How Do You Get On the Same Page As Your Thesis Advisor? I was in the beginning of my sixth year in grad school, which I really hoped would be my last. I felt my stomach sink as my thesis advisor and I reviewed my latest results. Once again, my experimental setup had failed […]
Communication with Supervisor
These Common Mistakes Can Keep You Stuck in Graduate School for an Extra 12 Months
How Could You Be Stuck in Graduate School When You Did Everything Right? “I can’t take graduate school anymore,” Rachel said packing up her bag to go home. ” I have been working for him for over 6 years and I just lost a job offer because he says I am not “ready” to […]
Negative People Can’t Stop You From Finishing Your Thesis
“There is no way I am going to put her in my thesis acknowledgements,” Kim said. “Wouldn’t that look a little strange since she was a coauthor on all of your papers?” I asked. “I don’t care, she’s been a total pain for the last six years,” Kim replied, returning her attention to revising the […]
You Can’t Avoid Finishing Your Thesis If You Follow These Steps
Finishing Your Thesis When You Believe You Can’t When it comes to finishing your thesis, the last couple of months (or years) are a mental challenge of persistence and commitment: “How do I force myself to write, when I can’t stand looking at my thesis anymore?” “I feel so guilty dragging my whole family […]
Three Strategies to Help You Get Unstuck in Graduate School
“I Wish I Never Started Graduate School…” “How did it go?,” I asked my friend, Jackie, when she came out of her supervisor’s office. Jackie looked at me without saying a word – but her eyes told the whole story. Her eyeliner was smeared just slightly, as if she had been trying to hold herself […]
A Simple Strategy That Will Resolve 90% of the Conflicts with Your Thesis Supervisor
How Do You Get Along With the Most Difficult Thesis Supervisor in Your Department? Carmen was the first graduate student to join the group of a young assistant professor in her department. During the initial interview it seemed Carmen and her thesis supervisor would be a good fit – they were both passionate about their research and […]