Posted by alexandra_k on July 16, 2013, at 2:27:29
In reply to Re: hoplelessness » alexandra_k, posted by Emme_V2 on July 14, 2013, at 7:44:30
> I think one way to think of your dissertation is that it will buy you your union card so to speak. Of course you want it to be good. But it doesn't have to be your magnum opus. It is a well-done piece of scholarly activity that opens up the door to certain types of jobs where you can do the work you want to do to make a contribution to your field (or maybe even some other allied field you migrate to) over the course of your career. It's part of the path.
I think you offer some really good advice, there. That is indeed how I'm trying to think of it. I just want to have something sensible to contribute. That is all. That is enough. That is... Well, that is hard enough, really. It is so very much easier to critique... So very much harder to contribute positively...
My application is getting shifted around and through the appropriate channels... Of course I should have initiated this a week ago, but whatever, whatever it is what it is now. My supervisor is currently overseas / busy so he won't get to say anything (in support or against the idea) for over a week...
Admin has informed me that we have oral defense now, and suggested a date 3 months prior to my proposed submission to allow me to make alterations.
I'm not entirely sure what this is about... We never used to have this because it was too hard getting examiners to fly from the northern hemisphere... I mean, it was externally examined by 2 - and sometimes it was thought we were disadvantaged by needing to suck up examiner 'suggestions' instead of getting the opportunity to verbally defend what we had done... Maybe this oral defense is just a department seminar... Which are bad enough, don't get me wrong (okay to rip apart without many positive suggestions for those). I hear the kids these days don't have to do them because they find them 'too intimidating' but they are made to before they hit the job market (as they bloody well should be)...
That being said... Don't think I gave one after my 6 month review got ripped apart... By my supervisor. And one of the other academics said he tried to convince my supervisor I'd done well, really... Aargh.
Please please please please please fly me back... Only (of course) they won't. So it will have to be Skype, or something. :-(
poster:alexandra_k
thread:1046976
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20130309/msgs/1047286.html