Folks, let this be a day that you remember that I'll never forget. June 29, at 1pm, I will be defending my dissertation. If you are reading this, you are invited to join for the public seminar, and the reception later that afternoon. But I am getting ahead of myself, let me give you the run down.
Last month, my boss told me that January would be a good time to set my next committee meeting, and also get a feel for when the defense could be. So, today was the day. My committee agreed to meet in April so I can ask to write, and agreed to meet in June to allow me to defend the document. This system makes it seem like your graduate career hinges on your performance on a single day. It isn't, really- there are too many checks in place to make sure you don't fail on this day. In April my committee will formally tell me that it's ok to write, because they already have a good feeling for what I've accomplished and I am capable of. Now I just need to prove them right.
This is so far in the future, right now it is still plenty exciting- like go out for Matzoball Soup exciting. Later it will seem overwhelming and stressful. I expect to prepare a ~200 page document about everything I've done since I've come to grad school. This includes the exciting stuff I've been writing about in my manuscript, and the other stuff I did as a first year when I wasn't especially organized. This seems challenging.
Once that document (the dissertation) is submitted, then I'll prepare a one hour presentation that I'll present to the department, and any other members of the public that feel like attending. And then, I will stand in front of my committee for an hour or two while they fling questions at me, to prove whether or not I've become sufficiently expert in my field. If I have, they'll each give me comments on my 200 page document back, which I will feed into a giant pdf, that must be formatted Just So before the paper work can be filed and the degree becomes official.
But first, after the questions- we'll party. You are invited to that part.
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3 comments:
Yea for having the date determined!
Know you can pull together all the requirements and do a great job!
I'd like to be there for all events. Will keep the date in mind and see what arrangements I can make.
So, Mom wants me to refrain from blowing up the party. I'm not supposed to offer to buy your Hood or to cater the party, but can we bring some crab/salmon/lox to make an impression??
We are very proud and will be there with bell's on...Dad
Yes, I think everyone would love some Alaskan seafood- I am forever tempting them with salmon dip. Got your itinerary- I can't wait until the day arrives- 172 days!
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