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1/ I want to share some thoughts upon defending my dissertation this week. This is some broader, off-the-cuff musings about my experience. It's not a panacea of how to be successful in a PhD, but rather a reflection of areas where my thinking evolved too slowly.
2/ Theme 1: Expect the Unexpected
I had four advisors in five years.
I struggled to get access to the data I wanted to study.
I switched programs.
I had two kids while completing my comprehensive exams and dissertation.
I think I thrive now because I expect roadblocks.
I had four advisors in five years.
I struggled to get access to the data I wanted to study.
I switched programs.
I had two kids while completing my comprehensive exams and dissertation.
I think I thrive now because I expect roadblocks.
3/ Theme 2: Pick a Committee whose Diversity is Additive to Your Dissertation and Career
3 researchers had methodological and substantive overlap.
1 researcher brought a critical lens that was missing.
1 practitioner had practical overlap with the studies.
Each added value.
3 researchers had methodological and substantive overlap.
1 researcher brought a critical lens that was missing.
1 practitioner had practical overlap with the studies.
Each added value.
4/Theme 3: Peer Support
During conferences, aim to connect with one doctoral student and one researcher. Ask your advisor for help.
During coursework, seek a small group of peers to strengthen your ideas.
During dissertation, find at least one peer to hold you accountable.
During conferences, aim to connect with one doctoral student and one researcher. Ask your advisor for help.
During coursework, seek a small group of peers to strengthen your ideas.
During dissertation, find at least one peer to hold you accountable.
5/Theme 4: Accept that Competitive Nature of the Work
Once I stopped trying to compete with all the fantastic work happening everywhere and started focusing on developing strong studies that would push the boundaries of my expertise, I found a groove.
Once I stopped trying to compete with all the fantastic work happening everywhere and started focusing on developing strong studies that would push the boundaries of my expertise, I found a groove.
6/Theme 5: Incrementalism is the Name of the Game
Do something to push your work forward every day. My dissertation had some huge jumps in short spans of time, but that was possible because I had many 2-4 hours stretches leading up to the jumps.
Do something to push your work forward every day. My dissertation had some huge jumps in short spans of time, but that was possible because I had many 2-4 hours stretches leading up to the jumps.
Correction: these are in tweet 1. It’s been a week.
