Ask The Audience 1
I’ve been asking a lot of questions recently via the @VivaSurvivors Twitter account. I wanted to know about the experiences of PhD graduates, even if that meant polling people in 140 characters or less. I had an inkling that people would share some really great advice. I was right! I’ll collect answers and share them on the blog over the next few weeks as I ask more questions. To start us off:
“What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given about the viva?”
@NextScientist gave an encouraging reply:
@VivaSurvivors If you are doing the viva it is sure they are going to give you the PhD, so relax and enjoy
— Next Scientist (@NextScientist) October 8, 2012
I asked this question again yesterday, and thanks to some signal amplification from @Nadine_Muller I got some more great responses:
@Nadine_Muller @VivaSurvivors prepare! Read thesis again; anticipate key questions, be sure of contribution + what you’d do differently
— Alison Phipps (@alisonphipps) October 17, 2012
@Nadine_Muller @VivaSurvivors It’s probably the longest time you’ll ever get to talk deeply about your research so enjoy it! #phdadvice
— Selena Daly (@selenadaly) October 17, 2012
@Nadine_Muller @VivaSurvivors don’t argue every criticism, examiners have taken time to read thesis, accept &thank for some(minor)criticisms
— Claire Jenkins (@clairemjenkins) October 17, 2012
All of which is great advice! Thanks to everyone for sharing. I particularly like the advice from Selena Daly: the viva really is the longest time you’ll get to talk about your PhD research in that depth. With that in mind you can hopefully approach your viva with the same passion you’ve approached your research for the last three (four, five…) years!
More questions to come soon. If you have any more thoughts, then please continue the conversation in the comments. And if you have more questions about the viva, what are they? Let me know!