“I Might Have A Problem”

The five words that start you on a path to resolution. They work in all kinds of situations in life and help a lot with getting ready for the viva.

Many viva problems start with feeling that something is wrong. A gap in your expectations, an issue with your thesis, a delay to some part of prep – any one of these could make you feel that things aren’t right.

They might not be a problem. The only way you’ll know for sure is if you stop sitting with the feeling and say, “I might have a problem.”

Then you can do something else: you can explore the situation, ask for help, check something or simply take steps that move you towards feeling better.

• If there’s a gap in your expectations you can ask someone or read something that will tell you more about what vivas are like.
• If there’s an issue with your thesis you can read more, think more or talk with your supervisor to see if you have a problem or not. If you don’t, that’s great! If you do then you’re a step closer to sorting it out.
• And if there’s a delay to your prep work then you move on: what can you do next? How can you make it up? There was a problem but you can work past it.

Given all the problems you must have overcome during your PhD journey you can deal with any situation that occurs during your viva prep – so long as you’re willing to admit that you might have a problem.

Don’t simply sit with the discomfort of feeling something’s wrong. Work past it.