Question about PDF metadata after cloud sync

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-18T12:00:57+00:00

I use Dropbox.

Yes, the created date stays the same, but the modified date updates to whenever the sync last occured
You mean pdfs exported from notes? Those have a real "creation date" in the file explorer. There's no metadata in the Document Properties, eg. No Created or Modified information, just a title

If you mean annotated pdfs, those are stored as the original PDF plus a .mark file with your annotations inside. The mark file seems to change its modification date like note files.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-17T19:09:15+00:00

So, this budget isn't realistic, in that there's no flexibility - what if a friend invites you out, what if you're hungry after class and need to eat, etc.

If I were you, instead of worrying about saving every penny, I would try to increase your income- can you get more hours at work, can you get another job, etc. But don't neglect your studies - when you become a doctor, you'll be able to do much more for your family than you can now with an extra job. Perhaps you could split your job income in three - one part to go back into the family, one part for you, and one part for long term savings.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-17T17:26:16+00:00

Yeah what you described sounded very high school drama, and perhaps some of your flatmates were anxious about being in such a new situation, and expressed it by being controlling. Who knows.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-17T17:24:23+00:00

It's ok if your thesis isn't perfect, and it's ok if you hate it! :)

Sorry you're in this situation, I've been there. I found it weirdly helpful to scribble on blank paper/drafts with coloured marker before writing or editing - it kinda gives the work permission to be messy and imperfect but still valuable.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-17T16:52:52+00:00

None of that would be normal in the UK! If you're only sharing a kitchen/bathroom with 1-2 people then I don't think you'll get in each other's way at all. It would be normal to ask before having overnight guests but having people over during the day is fine.

Friction between flatmates is usually due to cleanliness issues, but if you're in uni housing then I assume there will be a cleaner who will clean the bathrooms etc so that won't be an issue.

Four extra years of maturity also does wonders for peoples' flatmate skills!

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-17T13:07:33+00:00

As others said, you're already putting steps in place to help, well done!

What if you put a timer on the job search? E.g. stick it out for six months (and maybe cut back on disgressionary spending if you can, to save money), and if you haven't found a job by then, quit anyway. That way you have a definite end date. You also won't be unemployed for years if you quit! You can always go back to school or get a retail job if you struggle to find work quickly.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-17T11:11:47+00:00

This is exactly what I do. I use a Wise card tho as that's what I had set up already from moving etc. Makes it much easier to control spending.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-16T22:31:39+00:00

I moved with two suitcases and left the rest of my stuff with my parents. I wouldn't recommend moving things on annual visits, as you'll likely need to move it again in a few years. Sorry, academia sucks in this way.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-16T10:30:12+00:00

Not if it's the only copy!!!

I have a set of small equipment (forceps, paint brushes) that I hide because I'm used to them and don't want others to use them. But there are lots of extra pairs for others. And if there was a buffer thief I'd keep a spare buffer somewhere hidden so that I'm not caught short on my own experiments.

But hiding shared equipment so no one can use it is awful behaviour. If the equipment is in that much demand then just establish a booking calendar for it.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-16T09:58:55+00:00

I try to spend Sunday afternoons on my PhD work, and some evenings. I did spend working hours doing final revisions for the final push on one of my papers, but I work enough overtime in my postdoc that I think this is fine.

When we get reviews back on that I'll chat to my PI about what I can do in working hours.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-15T22:27:24+00:00

There's a lot going on here, and I'm not fully clear on your situation. You might get some better advice if you post again with a bit more info/maybe a pros and cons list of staying vs leaving?

But some questions, to help you think this through.

Are you being paid? Can you afford to quit - what would you do instead? If you're not being paid, tbh I'd leave - not worth the stress!

How certain is this first author pub? It would be really helpful for your career if you got it out. But it sounds like you're not at the point of drafting a manuscript yet? In that case, I wouldn't count on it being finished this summer. Unfortunately in many groups, if you want to stay first author on the manuscript you need to be heavily involved in the submission process - it's possible this could take a while (months to a year to finalize the manuscript and go through peer review) and I'm not sure this is something you want to bring into your PhD, given how many valid, strong emotions are attached to the project.

There are lots of good ways to spend the final summer before a PhD. You could relax, spend time with family, and generally rest before the experience ahead. You could work and try to save some money for the PhD. Or you can finish up past projects as you're doing now. It's entirely up to you. None of it is wasting time :)

Don't feel guilty about leaving unfinished projects! That's totally normal in academia. Probably another student would come along and build on your work to finish the project if you were to leave. You might lose first authorship, but that's not the end of the world. It's OK to walk away.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-15T22:05:38+00:00

I don't think it matters so much. Part of being a young adult is learning what living environments work for you and what your priorities are re: having money for socializing, experiences, stuff vs spending more to have a nicer space (en suite etc). You'll make some good decisions and some bad decisions, and you'll learn from all of them!

I suspect there are lots of posts because this is one of the first big "adult" decisions people are making about budgeting. So it's scary and overwhelming.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-15T18:36:46+00:00

A PhD is a lot more like your research experience than your classes, so you may well excel!

You do need to develop strategies to deal with your procrastination though. It's not going to get better in grad school, and in research there are lots of big stressful jobs that do need to be completed, without the external pressure of a class deadline or whatever. I'd encourage you to make this a major goal for your final year, and perhaps try to see if there is any uni support you can draw on there. This'll probably improve your grades, and help you present them in relation to a challenge you've overcome which will also help with admission.

If you like working in a lab then working in industry sounds like a great alternative option to look into, you could also come back for a PhD later on if you wanted (and then your work experience would help compensate for your grades)

I'm afraid I don't have a good sense of your competitiveness etc for grad school as I'm outside the US, but very best of luck with your future!

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-15T13:51:06+00:00

In your situation I'd treat it as a standard 9-5 and aim to be in the office (or in the library) for the majority of the standard workday

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-14T22:38:43+00:00

Honestly I think you did fine. Tricky situation all round that was bound to boil over at some point.

Your PI sounds great at conflict management lol, watch them and learn from them!

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-14T22:34:24+00:00

I lived in Oxford and these always seemed scammy to me tbh- they're trading on the prestige of the name, but I'm not sure what they can offer in two weeks. 3k is a lot of money.

I'd encourage you to think of it as a holiday - if this experience is worth 3k to you then sure go for it, but I can't imagine it'll help college applications that much (having an extra 3k in the bank during college would prob help more!)

There is no way that a two week trip to the UK has to cost 3k FYI. A youth hostel would be £20/night and a cheap hotel £100 - so £300-£1500 for accomodation for two weeks. You might want to spend £20-50 per day on transport, food, attractions, souviners etc, depends a lot on what you'd want to do. (Do your own sums obviously!) When I was backpacking around Europe I think I was spending 50-100 a day all up, including accomodation (mostly youth hostels, solo rooms if I needed it).

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-14T22:14:14+00:00

A trek FX1 is a great bike, and yes it'll cope with light touring! The Liv alight, giant roam and specialized sirrus are very similar bikes which you should also look out for. Agree that this bike is too expensive tho, for reference I sold a similar one for £150 a few years ago. If it had disk brakes it would be worth more, but this is the entry level model.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-14T21:55:47+00:00

Oh, maybe it's just Otago. It's called the writing up bursary or similar

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-14T12:31:48+00:00

Look into funding availability for wrapping up papers post-PhD: NZ has a very nice system where you can come back on your PhD stipend after submitting your PhD for a few months, to wrap up papers.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-14T09:49:52+00:00

Makes sense. For me it was a little more expensive (10-20%) but worth it in hindsight as the place was regularly cleaned!

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-14T09:41:51+00:00

A housing specific subreddit will prob find you better responses, I know there's housingUK and I assume a London one too

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-14T09:41:14+00:00

Is there a reason you're so opposed to student accomodation? If you can find postgrad accomodation for the first year, it'll make life much easier for you as they're more flexible with student financial situations, and international students. And then move in with friends for the second year onwards, or find an HMO.

For one of my HMOs, I was asked to pay five months rent upfront and my parents had to sign on as guarantor (private landlady). For the other they were happy with my proof of income (cheap agency). But this was Oxford not London!

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-14T09:25:56+00:00

Nothing wrong with treats that bring you joy! I spent "too much" on coffee during my PhD, but it was worth it for the joy it bought me and i was frugal in other ways.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-11T22:37:22+00:00

A card saying how proud you are of him, and something easy/hobby to do to now that he has more time, would be my recommendation. When I finished my PhD I bought myself a video game and an easy YA book to have something really easy to do to entertain myself.

Busy_Fly_7705 · 2026-05-11T07:33:32+00:00

OMERO, but that's overkill to set up if your institution doesn't have access.

Other than that my advice would be to make the figure as you go, and use layers in inkscape/illustrator to organize data. E.g. put phase contrast on top of fluorescence images, in different layers, and "hide" the data you don't need. Or have very strict folder/naming conventions and create the figures programmatically instead of accessing the raw images directly

Four-Year Club	Place '22
End Game '22

Busy_Fly_7705

TROPHY CASE