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Tag: after the viva

Nathan

Minor & Major & None

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There are three general viva outcomes.

Minor corrections are minor: correcting typos, editing for clarity and amending diagrams. Most candidates are asked to complete minor corrections as a result of the viva.

Major corrections are unlikely: they account for very few viva outcomes proportionally. Requests from examiners are clear and if completed they still result in success and passing the PhD.

Getting no corrections is nice: of course! But it’s also only something that you can hope for. It’s worth acknowledging that writing is hard, writing a book is very hard and examiners spotting no typos or other corrections is unlikely.

Three outcomes. All, subject to completing any requests, result in success.

Rather than hope you’ll get through with none expect that you’ll have work to do and plan for when and how you will do that work after your viva.

Nathan

Final Polish

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Corrections. Amendments. Changes.

They’re called lots of things, but the requests for alterations to your thesis after the viva really are just the very last, final tweaks to make your thesis the best it can reasonably be.

The vast majority of candidates are asked to complete minor corrections. Perhaps your university calls them something different, but you’ll know what they mean: correcting typos, light copyediting, updates to diagrams or correcting errors.

Examiners don’t look for perfection. They don’t punish small mistakes. They want to give you the benefit of one more relatively quick chance to make some final changes. Then that’s it: you’re done, your thesis is done and now it’s headed for the library. Finished.

A little final polish is a good thing.

Nathan

Packing Up

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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 boxes. Things were grouped together, but I wasn’t sure of what I would be doing in the future. Maybe I would still do maths research at some point. Best to keep all of the papers, notes, books, curios, desk toys, excess stationery and bits and bobs – just in case!

When my wife and I moved in together a few years later I brought those boxes with me. When we were able to buy a house three years after that I took them with me again. More time passed. Finally, somewhere in the last five years I’ve been able to open the boxes and start to shed some of this stuff that I’ve been holding on to for over fifteen years.

In 2008 I should have asked myself:

  • Do I need all of this?
  • Is there anything I can just let go of?
  • Is there anything I’m carrying around simply because I’ve had it for a long time?

It would have been helpful to ask these questions as I was packing up!

 

I think it could have helped a lot if I’d asked similar questions when I was getting ready for my viva too.

Did I need to focus on every page in my thesis and all of the papers and ideas I’d been thinking about? No! I could have been kinder to myself by being more focussed.

Were there things I could just let go of? Yes! So much. Ideas for developing my work further, ideas about whether things were good or not.

Were there things I was carrying around for a long time and just kept them with me? Yes. I took my nervousness in presenting as a sign that I wasn’t good at presenting or speaking. I carried that idea for a long time before I was able to set it aside.

 

There’ll come a time when you have to pack up your PhD. Maybe you won’t be moving offices or taking things home, but you’ll still have to say, “This is over, time for something else.”

Be kind to yourself. Pack up only what you need.

And start the process during your prep to help you focus on the work that will help you get ready. Take time to explore what you can let go of as well.

Nathan

And Now You’re Done

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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 PhD is a relatively rare thing: it might not seem that way because you’re surrounded by people who have done it or are working towards that goal! It’s unlikely you’ll ever have an experience quite like this in your life.

So take time to enjoy it if you can. Take time to record your thoughts and feelings. And take time to figure out what you can carry with you into whatever your next great challenge is.

Nathan

One Last Time

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It’s likely that you will have corrections to complete after your viva. You’ll probably still need to discuss your work with your supervisors. And it’s possible that you might want to do more work based on your thesis research, whether that’s as an academic at a university or just for your own private reasons.

And still the viva is most likely that one last time when you will have a chance to sit down and talk with an eager, interested audience about what you’ve been doing for years of work. Not just a part of it, not just a paper or a poster. Hours to talk about everything you’ve done and all that it means.

One last time.

Make the most of it.

Nathan

Why Most Candidates Get Corrections

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Because there are typos in their thesis and passages that need editing.

That’s it! That’s all! Enough said!

 

 

 

OK a little more… 🙂

Writing a book is hard. Proofreading is hard. Combining these both in a project with a word count in the tens of thousands means the resulting thesis will likely have mistakes that need correcting.

Some thesis corrections are simple. A missed or misspelled word is obvious when spotted.

Some thesis corrections are subtle. They take patience to see and consideration to correct.

Some thesis corrections are style-choices. Examiners might feel something is needed and usually their requests are followed.

Remember that all thesis corrections are requested with the goal of making the thesis better. Most candidates get asked to complete corrections. Expect that you will too, get them done when you’re asked and then you’re done!

Nathan

Was That It?

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Today marks fifteen years since I submitted my final PhD thesis.

I remember that I went with a friend to hand my copies in. I wanted someone to be a witness with me to this great moment. The university admin department I had to submit my thesis copies to was quiet. The person on reception duties looked up and just about managed to say, “Yes?” to indicate they would listen to me.

With a big smile I said, “I’ve finished my PhD. I’m here to submit my final thesis.”

They kept looking at me. Then looked down at the small pile of books and submission forms I had set on the counter. Then looked back at me. And finally looked over their shoulder and called, “Geoff?”

“Yeah?”

“There’s another one for you.”

Geoff came out from a back room. He quickly glanced over my form. He checked I had two copies of my thesis on the counter. Then picked them up and nodded, “OK, thanks,” and walked away.

My friend and I left the building entirely deflated. Was that it?

 

I celebrated later that day, but I look back on my final submission like many parts of my PhD journey and think, “Was that it?”

All the times I was stressed in advance of something – a presentation, a meeting, my viva – but the actual event worked out fine.

All the things that I thought would be super-amazing and impressive, but turned out to just be work. Still interesting, but work and time and effort.

Meeting my examiners. Going to my viva. Submitting my thesis.

In some respects, my whole PhD!

Was that it?

 

I have no regrets, but today reminds me that sometimes the things we think will be really big and important are just things. Important events are just one day. Great achievements are just one step towards success or progress. Our big news is just one more thing that someone else will hear.

And that’s the way it is. We have to find the meaning for ourselves. Your PhD success is important, but to you, not to everyone. You have to make it matter.

Don’t look back and think “Was that it?”

Make the special days as special as you can.

Nathan

My Graduation

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In over six years of writing about the viva I don’t think I have ever posted about my PhD graduation.

The thought came to me a few months ago as, coincidentally, I was asked in a series of sessions about graduation: what happens, when does it happen, when can you call yourself “Doctor” and so on.

I realised that almost fifteen years later I have no memory of my graduation. I know that it happened but all I could find from that day was a single selfie I took.

A man, wearing academic graduation dress, mortar board hat, red and black robes, stood for a selfie photo with a paved area in the background
See, I really do have a PhD!

It’s not even a great photo!

My viva was in June, my final thesis was submitted in August and then graduation wasn’t until December. By that time I was knee-deep in figuring out how to run a business, helping researchers and looking ahead to Christmas. My viva? My PhD? I’d moved on months before. Graduation was probably fun for the ceremony of it, but I don’t remember anything about it now.

You’re not technically Doctor Someone until you’ve had the chance to graduate. But it’s possible that you’ll have done all your celebrating long before you get to that point. Certainly it won’t take crossing a stage or a piece of paper to make you feel your Doctor-ness.

Still, from someone who has no memory of graduation, writing to someone who may have this in their future: I kindly suggest you do something to mark the occasion. Maybe go out for a meal or find a way to share your final, final success with friends and family. Or if graduation is something you can’t attend, celebrate the confirmation of your success in some other way.

Do more than just pose for a selfie!

Nathan

Before You Forget

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There will be congratulations after your viva, from examiners and others, telling you how well you’ve done, how great you are and starting the necessary celebrations for a wonderfully big and amazing thing!

And before the celebrations really start to happen, take five minutes to make some notes. Grab a piece of paper, divide it into four and quickly jot down some thoughts:

  • What was the viva like for you?
  • What did your examiners ask?
  • What did you enjoy?
  • What corrections stand out to you?

Five minutes, four questions and one important task to complete before you forget. Those four questions and the notes you make could be a big help to you in the weeks that follow – or to others in the years afterwards.

Take the time to write a few things before you forget.

Nathan

The End Result

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Remember what you’re working towards.

You need to submit your thesis, but you’re not working towards that. You need to prepare for your viva, but the work isn’t for the sake of preparation. And you want to pass your viva, but that’s not what the work is for.

You’re working towards BEING a PhD. Doctor Someone, with a doctorate in something special.

Whatever stage you’re at – submission, prep or the day before your viva – you can only get that far by working and building yourself into a PhD.

The work helps you succeed at whatever stage you’re at, but also moves you closer to the end result.

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