Fractions
A PhD typically takes at least three years. A viva typically takes three hours at most. Writing a thesis could take months of effort. Preparation for the viva takes maybe a few dozen hours. The viva takes a fraction of...
July 2020
Viva Expectations: Facts & Feelings
There are two kinds of expectations you might have for your viva, facts and feelings. In the swirl of thoughts about the end of the PhD, and anticipation for what might happen, it can be difficult to determine whether an...
Stretch Now
I’m a big fan of the Comfort, Stretch, Panic way of framing challenges. If something is well within your capabilities, it belongs to the first category; if it requires more effort but you can approach it with some confidence then...
The OK Thesis
Perfect is the enemy of done, but does it then follow that it’s fine to submit an “OK” thesis? One which you know has typos in? One which you know could be better? One which you know has things you...
Cast Your Mind Back
What did you not know at the start of your PhD that you know now? What could you not do at the start of your PhD that you can do now? You had to start somewhere. There had to be...
Little Reminders
On Thursday March 19th 2020 I was nervous. The next day I was going to deliver my first Viva Survivor webinar. Lockdown hadn’t started but you could tell it was coming. I knew I would need to move my work...
Gotta Catch ‘Em All
My daughter used to be obsessed with Pokémon. We watched every episode of two series, bought books about them, played with toys, looked through cards, role-played being in the world… (she drove this process) (honest) Pokémon has the famous tagline,...
Green Screen
My computer won’t put a fancy background behind me when I Zoom. A friend has a green screen to help with their work, and I’ve been mulling over buying one for a few weeks now. I like the idea of...
Myth & Truth
There are lots of myths about the viva: they’re impossible to really prepare for, they’re unfair, unknowable, harsh, a hazing, and not that fun. There is lots that is true about the viva: the vast majority of people pass, regulations...
Factors For Prep
I mentioned yesterday that it’s ten years since I started doing work on the viva, but it’s nearly twelve years since I became an independent researcher-developer. That’s a lot of paperwork and notes, and when you sort through it you...