Don’t Go For These Examiners
Examiners aren’t all equivalent. Some choices will be better than others – which means, naturally, that some are less desirable. For example:
- The Egotist. Someone who just wants to talk about their work, how important they are, and make connections with what they’ve done.
- The Pedant. Someone who can only see the flaws, the minor details that aren’t quite right, all at the expense of discussing what’s great in your research.
- The Ignorant. An examiner who knows nothing at all about the kind of work you’ve done, who has no experience with your field.
- The Unknown. A name on a page, a choice for reasons you don’t get, but a stranger to you and your supervisors.
There must be better choices for you. What criteria matter to you and your supervisor? What names do these preferences suggest?
Start with exploring your criteria before names are mentioned. See where they lead.
Steer discussion away from Egotists and Pedants, the Ignorant and the Unknown.