The Knack
My dad passed away quite suddenly when I was 17. I first shared this post on what would have been his 70th birthday. He’s been on my mind a lot lately. When I was little my dad was often self-employed....
finishing the phd
Rewind
Graduated. (yay!!!) Final submission. (yay!!) Corrections approved. (yay!) Doing corrections. (well…) Given corrections. (probably) Viva over. (viva passed!) In the viva. (in flow, I hope) Ten minutes before the viva. (………) Day of the viva. (last minute nerves) Day before...
Packing Up
A few months after my viva, when my corrections were all completed, it was time to pack up the desk in my shared office. I wish I had considered it properly at the time. Instead, I just packed everything into...
And Now You’re Done
How good will it feel when those words are real? How will you feel when your thesis is finished and submitted, you’ve had your viva, you’ve done whatever corrections you need to and – finally! – you’ve graduated? Completing a...
Rainbow’s End
Stories say that there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. The reality is that a rainbow’s end moves as you move. Make any progress in getting closer to where it appears to be and you’ll find...
Measuring PhD Success
What does PhD success mean? I’ve heard lots of possible ideas over the years: No corrections? Is that the goal? Two or more publications? Is that what you want? Or need? Just getting through?! Is that enough? Feeling proud at...
The Epilogue
That’s the time after your viva, after corrections, after your final thesis submission but before you actually graduate with your PhD. Are you a Doctor at that point? Technically no, but you might not let that stop you from changing...
A Long Time
In the year before your viva you don’t need to do much to get ready. Your focus is on finishing research, finishing your thesis and thinking about life after the PhD. In the month before your viva you can start...
The Last Post
I had an idea to do an “April fool!”-style post about this being the last day of Viva Survivors, but couldn’t bring myself to do it! 🙂 The last ever post. What would that look like? A summary? A thank...
When Do You Stop?
I remember knocking on my supervisor’s office door thirty minutes before my viva to check a mathematical definition. I know of people who took the day off before their viva and just relaxed. Some candidates will be checking notes almost...