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Tag: work past worry

Nathan

Bad Vivas

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I’ve heard many things from candidates that would make a viva “bad”:

  • It would be bad to forget something;
  • It would be bad to get an unexpected question;
  • Having the wrong examiner would make the viva bad;
  • Feeling nervous would be bad.

I’ve even heard that getting corrections would be bad – which is tricky because the majority of vivas result in a pass with some form of corrections!

There’s a difference though between something feeling bad and something being bad.

It’s rare for something to be bad at the viva but there’s a strong chance that something about the situation might feel bad, whether that’s anticipating worry, feeling nervous or being unsure about the circumstances or process.

If something feels bad or something feels like it would be bad (going blank, getting an unexpected question) then you can consider what you can do. Many worry points or “bad” aspects of the viva can be addressed in advance. You can learn more, do something practical or in some cases change your perspective with a little reflection.

If something feels bad about your viva what are you going to do about it?

Nathan

When You Find Problems

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If you’re reading your thesis, preparing for your viva or even simply reading the regulations for your viva and think you’ve found something that could be a problem:

  • First, don’t panic. It may or may not be a problem. It’s worth checking carefully.
  • Second, think about the impact. Big or small? Specific or general? How big of a deal is it?
  • Finally, what actions do you need to take? What would match the potential impact?

A problem, if it really is a problem, could make you worry. You probably don’t have to face it alone. There are lots of people around you who can offer support, advice and practical help. If there’s any kind of viva-related problem then there’ll be a way forward.

Don’t panic. Think about the impact. Take action.

Work past worry.

Nathan

That One Question

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It’s my belief that every candidate has one question that they know they don’t want to be asked.

  • “Why did you use the method you outlined in Chapter 4?”
  • “How would you summarise the limitations of the data you collected?
  • “How else could you approach the project you detail in Chapter 5?”

There may be other things candidates generally don’t want at the viva – unexpected questions they’ve never considered or going blank – but fairly high up the list is that one question that they are dreading being asked.

It’s entirely rational to not want the question. There’s no guarantee that someone will get the question they dread. As it’s probably going to be a distraction either way, if you know that one question you don’t want then it makes sense to find a way to prepare for it.

Unpack and unpick what it means. Make notes. Talk it over with someone. Find some helpful points that you could draw on if you are asked the question at your viva.

Give far more time to general preparations and rehearsal though: there’s a lot more to your viva than that one question you hope you’re not asked.

Nathan

Opportunities At The Viva

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In my experience PhD candidates worry a lot about general questions, specific questions, attitudes and the atmosphere of the viva:

  • What if my examiners don’t agree?
  • What if they disagree with me?
  • What if I forget something?
  • What if something goes wrong?

With even a little thought and exploration there are many small and helpful steps that any candidate can take to overcome viva-related obstacles – but I wonder sometimes if a simple change of focus could help more with a lot of problems.

What if, instead of looking at the obstacles that might occur, we looked first at the many opportunities that can be found at the viva?

  • You have the opportunity to share your work.
  • You have the opportunity to show that you’re a capable researcher.
  • You have the opportunity to ask for expert opinions.
  • You have the opportunity to have a thorough and interesting conversation.

And you have the opportunity to succeed!

 

PS: Want some ideas on how to make the most of all of these opportunities? Then take a look at The Submission Issue, the latest Viva Survivors Select collection – twenty posts from the archive and two original pages of help for £3.

Nathan

Useful Tensions

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Knowing what you know and knowing what you don’t know about your research creates a tension that can help you feel like you know enough.

Needing to be ready for the viva pulls you in the direction of preparation

The tension you feel about your examiners – balancing your experience and theirs – could be uncomfortable. But feeling that can pull you in the direction of a little more work, targeted prep, and drag you towards feeling better.

When you notice the various tensions connected with the viva and getting ready you might feel uneasy or worried. Look closer though and you can realise that these tensions help you figure out where you are, where you’re going and what you might still need to do to get there well.

Nathan

Prep Feelings

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Work past worry.

This is one of my most commonly shared pieces of advice about the viva. If something worries you, do something. If you have a problem that’s troubling you then work past it.

What do you do if you feel happy? Or tired? Or uncertain? Or nervous? Or confident?

You work.

If you’re happy then work to hold on to that feeling.

If you’re tired then work to find suitable rest.

If you’re uncertain then work to remove that uncertainty (ask questions or read regulations).

If you’re nervous then work to build confidence and if you feel confident then find a way to maintain it.

Work past worry might be a special case of more general viva advice: work to help your feelings.

Nathan

“I Might Have A Problem”

Daily Post

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.

Nathan

Questions About Examiners

Daily Post

If you have questions about your viva examiners there are lots of places to find answers.

  • Consult regulations to get a real sense of what they do and how they do it.
  • Explore viva stories to get a feel for how examiners examine.
  • Ask your supervisors about your potential examiners…
  • …and ask them again when your examiners are confirmed.
  • Check your examiners’ recent publications to find out more about what they do.
  • Find their staff pages to explore their interests.
  • Talk with friends and colleagues who might know about them.

Whatever your questions about your examiners there will be a way to find out more. If you’re worried for some reason there is always a way to do something to help move past your concern.

Nathan

Worthwhile Worry

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The viva is worth worrying about.

  • What will my examiners ask?
  • Will I be prepared?
  • What do I need to go to get ready?
  • Will I pass?!

Let’s add some context though: the viva is worth worrying about because it is important.

Worry isn’t the end. If you’re worried about what someone will ask then you can find out what to expect. If you’re worried about being prepared or don’t know what to do then you can take steps to find out and get ready. And if you’re worried about passing you can explore what typically happens to know that you’ll be alright.

Worry is a motivator. If you have a worry then work past it to a better feeling.

Nathan

You Can Take Action

Daily Post

I feel like I’ve written this a lot in recent posts – and over the years of writing Viva Survivors! – but it’s worth repeating: when you encounter a worry or a problem as you get ready for your viva there is no situation where you can’t take action to improve things.

Your action might be:

  • To stop and think;
  • To come up with a plan;
  • To ask a friend for help;
  • To read the regulations for thesis examination at your institution;
  • To talk to your supervisor;
  • To read something and think.

Or more generally to just do something. You could feel worried, stressed or unsure – but you can still do something.

Remember that you always have the option to try something to make your viva prep situation better. If you’re worried or stressed a good first step might be to ask for help, particularly if you’re feeling unsure what to do.

Work past worry.

 

PS: for more encouragement take a look at the eighth issue of Viva Survivors Select. I released The Survival Issue yesterday which contains twenty posts from the Viva Survivors archive plus new writing to help with making it to the end and through the PhD journey. Take a look!

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