Dissertation

A dissertation coach sits across a table from a female graduate student, providing them with support

What Is a Dissertation Coach and How Can They Help Me?

When you’re deep in the weeds of dissertation research and writing, it’s extremely common to feel isolated and overwhelmed. The path of writing a dissertation is anything but straight, and challenges will inevitably crop up that can leave you questioning whether you’ll ever see the light at the end of the tunnel. If you’re feeling …

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tired graduate student sits at desk in front of a laptop with her head on her hand, frustrated with her dissertation research

Navigating the Challenges of Dissertation Research: Results from a Survey of PhD and Master’s Graduates

“This grad. school thing is a walk in the park,” said no graduate student, ever — at least no one I’ve ever met. If you find graduate school hard, you’re not alone. It was designed that way. By definition, graduate school — especially doctoral programs — is intended to challenge you to hone your research, …

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5 Things Your Thesis Advisor (Probably) Won’t Tell You About Submitting Your Dissertation

If you feel like you’ve completely emptied your tank toward your PhD, you’re not alone. After all, depending on the discipline, around 30-40% of PhD candidates never complete their program. So kudos to you for making it this far. The thesis submission process is the final hurdle, which means you’re nearly there. To get through this last …

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The Art of Formulating Dissertation Research Questions

The process of how to formulate a research question is daunting for many graduate students — and for good reason. One of the cornerstones of any research endeavor is the formulation of a strong, clear, and concise thesis research question. It serves as a guiding star for your research project. It also provides direction, defining …

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Preparing for Your Dissertation Defense: A Guide for PhD Candidates

You’ve worked tirelessly for years, finally producing your full dissertation and submitting it to your committee with positive results. Now you stand on the brink of one of your most significant milestones: your dissertation defense. This momentous event signifies the culmination of your hard work and the gateway to your future academic and professional career. …

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Identify a Viable Research Topic in 8 Steps

As a graduate student preparing for your thesis or dissertation research, you may feel overwhelmed by the first significant hurdle — identifying a research topic. From idea conception, to finding a suitable supervisor, conducting the academic literature search, writing your proposal, and preparing for the dissertation defense, completing your doctorate may feel like a daunting task. The …

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Getting Started with the Academic Literature Search

As Ph.D. students, one of the first—and arguably most crucial steps in your research journey is performing an effective academic literature search. While it might seem daunting given the vast ocean of scholarly publications and databases available, a well-executed literature search can provide you with the insights and resources needed to frame your research question, …

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Defending from Home: Navigating a Remote PhD Defense

The current global pandemic has hastened the arrival of one reality of modern grad school: the remote PhD defense. Until recently, grad students may have had a committee member or two attend their defense remotely or live-streamed their defense for out-of-town friends and family, but 100% virtual PhD defenses were relatively rare. Navigating a remote …

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5 Tips to Boost Your Stay-at-Home Grad School Productivity

Grad school can be a challenging experience even without the added stress of a global pandemic. For many, the abrupt transition to remote grad school life brought with it a host of new difficulties and pitfalls. Now deep into this crisis, many students are still engaging in remote grad school. That’s why I want to …

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How to Make the Most of Back to School: Reimmerse Yourself in Writing

Back to school already, where did the time go?! Even if you’re well rested and ready for the new school year (which I never was at the end of the summer, by the way!), it can be tough picking up where you left off with your writing. You’ve likely lost some of the momentum that …

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