!) were doing. Very relaxed.
Very chilled - I set up the zoom room and joined in plenty of time. Uploaded my PowerPoint incase screen sharing didn’t work.
Intros & said hi, asked how my examiners (who were lovely!) were doing. Very relaxed.
During the APR: 2
Gave my presentation, general overview of how/what I’d done during year 1. Overview of my thesis & plans for 2nd year before inviting feedback / questions.
Gave my presentation, general overview of how/what I’d done during year 1. Overview of my thesis & plans for 2nd year before inviting feedback / questions.
Presentation Feedback:
My examiners gave me feedback on pres style & content - all good here, I do love to chat so this is my strength
My examiners gave me feedback on pres style & content - all good here, I do love to chat so this is my strength
Research Specific Q’s:
Talked about thesis structure and writing. Great constructive feedback given that I totally agree with and am looking forward to implementing.
Not at all an interrogation - very supportive process.
Talked about thesis structure and writing. Great constructive feedback given that I totally agree with and am looking forward to implementing.
Not at all an interrogation - very supportive process.
Methods Q’s:
Chatted about methodology and the ethics process.
Chatted about methodology and the ethics process.
General Q’s:
Chatted about workload and how I thought I was doing - examiners were so thoughtful and said to make sure I don’t overwork myself (which is something I think we all do during a PhD). Very important & open discussion about burnout & looking after yourself etc.
Chatted about workload and how I thought I was doing - examiners were so thoughtful and said to make sure I don’t overwork myself (which is something I think we all do during a PhD). Very important & open discussion about burnout & looking after yourself etc.
Career Q’s:
Where I want to be at the end of PhD, what job I want in terms of lecturing & research. How to get their and strengthen CV. Lots of fab advice re post docs.
Where I want to be at the end of PhD, what job I want in terms of lecturing & research. How to get their and strengthen CV. Lots of fab advice re post docs.
Supervisor Q’s:
Basically spent 5 mins telling the examiners how great Shelley Budgeon & @JasonHSchaub are! I love that I actually get to give feedback on this that gets recorded because they are amazing and deserve recognition for it
Basically spent 5 mins telling the examiners how great Shelley Budgeon & @JasonHSchaub are! I love that I actually get to give feedback on this that gets recorded because they are amazing and deserve recognition for it
Uni feedback:
Examiners asked how the PGR experience could be improved which I greatly appreciated!
Discussed what to work on next (ethics application).
Said we’d covered everything, examiners wished me luck & said they are looking forward to seeing the research progress.
Examiners asked how the PGR experience could be improved which I greatly appreciated!
Discussed what to work on next (ethics application).
Said we’d covered everything, examiners wished me luck & said they are looking forward to seeing the research progress.
Post APR:
I survived my first PhD APR! Nothing to worry about for those yet to do theirs. Just a chat about what you’ve been doing, very relaxed, zero stress.
I shan’t name my examiners but they were fantastic, open, receptive and gave really useful constructive feedback!
I survived my first PhD APR! Nothing to worry about for those yet to do theirs. Just a chat about what you’ve been doing, very relaxed, zero stress.
I shan’t name my examiners but they were fantastic, open, receptive and gave really useful constructive feedback!
End of thread:
That’s it for another year then!
I hope that by sharing this experience your mind will be put at ease.
Any questions about the APR that you want answered drop a reply to this.
Remember, you’re the expert on your project
That’s it for another year then!
I hope that by sharing this experience your mind will be put at ease.
Any questions about the APR that you want answered drop a reply to this.
Remember, you’re the expert on your project
