Finsh Your PHD Faster Oct 2021

Finish Your
F I N I S Thesis
H YOUR N'
FASTER
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR TIME
AND BECOME MORE PRODUCTIVE
IN GRADUATE SCHOOL
BY DORA FARKAS, PHD

WWW.FINISHYOURTHESIS.COM
Finish Your Thesis
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dora Farkas, PhD, is a thesis and career coach and the
founder The Finish Your Thesis Academy,
www.FinishYourThesis.com, and helps graduate students
ƫƺƬȒȅƺȅȒȸƺƬȒȇˡƳƺȇɎًȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣɮƺًƏȇƳǔȒƬɖɀƺƳɀȒɎǝƺɵ
ƬƏȇˡȇǣɀǝɯȸǣɎǣȇǕɎǝƺǣȸɎǝƺɀǣɀƏȇƳȵȸƺȵƏȸƺǔȒȸɎǝƺǣȸƬƏȸƺƺȸɀِ
Dora earned her PhD from the Department of Biological

Engineering at MIT, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at
ÁɖǔɎɀxƺƳǣƬƏǼ³ƬǝȒȒǼًƏȇƳǝƏɀɀƺɮƺȸƏǼɵƺƏȸɀȒǔƺɴȵƺȸǣƺȇƬƺǣȇ
the pharmaceutical industry.
Since she launched www.FinishYourThesis.com in 2009, Dora has written nearly 300 articles
ƏȇƳƬȒȇɎȸǣƫɖɎƺƳɎȒɀƺɮƺȸƏǼǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎƏȇƳȵȒɀɎƳȒƬɎȒȸƏǼƬȒȅȅɖȇǣɎɵɀǣɎƺɀِ
(ȒȸƏǝƏɀȵȸȒɮǣƳƺƳȵƺȸɀȒȇƏǼƬȒƏƬǝǣȇǕɎȒǝɖȇƳȸƺƳɀȒǔɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀǣȇȒɮƺȸ‫׎א‬ƬȒɖȇɎȸǣƺɀɎȒǝƺǼȵ
ɎǝƺȅˡȇǣɀǝɎǝƺǣȸɎǝƺɀǣɀًƏȇƳǕƺɎƏɎɎȸƏƬɎǣɮƺǴȒƫȒǔǔƺȸɀǣȇǣȇƳɖɀɎȸɵƏȇƳƏƬƏƳƺȅǣƏِ(ȒȸƏǣɀƏǼɀȒ
ƏɀȵƺƏǸƺȸƏȇƳǝƏɀǕǣɮƺȇɯȒȸǸɀǝȒȵɀƏȇƳɀƺȅǣȇƏȸɀƏƫȒɖɎƏƬƏƳƺȅǣƬɯȸǣɎǣȇǕًƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ
ɀǸǣǼǼɀًȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣɮǣɎɵًƏȇƳǴȒƫɀƺƏȸƬǝǣȇǕِ
The simple strategies in this book are based on success stories from hundreds of students,
and will help you to make progress on your thesis more quickly, while reducing stress and
ˡȇƳǣȇǕɎǝƺȸǣǕǝɎƫƏǼƏȇƬƺƫƺɎɯƺƺȇɵȒɖȸɯȒȸǸƏȇƳȵƺȸɀȒȇƏǼǼǣǔƺِ
Dora is an excellent coach, with a style that is compassionate as

well as no-nonsense. She helped me set concrete goals that were
achievable and meaningful, and held me accountable, making
the last semester of my graduate school more productive and
less stressful.
— Jessamine Price
FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 2

Finish Your Thesis
CONTENTS
ÁǝƺɀǣɀáȸǣɎǣȇǕ(ȒƺɀzȒɎRƏɮƺɎȒ ƺ¨ƏǣȇǔɖǼ 4
Part I: How to Get More Done in Less Time 8
Part II:!ȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎƺɀɀƺȸɎǣɮƺǼɵɯǣɎǝçȒɖȸ
³ɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸ0ɮƺȇXǔRƺȒȸ³ǝƺXɀƏ(ǣǔˡƬɖǼɎ¨ƺȸɀȒȇ 13
Part III: ɮƺȸƬȒȅƺáȸǣɎƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀ ǼȒƬǸƏȇƳ

Finish Your Thesis and Manuscripts 18
Part IV: The 10 Most Common Mistakes in

JȸƏƳɖƏɎƺ³ƬǝȒȒǼƏȇƳRȒɯɎȒɮȒǣƳÁǝƺȅ 23
Part V: The One Thing That PhDs Would

Do Differently in Graduate School 30
How You Can Get More Training 36

Kickstart Your Thesis Program 36
Finish Your Thesis Program 37
Academic Writing Bootcamp 37
ƳɮƏȇƬƺƳÁǝƺɀǣɀáȸǣɎǣȇǕ¨ȸȒǕȸƏȅ 38

THESIS WRITING DOES NOT
Finish Your Thesis HAVE TO BE PAINFUL

HAVE TO BE PAINFUL
nƺɎ‫ټ‬ɀǔƏƬƺǣɎ٪ɯȸǣɎǣȇǕƏ¨ǝ(ɎǝƺɀǣɀǣɀƏǝɖǕƺɖȇƳƺȸɎƏǸǣȇǕِXȇǔƏƬɎًǣɎȅƏɵƫƺȒȇƺȒǔɎǝƺȅȒɀɎ
ƏȅƫǣɎǣȒɖɀȵȸȒǴƺƬɎɀɵȒɖ‫ټ‬ǼǼƺɮƺȸɎƏǸƺȒȇِ٢nƺɎ‫ټ‬ɀǝȒȵƺɀȒ٪ȸǣǕǝɎّ٣ ɖɎȇȒɯɎǝƏɎɵȒɖ‫ټ‬ɮƺȅƏƳƺ
ɎǝƺƬȒȅȅǣɎȅƺȇɎًɵȒɖǝƏɮƺƏȇǣȅȵȒȸɎƏȇɎȷɖƺɀɎǣȒȇɎȒƬȒȇɀǣƳƺȸ‫ي‬ǝȒɯȅɖƬǝƳȒɵȒɖɯƏȇɎɎȒ
ɀɖǔǔƺȸّçȒɖƬƏȇƏǕȒȇǣɿƺƏɎƺɮƺȸɵɀɎƺȵȒǔɎǝƺɯƏɵًȒȸɵȒɖƬƏȇȇƏɮǣǕƏɎƺɎǝƺɎɖȸƫɖǼƺȇɎɯƏɎƺȸɀ
wisely and strategically. Choosing the wise, strategic path will allow you to complete your
thesis with less stress, and ensure a greater sense of mastery, and quality attention to both
your academic commitments and the rest of your life. I wrote this e-book to help you do
ǴɖɀɎɎǝƏɎِ
Students who are working on their thesis typically face one or more predictable challenges.
RȒɯȅƏȇɵǣɎƺȅɀȒȇɎǝǣɀǼǣɀɎƏȵȵǼɵɎȒɵȒɖّ
• They watch their motivation slip away to the same degree that they feel over-
whelmed or disorganized.
• ÁǝƺǣȸƬȒȇˡƳƺȇƬƺɀɖǔǔƺȸɀƏȇƳɎǝƺɵƫƺƬȒȅƺǣȇƬȸƺƏɀǣȇǕǼɵǣɀȒǼƏɎƺƳƫƺƬƏɖɀƺɎǝƺɵƬȒȅ-
ȵƏȸƺɎǝƺȅɀƺǼɮƺɀɎȒǔƺǼǼȒɯɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀƏȇƳƏɀɀɖȅƺƺɮƺȸɵȒȇƺƫɖɎɎǝƺȅ‫ٹ‬ǝƏɀɯǝƏɎǣɎ
takes.”
• ÁǝƺɵǕƺɎɀȒǔƺƳɖȵɯǣɎǝɎǝƺƬȒȇˢǣƬɎɀƏȇƳǔȸɖɀɎȸƏɎǣȇǕƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȒȇɀɯǣɎǝɎǝƺǣȸɀɖ-
pervisor that they lose sight of their original vision and shift their sights to the path
of least resistance or fall into chronic avoidance.
• ÁǝƺɵɀɎƏȸƺƏɎɎǝƺǣȸƬȒȅȵɖɎƺȸɀƬȸƺƺȇǔȒȸɯƺƺǸɀƏɎƏɎǣȅƺɯǣɎǝȸǣɀǣȇǕȵƏȇǣƬًƫƏǔˢƺƳƏɎ
ǝȒɯɎǝƺɵ‫ټ‬ȸƺƺɮƺȸǕȒǣȇǕɎȒǕƺɎȵƏɀɎɯȸǣɎƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀƫǼȒƬǸِ
• They get increasingly discouraged as they watch their PhD program grow longer
and longer, and they wonder just how many years of their life they’ll have to sacri-
ˡƬƺɎȒɎǝǣɀɎȒȸɎɖȸȒɖɀȵȸȒƬƺɀɀِ
• ÁǝƺɵƫƺƬȒȅƺǣȇƬȸƺƏɀǣȇǕǼɵƳǣɀǝƺƏȸɎƺȇƺƳƏɀɎǝƺɵɀƺƺɎǝƺǣȸǼǣɮƺɀǕƺɎƺƏɎƺȇɖȵƫɵɎǝƺǣȸ
thesis while their health, relationships, and other priorities suffer.

X‫ټ‬ȅǝƺȸƺɎȒɎƺǼǼɵȒɖɎǝƏɎȇȒȇƺȒǔɎǝƺɀƺƬǝƏǼǼƺȇǕƺɀǣɀǣȇɀɖȸȅȒɖȇɎƏƫǼƺِIɖȸɎǝƺȸȅȒȸƺًɎǝƺ
ɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀɯǝȒƏȸƺɎǝƺȅȒɀɎɀɖƬƬƺɀɀǔɖǼǣȇǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀƬǝȒȒǼɖɀɖƏǼǼɵǝƏɮƺƫƏǼƏȇƬƺƳǼǣɮƺɀɎǝƏɎ
ǣȇƬǼɖƳƺƺɴƺȸƬǣɀƺًǝƺƏǼɎǝɵȇɖɎȸǣɎǣȒȇًǔɖȇǝȒƫƫǣƺɀًƏȇƳȷɖƏǼǣɎɵɎǣȅƺɯǣɎǝǼȒɮƺƳȒȇƺɀِÁǝƺɀƺɀɎɖ-
ƳƺȇɎɀƏȸƺȇȒȅȒȸƺǣȇɎƺǼǼǣǕƺȇɎɎǝƏȇɵȒɖ٪ɎǝƺɵǴɖɀɎǝƏɮƺƏɀɖƬƬƺɀɀ‫ٮ‬ȒȸǣƺȇɎƺƳȅǣȇƳɀƺɎًȒȸǕƏ-
ȇǣɿƺɎǝƺǣȸɎǣȅƺƺǔˡƬǣƺȇɎǼɵًƏȇƳƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎƺƏɀɀƺȸɎǣɮƺǼɵɯǣɎǝɎǝƺǣȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸɀِ
ÁǝƺɀƺƏȸƺǼƺƏȸȇƺƳɀǸǣǼǼɀɎǝƏɎƏȇɵȒȇƺƬƏȇȵǣƬǸɖȵƏȇƳƏȵȵǼɵǣȅȅƺƳǣƏɎƺǼɵِáǣɎǝǴɖɀɎƏǔƺɯȅǣ-
ȇȒȸƬǝƏȇǕƺɀɎȒɵȒɖȸɯȒȸǸǝƏƫǣɎɀًɵȒɖƬƏȇƏǼɀȒƫƺɎǝƺȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣɮƺƏȇƳȒɖɎɀɎƏȇƳǣȇǕȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝ-
er you dreamed of becoming when you entered graduate school. You can regain the con-
ˡƳƺȇƬƺƏȇƳȅȒɎǣɮƏɎǣȒȇɵȒɖȅƏɵǝƏɮƺǼȒɀɎȒɮƺȸɎǝƺɵƺƏȸɀƏɀƏȸƺɀɖǼɎȒǔȅɖǼɎǣȵǼƺƳƺƏƳ‫ٮ‬ƺȇƳ
ȵȸȒǴƺƬɎɀًɀƺǼǔ‫ٮ‬ƳȒɖƫɎًɯȸǣɎƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀƫǼȒƬǸًȒȸƬȒȇˢǣƬɎɀɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸِ
ȵȵȸȒɴǣȅƏɎƺǼɵ‫ۏ׎ד‬ȒǔƳȒƬɎȒȸƏǼɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀƳȸȒȵȒɖɎȒǔɎǝƺǣȸ¨ǝ(ȵȸȒǕȸƏȅًƏȇƳɎǝƺȅƏǴȒȸǣɎɵ
ȒǔɎǝȒɀƺɯǝȒɀɎƏɵɀɎȸɖǕǕǼƺɖȇȇƺƬƺɀɀƏȸǣǼɵǔȒȸɵƺƏȸɀƫƺƬƏɖɀƺɎǝƺɵǝƏɮƺȇȒɎƫƺƺȇɎƏɖǕǝɎɎǝƺ
ƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȒȇًȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣɮǣɎɵًƏȇƳɯȸǣɎǣȇǕɀǸǣǼǼɀɎǝƏɎƏȸƺȇƺƬƺɀɀƏȸɵǣȇȒȸƳƺȸɎȒƬȒȅȵǼƺɎƺƏ
ǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺ‫ٮ‬ǼƺɮƺǼɎǝƺɀǣɀِ
XɯƏɀȒȇƺȒǔɎǝȒɀƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀًƏȇƳXɯȒȸǸƺƳǔȒȸ‫א׏‬٫‫ד׏‬ǝȒɖȸɀƏƳƏɵǔȒȸɵƺƏȸɀɯǣɎǝȒɖɎȅƺƏɀɖȸƏƫǼƺ
ȵȸȒǕȸƺɀɀِxɵƫȒƳɵɯƏɀɖȇƳƺȸɀȒȅɖƬǝɀɎȸƺɀɀɎǝƏɎXƳƺɮƺǼȒȵƺƳƏƬǝȸȒȇǣƬǣȇˢƏȅȅƏɎȒȸɵƬȒȇ-
ƳǣɎǣȒȇǣȇƫȒɎǝȒǔȅɵƏȸȅɀƫɵȅɵ‫ד‬ɎǝɵƺƏȸِ
xɵƬȒȇƳǣɎǣȒȇƫƺƬƏȅƺɀȒɀƺɮƺȸƺƫɵȅɵ‫ה‬ɎǝɵƺƏȸɎǝƏɎƺɮƺȇɯǣɎǝǝǣǕǝƳȒɀƺɀȒǔȵȸƺɀƬȸǣȵ-
ɎǣȒȇ‫ٮ‬ɀɎȸƺȇǕɎǝȵƏǣȇȸƺǼǣƺɮƺȸɀًXƬȒɖǼƳȒȇǼɵɎɵȵƺǔȒȸ‫ד׏‬ȅǣȇɖɎƺɀƏɎƏɀɎȸƺɎƬǝƫƺǔȒȸƺXǝƏƳɎȒɎƏǸƺƏ
ƫȸƺƏǸِɀƏƬȒȇɀƺȷɖƺȇƬƺًȅɵɎǣȅƺƏɎɎǝƺƬȒȅȵɖɎƺȸ٢ƏȇƳɎǝƺǼƏƫƫƺȇƬǝ٣ƫƺƬƏȅƺɮƺȸɵǼǣȅǣɎƺƳِ
XȇȒȸƳƺȸɎȒȅƏǸƺȵȸȒǕȸƺɀɀًXǝƏƳɎȒȅƏȇƏǕƺȅɵɎǣȅƺǣȇɎǝƺǼƏƫƏȇƳƏɎɎǝƺƬȒȅȵɖɎƺȸɮƺȸɵ
ƳƺǼǣƫƺȸƏɎƺǼɵƏȇƳȵȸǣȒȸǣɎǣɿƺɎǝƺȅȒɀɎǣȅȵȒȸɎƏȇɎƺɴȵƺȸǣȅƺȇɎɀًƳƏɎƏƏȇƏǼɵɀǣɀًȒȸɯȸǣɎǣȇǕƺƏƬǝ
ƳƏɵِXȸȒȇǣƬƏǼǼɵًXƳƺɮƺǼȒȵƺƳȅȒȸƺƺǔǔƺƬɎǣɮƺɯȒȸǸǝƏƫǣɎɀƏȇƳƫƺƬƏȅƺȅȒȸƺȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣɮƺɎǝƏȇX
ǝƏƳƫƺƺȇƫƺǔȒȸƺƳƺɮƺǼȒȵǣȇǕɎǝǣɀƬȒȇƳǣɎǣȒȇِXȇǔƏƬɎًXˡȇǣɀǝƺƳȅɵɎǝƺɀǣɀƫɵɎǝƺƺȇƳȒǔȅɵ‫ה‬Ɏǝ
ɵƺƏȸ٢ƏɎɎǝƺɀƏȅƺɎǣȅƺƏɀȅȒɀɎȒǔȅɵƬǼƏɀɀȅƏɎƺɀ٣ƏȇƳȵɖƫǼǣɀǝƺƳ‫ב‬ˡȸɀɎ‫ٮ‬ƏɖɎǝȒȸȵɖƫǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇɀِ
ÁǝƏȇǸǔɖǼǼɵًXɯƏɀƏƫǼƺɎȒƬȒȅȵǼƺɎƺǼɵȸƺƬȒɮƺȸǔȸȒȅɎǝǣɀƬȒȇƳǣɎǣȒȇɯǣɎǝǣȇƏɵƺƏȸƏǔɎƺȸǕȸƏƳɖƏ-
ɎǣȒȇɎǝȸȒɖǕǝƏƬȒȅƫǣȇƏɎǣȒȇȒǔáƺɀɎƺȸȇȅƺƳǣƬǣȇƺƏȇƳƏǼɎƺȸȇƏɎǣɮƺɎǝƺȸƏȵǣƺɀِ

While I was feeling frustrated and hopeless during my last 2 years of graduate school as I
battled my medical condition, I did not talk to my peers about it. I assumed that the other
ɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀ‫ٹ‬ǝƏƳǣɎɎȒǕƺɎǝƺȸ‫ٺ‬ƏȇƳɎǝƏɎXɯƏɀɎǝƺȒȇǼɵȒȇƺɯǝȒɯƏɀƏȇɴǣȒɖɀƏȇƳɀɎȸƺɀɀƺƳِXɯƏɀ
ƺȅƫƏȸȸƏɀɀƺƳɎȒɎƺǼǼȅɵǔȸǣƺȇƳɀ٢ȒȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸ٣ǝȒɯȅɖƬǝXɀɎȸɖǕǕǼƺƳƫƺƬƏɖɀƺXɯƏɀƏǔȸƏǣƳ
that they would think I was not smart enough to get a PhD.
XɎɯƏɀȒȇǼɵƳɖȸǣȇǕȅɵȵȒɀɎƳȒƬɎȒȸƏǼǔƺǼǼȒɯɀǝǣȵɎǝƏɎXȸƺƏǼǣɿƺƳɎǝƏɎȅȒɀɎǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀ
ǔƺǼɎɎǝƺɀƏȅƺɯƏɵXǝƏƳǴɖɀɎƏǔƺɯɵƺƏȸɀƺƏȸǼǣƺȸِ ɵɎǝƺǣȸ‫ב‬ȸƳȒȸ‫ג‬ɎǝɵƺƏȸًȅƏȇɵɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀɯƺȸƺ
ƫɖȸȇƺƳȒɖɎǔȸȒȅɯȒȸǸǣȇǕǼȒȇǕǝȒɖȸɀƏȇƳɯȒȇƳƺȸƺƳɯǝƺɎǝƺȸɎǝƺɵɯȒɖǼƳƺɮƺȸǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺ٪
and they, too, were embarrassed to talk about it!
ɎɎǝƏɎȵȒǣȇɎًXƫƺǕƏȇɎȒǣȇǔȒȸȅƏǼǼɵƬȒƏƬǝɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀɎȒǝƺǼȵɎǝƺȅˡȇǣɀǝɎǝƺǣȸɎǝƺɀǣɀɖɀǣȇǕɎǝƺ
Ɏǣȅƺ‫ٮ‬ȅƏȇƏǕƺȅƺȇɎɀǸǣǼǼɀXǝƏƳƳƺɮƺǼȒȵƺƳƳɖȸǣȇǕȅɵǼƏɀɎɵƺƏȸȒǔǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀƬǝȒȒǼِXƬȒƏƬǝƺƳ
students in my department as well as friends in other schools. Surprisingly, students in
ƳǣǔǔƺȸƺȇɎˡƺǼƳɀɀɎȸɖǕǕǼƺƳɯǣɎǝɎǝƺɀƏȅƺɎɵȵƺɀȒǔǣɀɀɖƺɀ‫ي‬ǼƏƬǸȒǔȅȒɎǣɮƏɎǣȒȇًƳǣǔˡƬɖǼɎɀɖȵƺȸɮǣ-
ɀȒȸɀًƏȇƳɎǝƺɯȸǣɎǣȇǕȵȸȒƬƺɀɀɎƏǸǣȇǕɯƏɵǼȒȇǕƺȸɎǝƏȇɎǝƺɵǝƏƳƺɴȵƺƬɎƺƳِ
I knew that with personal coaching I could only help a limited number of people, so I
ǼƏɖȇƬǝƺƳȅɵɯƺƫɀǣɎƺǣȇ‫ז׎׎א‬ƏȇƳƫƺǕƏȇȵɖƫǼǣɀǝǣȇǕƺ‫ٮ‬ȇƺɯɀǼƺɎɎƺȸɀɯǣɎǝȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣɮǣɎɵɎǣȵɀǔȒȸ
ǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀِXɀȒȒȇɀɎƏȸɎƺƳȸƺƬƺǣɮǣȇǕȸƺȷɖƺɀɎɀǔȸȒȅɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀƏȸȒɖȇƳɎǝƺɯȒȸǼƳɯǝȒ
ɯƺȸƺǼȒȒǸǣȇǕǔȒȸȅȒȸƺǝƺǼȵɎȒˡȇǣɀǝɎǝƺǣȸɎǝƺɀǣɀِ
Xȇ‫ً׎׏׎א‬XƫƺǕƏȇƏǴȒƫǣȇɎǝƺȵǝƏȸȅƏƬƺɖɎǣƬƏǼǣȇƳɖɀɎȸɵƏȇƳƬȒȇɎǣȇɖƺƳɎȒȵɖƫǼǣɀǝƏȸɎǣƬǼƺɀƏȇƳ
coach graduate students on the side. I also completed a life coach training program so I
could help my clients complete their thesis while taking care of their health and personal
relationships.
ɵ‫ًג׏׎א‬XǝƏƳƬȒƏƬǝƺƳȒɮƺȸ‫׎׎א‬ɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀǣȇ‫׎ב‬ƳǣǔǔƺȸƺȇɎˡƺǼƳɀًƏȇƳXƳƺƬǣƳƺƳɎȒƬȒȅȵǣǼƺƏǼǼ
the strategies I had taught into an online course called the ‫ٹ‬IǣȇǣɀǝçȒɖȸÁǝƺɀǣɀ¨ȸȒǕȸƏȅِ‫ ٺ‬I
ǼƏɖȇƬǝƺƳɎǝƺȵȸȒǕȸƏȅǣȇhƏȇɖƏȸɵ‫ِד׏׎א‬³ɎɖƳƺȇɎɀǔȸȒȅ‫׎׏‬ƳǣǔǔƺȸƺȇɎƬȒɖȇɎȸǣƺɀƏȇƳƏǼǼ‫ה‬ȵȒȵɖ-
lated continents enrolled in the course.
ÁǝǣɀȸƺȵȒȸɎǣȇƬǼɖƳƺɀȅɵǔƏɮȒȸǣɎƺȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣɮǣɎɵɎǣȵɀǔȸȒȅȅɵȵȸǣɮƏɎƺƬȒƏƬǝǣȇǕȵȸƏƬɎǣƬƺƏȇƳȅɵ

‫ٹ‬IǣȇǣɀǝçȒɖȸÁǝƺɀǣɀ¨ȸȒǕȸƏȅ‫ٺ‬ɎǝƏɎɯǣǼǼǝƺǼȵɵȒɖɀǝǣǔɎǔȸȒȅǔƺƺǼǣȇǕȒɮƺȸɯǝƺǼȅƺƳƏȇƳǔȸɖɀ-
ɎȸƏɎƺƳɎȒǔƺƺǼǣȇǕȒȸǕƏȇǣɿƺƳƏȇƳȅȒɎǣɮƏɎƺƳǣȇǴɖɀɎƏǔƺɯɯƺƺǸɀِxȒɀɎǣȅȵȒȸɎƏȇɎǼɵًɵȒɖɯǣǼǼ
ǕƏǣȇƬǼƏȸǣɎɵȒȇɯǝƏɎɵȒɖȇƺƺƳɎȒƳȒɎȒˡȇǣɀǝɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀِ
ȸƺɵȒɖȸƺƏƳɵّnƺɎ‫ټ‬ɀɀɎƏȸɎɯǣɎǝɎǝƺȅȒɀɎƺɴƬǣɎǣȇǕȵƏȸɎ‫ي‬how to get more done in less time.

PART I
Finish Your Thesis HOW TO GET MORE DONE IN LESS TIME
PART I
HOW TO GET MORE DONE
IN LESS TIME
XǔXƬȒɖǼƳȇƏȅƺ‫׏‬ɎȸƏǣɎɎǝƏɎɀƺɎɀȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣɮƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀƏȵƏȸɎǔȸȒȅɖȇȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣɮƺȒȇƺɀًǣɎɯȒɖǼƳ
ƫƺɎǝǣɀ‫ي‬ǔƺƺǼǣȇǕƏɀɎǝȒɖǕǝɎǝƺɵƏȸƺǣȇƬȒȇɎȸȒǼȒǔɎǝƺǣȸɎǝƺɀǣɀƏȇƳɎǝƺǣȸǔɖɎɖȸƺِXǔɵȒɖǔƺƺǼƏɀ
though your thesis is going nowhere, or going somewhere but you are not sure where, of
ƬȒɖȸɀƺɵȒɖǔƺƺǼǔȸɖɀɎȸƏɎƺƳِ³ɎɖƳƺȇɎɀǣȇƬȒȇɎȸȒǼȒǔɎǝƺǣȸɎǝƺɀƺɀƏȸƺƏǼɀȒƏƬɎǣɮƺǼɵȵɖȸɀɖǣȇǕƬƏ-
ȸƺƺȸȵƏɎǝɀɎȒǼƺƏȸȇǝȒɯɎǝƺǣȸǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺƳƺǕȸƺƺɯǣǼǼɀɖȵȵȒȸɎɎǝƺǣȸƬƏȸƺƺȸƳƺɮƺǼȒȵȅƺȇɎِXȇȒȸ-
ƳƺȸɎȒƬȸƺƏɎƺƏǔƺƺǼǣȇǕȒǔƬȒȇɎȸȒǼȒɮƺȸɵȒɖȸȵȸȒǴƺƬɎƏȇƳɵȒɖȸǔɖɎɖȸƺًɵȒɖȇƺƺƳɎȒƬȒȇɎǣȇɖƏǼǼɵ
ȸƺ‫ٮ‬ƺɮƏǼɖƏɎƺɵȒɖȸȵȸȒǕȸƺɀɀƏȇƳƺȇɀɖȸƺɎǝƏɎɵȒɖȸƏƬɎǣȒȇɀƏȸƺǝƺǼȵǣȇǕɵȒɖȸƺƏƬǝɵȒɖȸǕȒƏǼɀِ
X‫ټ‬ǼǼƫƺǝȒȇƺɀɎɯǣɎǝɵȒɖ‫ي‬XɯƏɀƏȇƺƏǕƺȸ‫ٮ‬ƫƺƏɮƺȸ‫׏‬ɀɎ‫ٮ‬ɵƺƏȸǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎِJȒǣȇǕɀɎȸƏǣǕǝɎǔȸȒȅ
ƬȒǼǼƺǕƺɎȒƏ¨ǝ(ȵȸȒǕȸƏȅًXɎǝȒɖǕǝɎXɯƏɀȅƏɴǣȅƏǼǼɵȵȸƺȵƏȸƺƳɎȒɎƏǸƺȒȇɎǝƺƬǝƏǼǼƺȇǕƺɀ
of graduate school. As soon as I started my doctoral program, I was ready to put the same
ɀɎȸƏɎƺǕǣƺɀɎȒɯȒȸǸɎǝƏɎǝƺǼȵƺƳȅƺɀɎȸǣɮƺƏɀƏȇɖȇƳƺȸǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺ‫ي‬
• Working long hours

• xƏǸǣȇǕɀɖȸƺƺɮƺȸɵƏɀɀǣǕȇȅƺȇɎɯƏɀȵƺȸǔƺƬɎƫƺǔȒȸƺɎɖȸȇǣȇǕǣɎǣȇ
• Cranking through my to-do list every day
• Trying to do everything on my own to demonstrate to my professors that I was in-
dependent
XɎƳǣƳȇȒɎɎƏǸƺǼȒȇǕƫƺǔȒȸƺXȸƺƏǼǣɿƺƳɎǝƏɎȅɵƏȵȵȸȒƏƬǝɎȒǕƺɎɎǣȇǕɎǝȸȒɖǕǝǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀƬǝȒȒǼ
ɯƏɀɯƺƏȸǣȇǕȅƺƳȒɯȇًƏȇƳXǔƺǼɎȒɮƺȸɯǝƺǼȅƺƳƫɵɎǝƺȸƺɀȵȒȇɀǣƫǣǼǣɎǣƺɀȒǔȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝɯǝǣǼƺɎȸɵ-
ǣȇǕɎȒƬȒȅȵǼƺɎƺȅɵƬȒɖȸɀƺɯȒȸǸِXƏǼɀȒȸƺƏǼǣɿƺƳɎǝƏɎXɯƏɀȇȒɎƏǼȒȇƺِzȒɎȒȇǼɵɯƺȸƺɀȒȅƺȒǔ
my classmates burned out by the end of our 1st year, but some of them decided to drop out
of the program because of the strain that the long work hours put on their health or per-
sonal relationships.

PART I
XȇɎǝǣɀɀƺƬɎǣȒȇًXɯǣǼǼɀǝƏȸƺ‫ד‬ɀǣȅȵǼƺɀɎȸƏɎƺǕǣƺɀɎǝƏɎɯǣǼǼǝƺǼȵɵȒɖƫƺȅȒȸƺȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣɮƺƏɎɯȒȸǸ
ɀȒɵȒɖƬƏȇƫƺȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣɮƺɯǣɎǝȒɖɎǝƏɮǣȇǕɎȒȵɖɎǣȇȅȒȸƺǝȒɖȸɀِ
Shift Your Attitude from

TIP #1 Reactive to Proactive
xȒɀɎǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀ‫ٹ‬ȸƺƏƬɎ‫ٺ‬ɎȒɎǝƺƳƺȅƏȇƳɀȒǔɎǝƺǣȸƺȇɮǣȸȒȇȅƺȇɎِÁǝƺɵƬȒȇɀƬǣƺȇɎǣȒɖɀǼɵ
ȸƺȵǼɵɎȒƏǼǼɎǝƺǣȸƺȅƏǣǼɀًǔȒǼǼȒɯɯǝƏɎɎǝƺǣȸɎǝƺɀǣɀƬȒȅȅǣɎɎƺƺȒȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸɀɎƺǼǼɎǝƺȅɎȒƳȒًƏȇƳ
ȸƺƏƬɎɎȒɀǣɎɖƏɎǣȒȇɀƏɀɎǝƺɵƬȒȅƺƏǼȒȇǕِ³ȒȅƺɎǣȅƺɀɯƺƺǸɀȒȸƺɮƺȇȅȒȇɎǝɀƬƏȇǕȒƫɵɯǣɎǝȒɖɎ
meaningful progress.
³ɖƬƬƺɀɀǔɖǼǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀɖɀƺƏȵȸȒƏƬɎǣɮƺƏȵȵȸȒƏƬǝًɯǝƺɎǝƺȸȒȸȇȒɎɎǝƺɵȸƺƏǼǣɿƺǣɎِÁǝƺɵ
ɎƏǸƺƏȇƏƬɎǣɮƺȵƏȸɎǣȇƳƺƬǣƳǣȇǕɎǝƺɎȒȵǣƬȒǔɎǝƺǣȸƳǣɀɀƺȸɎƏɎǣȒȇًɎǝƺȅƺɎǝȒƳɀɖɀƺƳǣȇɎǝƺȸƺ-
ɀƺƏȸƬǝًƏȇƳ٢ȅȒɀɎǣȅȵȒȸɎƏȇɎǼɵ٣ɎǝƺǣȸƳƏǣǼɵɀƬǝƺƳɖǼƺِXȇɀɎƺƏƳȒǔƫƺǕǣȇȇǣȇǕɎǝƺǣȸƳƏɵƫɵȸƺƏƬɎ-
ǣȇǕɎȒɎǝƺƏɮƏǼƏȇƬǝƺȒǔƺȅƏǣǼɀًɎǝƺɵǸȇȒɯɯǝƏɎɎǝƺɵɯƏȇɎɎȒƏƬƬȒȅȵǼǣɀǝɎǝƏɎƳƏɵِ
¨ȸȒƏƬɎǣɮƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀƺȇƬȒɖȇɎƺȸȒƫɀɎƏƬǼƺɀǴɖɀɎǼǣǸƺƏǼǼȒɎǝƺȸɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀًƏȇƳȅƏȇɵȒǔɎǝƺȅǝƏɮƺ
ȒɎǝƺȸȸƺɀȵȒȇɀǣƫǣǼǣɎǣƺɀȒɖɎɀǣƳƺǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀƬǝȒȒǼًɀɖƬǝƏɀǴȒƫɀȒȸȵƏȸƺȇɎǣȇǕِRȒɯƺɮƺȸًƫɵɎƏǸǣȇǕ
ƏȵȸȒƏƬɎǣɮƺƏȵȵȸȒƏƬǝًɎǝƺɵƏȸƺƏƫǼƺɎȒȸƺƳɖƬƺƳǣɀɎȸƏƬɎǣȒȇɀƏȇƳǣȇɮƺɀɎɎǝƺǣȸɎǣȅƺƏȇƳƺȇƺȸǕɵ
ǣȇɎȒȅƏǸǣȇǕȵȸȒǕȸƺɀɀȒȇɎǝƺǣȸɎǝƺɀǣɀِ³ǝǣǔɎǣȇǕɎȒƏȵȸȒƏƬɎǣɮƺȅǣȇƳɀƺɎƬƏȇɀƏɮƺɵȒɖȅȒȇɎǝɀًȒȸ
ƺɮƺȇɵƺƏȸɀًǣȇǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀƬǝȒȒǼِ
Bottom line: When you adopt a proactive lifestyle, you will be able
ɎȒɎƏǸƺƬȒȇɎȸȒǼȒǔɎǝƺƳǣȸƺƬɎǣȒȇȒǔɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀƏȇƳ˾ȇǣɀǝǣɎǔƏɀɎƺȸ٫
Develop a Long-Term Plan

TIP #2 with Short-Term Milestones
ÁǝƺƏƳɮƏȇɎƏǕƺȒǔɀƺɎɎǣȇǕɖȵƏǼȒȇǕ‫ٮ‬Ɏƺȸȅ٢‫ٮ׏‬ɵƺƏȸ٣ȵǼƏȇɯǣɎǝɀǝȒȸɎ‫ٮ‬Ɏƺȸȅ٢ȅȒȇɎǝǼɵȒȸɯƺƺǸǼɵ٣
ȅǣǼƺɀɎȒȇƺɀǣɀɎǝƏɎǣɎǝƺǼȵɀɵȒɖƫȸƺƏǸƳȒɯȇƏǼƏȸǕƺȵȸȒǴƺƬɎǣȇɎȒȅƏȇƏǕƺƏƫǼƺɀɎƏǕƺɀِçȒɖƬƏȇƏǼɀȒ

PART I
ɖɀƺɎǝǣɀȵǼƏȇɎȒȅƏǸƺɀɖȸƺɵȒɖƏȇƳɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸƏȸƺǣȇƏǕȸƺƺȅƺȇɎƏƫȒɖɎɎǝƺȸƺȷɖǣȸƺȅƺȇɎɀ
ǔȒȸɵȒɖȸǕȸƏƳɖƏɎǣȒȇƏȇƳɯǝƏɎɵȒɖȇƺƺƳɎȒƏƬǝǣƺɮƺƫɵƺƏƬǝȒǔɵȒɖȸƬȒȅȅǣɎɎƺƺȅƺƺɎǣȇǕɀِ
Your 1-year plan is not set in stone, because research is unpredictable and you will need to
ȅƏǸƺƏƳǴɖɀɎȅƺȇɎɀƏɀɵȒɖǕƺɎȸƺɀɖǼɎɀِ³ɎɖƳƺȇɎɀˡȇƳɎǝƏɎƏȅȒȇɎǝǼɵƺɮƏǼɖƏɎǣȒȇȒǔɎǝƺǣȸȵǼƏȇ
helps them determine what worked and where they need to modify it to make progress.
áǝǣǼƺɵȒɖȅǣǕǝɎȇȒɎȸƺƏƬǝɵȒɖȸǕȒƏǼɀȒȇɎǣȅƺƺɮƺȸɵȅȒȇɎǝًǣǔɵȒɖƺɮƏǼɖƏɎƺɵȒɖȸȵȸȒǕȸƺɀɀ
regularly, you will be on the right track.
Bottom line: When you break down long-term plans into short-term
(monthly or weekly) milestones, you will know what you need to do
this week or even today to meet a deadline that is 6–12 months in
the future.
Block Time for Everything:

TIP #3 TIP #3 Your Calendar Is Your Best Friend
RƏɮƺɵȒɖƺɮƺȸȵǼƏȇȇƺƳɎȒƳȒɀȒȅƺɎǝǣȇǕ‫ٹ‬ɀȒȅƺƳƏɵً‫ٺ‬ƫɖɎɀȒȅƺǝȒɯɵȒɖȇƺɮƺȸǕȒɎƏȸȒɖȇƳɎȒ
ǣɎّ0ɴƺȸƬǣɀƺǣɀƏǕȸƺƏɎƺɴƏȅȵǼƺ‫ي‬ɖȇǼƺɀɀɵȒɖɀƬǝƺƳɖǼƺɎǝƺɎǣȅƺȵȸȒƏƬɎǣɮƺǼɵ٢ƺǣɎǝƺȸ‫׏‬ɀɎɎǝǣȇǕǣȇ
ɎǝƺȅȒȸȇǣȇǕȒȸƏɎƏɀƺɎɎǣȅƺƳɖȸǣȇǕɎǝƺƳƏɵ٣ًɵȒɖɯǣǼǼȵȸȒƫƏƫǼɵˡǼǼɎǝƺɎǣȅƺɯǣɎǝɀȒȅƺɎǝǣȇǕ
ƺǼɀƺِÁǝƺƬȒȅȅȒȇɀƏɵǣȇǕ‫ٹ‬XǔǣɎ‫ټ‬ɀȇȒɎɀƬǝƺƳɖǼƺƳًǣɎ‫ټ‬ɀȇȒɎȸƺƏǼ‫ٺ‬ǣɀǴɖɀɎƏɀɎȸɖƺǔȒȸȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝƏȇƳ
ɎǝƺɀǣɀɯȸǣɎǣȇǕƏɀǣɎǣɀǔȒȸƺɴƺȸƬǣɀƺِ
zȒɯɎǝƏɎɵȒɖǝƏɮƺƳƺˡȇƺƳɵȒɖȸɀǝȒȸɎ‫ٮ‬ɎƺȸȅȅǣǼƺɀɎȒȇƺɀًƳƺɎƺȸȅǣȇƺɎǝƺƳƏɵ‫ٮ‬ɎȒ‫ٮ‬ƳƏɵƏƬɎǣȒȇɀ
ɎǝƏɎɯǣǼǼǝƺǼȵɵȒɖƏƬǝǣƺɮƺɵȒɖȸǕȒƏǼɀ٢ɀƺƺÁǣȵُ‫ד‬٣ِXǔɵȒɖȇƺƺƳɎȒɀɎɖƳɵɎȒȵƏɀɀɵȒɖȸȷɖƏǼǣˡƺȸɀً
ȸƺƏƳƏƬƺȸɎƏǣȇȇɖȅƫƺȸȒǔǴȒɖȸȇƏǼƏȸɎǣƬǼƺɀًȒȸȅƺƺɎɯǣɎǝƏƬȒǼǼƏƫȒȸƏɎȒȸɎȒȵǼƏȇƏȇƺɴȵƺȸǣȅƺȇɎً
ƫǼȒƬǸȒɖɎɀȵƺƬǣˡƬɎǣȅƺɀǣȇɵȒɖȸƬƏǼƺȇƳƏȸɎȒƳȒƏǼǼȒǔɎǝȒɀƺɎǝǣȇǕɀِ
áǝǣǼƺɵȒɖƬƏȇȇȒɎȵǼƏȇȒɖɎƺɮƺȸɵɎǝǣȇǕȅȒȇɎǝɀǣȇƏƳɮƏȇƬƺًɵȒɖƬƏȇƫǼȒƬǸȒɖɎɀȵƺƬǣˡƬɎǣȅƺɀ
ǔȒȸɎǝƺƏƬɎǣȒȇɀɵȒɖɯƏȇɎɎȒɎƏǸƺɯǣɎǝǣȇɎǝƺȇƺɴɎɯƺƺǸِáǝƺȇɵȒɖƫǼȒƬǸȒɖɎɎǣȅƺǔȒȸȸƺƏƳǣȇǕً

PART I
ɯȸǣɎǣȇǕًȒȸƬȒǼǼƺƬɎǣȇǕȒȸƏȇƏǼɵɿǣȇǕƳƏɎƏًǣɎɯǣǼǼƫƺƺƏɀǣƺȸɎȒȵǼƏȇɎǣȅƺǔȒȸƺɴƺȸƬǣɀƺƏȇƳƳƺɎƺȸ-
ȅǣȇƺǝȒɯȅɖƬǝɎǣȅƺɵȒɖǝƏɮƺǔȒȸɀȒƬǣƏǼƺɮƺȇɎɀِ
Bottom line: When you block out time in your calendar for work,
family commitments, and exercise, you will be able to manage your
ɎǣȅƺȅȒȸƺƺǔ˾ƬǣƺȇɎǼɵƏȇƳȅƏǸƺȅȒȸƺȵȸȒǕȸƺɀɀ٫
Focus on Desired Results,

TIP #4 Not Your To-Do List
XǔɵȒɖƏǼɯƏɵɀɀɎȸǣɮƺɎȒƬȸȒɀɀƺɮƺȸɵɎǝǣȇǕȒǔǔɵȒɖȸɎȒ‫ٮ‬ƳȒǼǣɀɎًɵȒɖƏȸƺȵȸȒƫƏƫǼɵǔƺƺǼǣȇǕȒɮƺȸ-
ɯǝƺǼȅƺƳِáǝƺȇɵȒɖƏȸƺɎȸɵǣȇǕɎȒȵǼƺƏɀƺƺɮƺȸɵȒȇƺًɵȒɖɯǣǼǼƺȇƳɖȵǔȸɖɀɎȸƏɎƺƳًȇȒɎǕƺɎƺɮƺȸɵ-
ɎǝǣȇǕ٢ȒȸƏȇɵɎǝǣȇǕ٣ƳȒȇƺًƏȇƳȇȒɎƫƺƏƫǼƺɎȒɀǝȒɯɖȵǔȒȸɎǝƺȅȒɀɎǣȅȵȒȸɎƏȇɎȵƺȒȵǼƺǣȇɵȒɖȸǼǣǔƺِ
JǣɮƺɵȒɖȸɀƺǼǔƏǼǣɎɎǼƺȸȒȒȅɎȒƫȸƺƏɎǝƺِnƺɎǕȒȒǔɀȒȅƺȒǔɎǝƺȇȒȇƺɀɀƺȇɎǣƏǼȵȸȒǴƺƬɎɀɎǝƏɎǝƏɮƺ
ƫƺƺȇɯƺǣǕǝǣȇǕɵȒɖƳȒɯȇِXǔƏǕȒƏǼǣɀȇȒɎɀɖȵȵȒȸɎǣȇǕɵȒɖȸǝƺƏǼɎǝًɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀًȒȸɵȒɖȸǼȒɮƺƳ
ȒȇƺɀًɵȒɖƏȸƺƳȒǣȇǕɵȒɖȸɀƺǼǔƏȇƳɎǝƺɯȒȸǼƳƏƫǣǕƳǣɀɀƺȸɮǣƬƺƫɵǣȇɮƺɀɎǣȇǕɎǣȅƺǣȇǣɎِ
Your 1-year plan is not set in stone, because research is unpredictable and you will need to
ȅƏǸƺƏƳǴɖɀɎȅƺȇɎɀƏɀɵȒɖǕƺɎȸƺɀɖǼɎɀِ³ɎɖƳƺȇɎɀˡȇƳɎǝƏɎƏȅȒȇɎǝǼɵƺɮƏǼɖƏɎǣȒȇȒǔɎǝƺǣȸȵǼƏȇ
helps them determine what worked and where they need to modify it to make progress.
áǝǣǼƺɵȒɖȅǣǕǝɎȇȒɎȸƺƏƬǝɵȒɖȸǕȒƏǼɀȒȇɎǣȅƺƺɮƺȸɵȅȒȇɎǝًǣǔɵȒɖƺɮƏǼɖƏɎƺɵȒɖȸȵȸȒǕȸƺɀɀ
regularly, you will be on the right track.
Bottom line: When you shift your thinking from “What do I have to
do?” to “What do I want to accomplish?” You will be able to prioritize
ɵȒɖȸƏƬɎǣȒȇɀƏȇƳƳȒɯǝƏɎǣɀȅȒɀɎǣȅȵȒȸɎƏȇɎɎȒ˾ȇǣɀǝɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀ٫

PART I
'ăƱŅăÉŎƀŬ§ŎŨ˚ŬĤŎŬĤŹĤăŰėŎŬ1ØõĠ'Øƛ
TIP #5 and Start with the Most Important One
«ƺȅƺȅƫƺȸÁǣȵُ‫ي׏‬³ǝǣǔɎǔȸȒȅ«ƺƏƬɎǣɮƺɎȒ¨ȸȒƏƬɎǣɮƺّXǔɵȒɖƬȒȅƺɎȒɯȒȸǸɯǣɎǝȒɖɎǝƏɮǣȇǕƏ
plan for the day, you will spend your time reacting to the demands of others and putting out
ˡȸƺɀƏǼǼƳƏɵِ
ȅȒȸƺȵȸȒƏƬɎǣɮƺƏȵȵȸȒƏƬǝǣɀɎȒƳƺˡȇƺɵȒɖȸɎȒȵ‫ב‬ȵȸǣȒȸǣɎǣƺɀɎǝƺƳƏɵƫƺǔȒȸƺɀȒɵȒɖƬȒȅƺɎȒ
work mentally prepared for what you want to accomplish that day. Be realistic when you de-
ˡȇƺɵȒɖȸȵȸǣȒȸǣɎǣƺɀِɀȅȒɀɎǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀƏȸƺȒɮƺȸƏƬǝǣƺɮƺȸɀًɎǝƺɵɎƺȇƳɎȒȒɮƺȸƺɀɎǣȅƏɎƺ
ɯǝƏɎɎǝƺɵƬƏȇƏƬƬȒȅȵǼǣɀǝًɯǝǣƬǝƬƏȇǼƺƏƳɎȒȒɮƺȸɯǝƺǼȅƏȇƳȵȸȒƬȸƏɀɎǣȇƏɎǣȒȇ٪ǴɖɀɎɎǝƺȒȵ-
posite of what they wanted to accomplish.
After you choose your top 3 priorities, pick the highest priority and schedule it for as early in
the day as possible. Ask yourself, “If I could only accomplish one thing tomorrow, which one
ɯȒɖǼƳǝƺǼȵȅƺȅƏǸƺɎǝƺȅȒɀɎȵȸȒǕȸƺɀɀّ‫ٺ‬XɎǣɀƺɀɀƺȇɎǣƏǼɎȒƳƺɎƺȸȅǣȇƺɵȒɖȸُ‫׏‬ȵȸǣȒȸǣɎɵƺƏƬǝ
ƳƏɵƫƺƬƏɖɀƺɖȇƺɴȵƺƬɎƺƳƺɮƺȇɎɀًǣȇɎƺȸȸɖȵɎǣȒȇɀًȒȸǔƏɎǣǕɖƺƬƏȇǣȇɎƺȸǔƺȸƺɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸƏƫǣǼǣɎɵɎȒ
complete all your priorities.
Bottom line: When you narrow down your goals to the top 3 priorities
for the day, you are more likely to meet your milestones, and you will
save time by eliminating the to-do’s that are not relevant to your thesis.

PART II
Finish Your Thesis COMMUNICATE ASSERTIVELY WITH YOUR
SUPERVISOR EVEN IF HE OR SHE IS A DIFFICULT PERSON
PART II
COMMUNICATE ASSERTIVELY
WITH YOUR SUPERVISOR
EVEN IF HE OR SHE IS A
DIFFICULT PERSON
(ȒɵȒɖƺɮƺȸƏɮȒǣƳɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸƫƺƬƏɖɀƺȒǔȵȸƺɮǣȒɖɀƬȒȇˢǣƬɎɀّáǝǣǼƺƬȒȇˢǣƬɎɀƏȸƺɖȇ-
ȵǼƺƏɀƏȇɎًƏɮȒǣƳǣȇǕƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȒȇɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸɯǣǼǼȇȒɎȸƺɀȒǼɮƺȵȸȒƫǼƺȅɀ٪ǣȇǔƏƬɎً
ǣɎɯǣǼǼȵȸȒƫƏƫǼɵƬȸƺƏɎƺȅȒȸƺِXȇȸƺƏǼǣɎɵًǣǔɵȒɖƺɮƺȸɯƏȇɎɎȒǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺًɵȒɖȇƺƺƳɎȒǝƏɮƺɎǝƺ
‫ٹ‬ɎƏǼǸ‫ٺ‬ɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸƏɎɀȒȅƺȵȒǣȇɎƏȇƳȇƏǣǼƳȒɯȇɵȒɖȸǕȸƏƳɖƏɎǣȒȇȸƺȷɖǣȸƺȅƺȇɎɀِ
(Ȓȇ‫ټ‬ɎɯƏǣɎɖȇɎǣǼɵȒɖȸǼƏɀɎɵƺƏȸɎȒɎƏǼǸɎȒɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸȒȵƺȇǼɵƏƫȒɖɎɵȒɖȸǕȸƏƳɖƏɎǣȒȇȵǼƏȇɀِ
The sooner you clarify what you need to do to graduate, the sooner you can start working
ȒȇɎǝƺȵȸȒǴƺƬɎɎǝƏɎɯǣǼǼɎɖȸȇǣȇɎȒƏɎǝƺɀǣɀِ
³ȒȅƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀƏȸƺǣȇɎǣȅǣƳƏɎƺƳƫɵɎǝƺɎǝȒɖǕǝɎȒǔƏȵȵȸȒƏƬǝǣȇǕɎǝƺǣȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸِáǝƏɎǣǔǝƺ
ȒȸɀǝƺɎǝǣȇǸɀɵȒɖȸǣƳƺƏɀƏȸƺȸǣƳǣƬɖǼȒɖɀّáǝƏɎǣǔɵȒɖǕƺɎȅȒȸƺɯȒȸǸƺɮƺȸɵɎǣȅƺɵȒɖȅƺƺɎّ
áǝƏɎǣǔɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸǸƺƺȵɀƬǝƏȇǕǣȇǕǝǣɀȒȸǝƺȸȅǣȇƳƏƫȒɖɎɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀȵȸȒǴƺƬɎّÁǝƺɀƺ
ǔƺƏȸɀًɯǝǣƬǝȅƏɵƫƺƫƏɀƺƳȒȇȵƏɀɎƺɮƺȇɎɀًƬƏȇɀɎȒȵɵȒɖǔȸȒȅƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȇǕȒȵƺȇǼɵɯǣɎǝ
ɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸƏȇƳƬƏȇǼƺƏƳɎȒȅȒȸƺȅǣɀƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȒȇɀِ
JȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀƬǝȒȒǼǣɀƏƬɎɖƏǼǼɵɎǝƺȵƺȸǔƺƬɎȒȵȵȒȸɎɖȇǣɎɵɎȒǼƺƏȸȇƏɀɀƺȸɎǣɮƺƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȒȇɀǸǣǼǼɀً
ɯǝǣƬǝɯǣǼǼǝƺǼȵɵȒɖƳƺɮƺǼȒȵȅɖɎɖƏǼǼɵƫƺȇƺˡƬǣƏǼƏǕȸƺƺȅƺȇɎɀِáǝƏɎǣɀƏɀɀƺȸɎǣɮƺȇƺɀɀّ
ȇƏɀɀƺȸɎǣɮƺȵƺȸɀȒȇǣɀƏƫǼƺɎȒƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎƺǝǣɀȒȸǝƺȸǣƳƺƏɀƬȒȇˡƳƺȇɎǼɵɯǝǣǼƺƏǼɀȒƬȒȇɀǣƳƺȸ-
ǣȇǕɎǝƺȇƺƺƳɀȒǔȒɎǝƺȸȵƺȒȵǼƺِÁǝƺǔȒǼǼȒɯǣȇǕ‫ד‬ɀɎȸƏɎƺǕǣƺɀɯǣǼǼǝƺǼȵɵȒɖƫƺƬȒȅƺȅȒȸƺƏɀɀƺȸ-
ɎǣɮƺƏȇƳȸƺɀȒǼɮƺƳǣɀƏǕȸƺƺȅƺȇɎɀɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸًƺɮƺȇǣǔǝƺȒȸɀǝƺǣɀƏƳǣǔˡƬɖǼɎȵƺȸɀȒȇِ

PART II
Clarify Your Supervisor’s

TIP #6 Expectations
0ɮƺȸɵɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸǝƏɀǝǣɀȒȸǝƺȸȒɯȇȅƏȇƏǕƺȅƺȇɎɀɎɵǼƺِǝƏȇƳɀ‫ٮ‬ȒȇɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸȅǣǕǝɎƺɴȵƺƬɎ
ɯƺƺǸǼɵȒȸƫǣɯƺƺǸǼɵȵȸȒǕȸƺɀɀȸƺȵȒȸɎɀِRȒɯƺɮƺȸًƏƫɖɀɵǝƏȇƳɀ‫ٮ‬ȒǔǔɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸȅǣǕǝɎǕƺɎƏȇ-
noyed if you schedule meetings or send updates frequently.
ÁǝƺƺƏɀǣƺɀɎɯƏɵɎȒȅƺƺɎɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸ‫ټ‬ɀƺɴȵƺƬɎƏɎǣȒȇɀǣɀɎȒƏɀǸɖȵǔȸȒȇɎً‫ٹ‬RȒɯǔȸƺȷɖƺȇɎǼɵ
ɯȒɖǼƳɵȒɖǼǣǸƺȅƺɎȒƬǝƺƬǸǣȇɯǣɎǝɵȒɖّ‫ٺ‬IȒȸƏɀȵƺƬǣˡƬȵȸȒǴƺƬɎًɵȒɖƬƏȇƏɀǸɯǝƺȇǝƺȒȸɀǝƺ
would like an update and whether he or she would like a written report or would prefer to
meet in person.
ÁǝƺȅȒɀɎǣȅȵȒȸɎƏȇɎǔƏƬɎȒȸǣȇɵȒɖȸȸƺǼƏɎǣȒȇɀǝǣȵɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸǣɀȒȵƺȇƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȒȇِ
«ƺǕƏȸƳǼƺɀɀȒǔɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸ‫ټ‬ɀȅƏȇƏǕƺȅƺȇɎɀɎɵǼƺًƫȸǣȇǕƬǝƏǼǼƺȇǕƺɀɎȒǝǣɀȒȸǝƺȸƏɎɎƺȇɎǣȒȇ
ƏɀɀȒȒȇƏɀɵȒɖƬƏȇِXɎǣɀǣȇɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸ‫ټ‬ɀǣȇɎƺȸƺɀɎɎǝƏɎɵȒɖɀɖƬƬƺƺƳًɀȒǣǔɵȒɖƬƏȇȇȒɎȸƺɀȒǼɮƺ
a problem on your own, reach out for help so you can get the support you need.
Bottom line: Focus on developing a long-term professional relationship

with your supervisor by having open and honest communication and
updating him or her on your progress as needed.
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare for

TIP #7 Meetings with Your Supervisor
³ɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸɀƏȸƺƫɖɀɵًƏȇƳɵȒɖȸɯȒȸǸǣɀǴɖɀɎ‫׏‬ȒǔɎǝƺ‫׎׎׏‬ɎǝǣȇǕɀȒȇɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸ‫ټ‬ɀȅǣȇƳِ
áǝƺȇɵȒɖƬȒȅƺɎȒƏȅƺƺɎǣȇǕɯǣɎǝƏƬǼƺƏȸƏǕƺȇƳƏًɵȒɖɯǣǼǼǣȅȅƺƳǣƏɎƺǼɵǕƺɎɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣ-
ɀȒȸ‫ټ‬ɀƏɎɎƺȇɎǣȒȇɀȒɵȒɖƬƏȇǔȒƬɖɀȒȇɎǝƺȵȸȒƫǼƺȅɀɎǝƏɎȇƺƺƳɎȒƫƺȸƺɀȒǼɮƺƳِ
XǔƏȇɵǔȒȸȅɀȇƺƺƳɎȒƫƺɀǣǕȇƺƳȒȸƏȇɵȅƏȇɖɀƬȸǣȵɎɀȇƺƺƳɎȒƫƺȸƺɮǣƺɯƺƳًƫȸǣȇǕɎǝƺȅɎȒɎǝƺ
ȅƺƺɎǣȇǕƏȇƳƫƺɮƺȸɵɀȵƺƬǣˡƬƏƫȒɖɎɯǝƺȸƺɵȒɖȇƺƺƳɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸ‫ټ‬ɀɀǣǕȇƏɎɖȸƺȒȸǔƺƺƳƫƏƬǸِ

PART II
çȒɖǸȇȒɯȅȒȸƺƏƫȒɖɎɵȒɖȸɯȒȸǸɎǝƏȇɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸƳȒƺɀِçȒɖƬƏȇɀƏɮƺɵȒɖȸɀƺǼǔƏȇƳɵȒɖȸ
ɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸ‫ټ‬ɀɎǣȅƺǣǔɵȒɖƬȒȅƺɎȒƺɮƺȸɵȅƺƺɎǣȇǕɯǣɎǝ‫׏‬ȒȸȅȒȸƺǣƳƺƏɀɎȒȸƺɀȒǼɮƺɵȒɖȸȵȸȒƫǼƺȅِ
çȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸɯǣǼǼƏȵȵȸƺƬǣƏɎƺɎǝƏɎɵȒɖɎȒȒǸɎǝƺɎǣȅƺɎȒɎǝǣȇǸȒǔɀȒǼɖɎǣȒȇɀƏȇƳɯǣǼǼƫƺȅȒȸƺ
likely to support your ideas.
Bottom line: When you make it easy for your supervisor to help you,
he or she will have respect for you, and you will get more support to
˾ȇǣɀǝɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀƏȇƳȵɖƫǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇɀ٫
Focus on Solving the Problem, Not Your

TIP #8 Emotions Surrounding the Problem
(ȒȇȒɎƏɀɀɖȅƺɎǝƏɎɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸǣɀǔƏȅǣǼǣƏȸɯǣɎǝɎǝƺƳƺɎƏǣǼɀȒǔɵȒɖȸɯȒȸǸȒȸɵȒɖȸȸƺǼƏɎǣȒȇ-
ɀǝǣȵɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸƬȒɯȒȸǸƺȸɀِáǝƺȇɵȒɖȅƺƺɎɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸًƳƺɀƬȸǣƫƺɎǝƺȵȸȒƫǼƺȅƫɵ‫ي‬
• ³ɎƏɎǣȇǕɎǝƺǔƏƬɎɀƏƫȒɖɎɎǝƺȵȸȒƫǼƺȅ
• 0ɴȵǼƏǣȇǝȒɯɎǝƺȵȸȒƫǼƺȅǣɀǣȇɎƺȸǔƺȸǣȇǕɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸɯȒȸǸ
• ³ɎƏɎǣȇǕǝȒɯɵȒɖɯȒɖǼƳǼǣǸƺɎǝƺȵȸȒƫǼƺȅɎȒƫƺȸƺɀȒǼɮƺƳ
ɮȒǣƳɎƏǼǸǣȇǕƏƫȒɖɎɵȒɖȸƺȅȒɎǣȒȇɀًɀɖƬǝƏɀǔȸɖɀɎȸƏɎǣȒȇȒȸƏȇǕƺȸًƫƺƬƏɖɀƺɵȒɖȸƳǣɀƬɖɀɀǣȒȇɯǣǼǼ
ǕƺɎɀǣƳƺɎȸƏƬǸƺƳًƏȇƳɵȒɖȅǣǕǝɎƬȸƺƏɎƺƺɮƺȇȅȒȸƺƬȒȇˢǣƬɎɀِ
Bottom line: Always keep in mind your desired results for every
ȅƺƺɎǣȇǕ‫ٽ‬ƺ٫Ǖ٫٦ǔƺƺƳƫƏƬǸȒȇɵȒɖȸȅƏȇɖɀƬȸǣȵɎ٦ȸƺɀȒǼɮǣȇǕƬȒȇ˿ǣƬɎɯǣɎǝ
a thesis committee member) and strive to resolve the problem
during the meeting.

PART II
Listen to Your Supervisor without

TIP #9 Becoming Emotional or Defensive
çȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸɯǣǼǼȇȒɎƏǕȸƺƺɯǣɎǝƏǼǼɵȒɖȸǣƳƺƏɀًƫɖɎǝƺȒȸɀǝƺȵȸȒƫƏƫǼɵǝƏɀǕȒȒƳȸƺƏɀȒȇɀ
ǔȒȸǣɎِ(ȒȇȒɎɎƏǸƺɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸ‫ټ‬ɀƬȸǣɎǣƬǣɀȅȵƺȸɀȒȇƏǼǼɵȒȸǕƺɎƳƺǔƺȇɀǣɮƺِnȒȒǸƏɎɎǝƺȵȸȒƫǼƺȅ
ǔȸȒȅǝǣɀȒȸǝƺȸɮǣƺɯȵȒǣȇɎƏȇƳƫȸƏǣȇɀɎȒȸȅɀȒǼɖɎǣȒȇɀɎǝƏɎɯǣǼǼȅƺƺɎƫȒɎǝȒǔɵȒɖȸȇƺƺƳɀِ
áǝƺȇɵȒɖɯƏȇɎɎȒȸƺɀȒǼɮƺƏȵȸȒƫǼƺȅًƏǕȒȒƳȸɖǼƺȒǔɎǝɖȅƫǣɀɎȒɎƏǼǸǔȒȸ‫ۏ׎א‬ȒǔɎǝƺɎǣȅƺƏȇƳ
ǼǣɀɎƺȇǔȒȸ‫ۏ׎ז‬ȒǔɎǣȅƺِXǔɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸɀƏɵɀɀȒȅƺɎǝǣȇǕɵȒɖƳȒȇ‫ټ‬ɎƏǕȸƺƺɯǣɎǝًǕƺɎȅȒȸƺǣȇǔȒȸ-
mation by asking questions rather than openly disagreeing with him or her.
áǝƺȇɵȒɖƏɀǸȒȵƺȇ‫ٮ‬ƺȇƳƺƳȷɖƺɀɎǣȒȇɀًɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸɯǣǼǼǝƏɮƺɎǝƺȒȵȵȒȸɎɖȇǣɎɵɎȒƺɴȵǼƏǣȇ
ǝǣɀȒȸǝƺȸɮǣƺɯȵȒǣȇɎɀȒɵȒɖƬƏȇƫȸƏǣȇɀɎȒȸȅɀȒǼɖɎǣȒȇɀɎǝƏɎƏȸƺƫƺȇƺˡƬǣƏǼɎȒƫȒɎǝȒǔɵȒɖِXǔɵȒɖ
ƬƏȇȇȒɎƬȒȅƺɎȒƏȇƏǕȸƺƺȅƺȇɎًƏɀǸǔȒȸƏǔȒǼǼȒɯ‫ٮ‬ɖȵȅƺƺɎǣȇǕɎȒǕǣɮƺɵȒɖɎǣȅƺɎȒɎǝǣȇǸƏƫȒɖɎ
additional solutions.
Bottom line: If your supervisor feels heard and respected, he or

she is more likely to listen to your side of the story and offer you
constructive feedback.
Put Important Agreements in

TIP #10 Writing in a Follow-Up Email
ȇƺȒǔɎǝƺȅȒɀɎǔȸƺȷɖƺȇɎɀȒɖȸƬƺɀȒǔƬȒȇˢǣƬɎǣɀȅǣɀƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȒȇِIȒȸƺɴƏȅȵǼƺًɵȒɖȅǣǕǝɎ
ȅǣɀɖȇƳƺȸɀɎƏȇƳɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸ‫ټ‬ɀɀɖǕǕƺɀɎǣȒȇɀƳɖȸǣȇǕƏȅƺƺɎǣȇǕƏȇƳɎƏǸƺɵȒɖȸȵȸȒǴƺƬɎǣȇɎǝƺ
ɯȸȒȇǕƳǣȸƺƬɎǣȒȇِÁǝƺƫƺɀɎɯƏɵɎȒƏɮȒǣƳȅǣɀƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȒȇǣɀɎȒǔȒǼǼȒɯɖȵƏǔɎƺȸƺɮƺȸɵȅƺƺɎǣȇǕ
ɯǣɎǝƏȇƺȅƏǣǼɎǝƏɎɀɖȅȅƏȸǣɿƺɀɯǝƏɎɵȒɖǝƏɮƺƏǕȸƺƺƳɖȵȒȇƏȇƳɵȒɖȸƏƬɎǣȒȇǣɎƺȅɀِÁǝǣɀɯǣǼǼǕǣɮƺ
ɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸƏƬǝƏȇƬƺɎȒȸƺɮǣƺɯɯǝƏɎɵȒɖǝƏɮƺƳǣɀƬɖɀɀƺƳƏȇƳƏƳƳɀɖǕǕƺɀɎǣȒȇɀǣǔȇƺƺƳƺƳِ
Also make sure that you follow through on your end of the deal. When you meet with your

PART II
ɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸًȵȸǣȒȸǣɎǣɿƺɵȒɖȸƏƬɎǣȒȇǣɎƺȅǼǣɀɎƏȇƳɀƺɎɎǣȅƺǼǣȇƺɀِXǔǔȒȸɀȒȅƺȸƺƏɀȒȇɵȒɖƏȸƺɖȇƏƫǼƺ
ɎȒȅƺƺɎɵȒɖȸƳƺƏƳǼǣȇƺɀًǼƺɎɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸǸȇȒɯƏɀɀȒȒȇƏɀȵȒɀɀǣƫǼƺِXȇȒȸƳƺȸɎȒƫɖǣǼƳɎȸɖɀɎ
ƫƺɎɯƺƺȇɵȒɖƏȇƳɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸًɵȒɖȇƺƺƳɎȒƳƺȅȒȇɀɎȸƏɎƺɎǝƏɎǝƺȒȸɀǝƺƬƏȇƬȒɖȇɎȒȇɵȒɖ
to follow through on your commitments.
Bottom line: Always make sure that you and your supervisor are on
the same page regarding decisions and action plans established
at a meeting.

PART III
Finish Your Thesis OVERCOME WRITER’S BLOCK AND
FINISH YOUR THESIS AND MANUSCRIPTS
PART III
OVERCOME WRITER’S BLOCK
AND FINISH YOUR THESIS
AND MANUSCRIPTS
(ȒɵȒɖƺɮƺȸɀɎȸɖǕǕǼƺɯǣɎǝɯȸǣɎƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀƫǼȒƬǸ٪ɎǝȒɀƺƳƏɵɀɯǝƺȇɵȒɖɀɎƏȸƺƏɎɎǝƺƬȒȅȵɖɎƺȸ
ɀƬȸƺƺȇƏȇƳɎǝƺɯȒȸƳɀǴɖɀɎƏȸƺȇ‫ټ‬ɎƬȒȅǣȇǕّxȒɀɎɯȸǣɎƺȸɀǝƏɮƺƺɴȵƺȸǣƺȇƬƺƳɯȸǣɎƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀƫǼȒƬǸƏɎ
ɀȒȅƺȵȒǣȇɎǣȇɎǝƺǣȸǼǣɮƺɀًƏȇƳɀȒȅƺɯȸǣɎƺȸɀȇƺƺƳɎȒƬȒȇɎƺȇƳɯǣɎǝɯȸǣɎƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀƫǼȒƬǸȒȇƏƳƏǣǼɵ
ƫƏɀǣɀِRƺȸƺƏȸƺ‫א‬ȷɖȒɎƺɀǔȸȒȅȵȸȒǼǣˡƬɯȸǣɎƺȸɀ‫ي‬
‫ٹ‬ɯȸǣɎƺȸǣɀɀȒȅƺƫȒƳɵǔȒȸɯǝȒȅɯȸǣɎǣȇǕǣɀȅȒȸƺƳǣǔˡƬɖǼɎɎǝƏȇǣɎǣɀǔȒȸȒɎǝƺȸȵƺȒȵǼƺِ‫ٺ‬
– Thomas Mann
‫ٹ‬0ɮƺȸɵɯȸǣɎƺȸXǸȇȒɯǝƏɀɎȸȒɖƫǼƺɯȸǣɎǣȇǕِ‫ٺ‬
– Joseph Heller
XȇȒȸƳƺȸɎȒȒɮƺȸƬȒȅƺɯȸǣɎƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀƫǼȒƬǸًɵȒɖˡȸɀɎȇƺƺƳɎȒƫƺƬȒȅƺƏɯƏȸƺȒǔǣɎِRȒɯƳȒɵȒɖǸȇȒɯ
ɵȒɖǝƏɮƺǣɎّ³ɵȅȵɎȒȅɀǣȇƬǼɖƳƺ‫ي‬
1. çȒɖˡǼǼɎǝƺɎǣȅƺɵȒɖɀƺɎƏɀǣƳƺǔȒȸɯȸǣɎǣȇǕɯǣɎǝȒɎǝƺȸƏƬɎǣɮǣɎǣƺɀɀɖƬǝƏɀƬǼƺƏȇǣȇǕًXȇɎƺȸȇƺɎ
ɀɖȸˡȇǕًȒȸɀǝȒȵȵǣȇǕِ³ȒȅƺȒǔɎǝƺɀƺȅƏɵƫƺǣȅȵȒȸɎƏȇɎِçȒɖȇƺƺƳɎȒƬǼƺƏȇƏȇƳɀǝȒȵًƫɖɎ
ƳȒɵȒɖǝƏɮƺɎȒƳȒɎǝƺȅƳɖȸǣȇǕɎǝƺɎǣȅƺɵȒɖƏɀɀǣǕȇƺƳǔȒȸɯȸǣɎǣȇǕّ
2. You are not producing any writing; either you stare at the screen blankly without writing
much or you hastily put something together right before the deadline.
ÁǝƺȸȒȒɎƬƏɖɀƺȒǔɯȸǣɎƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀƫǼȒƬǸǣɀǔƺƏȸ٢ɎɵȵǣƬƏǼǼɵًǔƺƏȸȒǔǣȅȵƺȸǔƺƬɎǣȒȇًȒɮƺȸɯǝƺǼȅًȒȸɀɖƬ-
Ƭƺɀɀ٣ِÁǝƺǔȒǼǼȒɯǣȇǕɀɎȸƏɎƺǕǣƺɀɯǣǼǼǝƺǼȵɵȒɖȒɮƺȸƬȒȅƺȒȸȸƺƳɖƬƺɵȒɖȸǔƺƏȸɀȒɵȒɖƬƏȇǕƺɎ
words on the paper.

PART III
Set Your Timer to 45 Minutes and Turn

TIP #11 {ƫĺĺ'ĤŰŹŬØõŹĤŎŅŰÃĠĤĺăÃŬĤŹĤŅę
RƏɮƺɵȒɖƺɮƺȸƳƺɮȒɎƺƳƏȇƺȇɎǣȸƺƳƏɵɎȒɯȸǣɎǣȇǕƫɖɎȅƏƳƺɮƺȸɵǼǣɎɎǼƺȵȸȒǕȸƺɀɀƏȇƳǔƺǼɎƫɖȸȇƺƳ
ȒɖɎƫɵɎǝƺƺȇƳȒǔɎǝƺƳƏɵّçȒɖȅƏɵǔƺƺǼȒɮƺȸɯǝƺǼȅƺƳȒȸȇȒɎǸȇȒɯɯǝƺȸƺɎȒɀɎƏȸɎًȒȸɎǝƺɎȒȵǣƬ
ȅƏɵɀƺƺȅɀȒɖȇȵǼƺƏɀƏȇɎɎǝƏɎɵȒɖǴɖɀɎƳȒȇ‫ټ‬ɎɯƏȇɎɎȒɯȒȸǸȒȇǣɎِ
ÁǝƺǝƏȸƳƺɀɎȵƏȸɎƏƫȒɖɎɯȸǣɎǣȇǕǣɀɎǝƺƫƺǕǣȇȇǣȇǕِXǔɵȒɖƳȒȇ‫ټ‬ɎǸȇȒɯɯǝƺȸƺɎȒƫƺǕǣȇًȒȸǣǔɵȒɖƏȸƺ
in the middle of editing a paper and feel burned out, the best thing to do is to get a timer and
ɎɵȵƺǔȒȸƏȵȸƺƳƺˡȇƺƳƏȅȒɖȇɎȒǔɎǣȅƺِÁǝƺȵȸȒƫǼƺȅǣɀɎǝƏɎȅƏȇɵɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀɎɵȵƺɯǣɎǝȒɖɎɎƏǸǣȇǕƏ
break, which can really lead to burnout, not to mention pain in your neck, shoulders, and back.
XɖɀɖƏǼǼɵȸƺƬȒȅȅƺȇƳƏǼɎƺȸȇƏɎǣȇǕ‫דג‬ȅǣȇɖɎƺɀȒǔɎɵȵǣȇǕɯǣɎǝƏ‫ٮד׏‬ȅǣȇɖɎƺƫȸƺƏǸِ(ɖȸǣȇǕɎǝƺ‫דג‬
ȅǣȇɖɎƺɀًɎɖȸȇȒǔǔƏǼǼƳǣɀɎȸƏƬɎǣȒȇɀƏȇƳɎɵȵƺɯǣɎǝȒɖɎɀɎȒȵȵǣȇǕِXǔ‫דג‬ȅǣȇɖɎƺɀǣɀɎȒȒǼȒȇǕًɀƺɎɵȒɖȸ
ɎǣȅƺȸɎȒ‫דא‬Ȓȸ‫׎׏‬ȅǣȇɖɎƺɀƏȇƳɎƏǸƺƏ‫ٮד‬ȅǣȇɖɎƺƫȸƺƏǸƫƺǔȒȸƺȸƺɎɖȸȇǣȇǕɎȒɯȒȸǸِ
ȇƺɎǝǣȇǕɎǝƏɎȸƺƏǼǼɵǝƺǼȵɀȅƺǣɀɎȒɯȸǣɎƺzçÁRXzJ٪ɯǣɎǝȒɖɎƬƏȸǣȇǕǣǔǣɎ‫ټ‬ɀǕȒȒƳȒȸƫƏƳِXɎ‫ټ‬ɀǼǣǸƺ
ȸƺɮɮǣȇǕɖȵƏƬƏȸɎȒǕƺɎȒɮƺȸƏɀȵƺƺƳƫɖȅȵٕɎǝƺȅȒȅƺȇɎɖȅǕƺɎɀȅƺȵƏɀɎɎǝƺƫƺǕǣȇȇǣȇǕًƏȇƳX
ƬƏȇƬȒȅƺƫƏƬǸɎȒǣɎƏƫǣɎǼƏɎƺȸɯǣɎǝƏƬȸǣɎǣƬƏǼƺɵƺƏȇƳƏƫƺɎɎƺȸɀƺȇɀƺȒǔɯǝƏɎɎǝƺȇƺɴɎɀɎƺȵǣɀِ
XɎǝǣȇǸȒǔǔȸƺƺɯȸǣɎǣȇǕǼǣǸƺȸȒɯǣȇǕǣȇƏȸǣɮƺȸًǼƺɎɎǣȇǕɎǝƺƬɖȸȸƺȇɎɎƏǸƺȅƺɯǝƺȸƺXȇƺƺƳɎȒǕȒِ
áǝƺȇXƏȵȵȸȒƏƬǝɯȸǣɎǣȇǕɯǣɎǝɀɖƬǝƏȸƺǼƏɴƺƳƏɎɎǣɎɖƳƺًǣƳƺƏɀƬȒȅƺɎȒȅƺȇƏɎɖȸƏǼǼɵƏȇƳXƳǣɀƬȒɮ-
er ideas I did not know I had – it is quite a wondrous process.
Bottom line: Writing in short sprints and doing free writing will spark
your creativity and help you write a high-quality thesis faster.
Take Your Breaks

TIP #12 Seriously
XǝƏɮƺȇȒƳȒɖƫɎɎǝƏɎɵȒɖɎƏǸƺɵȒɖȸɯȒȸǸɀƺȸǣȒɖɀǼɵِ ɖɎƳȒɵȒɖǕǣɮƺɵȒɖȸƫȒƳɵɎǝƺȸƺɀɎǣɎȇƺƺƳɀ

PART III
ƳɖȸǣȇǕɵȒɖȸƫȸƺƏǸɀّ ȸًƳȒɵȒɖƬǝƺƬǸƺȅƏǣǼًɎƺɴɎȅƺɀɀƏǕƺɀًƏȇƳɀȒƬǣƏǼȅƺƳǣƏɯǝƺȇɵȒɖɀƏɵɵȒɖ
ɯǣǼǼɎƏǸƺƏ‫ٹ‬ƫȸƺƏǸ‫ّٺ‬
áǝǣǼƺXȇɎƺȸȇƺɎɀɖȸˡȇǕȅƏɵ‫ٹ‬ɀƺƺȅ‫ٺ‬Ȓȸ‫ٹ‬ǔƺƺǼ‫ٺ‬ȸƺǼƏɴǣȇǕًǣɎǣɀƏƬɎɖƏǼǼɵȇȒɎȸƺɀɎȒȸǣȇǕɵȒɖȸȅǣȇƳƏȇƳ
body. The best way to regain your focus during breaks is to get up from your desk, disconnect
ǔȸȒȅƏǼǼƺǼƺƬɎȸȒȇǣƬɀًƏȇƳǕƺɎɵȒɖȸƫȒƳɵǣȇȅȒɎǣȒȇِ‫ٮד׏‬ȅǣȇɖɎƺƫȸƺƏǸǣɀƺȇȒɖǕǝǔȒȸƏɀǝȒȸɎɯƏǼǸ
or to do some work around the house if you work from home.
ÁƏǸǣȇǕƏƫȸƺƏǸǣɀƺƏɀɵِÁǝƺɎȒɖǕǝȵƏȸɎǣɀǼƺɎɎǣȇǕǕȒȒǔɎǝƺǣȇǕȸƏǣȇƺƳƫƺǼǣƺǔɀɎǝƏɎǝƏɮƺǝƺǼƳɵȒɖ
ƫƏƬǸǔȸȒȅǕǣɮǣȇǕɵȒɖȸƫȒƳɵƏɯƺǼǼ‫ٮ‬ƳƺɀƺȸɮƺƳƫȸƺƏǸِÁǝƺɀƺȅƏɵǣȇƬǼɖƳƺ‫ٹي‬xȒȸƺǝȒɖȸɀƏɎɯȒȸǸ
ǼƺƏƳɎȒȅȒȸƺȸƺɀɖǼɎɀً‫ ٹٺ‬ƺǣȇǕƫɖɀɵǣɀƏǕȒȒƳɎǝǣȇǕً‫ٺ‬ƏȇƳ‫ٹ‬XƏȅɀȒƫƺǝǣȇƳɎǝƏɎXƳȒȇȒɎǝƏɮƺɎǣȅƺ
ǔȒȸƏƫȸƺƏǸِ‫ٺ‬ÁǝƺɀƺǼǣȅǣɎǣȇǕƫƺǼǣƺǔɀɯǣǼǼǸƺƺȵɵȒɖǔȸɖɀɎȸƏɎƺƳًɖȇȅȒɎǣɮƏɎƺƳًƏȇƳɀɎȸƺɀɀƺƳًƏȇƳɯǣǼǼ
lead to a burnout instead of progress.
Bottom line: When you take your breaks seriously and give your
mind well-deserved rest throughout the day, you will be able to focus
for longer periods of time and be more productive in the long run.
Make a Small Notebook

TIP #13 Your Best Friend
ɖȸȅǣȇƳɀƏȸƺȇƺɮƺȸƏɎȸƺɀɎِçȒɖȅǣǕǝɎǝƏɮƺȇȒɎǣƬƺƳɎǝƏɎǣƳƺƏɀƏȇƳƺȸȸƏȇƳɀȵȒȵǣȇɎȒɵȒɖȸǝƺƏƳ
when you try to write. Your natural urge may be to take care of these chores right away. The
problem is that if you interrupt your writing to send an email or make a call, you will lose your
ɎȸƏǣȇȒǔɎǝȒɖǕǝɎ٪ɀȒȅƺɎǣȅƺɀǔȒȸɎǝƺȸƺɀɎȒǔɎǝƺƳƏɵِ
XǔɵȒɖɎȸɵɎȒȸƺɀǣɀɎɎǝƺɖȸǕƺɎȒɎƏǸƺƬƏȸƺȒǔɎǝƺɀƺɎȒ‫ٮ‬ƳȒ‫ټ‬ɀًɎǝƺɖȸǕƺɯǣǼǼǴɖɀɎƫƺƬȒȅƺɀɎȸȒȇǕƺȸِçȒɖȸ
ȅǣȇƳɯǣǼǼȇȒɎǼƺƏɮƺɵȒɖƏǼȒȇƺɖȇɎǣǼɵȒɖƳȒɀȒȅƺɎǝǣȇǕƏƫȒɖɎǣɎِ ɖɎɎǝƏɎƳȒƺɀȇȒɎȅƺƏȇɵȒɖ
ǝƏɮƺɎȒɀƺȇƳɎǝƏɎƺȅƏǣǼȸǣǕǝɎƏɯƏɵȒȸȅƏǸƺɎǝƏɎȵǝȒȇƺƬƏǼǼِáǝɵȇȒɎƬƏȵɎɖȸƺɎǝƺǣƳƺƏǣȇƏɀȅƏǼǼ
ɀȵǣȸƏǼȇȒɎƺƫȒȒǸɎǝƏɎǣɀƏǼɯƏɵɀɀǣɎɎǣȇǕȇƺɴɎɎȒɵȒɖّ

PART III
XȇɀɎƺƏƳȒǔƏƬɎǣȇǕȒȇɖȸǕƺȇɎɎȒ‫ٮ‬ƳȒ‫ټ‬ɀȸǣǕǝɎƏɯƏɵًɯȸǣɎƺɎǝƺȅƳȒɯȇǣȇɎȒƏɀȅƏǼǼȇȒɎƺƫȒȒǸƏȇƳƏɎ-
ɎƺȇƳɎȒɎǝƺȅƏǔɎƺȸɵȒɖǝƏɮƺˡȇǣɀǝƺƳɯȸǣɎǣȇǕِ³ɖȸȵȸǣɀǣȇǕǼɵًȅȒɀɎȒǔɵȒɖȸƬǝȒȸƺɀɯǣǼǼȇȒɎɀƺƺȅɀȒ
ɖȸǕƺȇɎƫɵɎǝƺɎǣȅƺɵȒɖˡȇǣɀǝɯȸǣɎǣȇǕِRȒɯƺɮƺȸًɎǝƺɵɯǣǼǼƫƺȒɖɎȒǔɵȒɖȸǝƺƏƳƏȇƳƬȒǼǼƺƬɎƺƳǣȇ
ȒȇƺȵǼƏƬƺًɀȒɵȒɖɯǣǼǼǔƺƺǼȒȇɎȒȵȒǔƺɮƺȸɵɎǝǣȇǕɵȒɖȇƺƺƳɎȒƏɎɎƺȇƳɎȒِ
Bottom line: When you get all your ideas and to-do’s out of your
head and on paper, it is easier to stay focused on your writing.
'ăƱŅăÉŎƀŬÃŬĤŹĤŅęŎŬ
TIP #14 Editing Goals Very Clearly
ȇƺȒǔɎǝƺȅǣɀɎƏǸƺɀɎǝƏɎɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀȅƏǸƺǣɀɎȒɀƺɎɮƏǕɖƺǕȒƏǼɀɀɖƬǝƏɀ‫ٹ‬áȒȸǸȒȇ!ǝƏȵɎƺȸ‫ٺב‬
ɯǣɎǝȒɖɎƫƺǣȇǕƬǼƺƏȸȒȇɯǝƏɎƺɴƏƬɎǼɵɎǝƺɵȇƺƺƳɎȒƳȒِƫƺɎɎƺȸƏȵȵȸȒƏƬǝǣɀɎȒɀƺɎɮƺȸɵɀȵƺƬǣˡƬ
ǕȒƏǼɀɎǝƏɎƬƏȇƫƺƬȒȅȵǼƺɎƺƳǣȇƏǔƺɯǝȒɖȸɀِ0ɴƏȅȵǼƺɀǣȇƬǼɖƳƺ‫ٹي‬áȸǣɎƺ‫׎׎ד‬ɯȒȸƳɀǣȇ!ǝƏȵɎƺȸ‫ٺًב‬
“Finish introduction to Chapter 3,” or “Create Figure 3.1.”
ǼɀȒًȅƏǸƺɀɖȸƺɵȒɖǝƏɮƺƏǼǼɎǝƺȇƺƬƺɀɀƏȸɵȵƏȵƺȸɀƏȇƳƳƏɎƏɵȒɖȇƺƺƳƫƺǔȒȸƺɵȒɖɀǣɎƳȒɯȇɎȒ
ɯȸǣɎƺِáǝƺȇɵȒɖƳƺˡȇƺɵȒɖȸǕȒƏǼɀƬǼƺƏȸǼɵƏȇƳǕƺɎƏǼǼɎǝƺȇƺƬƺɀɀƏȸɵǣȇǔȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇɵȒɖȇƺƺƳǣȇȒȸ-
der to write, you are more likely to follow through on your goals and make consistent progress.
Bottom line: áǝƺȇɵȒɖɀƺɎɀȵƺƬǣ˾ƬƏȇƳȸƺƏǼǣɀɎǣƬǕȒƏǼɀǔȒȸƺƏƬǝ

block of time, you are more likely to follow through.
Start Every
TIP #15 Day Fresh
nƺɎ‫ټ‬ɀɀƏɵɵȒɖɀƺɎƏɯȸǣɎǣȇǕǕȒƏǼȒǔ‫׎׎ד‬ɯȒȸƳɀƏƳƏɵًƫɖɎɵƺɀɎƺȸƳƏɵɵȒɖɯƺȸƺɎȒȒɎǣȸƺƳɎȒɯȸǣɎƺًɀȒ
you took a nap instead. In this situation, many students feel as though they are “slackers,” beat

PART III
ɎǝƺȅɀƺǼɮƺɀɖȵًƏȇƳǕǣɮƺɖȵɎǝƺǣƳƺƏȒǔƏƳƏǣǼɵɯȸǣɎǣȇǕȷɖȒɎƏƏǼɎȒǕƺɎǝƺȸɀȒɎǝƺɵɯȒȇ‫ټ‬ɎƫƺƳǣɀƏȵ-
ȵȒǣȇɎƺƳǣȇɎǝƺȅɀƺǼɮƺɀƏǕƏǣȇِ
ÁǝǣɀƏȵȵȸȒƏƬǝɯǣǼǼǼƺƏƳɎȒǼȒɀɀȒǔȅȒɎǣɮƏɎǣȒȇƏȇƳɯȸǣɎƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀƫǼȒƬǸِXȇɀɎƺƏƳًɀɎƏȸɎƺɮƺȸɵƳƏɵǔȸƺɀǝِ
³ɎȸǣɮƺɎȒȅƺƺɎɵȒɖȸɯȸǣɎǣȇǕǕȒƏǼƺɮƺȸɵƳƏɵًƫɖɎǣǔɵȒɖƬƏȇȇȒɎƫƺƬƏɖɀƺɵȒɖƳǣƳȇȒɎǔƺƺǼɯƺǼǼȒȸ
something came up, be kind to yourself.
Commit to doing the best you can each day to meet your writing quota. Let go of feeling
guilty about not meeting it yesterday or worrying about how you will meet it tomorrow.
Bottom line: When you focus on doing your best writing today, you
will lessen or even eliminate the fear of writing that is frequently the
cause of writer’s block.

PART IV
Finish Your Thesis §N1ˢˡn{§!{nn{qnR§c1Rq
F'®§1!N{{eq'N{Ã§{Â{R'§N1n
PART IV
§N1ˢˡn{§
COMMON MISTAKES IN
GRADUATE SCHOOL AND
HOW TO AVOID THEM
áǣɎǝȒɖɎȸƺƏǼǣɿǣȇǕǣɎًȅƏȇɵǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀȅƏǸƺȅǣɀɎƏǸƺɀɎǝƏɎɯǣǼǼȇȒɎȒȇǼɵǼƺȇǕɎǝƺȇɎǝƺ
ɎǣȅƺɎǝƺɵƏȸƺǣȇǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀƬǝȒȒǼƫɖɎƬƏȇƏǼɀȒǴƺȒȵƏȸƳǣɿƺɎǝƺǣȸƬƏȸƺƺȸɀِ¨ƺȸǝƏȵɀɵȒɖɯǣǼǼȸƺƬ-
ȒǕȇǣɿƺɀȒȅƺȒǔɎǝƺɀƺȵƏɎɎƺȸȇɀǣȇɵȒɖȸȒɯȇɯȒȸǸˢȒɯِ
#1
Doing what you think your advisor and PhD thesis committee
ƕØŅŹƛŎƀŹŎûŎØŅûØƔŎĤûĤŅęõŎŅƲĤõŹØŹØĺĺõŎŰŹŰ
xǣɀƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȒȇǣɀɎǝƺُ‫׏‬ȸƺƏɀȒȇǔȒȸɖȇȵǼƺƏɀƏȇɎɀɖȸȵȸǣɀƺɀƏɎƬȒȅȅǣɎɎƺƺȅƺƺɎǣȇǕɀِ³ɎɖƳƺȇɎɀ
think they know what they need to do to graduate, and they put a lot of work into collecting
ƏȇƳƏȇƏǼɵɿǣȇǕƳƏɎƏɯǣɎǝȒɖɎƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȇǕƺȇȒɖǕǝɯǣɎǝɎǝƺǣȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸِÁǝƺǔȸƺȷɖƺȇƬɵȒǔ
ȅƺƺɎǣȇǕɀɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸƳƺȵƺȇƳɀȒȇǝǣɀȒȸǝƺȸȅƏȇƏǕƺȅƺȇɎɀɎɵǼƺ٢ǝƏȇƳɀ‫ٮ‬ȒǔǔɮɀِǝƏȇƳɀ‫ٮ‬
Ȓȇ٣ِXȇƺǣɎǝƺȸƺɮƺȇɎًɵȒɖȇƺƺƳɎȒȅƏǸƺɀɖȸƺɵȒɖǝƏɮƺɀɖǔˡƬǣƺȇɎƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ٢ǣȇȵƺȸɀȒȇً
ȵǝȒȇƺًƺȅƏǣǼ٣ɎȒǸȇȒɯɯǣɎǝ‫ۏ׎׎׏‬ƬƺȸɎƏǣȇɎɵɎǝƏɎɵȒɖƏȸƺȒȇɎǝƺȸǣǕǝɎɎȸƏƬǸِ
³ȒǼɖɎǣȒȇ‫ي‬ǼɯƏɵɀǸȇȒɯɯǝƏɎɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸ‫ټ‬ɀƏȇƳƬȒȅȅǣɎɎƺƺ‫ټ‬ɀƺɴȵƺƬɎƏɎǣȒȇɀƏȸƺǔȒȸɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀِ
XȇɀȒȅƺƬƏɀƺɀًƳǣɀƏǕȸƺƺȅƺȇɎɀȅƏɵƏȸǣɀƺِçȒɖɯǣǼǼȇƺƺƳɎȒƫƺƏɀɀƺȸɎǣɮƺɎȒȸƺƏƬǝȅɖɎɖƏǼǼɵƫƺȇƺ-
ˡƬǣƏǼƏǕȸƺƺȅƺȇɎɀِ
Solution: Always know what your supervisor’s and committee’s expectations are for
your thesis. In some cases, disagreements may arise. You will need to be assertive to
ȸƺƏƬǝȅɖɎɖƏǼǼɵƫƺȇƺ˾ƬǣƏǼƏǕȸƺƺȅƺȇɎɀ٫

PART IV
#2
Assuming that all the hard work you do will eventually turn into a
PhD thesis
Many students collect a lot of data, but they are missing the most important ingredient of a
ˡȇǣɀǝƺƳɎǝƺɀǣɀ‫ي‬ƏƬƺȇɎȸƏǼȷɖƺɀɎǣȒȇȒȸǝɵȵȒɎǝƺɀǣɀِɀƏȸƺɀɖǼɎًɎǝƺǣȸȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝǼƏƬǸɀǔȒƬɖɀًƏȇƳɎǝƺɵ
ɀȵƺȇƳɵƺƏȸɀɎȸɵǣȇǕɎȒȵɖǼǼȵǣƺƬƺɀȒǔɎǝƺǣȸȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝǣȇɎȒƏƬȒǝƺɀǣɮƺɀɎȒȸɵِ
Solution: Always know what question your thesis is asking or what your hypothesis
is. Once you have a question, you can set up a long-term research plan with well-de-
˾ȇƺƳȅǣǼƺɀɎȒȇƺɀƏȇƳƳƺƏƳǼǣȇƺɀ٫JǣɮƺȇɎǝƺɖȇƬƺȸɎƏǣȇȇƏɎɖȸƺȒǔȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝ٦ɵȒɖȸǣȇǣɎǣƏǼ
plan will most certainly change. However, you always need to have a plan to start
with as well as milestones to measure your progress.
#3
Doing research that only you think is interesting
ÁǝǣɀǣɀȸƺǼƏɎƺƳɎȒُ‫׏‬ƏȇƳُ‫ًא‬ƫɖɎǣɎǣɀɀȒƬȒȅȅȒȇɎǝƏɎǣɎƳƺɀƺȸɮƺɀǣɎɀȒɯȇƬƏɎƺǕȒȸɵِJȒǣȇǕȒǔǔǣȇ
ƏȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝƳǣȸƺƬɎǣȒȇɎǝƏɎɵȒɖɎǝǣȇǸǣɀǣȇɎƺȸƺɀɎǣȇǕ٢ɯǝǣǼƺȇƺǕǼƺƬɎǣȇǕɵȒɖȸƏƬɎɖƏǼɎǝƺɀǣɀɎȒȵǣƬ٣ǣɀ
ƏɎɵȵƺȒǔ‫ٹ‬ɀǝǣȇɵȒƫǴƺƬɎɀɵȇƳȸȒȅƺِ‫¨ٺ‬ƺȸǝƏȵɀɵȒɖƬȒȅƺƏƬȸȒɀɀƏȵƏȵƺȸȒȸƏȇƺɯɎƺƬǝȇǣȷɖƺًƏȇƳ
ɵȒɖɯƏȇɎɎȒɎȸɵǣɎȒȇɵȒɖȸȒɯȇِɀƏȇǣȇƳƺȵƺȇƳƺȇɎȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝƺȸًɵȒɖƳȒȇ‫ټ‬ɎƏǼɯƏɵɀȇƺƺƳɎȒƬȒȇ-
ɀɖǼɎɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸƫƺǔȒȸƺɵȒɖɎȸɵɀȒȅƺɎǝǣȇǕȇƺɯِÁǝƺȵȸȒƫǼƺȅȒƬƬɖȸɀɯǝƺȇɎǝǣɀȇƺɯ
‫ٹ‬ɀǣƳƺȵȸȒǴƺƬɎ‫ٺ‬ƫƺƬȒȅƺɀƏɀǣǕȇǣˡƬƏȇɎɎǣȅƺɀǣȇǸِ³ɎɖƳƺȇɎɀǣȇɮƺɀɎƏǼȒɎȒǔɎǝƺǣȸȸƺɀȒɖȸƬƺɀɯǣɎǝȒɖɎ
checking whether their efforts complement their PhD thesis research.
Solution: If you come across a novel idea that you think could become part of your
Ɏǝƺɀǣɀ٦ȸɖȇǣɎƫɵɵȒɖȸƏƳɮǣɀȒȸƫƺǔȒȸƺɀȵƺȇƳǣȇǕƏɀǣǕȇǣ˾ƬƏȇɎƏȅȒɖȇɎȒǔɎǣȅƺ‫ٽ‬ȒȸȅȒȇ-
ey) on it. You might need to do literature research or collect preliminary data before
presenting your idea to your supervisor. Don’t assume that just because you think
this research is interesting, your supervisor will, too. (Perhaps he or she has tried it in
the past and chose not to pursue it for good reason.)

PART IV
#4
“Hoping” that experiments or studies turn out the way you want
them to
ÁǝƺȸƺƏȸƺǔƺɯɎǝǣȇǕɀȅȒȸƺƳǣɀƺȅȵȒɯƺȸǣȇǕɎǝƏȇ‫ٹ‬ƬȸȒɀɀǣȇǕɵȒɖȸˡȇǕƺȸɀ‫ٺ‬ǔȒȸɵȒɖȸȸƺɀɖǼɎɀɎȒɎɖȸȇ
ȒɖɎƏƬƺȸɎƏǣȇɯƏɵِáǝƺȇɵȒɖ‫ٹ‬ǝȒȵƺ‫ٺ‬ɎǝƏɎɵȒɖɯǣǼǼˡȇƏǼǼɵǕƺɎɎǝƺȸƺɀɖǼɎɀɵȒɖȇƺƺƳǣȇȒȸƳƺȸɎȒ
graduate, you are sending yourself a subconscious message that someone else has power
ȒɮƺȸɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀِÁǝƺȸƺƏȸƺ‫א‬ȵȸȒƫǼƺȅɀɯǣɎǝɎǝǣɀƏȵȵȸȒƏƬǝِ
Áǝƺ‫׏‬ɀɎȵȸȒƫǼƺȅǣɀɎǝƏɎɵȒɖƏȸƺɀɎȸǣȵȵǣȇǕɵȒɖȸɀƺǼǔȒǔɵȒɖȸɀƺǼǔ‫ٮ‬ƬȒȇˡƳƺȇƬƺɎȒˡȇǣɀǝɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀِ
Áǝƺ‫א‬ȇƳȵȸȒƫǼƺȅǣɀɎǝƏɎɵȒɖƬƏȇȇȒɎƳǣƬɎƏɎƺǝȒɯɵȒɖȸȸƺɀɖǼɎɀɎɖȸȇȒɖɎ٪ɵȒɖȸƳƏɎƏƏȸƺɯǝƏɎ
ɎǝƺɵƏȸƺِXȇǔƏƬɎًɀȒȅƺɎǣȅƺɀɖȇƺɴȵƺƬɎƺƳȸƺɀɖǼɎɀƏȸƺȅȒȸƺǣȇɎƺȸƺɀɎǣȇǕƏȇƳƬƏȇǼƺƏƳɎȒȇƺɯȸƺ-
search directions.
XȇȒȸƳƺȸǔȒȸɵȒɖȸƬȒȅȅǣɎɎƺƺɎȒƏȵȵȸȒɮƺɵȒɖȸ¨ǝ(ɎǝƺɀǣɀًɵȒɖȸȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝȇƺƺƳɀɎȒƫƺ‫ٹ‬ɀȒǼǣƳ‫ٺ‬ɯǣɎǝ
reproducible results. If you doubt your own methods and data, your committee will probably
ȵǣƬǸɖȵȒȇɵȒɖȸǼƏƬǸȒǔɀƺǼǔ‫ٮ‬ƬȒȇˡƳƺȇƬƺƏȇƳƏɀǸɵȒɖɎȒȸƺȵƺƏɎɵȒɖȸɀɎɖƳǣƺɀɖȇɎǣǼɵȒɖȸƳƏɎƏƏȸƺ
more robust.
Solution: Think about possible outcomes in advance. How will each outcome affect
the interpretation of your results? When you have a Plan A, B, and C, it will give you
peace of mind, so you will no longer need to “hope” for a certain outcome. You prob-
ƏƫǼɵǸȇȒɯƫɵɎǝǣɀȵȒǣȇɎɎǝƏɎ‫ڔ‬ǝȒȵǣȇǕ‫ڕ‬ƏȇƳ‫ڔ‬ƬȸȒɀɀǣȇǕ˾ȇǕƺȸɀ‫ڕ‬ƏȸƺȇȒɎƺǔǔƺƬɎǣɮƺɎȒȒǼɀɎȒ
ǝƺǼȵɵȒɖ˾ȇǣɀǝɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀ٫
#5
Jumping to conclusions or the next phase of research before
rigorous data analysis
(ǣƳɵȒɖƺɮƺȸȅƏǸƺȵȸƺǼǣȅǣȇƏȸɵƬȒȇƬǼɖɀǣȒȇɀƫɵƺɵƺƫƏǼǼǣȇǕɵȒɖȸȸƺɀɖǼɎɀّÈȇǔȒȸɎɖȇƏɎƺǼɵًȅƏȇɵ
ɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀǴɖȅȵɎȒƬȒȇƬǼɖɀǣȒȇɀًǕȒȒǔǔǣȇƏƬƺȸɎƏǣȇƳǣȸƺƬɎǣȒȇًƏȇƳɎǝƺȇȸƺƏǼǣɿƺɎǝƺɵƏȸƺƫƏƬǸɎȒ
square one.

PART IV
I learned this lesson the hard way in graduate school when I had to determine whether certain
ƬȒȇƳǣɎǣȒȇɀǣȅȵȸȒɮƺƳɎǝƺɀɖȸɮǣɮƏǼȒǔƬƺǼǼɀǣȇȅɵƬɖǼɎɖȸƺɀɵɀɎƺȅِÁǝƺȵǼȒɎɀǣȇ0ɴƬƺǼɀɖǕǕƺɀɎƺƳ
ɎǝƏɎ‫׏‬ƺɴȵƺȸǣȅƺȇɎƏǼɀƺɎɖȵɯƏɀɀɖȵƺȸǣȒȸɎȒɎǝƺȒɎǝƺȸِ
áǝƺȇɯƺƳǣƳȸǣǕȒȸȒɖɀɀɎƏɎǣɀɎǣƬƏǼƏȇƏǼɵɀǣɀȒȇɎǝƺƳƏɎƏًǝȒɯƺɮƺȸًɎǝƺȸƺɯƏɀȇȒɀǣǕȇǣˡƬƏȇɎƳǣǔǔƺȸ-
ence between the 2 conditions. This was great news, as the setup that I suspected was more
ƺǔǔƺƬɎǣɮƺƬȒɀɎ‫׎׏‬ɎǣȅƺɀȅȒȸƺɎǝƏȇɎǝƺȒɎǝƺȸɀɵɀɎƺȅٍ
Solution: XȇȒȸƳƺȸɎȒǝƏɮƺƬȒȇ˾ƳƺȇƬƺǣȇɵȒɖȸƳƏɎƏɀȒɵȒɖƬƏȇȅȒɮƺɎȒɎǝƺȇƺɴɎ
phase, examine your results from different angles. For example, try plotting your
results in different ways and do rigorous statistical analysis to determine whether
ƏȇɵȒǔɎǝƺȅƏȸƺɀǣǕȇǣ˾ƬƏȇɎ٫
#6
Cramming as much data as possible into your PhD thesis to show
how much work you have done
XɯǣǼǼȇƺɮƺȸǔȒȸǕƺɎƏƬƺȸɎƏǣȇǴȒƫɎƏǼǸƫɵƏƬƏȇƳǣƳƏɎƺǔȒȸƏǔƏƬɖǼɎɵȵȒɀǣɎǣȒȇِÁǝƺƏȵȵǼǣƬƏȇɎǝƏƳǴɖɀɎ
ˡȇǣɀǝƺƳǝǣɀ¨ǝ(ɎǝƺɀǣɀًƏȇƳǝǣɀ‫ٮדג‬ȅǣȇɖɎƺǴȒƫɎƏǼǸǝƏƳ‫חג׏‬ɀǼǣƳƺɀِRƏǼǔɎǝƺƏɖƳǣƺȇƬƺɯƏǼǸƺƳ
out after 20 minutes because it was impossible to follow him. The problem was not only that
ǝƺɯƺȇɎɎǝȸȒɖǕǝǝǣɀɀǼǣƳƺɀƏɎɎǝƺɀȵƺƺƳȒǔǼǣǕǝɎٕǣȇƏƳƳǣɎǣȒȇًǝǣɀɎƏǼǸƳǣƳȇȒɎǝƏɮƺƏƬƺȇɎȸƏǼ
ȷɖƺɀɎǣȒȇȒȸǝɵȵȒɎǝƺɀǣɀِçȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀȇƺƺƳɀɎȒƫƺƏƬȒǝƺɀǣɮƺɀɎȒȸɵɎǝƏɎƫƺǕǣȇɀɯǣɎǝƏȷɖƺɀɎǣȒȇȒȸ
hypothesis and ends with conclusions supported by data. Due to the nature of research, a sig-
ȇǣˡƬƏȇɎȵȒȸɎǣȒȇȒǔɵȒɖȸƳƏɎƏȅƏɵȇȒɎȅƏǸƺǣɎǣȇɎȒɎǝƺˡȇƏǼɮƺȸɀǣȒȇȒǔɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀًƏȇƳɵȒɖȇƺƺƳ
to make peace with that.
Solution: Make an outline of your thesis, including bullet points for the data or
arguments you will make in each section. This outline may change over time, but
it will help guide you in collecting data and including the most relevant sections
of your thesis. Share your outline with your supervisor to make sure you include all
the relevant information.

PART IV
#7
!ĠăŬŬƛ̪ŨĤõķĤŅęŎŬłØŰŰØęĤŅęƛŎƀŬûØŹØŹŎƱŹƛŎƀŬŰŹŎŬƛ
!ǝƺȸȸɵ‫ٮ‬ȵǣƬǸǣȇǕȅƺƏȇɀɎǝƏɎɵȒɖƏȸƺƬǝȒȒɀǣȇǕɎȒƺȅȵǝƏɀǣɿƺȒȇǼɵɎǝƺƳƏɎƏɎǝƏɎɀɖȵȵȒȸɎɵȒɖȸ
ɀɎȒȸɵɯǝǣǼƺǣǕȇȒȸǣȇǕˡȇƳǣȇǕɀɎǝƏɎƬȒȇɎȸƏƳǣƬɎɵȒɖȸȵȸȒȵȒɀƺƳƬȒȇƬǼɖɀǣȒȇɀِ
Data massaging can refer to a spectrum of questionable analysis methods ranging from
ƺǼǣȅǣȇƏɎǣȇǕȒƫɮǣȒɖɀȒɖɎǼǣƺȸɀɎȒ‫ٹ‬ɎǣǕǝɎƺȇǣȇǕ‫ٺ‬ɵȒɖȸƳƏɎƏɀƺɎƫɵƺɴƬǼɖƳǣȇǕƏǼǼȵȒǣȇɎɀȒɖɎɀǣƳƺ
ƬƺȸɎƏǣȇƺȸȸȒȸƫƏȸɀِ٢³ȒȅƺƬȒȇɀǣƳƺȸǔƏƫȸǣƬƏɎǣȒȇƏɎɵȵƺȒǔƳƏɎƏȅƏɀɀƏǕǣȇǕًƫɖɎXɯǣǼǼȇȒɎǕȒǣȇɎȒ
ɎǝƏɎًƏɀɎǝƺƬȒȇɀƺȷɖƺȇƬƺɀȒǔɀɖƬǝȅǣɀƬȒȇƳɖƬɎƏȸƺȅɖƬǝȅȒȸƺɀƺȸǣȒɖɀɎǝƏȇǴɖɀɎǝƏɮǣȇǕɎȒ
ɀƬǝƺƳɖǼƺɵƺɎƏȇȒɎǝƺȸƬȒȅȅǣɎɎƺƺȅƺƺɎǣȇǕِ٣
ɖɎǼǣƺȸɀƬƏȇƫƺƺɴɎȸƺȅƺǼɵǔȸɖɀɎȸƏɎǣȇǕǣǔɵȒɖǝƏɮƺɀȵƺȇɎȅȒȇɎǝɀȒȸɵƺƏȸɀƳƺɀǣǕȇǣȇǕɵȒɖȸ
ɀɎɖƳɵِXȇɀȒȅƺƬƏɀƺɀًȒɖɎǼǣƺȸɀƬƏȇƫƺƺɴƬǼɖƳƺƳǔȒȸǕȒȒƳȸƺƏɀȒȇɀًɀɖƬǝƏɀƏȇƏȇǣȅƏǼȒȸǝɖȅƏȇ
ɮȒǼɖȇɎƺƺȸɯǣɎǝƏƬƺȸɎƏǣȇɖȇƳƺȸǼɵǣȇǕƬȒȇƳǣɎǣȒȇɎǝƏɎǣȇɎƺȸǔƺȸƺƳɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸɀɎɖƳɵِ
XȇȒɎǝƺȸƬƏɀƺɀًɎǝƺȸƺǣɀȇȒǕȒȒƳƺɴȵǼƏȇƏɎǣȒȇǔȒȸɎǝƺȒɖɎǼǣƺȸɀًɯǝǣƬǝƬƏȇƫƺƺɮƺȇȅȒȸƺǣȸȸǣɎƏɎ-
ǣȇǕƫƺƬƏɖɀƺɵȒɖǝƏɮƺȇȒɀƬǣƺȇɎǣˡƬȸƺƏɀȒȇǔȒȸƺɴƬǼɖƳǣȇǕɎǝƺȅًƏȇƳɎǝƺɵƬƏȇǝƏɮƺƏȇƺǕƏɎǣɮƺ
impact on your statistical analysis.
ȒɎǝƬǝƺȸȸɵ‫ٮ‬ȵǣƬǸǣȇǕƏȇƳƳƏɎƏȅƏɀɀƏǕǣȇǕƏȸƺȷɖƺɀɎǣȒȇƏƫǼƺɀƬǣƺȇɎǣˡƬȵȸƏƬɎǣƬƺɀِ
XǔɵȒɖȸƬȒȅȅǣɎɎƺƺˡȇƳɀȒɖɎɎǝƏɎɵȒɖɯƺȸƺɎȸɵǣȇǕɎȒ‫ٹ‬ǝǣƳƺ‫ٺ‬ɵȒɖȸȒȸǣǕǣȇƏǼƳƏɎƏɀƺɎًɎǝƺɵȅǣǕǝɎ
ƺɮƺȇɎƏǸƺɵȒɖȒǔǔɎǝƺȵȸȒǴƺƬɎȒȸɀɖɀȵƺȇƳɵȒɖǔȸȒȅɎǝƺȵȸȒǕȸƏȅِ!ǝƺȸȸɵ‫ٮ‬ȵǣƬǸǣȇǕȒȸƳƏɎƏȅƏɀ-
ɀƏǕǣȇǕƬƏȇǼƺƏƳɎȒɀƺȸǣȒɖɀ٢ƺɮƺȇǼƺǕƏǼ٣ƬȒȇɀƺȷɖƺȇƬƺɀǣȇƬƺȸɎƏǣȇƏȸƺƏɀȒǔȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝًȵƏȸɎǣƬɖǼƏȸǼɵ
ɎǝȒɀƺǣȇɮȒǼɮǣȇǕǝɖȅƏȇɮȒǼɖȇɎƺƺȸɀِ
Solution: Most data sets will not be perfect, and an outlier does not invalidate your
results. If there is an outlier, make a note of it. You always need to be completely
transparent about the data you collected and how you analyzed it. If you choose
to eliminate an outlier, you need to be clear about your reason.
Your supervisor’s experience can be particular helpful here, as he or she might be

able to suggest scientif ically valid reasons to exclude certain points.

PART IV
#8
Rewriting the same paragraphs over and over until they are perfect
¨ƺȸǔƺƬɎǣȒȇǣɀȅǣɀȒȇƺȒǔɎǝƺȅȒɀɎƬȒȅȅȒȇƬƏɖɀƺɀȒǔɯȸǣɎƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀƫǼȒƬǸِ³ȒȅƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀƏȸƺɀȒɯȒȸ-
ried that their writing is not good enough that they may be afraid to put any thoughts on paper.
ɀƏȸƺɀɖǼɎًɎǝƺɵɯȸǣɎƺƏɎǝƺɀǣɀɯǣɎǝȒȇǼɵƫǣɎɀƏȇƳȵǣƺƬƺɀًƏȇƳɎǝƺȸƺǣɀȇ‫ټ‬ɎƺȇȒɖǕǝȅƏɎƺȸǣƏǼǔȒȸɎǝƺǣȸ
ƬȒȅȅǣɎɎƺƺɎȒƏȵȵȸȒɮƺɎǝƺǣȸɎǝƺɀǣɀِ
Solution: JƺɎƺɮƺȸɵɎǝǣȇǕȒȇȵƏȵƺȸ٥ɵȒɖȸƳƏɎƏ٦ɵȒɖȸǣƳƺƏɀ٦ɵȒɖȸȸƺǔƺȸƺȇƬƺɀ٦ƏȇƳɵȒɖȸ
proposed data interpretation. You cannot pull a thesis together while all this informa-
tion is in your head.
Rewriting the same paragraphs until they are perfect will not bring you closer to a
˾ȇǣɀǝƺƳɎǝƺɀǣɀ٫XȇɀɎƺƏƳ٦ǔȒƬɖɀȒȇȵɖɎɎǣȇǕƏɀɎȒȸɵɎȒǕƺɎǝƺȸ٦ƺɮƺȇǣǔɵȒɖƳȒȇ‫ڗ‬ɎɵƺɎǝƏɮƺ
all the pieces of your puzzle in place.
(ɖȸǣȇǕɎǝƺƏƬɎǣɮƺɯȸǣɎǣȇǕȵǝƏɀƺ٦ȵɖɎɵȒɖȸƏɎɎƺȇɎǣȒȇȒȇɎǝƺƬȒȇɎƺȇɎ٥ɎǝƺȷɖƺɀɎǣȒȇɀɵȒɖ
are asking, the validity of your methods, the quality of your data, and any gaps in
ɵȒɖȸɀɎȒȸɵɎǝƏɎɵȒɖȅǣǕǝɎȇƺƺƳɎȒ˾ǼǼǣȇƫƺǔȒȸƺǝƏȇƳǣȇǕǣȇɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀ٫
Leave the editing (word choice, style, and formatting) until the very end. Some univer-
sities have writing centers that offer editing services, or you can hire someone to do a
copyediting polish on your thesis if you are concerned about your writing style.
#9
Using secondary references without checking primary references
When you come across a paper by Smith et al., who cite data from Johnson et al., do you cite
³ȅǣɎǝȒȸhȒǝȇɀȒȇɯǝƺȇɵȒɖȸƺǔƺȸɎȒɎǝǣɀƳƏɎƏّ
XɎǣɀɎƺȅȵɎǣȇǕɎȒǴɖɀɎƬǣɎƺ³ȅǣɎǝƺɎƏǼًِɎȒɀƏɮƺɵȒɖȸɀƺǼǔɎǝƺɎȸȒɖƫǼƺȒǔǝƏɮǣȇǕɎȒǼȒȒǸɖȵhȒǝȇɀȒȇ
ƺɎƏǼِRȒɯƺɮƺȸًƬǣɎǣȇǕɀƺƬȒȇƳƏȸɵȸƺǔƺȸƺȇƬƺɀ٢ǣȇɎǝǣɀƬƏɀƺً³ȅǣɎǝƺɎƏǼِ٣ǣɀƏȷɖƺɀɎǣȒȇƏƫǼƺȵȸƏƬɎǣƬƺ
because you are trusting someone else to interpret the original data set, which was published
by Johnson et al.
XɎǣɀƏǼɀȒȇȒɎƺȇȒɖǕǝɎȒǴɖɀɎƬǣɎƺƫȒɎǝ³ȅǣɎǝƏȇƳhȒǝȇɀȒȇًɯǣɎǝȒɖɎǼȒȒǸǣȇǕɖȵhȒǝȇɀȒȇًƫƺƬƏɖɀƺ

PART IV
ɀȒȅƺȵƏȵƺȸɀǕǣɮƺǣȇƬȒȸȸƺƬɎƬǣɎƏɎǣȒȇɀِÁǝƺǴȒɖȸȇƏǼȇƏȅƺًȵƏǕƺȇɖȅƫƺȸًȒȸɵƺƏȸȒǔȵɖƫǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ
ȅǣǕǝɎǝƏɮƺƫƺƺȇɎɵȵƺƳǣȇƬȒȸȸƺƬɎǼɵǣȇɎǝƺƫǣƫǼǣȒǕȸƏȵǝɵًƏȇƳǣǔɵȒɖǴɖɀɎƬȒȵɵǣɎɮƺȸƫƏɎǣȅًɵȒɖɯǣǼǼ
ƫƺǝƺǼƳȸƺɀȵȒȇɀǣƫǼƺǔȒȸƏȇǣȇɮƏǼǣƳƬǣɎƏɎǣȒȇِ
Solution: If you refer to an original data set, you need to look at the data set yourself.
ǼɯƏɵɀƬǣɎƺɎǝƺȵȸǣȅƏȸɵȵƏȵƺȸ٦ƫɖɎȒȇǼɵƏǔɎƺȸɵȒɖǝƏɮƺƬȒȇ˾ȸȅƺƳɎǝƏɎɎǝƺƬȒȇƬǼɖɀǣȒȇɀ
made by the secondary paper are valid. You can also cite the secondary paper if you
want to refer to the authors’ interpretation of the data or any follow-up experiments
they have done.
#10
“Lifting” information from other papers
áǝƺȇɵȒɖȸƺɮǣƺɯ‫׎ד‬٫‫׎׎׏‬ȵƏȵƺȸɀǔȒȸƏǼǣɎƺȸƏɎɖȸƺȸƺɮǣƺɯًǣɎǣɀɎȒɖǕǝɎȒǸƺƺȵƏǼǼɵȒɖȸȸƺǔƺȸƺȇƬ-
ƺɀɀɎȸƏǣǕǝɎِɀɵȒɖƫƺǕǣȇɯȸǣɎǣȇǕًɎǝƺɎƺɴɎǣȇɵȒɖȸǼǣɎƺȸƏɎɖȸƺȸƺɮǣƺɯȅǣǕǝɎɀȒɖȇƳɮƺȸɵƬǼȒɀƺɎȒ
some of the papers you read. Your sentences and word choice might be so close that your
ƏƳɮǣɀȒȸȅǣǕǝɎȷɖƺɀɎǣȒȇɯǝƺɎǝƺȸɵȒɖ‫ٹ‬ǼǣǔɎƺƳ‫ٺ‬ɀȒȅƺȵƏȸƏǕȸƏȵǝɀًȒȸɯȒȸɀƺًǝƺȒȸɀǝƺȅƏɵƏƬƬɖɀƺ
ɵȒɖȒǔȵǼƏǕǣƏȸǣɀȅ٢ȒȇƺȒǔɎǝƺɯȒȸɀɎȒǔǔƺȇɀƺɀǣȇƏȇƏƬƏƳƺȅǣƬƺȇɮǣȸȒȇȅƺȇɎ٣ِ
áǝƺɎǝƺȸȒȸȇȒɎǣɎɯƏɀǣȇɎƺȇɎǣȒȇƏǼًǣǔɵȒɖȸȵƏȵƺȸǣɀɎȒȒƬǼȒɀƺɎȒɀȒȅƺȒȇƺƺǼɀƺ‫ټ‬ɀًǣɎɯǣǼǼȸƺˢƺƬɎɮƺȸɵ
poorly on your performance and could ruin your reputation for years.
Solution: Keep all the information from your references organized electronically. Since
most of your references will be in an electronic format such as PDFs, you can highlight
or box the information within each PDF itself. You can also group your references by
category in different folders so you can save new papers in the appropriate folders as
ɀȒȒȇƏɀɵȒɖ˾ȇƳɎǝƺȅ٫
This practice will ensure that when it is time to write your literature review, you can
ȵɖǼǼɖȵɎǝƺƬȒȸȸƺɀȵȒȇƳǣȇǕ˾ǼƺɀȸǣǕǝɎƏɯƏɵƏȇƳɀƺƺɯǝƏɎǣȇǔȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇɵȒɖɯƏȇɎɎȒɖɀƺ٫
You can then paraphrase this information appropriately (and include the references)
so that you avoid any chances of being accused of “lifting” or plagiarism.

PART V
Finish Your Thesis THE ONE THING THAT PHDS WOULD
DO DIFFERENTLY IN GRADUATE SCHOOL
PART V
THE ONE THING THAT PHDS
WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY IN
GRADUATE SCHOOL
xƏȇɵ¨ǝ(ɀǝƏɮƺȸƺǕȸƺɎɀƏƫȒɖɎɎǝƺǣȸǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀƬǝȒȒǼƺɴȵƺȸǣƺȇƬƺًƺɀȵƺƬǣƏǼǼɵǣǔǣɎɎȒȒǸǼȒȇǕƺȸ
ɎȒƬȒȅȵǼƺɎƺɎǝƏȇƺɴȵƺƬɎƺƳِXǣȇɎƺȸɮǣƺɯƺƳȒɮƺȸ‫¨׎׎׏‬ǝ(ɀǔȒȸȅɵ‫ٹ‬IǣȇǣɀǝçȒɖȸÁǝƺɀǣɀ¨ȸȒ-
gram,” and one of the questions I asked was what they would do differently if they could
ɀɎƏȸɎȒɮƺȸƏǕƏǣȇِ³ȒȅƺȒǔɎǝƺƏȇɀɯƺȸɀɯƺȸƺɀǣȅǣǼƏȸًƏȇƳXƳǣɮǣƳƺƳɎǝƺȅǣȇɎȒ‫א׏‬ƬƏɎƺǕȒȸǣƺɀ
ranked according to how frequently they were mentioned. Perhaps not surprisingly, no one
ɀƏǣƳɎǝƺɵɯȒɖǼƳǝƏɮƺɯȒȸǸƺƳȅȒȸƺǝȒɖȸɀِ
If I could start graduate school again, I would:
#1
Take fewer loans
xȒɀɎ¨ǝ(ɀǣȇȅƏɎǝًɀƬǣƺȇƬƺًƏȇƳƺȇǕǣȇƺƺȸǣȇǕǝƏƳȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝǔƺǼǼȒɯɀǝǣȵɀɎȒƬȒɮƺȸɎǝƺǣȸɎɖǣɎǣȒȇ
ƏȇƳƫƏɀǣƬƺɴȵƺȇɀƺɀِ³ɎɖƳƺȇɎɀǣȇɎǝƺǝɖȅƏȇǣɎǣƺɀƏȇƳɀȒƬǣƏǼɀƬǣƺȇƬƺɀɯǝȒɀƺɎɖǣɎǣȒȇɀɯƺȸƺȇȒɎ
ƬȒɮƺȸƺƳǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺƳɯǣɎǝɎƺȇɀȒǔɎǝȒɖɀƏȇƳɀȒǔƳȒǼǼƏȸɀȒǔɀɎɖƳƺȇɎƳƺƫɎِ³ɎɖƳƺȇɎɀɯǝȒǝƏƳƺɴƬƺɀ-
ɀǣɮƺǼȒƏȇɀȸƺƏǼǣɿƺƳɎǝƏɎȵȸǣȒȸɎȒƺȇɎƺȸǣȇǕɎǝƺǣȸ¨ǝ(ȵȸȒǕȸƏȅًɎǝƺɵǝƏƳȇȒɎƺɮƏǼɖƏɎƺƳɎǝƺƬƏȸƺƺȸ
ȵƏɎǝɀƏȇƳɀƏǼƏȸǣƺɀȒǔ¨ǝ(ɀǣȇɎǝƺǣȸˡƺǼƳɀȒȸǣȇɮƺɀɎǣǕƏɎƺƳɯǝƺɎǝƺȸƏ¨ǝ(ɯƏɀƏǕȒȒƳǣȇɮƺɀɎ-
ment of their time and money or was in line with their long-term career goals.
#2
Exercise more
xȒɀɎ¨ǝ(ɀXǣȇɎƺȸɮǣƺɯƺƳƺɴƺȸƬǣɀƺƳƏɎǼƺƏɀɎȒȇƏɀƺȅǣ‫ٮ‬ȸƺǕɖǼƏȸƫƏɀǣɀِǔƺɯɀɎȸɖǕǕǼƺƳɯǣɎǝɯƺǣǕǝɎ

PART V
issues or a lack of energy in graduate school. These students admitted that with better planning,
ɎǝƺɵƬȒɖǼƳǝƏɮƺǔȒɖȇƳȅȒȸƺɎǣȅƺɎȒƺɴƺȸƬǣɀƺِ ȇƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀƏǣƳً‫ٹ‬áǝƺȇƺɮƺȸXƺɴƺȸƬǣɀƺXƏȅȅȒȸƺ
ƺǔˡƬǣƺȇɎًƫɖɎǔȒȸɀȒȅƺȸƺƏɀȒȇXǴɖɀɎǔȒȸǕƺɎƏƫȒɖɎɎƏǸǣȇǕƏƫȸƺƏǸƏȇƳǕȒǣȇǕɎȒɎǝƺǕɵȅِ‫ٺ‬
0ɴƺȸƬǣɀǣȇǕɯǣǼǼȇȒɎǝƏȵȵƺȇȒȇǣɎɀȒɯȇِXǔɵȒɖɯƏȇɎɎȒƺɴƺȸƬǣɀƺًɵȒɖȇƺƺƳɎȒɀƺɎƏɀǣƳƺɎǣȅƺǔȒȸǣɎٕ
otherwise it will not happen.
#3
Waste less time on social media
One student who said that this is the one change she would make recalled that her PI was not
around much, but the few times he walked by, she happened to be on Facebook. As a conse-
ȷɖƺȇƬƺًɯǝƺȇƺɮƺȸǝƺȸȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝƳǣƳȇȒɎǕȒɯƺǼǼًǝƺɀƏǣƳɎǝƏɎǣɎɯƏɀȵȸȒƫƏƫǼɵƫƺƬƏɖɀƺɀǝƺɀȵƺȇɎ
ɎȒȒȅɖƬǝɎǣȅƺȒȇɀȒƬǣƏǼȅƺƳǣƏِXȇǝƺȸȒȵǣȇǣȒȇًɀǝƺƳǣƳȇȒɎɀȵƺȇƳƺɴƬƺɀɀǣɮƺɎǣȅƺȒȇIƏƬƺƫȒȒǸً
ƫɖɎǣɎƳǣƳǼƺƏƳɎȒƬȒȇˢǣƬɎƫƺɎɯƺƺȇǝƺȸƏȇƳǝƺȸ¨Xِ
ǔƺɯ¨ǝ(ɀɯǝȒƬǣɎƺƳɎǝǣɀƏɀɎǝƺُ‫׏‬ɎǝǣȇǕɎǝƺɵɯȒɖǼƳƬǝƏȇǕƺɀƏǣƳɎǝƏɎɎǝƺɵɖɀƺƳɎǝƺXȇɎƺȸȇƺɎ
ƏɀƏǔȒȸȅȒǔȵȸȒƬȸƏɀɎǣȇƏɎǣȒȇƳǣɀǕɖǣɀƺƳƏɀȸƺǼƏɴƏɎǣȒȇِXȇȒɎǝƺȸɯȒȸƳɀًɎǝƺɵɎǝȒɖǕǝɎɎǝƺɵɯƺȸƺ
ɎƏǸǣȇǕƏƫȸƺƏǸǔȸȒȅɯȒȸǸًƫɖɎɎǝƺɵɯƺȸƺƏƬɎɖƏǼǼɵɯƏɀɎǣȇǕȵȸƺƬǣȒɖɀɎǣȅƺɎǝƏɎƬȒɖǼƳǝƏɮƺƫƺƺȇ
used for a real break, such as a walk.
#4
Travel more
JȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀƏȸƺȇȒɎȵƏǣƳɯƺǼǼ٢ƏȇƳɎǝƺɵƳȒȇȒɎǝƏɮƺȅɖƬǝɮƏƬƏɎǣȒȇ٣ًƫɖɎɎǝƺȸƺƏȸƺ
ɀɎǣǼǼȒȵȵȒȸɎɖȇǣɎǣƺɀɎȒɎȸƏɮƺǼǼȒƬƏǼǼɵِ ȇƺ¨ǝ(ɯƺȇɎɎȒǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀƬǝȒȒǼƏƫȸȒƏƳًƏȇƳɯǝƺȇǝƺ
ǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺƳǝƺȸƺƏǼǣɿƺƳɎǝƏɎǝƺǝƏƳȇȒɎɀƺƺȇƏȇɵȒǔɎǝƺȅƏǴȒȸɀǣǕǝɎɀǣȇɎǝƺƬȒɖȇɎȸɵƳɖȸǣȇǕ
ǝǣɀ‫ד‬ɵƺƏȸɀɎǝƺȸƺِXǔɵȒɖƳȒȇȒɎǝƏɮƺɎǝƺƫɖƳǕƺɎȒȸɎǣȅƺǔȒȸƺɴɎƺȇɀǣɮƺɎȸƏɮƺǼًɀƺƺǣǔɵȒɖƬƏȇ
ȒƬƬƏɀǣȒȇƏǼǼɵɎƏǸƺɀȒȅƺƳƏɵȒȸɯƺƺǸƺȇƳɎȸǣȵɀɎȒǕƺɎƏɯƺǼǼ‫ٮ‬ƳƺɀƺȸɮƺƳƫȸƺƏǸِ
ɀƏȇƺɴƏȅȵǼƺȒǔǝȒɯɵȒɖƬƏȇȅƏǸƺɎǝƺɎȸǣȵȒǔƏǼǣǔƺɎǣȅƺȵȒɀɀǣƫǼƺȒȇƏǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎ
ɀɎǣȵƺȇƳًȒȇƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀƏɮƺƳɖȵǔȒȸ‫ב‬ɵƺƏȸɀɎȒǕȒɎȒ0ɖȸȒȵƺِ³ǝƺǝƏƳȇƺɮƺȸƫƺƺȇɎǝƺȸƺƫƺǔȒȸƺً
ƏȇƳɀǝƺɀƏɮƺƳƫƺɎɯƺƺȇ‫׎׎׏ڟ‬ƏȇƳ‫׎ד׏ڟ‬ƏȅȒȇɎǝɯǝǣǼƺƬȒǼǼƺƬɎǣȇǕǣȇǔȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇƏƫȒɖɎɀɎɖƳƺȇɎ

PART V
ƳǣɀƬȒɖȇɎɀِáǝƺȇɀǝƺˡȇƏǼǼɵǝƏƳƺȇȒɖǕǝȅȒȇƺɵًɀǝƺɀȵƺȇɎ‫ב‬ɯƺƺǸɀǣȇ0ɖȸȒȵƺƏȇƳɎȸƏɮƺǼƺƳ
ɎȒ‫ד‬ƳǣǔǔƺȸƺȇɎƬȒɖȇɎȸǣƺɀِ
Áǝƺ¨ǝ(ɀɯǝȒȸƺǕȸƺɎɎƺƳȇȒɎɎȸƏɮƺǼǣȇǕƏɎɎȸǣƫɖɎƺƳǣɎɎȒȇȒɎǝƏɮǣȇǕɎǝƺƬȒɖȸƏǕƺɎȒƏɀǸɎǝƺǣȸ
PI for time off. It was usually not a matter of money. One student canceled a trip to China
ƫƺƬƏɖɀƺɀǝƺɯƏɀɯȒȸȸǣƺƳɎǝƏɎǝƺȸ‫ٮא‬ɯƺƺǸɎȸǣȵɯȒɖǼƳȇƺǕƏɎǣɮƺǼɵƏǔǔƺƬɎǝƺȸȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝِXȇȸƺɎȸȒ-
ɀȵƺƬɎًɀǝƺȸƺǕȸƺɎɎƺƳǣɎƫƺƬƏɖɀƺɀǝƺǼƏɎƺȸȸƺƏǼǣɿƺƳɎǝƏɎɎƏǸǣȇǕ‫א‬ɯƺƺǸɀȒǔǔǣɀǣȇɀǣǕȇǣˡƬƏȇɎǣȇƏ
6-year PhD program.
#5
ŨăŅûłŎŬăŹĤłăƕĤŹĠłƛŰĤęŅĤƱõØŅŹŎŹĠăŬ
¨ǝ(ȵȸȒǕȸƏȅɖɀɖƏǼǼɵɎƏǸƺɀƏɎȒǼǼȒȇɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀ‫ټ‬ȸƺǼƏɎǣȒȇɀǝǣȵɀِ³ȵȒɖɀƺɀɯǝȒƏȸƺȇȒɎǣȇƏ
¨ǝ(ȵȸȒǕȸƏȅɀȒȅƺɎǣȅƺɀǝƏɮƺƏǝƏȸƳɎǣȅƺɖȇƳƺȸɀɎƏȇƳǣȇǕǝȒɯɵȒɖƬƏȇɯȒȸǸ‫ד׏‬ǝȒɖȸɀƏ
ƳƏɵً‫ה‬ƳƏɵɀƏɯƺƺǸِÁǝƺɀǣɎɖƏɎǣȒȇƬƏȇǕƺɎƺɮƺȇɯȒȸɀƺǣǔɎǝƺɀȵȒɖɀƺǝƏɀƏǔɖǼǼ‫ٮ‬ɎǣȅƺǴȒƫƏȇƳǣɀ
ɀɖȵȵȒȸɎǣȇǕɎǝƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎˡȇƏȇƬǣƏǼǼɵِXǝƏɮƺɯǣɎȇƺɀɀƺƳɀƺɮƺȸƏǼƫȸƺƏǸɖȵɀ٢ȅƏȸȸǣƏǕƺɀًƺȇǕƏǕƺ-
ȅƺȇɎɀًƳƏɎǣȇǕ٣ƳɖƺɎȒɎǝƺɀɎȸƏǣȇɎǝƏɎƏ¨ǝ(ȵȸȒǕȸƏȅȵɖɎɀȒȇƏȸƺǼƏɎǣȒȇɀǝǣȵِ
RȒɯƺɮƺȸًXƏǼɀȒǸȇȒɯɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀɯǝȒɯƺȸƺƏƫǼƺɎȒȇɖȸɎɖȸƺɎǝƺǣȸȸƺǼƏɎǣȒȇɀǝǣȵɀƳƺɀȵǣɎƺɎǝƺ
ƬǝƏǼǼƺȇǕƺɀȒǔǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀƬǝȒȒǼِÁȒɀɖȅȅƏȸǣɿƺًǣɎǣɀɎǝƺǼǣɎɎǼƺɎǝǣȇǕɀɎǝƏɎƬȒɖȇɎِ0ɮƺȇǣǔɵȒɖƏȸƺ
ɯȒȸǸǣȇǕ‫ٮא׏‬ɎȒ‫ٮד׏‬ǝȒɖȸƳƏɵɀًɵȒɖƬƏȇɀɎǣǼǼȅƏǸƺɎǝƺɎǣȅƺɵȒɖɀȵƺȇƳɯǣɎǝɵȒɖȸɀȵȒɖɀƺɀȵƺƬǣƏǼِ
Simple things include eating meals together, going out for ice cream, and committing to a
ǔƺɯǝȒɖȸɀƺɮƺȸɵɯƺƺǸɎȒɀȵƺȇƳɯǣɎǝǝǣȅȒȸǝƺȸًȸƺǕƏȸƳǼƺɀɀȒǔǝȒɯɵȒɖȸȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝǣɀǕȒǣȇǕِ
#6
Make sure I was on the same page as my PI
xȒɀɎƬȒȇˢǣƬɎɀƫƺɎɯƺƺȇƏǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎƏȇƳƏ¨XȸƺɀɖǼɎǔȸȒȅǼƏƬǸȒǔȵȸȒȵƺȸƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏ-
ɎǣȒȇِɀƏȇƺɴƏȅȵǼƺًȒȇƺɯȒȅƏȇɎȒǼƳǝƺȸ¨XɎǝƏɎɀǝƺɯƏɀǕȒǣȇǕȒȇɮƏƬƏɎǣȒȇƏǔƺɯɯƺƺǸɀǣȇ
ƏƳɮƏȇƬƺƏȇƳǝƺƏǕȸƺƺƳِáǝƺȇɀǝƺȸƺɎɖȸȇƺƳًǝƺȸ¨XƬƏǼǼƺƳǝƺȸɎȒǝǣɀȒǔˡƬƺƏȇƳƏɀǸƺƳɯǝɵ
ɀǝƺǝƏƳȇ‫ټ‬ɎɎȒǼƳǝǣȅɀǝƺɯƏɀǕȒǣȇǕȒɖɎȒǔɎȒɯȇِ³ǝƺȸƺȅǣȇƳƺƳǝǣȅȒǔɎǝƺƬȒȇɮƺȸɀƏɎǣȒȇɎǝƺɵ
ǝƏƳƏǔƺɯɯƺƺǸɀȵȸǣȒȸِ‫ ٹ‬ǝًXƬƏȇ‫ټ‬ɎȸƺȅƺȅƫƺȸɎǝƏɎً‫ٺ‬ǝƺȸƺȵǼǣƺƳِ‫ٹ‬çȒɖȇƺƺƳɎȒɎƺǼǼȅƺƏǔƺɯ
ƳƏɵɀǣȇƏƳɮƏȇƬƺɀȒXƬƏȇȵǼƏȇƏƬƬȒȸƳǣȇǕǼɵِ‫ ٺ‬ƫɮǣȒɖɀǼɵًɎǝǣɀɀɎɖƳƺȇɎǝƏƳȇȒɎȸƺƏǼǣɿƺƳɎǝƏɎǝƺȸ

PART V
PI needed many reminders.
ȇȒɎǝƺȸƬȒȅȅȒȇɀȒɖȸƬƺȒǔƬȒȇˢǣƬɎȸƺǼƏɎƺɀɎȒƏɀǸǣȇǕǔȒȸȸƺƬȒȅȅƺȇƳƏɎǣȒȇɀِ¨XɀƏȸƺɮƺȸɵ
ƫɖɀɵًƏȇƳɵȒɖȸǼƺɎɎƺȸȒǔȸƺƬȒȅȅƺȇƳƏɎǣȒȇǣɀǴɖɀɎ‫׏‬Ȓǔ‫׎׎׏‬ɎǝǣȇǕɀǝƺȒȸɀǝƺȇƺƺƳɀɎȒƳȒِxƏȇɵ
¨XɀǔȒȸǕƺɎɎǝƏɎɎǝƺɵǝƏɮƺɎȒɯȸǣɎƺƏȸƺƬȒȅȅƺȇƳƏɎǣȒȇǼƺɎɎƺȸًƏȇƳȒɮƺȸǼȒȒǸǣȇǕǣɎƬƏȇǴƺȒȵ-
ƏȸƳǣɿƺɵȒɖȸƬǝƏȇƬƺɀȒǔǕƺɎɎǣȇǕƺɴɎȸƏǔɖȇƳǣȇǕȒȸƏǴȒƫِçȒɖƬƏȇȅƏǸƺǣɎƺƏɀǣƺȸǔȒȸɵȒɖȸ¨XɎȒ
ɯȸǣɎƺƏȸƺƬȒȅȅƺȇƳƏɎǣȒȇǼƺɎɎƺȸǣǔɵȒɖɀƺȇƳǝǣȅȒȸǝƺȸƏˡǼƺɯǣɎǝƫɖǼǼƺɎȵȒǣȇɎɀǼǣɀɎǣȇǕɵȒɖȸƏƬ-
complishments as well as sending him or her polite reminders as the deadline gets closer.
#7
Do lab rotations before deciding which group to join (or change
groups sooner)
XȸƺȅƺȅƫƺȸɎǝƏɎȅɵƏƬƏƳƺȅǣƬƏƳɮǣɀȒȸǣȇƬȒǼǼƺǕƺɎȒǼƳȅƺɎȒǼȒȒǸǔȒȸ‫א‬ȷɖƏǼǣɎǣƺɀǣȇȅɵ¨ǝ(
ƏƳɮǣɀȒȸ‫׏ي‬٣ƺƏɀɵɎȒǕƺɎƏǼȒȇǕɯǣɎǝًƏȇƳ‫א‬٣ɯƺǼǼǸȇȒɯȇǣȇǝǣɀȒȸǝƺȸˡƺǼƳِ ǔƬȒɖȸɀƺًǣɎǣɀƳǣǔˡƬɖǼɎ
to predict how well you will get along with your PI or whether you will like your research.
ɖɎǣǔɵȒɖȸƺƏǼǣɿƺɎǝƏɎɎǝƺȸƺɀƺƏȸƬǝȒȸɎǝƺ¨XǣɀȇȒɎƏǕȒȒƳˡɎǔȒȸɵȒɖًǣɎǣɀǣȇƺɮƺȸɵȒȇƺ‫ټ‬ɀǣȇɎƺȸ-
ƺɀɎɀɎǝƏɎɵȒɖƬǝƏȇǕƺǕȸȒɖȵɀƏɀɀȒȒȇƏɀȵȒɀɀǣƫǼƺِ³ȒȅƺƳƺȵƏȸɎȅƺȇɎɀƏǼǼȒɯ٢ƏȇƳƺɮƺȇƺȇ-
ƬȒɖȸƏǕƺ٣ɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀɎȒƳȒǼƏƫȸȒɎƏɎǣȒȇɀِXƳȒȇ‫ټ‬ɎǝƏɮƺƺȇȒɖǕǝɀɎƏɎǣɀɎǣƬɀɎȒɀƏɵɯǝƺɎǝƺȸɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀ
ɯǝȒɎȒȒǸƏƳɮƏȇɎƏǕƺȒǔɎǝǣɀȒȵȵȒȸɎɖȇǣɎɵɯƺȸƺȅȒȸƺɀƏɎǣɀˡƺƳɯǣɎǝɎǝƺǣȸƬǝȒǣƬƺȒǔ¨XɎǝƏȇɎǝƺ
ones who chose a PI without rotations. I do know that students who wished they had done
ȸȒɎƏɎǣȒȇɀȸƺƏǼǣɿƺƳɎǝƏɎɎǝƺǕȸȒɖȵɯƏɀȇȒɎƏǕȒȒƳˡɎǔȒȸɎǝƺȅǣȇɎǝƺ‫׏‬ɀɎǔƺɯȅȒȇɎǝɀِXɎǣɀȵȒɀ-
ɀǣƫǼƺɎǝƏɎǕǣɮƺȇɎǝƺȒȵȵȒȸɎɖȇǣɎɵɎȒƳȒȸȒɎƏɎǣȒȇɀًɎǝƺɵɯȒɖǼƳǝƏɮƺǔȒɖȇƳƏƫƺɎɎƺȸǕȸȒɖȵƏȇƳ
wasted less time.
#8
Stand up against my PI’s bullying
³ƺɮƺȸƏǼɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀǝƏƳȅǣƬȸȒȅƏȇƏǕƺȸ¨XɀًƏȇƳǣɎɎȒȒǸƏɎȒǼǼȒȇɎǝƺǣȸǝƺƏǼɎǝƏȇƳȸƺǼƏɎǣȒȇɀǝǣȵɀِ
IȒȸƺɴƏȅȵǼƺًȒȇƺɯȒȅƏȇǝƏƳƏ¨XɯǝȒƺɴȵƺƬɎƺƳǝƺȸɎȒɯȒȸǸ‫ו‬ƳƏɵɀƏɯƺƺǸِáǝƺȇɀǝƺƳǣƳ
ȇȒɎǕȒɎȒǼƏƫًǝƺƬƏǼǼƺƳǝƺȸƏɎǝȒȅƺɎȒȸƺȅǣȇƳǝƺȸǝȒɯɖȸǕƺȇɎɎǝƺȵȸȒǴƺƬɎɯƏɀِ³ǝƺɯƏɀɀȒ
irritated by his management style that she established new boundaries, including limited
ɎǣȅƺȒȇɎǝƺɯƺƺǸƺȇƳɀƏȇƳȇȒƬƏǼǼɀƏɎǝȒȅƺِXǔǝƺɯƏȇɎƺƳǝƺȸɎȒƫƺȵȸȒƳɖƬɎǣɮƺًǝƺɯȒɖǼƳ

PART V
need to respect her hours. She recalled that he was speechless and reluctantly agreed.
ɎǝƺȸɀƳǣƳȇȒɎǝƏɮƺɎǝƺƬȒɖȸƏǕƺɎȒɀɎƏȇƳɖȵɎȒɎǝƺǣȸ¨XɀًƺɮƺȇɯǝƺȇɎǝƺȸƺȷɖƺɀɎɀɯƺȸƺ
ɖȇȸƺƏɀȒȇƏƫǼƺِIȒȸƺɴƏȅȵǼƺًȒȇƺɯȒȅƏȇɯƏȇɎƺƳɎȒǼƺƏɮƺɎȒɯȇǔȒȸƏǔƺɯƳƏɵɀɎȒƏɎɎƺȇƳǝƺȸ
ǕȸƏȇƳȅȒɎǝƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀǔɖȇƺȸƏǼِ³ǝƺƏɀǸƺƳǝƺȸɀɖȵƺȸɮǣɀȒȸǔȒȸȵƺȸȅǣɀɀǣȒȇًƏȇƳǝƺɀƏǣƳȇȒƫƺƬƏɖɀƺ
he thought that her research was higher priority. She reluctantly stayed but later wished
ɀǝƺǝƏƳǕȒȇƺȒɖɎȒǔɎȒɯȇƏȇɵɯƏɵِ(ǣƳƏǔƺɯƳƏɵɀȸƺƏǼǼɵȅƏɎɎƺȸǣȇƏ¨ǝ(ɎǝƏɎɎȒȒǸȒɮƺȸ‫ו‬
ɵƺƏȸɀɎȒƬȒȅȵǼƺɎƺّ
#9
Network more with professionals
xƏȇɵɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀǣȇɎǝƺǣȸˡȇƏǼɵƺƏȸȒȸƏǔɎƺȸǕȸƏƳɖƏɎǣȒȇƏȸƺɀɖȸȵȸǣɀƺƳƏɎǝȒɯƳǣǔˡƬɖǼɎǣɎǣɀɎȒˡȇƳ
ƏȇǣȇƳɖɀɎȸɵȵȒɀǣɎǣȒȇِIǣȸɀɎًɎǝƺƬȒȅȵƺɎǣɎǣȒȇǔȒȸ¨ǝ(‫ٮ‬ǼƺɮƺǼǴȒƫɀǣɀˡƺȸƬƺِ³ƺƬȒȇƳًȅƏȇɵǴȒƫɀȒȇǼɵ
ȸƺȷɖǣȸƺƏƫƏƬǝƺǼȒȸ‫ټ‬ɀȒȸȅƏɀɎƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀƳƺǕȸƺƺًƏȇƳƺȅȵǼȒɵƺȸɀƏȸƺȸƺǼɖƬɎƏȇɎɎȒǝǣȸƺ‫ٹ‬ȒɮƺȸȷɖƏǼǣˡƺƳ‫ٺ‬
ƬƏȇƳǣƳƏɎƺɀɯǣɎǝƏ¨ǝ(ƳƺǕȸƺƺِáǝǣǼƺɵȒɖȸɎƺƬǝȇǣƬƏǼɀǸǣǼǼɀƏȸƺȵȸȒƫƏƫǼɵǣȇǼǣȇƺɯǣɎǝɎǝƺǴȒƫɀ
ɵȒɖƏȵȵǼɵǔȒȸًɵȒɖǝƏɮƺƏȅɖƬǝǝǣǕǝƺȸƬǝƏȇƬƺȒǔǼƏȇƳǣȇǕƏȇǣȇƳɖɀɎȸɵǴȒƫǣǔɀȒȅƺȒȇƺǔȸȒȅɎǝƺ
ƬȒȅȵƏȇɵǔȒȸɯƏȸƳɀɵȒɖȸȸƺɀɖȅƺɎȒɎǝƺǝǣȸǣȇǕȅƏȇƏǕƺȸِȇȒɎǝƺȸƏƳɮƏȇɎƏǕƺȒǔȇƺɎɯȒȸǸǣȇǕً
ƺɀȵƺƬǣƏǼǼɵƳɖȸǣȇǕɵȒɖȸƺƏȸǼɵɵƺƏȸɀǣȇǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀƬǝȒȒǼًǣɀɎǝƏɎǣɎɯǣǼǼǕǣɮƺɵȒɖɎǝƺȒȵȵȒȸɎɖȇǣɎɵɎȒ
learn about different career paths.
áǝƺȸƺƳȒɵȒɖˡȇƳȵȸȒǔƺɀɀǣȒȇƏǼɀّxƏȇɵɖȇǣɮƺȸɀǣɎǣƺɀǝƏɮƺȵȸȒǔƺɀɀǣȒȇƏǼƳƺɮƺǼȒȵȅƺȇɎɯȒȸǸ-
ɀǝȒȵɀِXǔɎǝƺɎȒȵǣƬǣɀȸƺǼƺɮƏȇɎًǣɎǣɀƏǕȒȒƳǣƳƺƏɎȒƏɎɎƺȇƳƫƺƬƏɖɀƺ‫׏ي‬٣ɵȒɖɯǣǼǼǼƺƏȸȇƏƫȒɖɎɎǝƏɎ
ƬƏȸƺƺȸȵƏɎǝًƏȇƳ‫א‬٣ɵȒɖƬƏȇƬǝƏɎɯǣɎǝɎǝƺɀȵƺƏǸƺȸƏǔɎƺȸɯƏȸƳًǕƺɎǝǣɀȒȸǝƺȸƬȒȇɎƏƬɎǣȇǔȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇً
ƏȇƳǔȒǼǼȒɯɖȵǼƏɎƺȸɯǣɎǝƏɎǝƏȇǸ‫ٮ‬ɵȒɖƺȅƏǣǼِ¨ȸȒǔƺɀɀǣȒȇƏǼɀȒƬǣƺɎǣƺɀƏǼɀȒǝƏɮƺȸƺǕɖǼƏȸȅƺƺɎǣȇǕɀ
ƏȇƳƬȒȇǔƺȸƺȇƬƺɀِÁǝƺɀƺƏȸƺǕȸƺƏɎȒȵȵȒȸɎɖȇǣɎǣƺɀɎȒȇƺɎɯȒȸǸɯǣɎǝȵƺȒȵǼƺǣȇɵȒɖȸˡƺǼƳِ ƺɀɖȸƺ
ɎȒǔȒǼǼȒɯɖȵɯǣɎǝƺɮƺȸɵȒȇƺɀȒȒȇƏǔɎƺȸƏȅƺƺɎǣȇǕًƺǣɎǝƺȸȒɮƺȸnǣȇǸƺƳXȇȒȸǣȇƏȇƺȅƏǣǼِ
#10
Join a thesis writing support group
Áǝƺُ‫׏‬ƬȒȅȵǼƏǣȇɎȒǔǔȒȸȅƺȸ¨ǝ(ɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀɯƏɀɎǝƏɎɎǝƺɵǔƺǼɎǣɀȒǼƏɎƺƳƏȇƳǼȒɀɎȅȒɎǣɮƏɎǣȒȇɎȒƳȒ
ɯȒȸǸِXȇƬȒǼǼƺǕƺًɎǝƺȸƺɯƺȸƺɀɖȵȵȒȸɎǕȸȒɖȵɀǣȇɎǝƺǔȒȸȅȒǔɀɎɖƳɵǕȸȒɖȵɀًȒǔˡƬƺǝȒɖȸɀًƏȇƳɎǝƺ
ȸƺɀǣƳƺȇɎǣƏǼƬȒȅȅɖȇǣɎɵِXȇǕȸƏƳɖƏɎƺɀƬǝȒȒǼًȅƏȇɵɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀƳȒȇȒɎǝƏɮƺƏȇɵɎɵȵƺȒǔɀɖȵȵȒȸɎِ

PART V
First-year students usually start out enthusiastic but due to lack of accountability they lose
ɎȸƏƬǸȒǔɎǣȅƺƏȇƳǔƏǼǼƫƺǝǣȇƳȒȇɎǝƺǣȸȅǣǼƺɀɎȒȇƺɀِXȇƬȒȇɎȸƏɀɎًɎǝƺɀɎɖƳƺȇɎɀɯǝȒƳǣƳǴȒǣȇƏɀɖȵ-
port group thought that being part of a community was one of the best ways to keep them-
ɀƺǼɮƺɀȅȒɎǣɮƏɎƺƳِ
XǔɎǝƺȸƺǣɀȇȒȒǔˡƬǣƏǼɀɖȵȵȒȸɎǕȸȒɖȵǣȇɵȒɖȸɀƬǝȒȒǼًˡȇƳ‫׏‬ǔȸǣƺȇƳƏȇƳɀƺɎɖȵƏɯƺƺǸǼɵȅƺƺɎǣȇǕɎȒ
ɎƏǼǸƏƫȒɖɎǝȒɯƺƏƬǝȒǔɵȒɖȵȸȒǕȸƺɀɀƺƳƏȇƳɎǝƺƬǝƏǼǼƺȇǕƺɀɵȒɖǝƏƳɎȒȒɮƺȸƬȒȅƺِXǔɵȒɖƏȸƺƏǼ-
ȸƺƏƳɵɯȸǣɎǣȇǕًɀɯƏȵɵȒɖȸƳȸƏǔɎɀƏȇƳǕǣɮƺƺƏƬǝȒɎǝƺȸǔƺƺƳƫƏƬǸِXɎƳȒƺɀȇȒɎȅƏɎɎƺȸǣǔɵȒɖȸǔȸǣƺȇƳ
ǣɀȇȒɎǣȇɵȒɖȸˡƺǼƳ٢ƫɖɎǣɎɯȒɖǼƳƬƺȸɎƏǣȇǼɵǝƺǼȵ٣ِ³ǣȅȵǼɵǸȇȒɯǣȇǕɎǝƏɎɀȒȅƺȒȇƺƺǼɀƺǣɀǕȒǣȇǕɎȒ
ȸƺƏƳɵȒɖȸƳȸƏǔɎƫɵƏɀȵƺƬǣˡƺƳɎǣȅƺɯǣǼǼȅȒɎǣɮƏɎƺɵȒɖɎȒƬȒȅȵǼƺɎƺɵȒɖȸƳȸƏǔɎȒȇɎǣȅƺِ

21 DAY DISSERTATION WRITING CHALLENGE
Pick up momentum in your Dissertation Writing with simple
and quick daily action steps
Do you feel like you need a little push to get yourself to write your Dissertation? After coaching
students for over 10 years, I have found that writing daily (even if for a short time), is the best way
to keep up your writing momentum so you can finish your PhD. I know that you have many
commitments, and I created the 21 Day Dissertation Writing Challenge based on success stories
of PhD students who had full-time jobs, young children, health challenges, or all of the above,
and still managed to finish their Dissertations.
Pick up momentum with our

21 Day Dissertation Writing
Challenge Program
How does the 21 Day Dissertation Writing Challenge Work?

Every month from the 1st of the 21st of the month at 5 am EST, you will receive a simple daily action
step in your inbox. These action steps take no more than 15 minutes a day and help you to establish
a sustainable writing routine that works with your commitments.
How do I sign up and how long is the program?

Click here to sign up for the 21 Day Dissertation Writing Challenge. It’s a monthly membership and you
can cancel anytime by responding to one of the emails. Depending on when you sign up, you will get
the action steps beginning on the 1st of the following month. I will also send you an email on the 28th
or the 29th of the previous month so you can prepare for the challenge. If I doesn’t work for you, you
have until Day 14 of the challenge to request a refund.
Is there a difference in the 21 Day Challenge each month?

Yes! Every month we have a different theme and they usually coincide with the seasons. For example,
in December we focus on how to get writing done during the holidays. Other themes include
confidence-building, new habit formation, challenging yourself in the New Year, and deepening your
focus during Dissertation Writing.
DISSERTATION WRITING WORKSHOP
Get higher level of structure and accountability for
your Dissertation through our online community,
live coaching sessions, and 1:1 calls
If you’re looking for a high level of accountability, the Dissertation Writing Workshop offers
several options.
• We have an online community of PhD students where you can connect with other graduate students
and find accountability partners.
• Our Daily Progress Tracker, a game-changer for many students, helps you to track actions you are taking
towards your finished Dissertation.
• Two live group coaching sessions a month, with Q&A and opportunity to connect with other students
• Email support with Dora
• 1:1 calls with Dora
• The 21 Day Dissertation Writing Challenge Program is included in the Dissertation Writing Workshop.
After you sign up for the Dissertation Writing Program, you will begin receiving the 21 Day Writing Challenge
action steps the following month, with some check-in emails a few days before we start.

Click here to sign up for the Dissertation Writing Workshop. It’s a monthly membership and you can
cancel anytime by responding to one of the emails. After you sign up, you will get instructions to sign
up for our online community on Facebook. You will also get the links to sign up for our live tgroup
coaching sessions, and the 1:1 calls. If it doesn’t work for you, you have 30 days to request a full refund.
What's the difference between the 21 Day Challenge and the Dissertation Writing Workshop?
The 21 Day Challenge is a self-study program. You get an action step in your email every day at 5 am
EST every month from the 1st to the 21st to help you pick up momentum in your writing.
In contrast, the Dissertation Writing Workshop is a group coaching program, with live trainings, online
community and 1:1 calls with me. Due to the higher level of support, the cost is higher. If you’re looking
for a high level of structure and support, the Dissertation Writing Workshop is the best option.
The 21 Day Dissertation Writing Challenge is included in the Dissertation Writing Workshop.
Finish Your Dissertation

and Get Your PhD With Our
Dissertation Writing Workshop
Learn More
PUBLISH YOUR RESEARCH PROGRAM
Turn Messy Drafts into Publish Papers in Prestigious
Academic Journals During Your PhD Program and Beyond
Have you ever wondered why some people are able to get one paper published after another, while
others get one rejection letter after another despite hard work? Or why so many papers just sit
on someone's desk, literally forever, and never even get submitted to a journal?
50% of manuscripts are rejected from journals and most researchers don't know how to get their
work published. I was very fortunate to have mentors who trained me to publish 3 papers from my
PhD research and 5 papers from my postdoctoral research. Seeing your name on top of an academic
publication is one of the best feelings in the world, but when you don't have publications it affects
your confidence and career opportunities.
The "Publish Your Research" is a self-study program with step-by-step system that helps you
to write a paper that is ready for submission to a prestigious journal:
• Step-by-step plan to write your publications

• Create a process to follow through on your writing
• Putting together your submission package, and responding to rejection letter
I also included additional bonuses to help you with the writing:
• Access to our private online community

• Additional trainings to motivate you to keep writing
• Checklists for writing an outstanding publication and finding the best journals

Click here to sign up for the Publish Your Research Program. This is a self-study program with
a one-time payment. Once you purchase the program, you have life-time access to it, so you can refer
back to it anytime during your career! You will also have access to any bonuses that we add to the
program. After you sign up, you will get instructions to sign up for our online community on Facebook.
If the program doesn’t work for you, you have 30 days to request a full refund.
Transform Messy Drafts into Papers in

Prestigious Academic Journals with Our
Publish Your Research Program
Learn More
THANK YOU!
XǝȒȇȒȸɵȒɖǔȒȸɵȒɖȸƬȒȅȅǣɎȅƺȇɎɎȒˡȇǣɀǝɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀƏȇƳƫȸǣȇǕ
ɵȒɖȸƬƏȸƺƺȸɎȒɎǝƺȇƺɴɎǼƺɮƺǼِXǼȒȒǸǔȒȸɯƏȸƳɎȒɀƺƺǣȇǕɵȒɖǣȇɀǣƳƺȒȇƺ
ȒǔȅɵȵȸȒǕȸƏȅɀًƏȇƳɀɖȵȵȒȸɎǣȇǕɵȒɖɎȒˡȇǣɀǝɵȒɖȸɎǝƺɀǣɀِ
Best wishes and keep up the awesome work!
Dora Farkas, PhD

Thesis and Career Coach
Founder, www.FinishYourThesis.com
FINISH YOUR THESIS & PURSUE YOUR PASSION
Finish Your
FINISHThesis
YOUR THESIS
FASTER

Finsh Your PHD Faster Oct 2021

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Finish Your

BY DORA FARKAS, PHD

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dora earned her PhD from the Department of Biological

Dora is an excellent coach, with a style that is compassionate as

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 2

Part I: How to Get More Done in Less Time 8

Part III: ɮƺȸƬȒȅƺáȸǣɎƺȸ‫ټ‬ɀ ǼȒƬǸƏȇƳ

Part IV: The 10 Most Common Mistakes in

Part V: The One Thing That PhDs Would

How You Can Get More Training 36

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 3

THESIS WRITING DOES NOT

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 4

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 5

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 6

ȸƺɵȒɖȸƺƏƳɵّnƺɎ‫ټ‬ɀɀɎƏȸɎɯǣɎǝɎǝƺȅȒɀɎƺɴƬǣɎǣȇǕȵƏȸɎ‫ي‬how to get more done in less time.

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 7

• Working long hours

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 8

Shift Your Attitude from

Develop a Long-Term Plan

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 9

Block Time for Everything:

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 10

Focus on Desired Results,

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 11

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 12

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 13

Clarify Your Supervisor’s

Bottom line: Focus on developing a long-term professional relationship

Prepare, Prepare, Prepare for

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 14

Focus on Solving the Problem, Not Your

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 15

Listen to Your Supervisor without

Bottom line: If your supervisor feels heard and respected, he or

Put Important Agreements in

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 16

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 17

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 18

Set Your Timer to 45 Minutes and Turn

Take Your Breaks

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Make a Small Notebook

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 20

Bottom line: áǝƺȇɵȒɖɀƺɎɀȵƺƬǣ˾ƬƏȇƳȸƺƏǼǣɀɎǣƬǕȒƏǼɀǔȒȸƺƏƬǝ

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 21

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 22

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 23

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 24

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 25

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 26

Your supervisor’s experience can be particular helpful here, as he or she might be

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 27

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 28

FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 29

If I could start graduate school again, I would:

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FINISH YOUR THESIS FASTER • www.FinishYourThesis.com • © Dora Farkas, PhD 31

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PI needed many reminders.

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