You’ve done it! You’ve successfully cleared one of the final hurdles of completing your degree: your thesis/dissertation defense. Passing your defense is definitely worthy of celebration … so, by all means, celebrate! But don’t overdo it, because after the hangover wears off you will still have numerous tasks that must be completed before you are finally finished!
If you’re like most students, you didn’t pass your defense with a grade of “Pass As Is,” which would mean that you wouldn’t have to complete any revisions. It’s far more likely that you received a grade of “Pass With Minor Revisions” or “Pass With Major Revisions.”
Making the required revisions represents the bulk of the work still left to do. However, several additional tasks that you might need to complete include:
Making an appointment to get your final copy reviewed for format;
- Printing the final copies on acid free/specialty paper
- Collecting all necessary signatures
- Paying all necessary fees
- Depositing the work to the library, graduate school office, bookstore and wherever else you are required to file it.
When these tasks are complete, you will be officially done!!! Following are some guidelines to help you complete these final tasks as quickly as possible so that you can enjoy the satisfaction of reaching your long-sought-after goal.
Making the Required Revisions:
After finishing a major task such as completing your defense, gearing up emotionally to get back to work on revisions can be almost as challenging as writing the original document itself. But gather yourself up and jump back in; the finish line is now definitely in sight! Pace yourself! You don’t have to accomplish everything in one day. Some revisions may take only a few seconds to complete, while others will require a great deal more time and thought. And some days you will feel far more motivated and productive than on other days.
The TADA theory for success is to complete at least 12 minutes of work each day. As a starting point, look at the list of changes you have to address and make notes next to each revision. Which of these tasks will take only about 12 minutes? When your energy levels are low, tackle those items that will take only a few minutes to complete.
Other larger tasks may require more time, but consider carefully how you might break them down into smaller, more manageable tasks. For example, if you have to complete additional research, you might consider the following 12-minute steps:
Task #1: Find an/the article you need to review and download it.
Task #2: If the article isn’t available in full text, go to the library, find the article, and copy it.
Task #3: Read the article, paying close attention only to the information you need to address.
Task #4: Add this citation to the bibliography of your thesis or dissertation.
A helpful hint: Make absolutely certain that you have made all corrections and revisions. Carefully reviewed them yourself before giving it back to your advisor or the committee member responsible making sure the revisions get done and especially before undergoing the official final review of your document. A final review is, indeed, final. You will not be allowed to make changes on the copy that you submit/deposit with the graduate school after the final review is completed.
Making Appointments and Checking Schedules and Deadlines:
Once the revisions are made to your satisfaction, you’ll need to make an appointment to have the revised copy reviewed by your committee chair, as well as for format.
Much as you might like them to be available to you during this stressful period, not all offices/departments/personnel are open around the clock. As a result, it’s important to be acutely aware of the critical deadlines you must meet and plan accordingly.
For example, if your defense is scheduled close to the degree deadline, it’s important to call immediately afterward to make all necessary appointments. Time slots fill rapidly during the two to three weeks prior to any deadline, so the earlier you can call, the better.
A thorough review of the entire document is the responsibility of both the student and committee chair, so be sure you find out when your chair will be available to sign off on those revisions, and how long it will take to turn it around.
Many universities also require someone to officially sign off on the format of your document, even if you followed your format manual to the letter. A format reviewer will check your work against the Graduate College Format Manual requirements and the requirements of your selected style guide or journal, and will also spot-check for misspellings, inconsistencies and typographical errors.
Depositing
If you are not depositing your document electronically, find out where and when you are required to deposit your thesis/dissertation, as well as the hours of operation. Are there any fees associated with depositing your document? Do they accept checks, or credit cards? You don’t want to have your dreams dashed by finding out that you’ve missed a deadline because the office closed an hour earlier than your arrival.
When you deposit your document, you are officially finished with your degree program, regardless of whether or not you participate in the ceremony. Congratulations!
If you wish, it’s always a nice touch to send additional bound copies to friends and committee members. Whether or not you choose to do so largely depends upon the customs of your department. You’re on the final lap of your long, long journey; now would not be the best time to go against the prevailing customs!
Pomp and Circumstance
February is not too early to start thinking about graduation. Will you be participating in the upcoming graduation ceremonies? Many doctoral students skip the graduation ceremony, as the process requires a cumbersome allotment of steps, deadlines, fees and paperwork. Keep in mind that the ceremony is generally for you but for the family who supported you throughout this long journey.
An additional consideration is that every doctoral student participating in the ceremony is called to the stage to have the commencement regalia hood conferred by either an advisor or dissertation committee chair. Hence, if you want to participate in the ceremony, it’s important to ask your advisor if he or she will be available to participate. If so, be sure to remind your advisor of the deadline for ordering regalia in the event that he or she doesn’t own a cap and gown.
Following are additional tasks you will need to complete:
- If you want your name printed in the commencement program, you must inform your department early in the semester of your intention to graduate.
- You will need to order your regalia, usually from the on-campus bookstore within a specified timeframe, and pick it up when instructed.
- You must settle all outstanding university debts with the cashier.
- Make sure you make the deadline for submitting the original and one copy of your final dissertation to the graduate school.
- Complete and submit the Survey of Earned Doctorates other necessary forms for graduation.
- If diplomas are available to you, determine whether you would like to pick it up personally or have it mailed to you, and then advise the graduate school of your preference.
- Update your home address via the web or in person prior to leaving campus.
- Purchase and send out invitations to everyone you would like to attend.
- Get a “Certificate of Completion” and an official copy of your transcript before leaving the university.
Enjoy the ceremony!
Email Question of the Month:
Q:
Dear Dr. Carter, I’m one many who benefited a lot from your ideas and support, and this high degree of generosity, encouraged me to as for more and more for such a great person. I’ve chosen the following topic for my Dissertation: The impact of organization culture on employee and customer statisfaction and investigative study on the Pharmaceutical industry. I need your help in designing the dimessions of these three variables with OC being the depeendent variable, the employee mean/mediating variable and the CS being the indpendent one. And, what are the most known and acknowlege measures of these factors? Thanks and anxioulsy waiting for your reply. Mohammad F.
A:
Hello Mohammad
Thank you for contacting us at TADA. I assume that your research question is “What is the impact of organizational culture on employee and customer satisfaction in the Pharmaceutical Industry?” Congratulations on finding a dissertation topic. At some point I suggest that you find an editor to deal with the misspellings that I see. Nonetheless, It is up to you to refer back to your Research Methods course, your advisor or committee to figure out how you should measure some of the concepts that you have mentioned. Reading, reading and more reading will tell you what has been written on these measures. Your dissertation topic should be built on what you already know and what your advisor is an expert in. Thus, you are not really starting from scratch. You should start by doing some research via academic journals and scholarly texts; you should also communicate your possible topic with your advisor and ask for his/her help.
Wishing you all the best, Dr. Carter
TA-DA!™ Graduates — Congratulations on Your Success
Just wanted to let you know, I have completed my dissertation, I have graduated from Texas A & M University, College Station, I am Dr. Judy T. Thanks but I don’t think I need FinishLine any longer.
Congratulations…Welcome to the club…Thanks for sharing the news with us at TADA!Thesis and Dissertation Accomplished. We love hearing that!!!!!!!!!! Our readers like to know that it is possible to finish. Please share the TADA Newsletter with others who come behind you and with others whom you might advise. In the meantime, we will take your name off the list. Thanks again for contacting us. Have a happy New Year.
Sincerely,
Wendy Y. Carter, Ph.D.
email: drcarter@tadafinallyfinished.com
www.tadafinallyfinished.com
About the Author: As a single mother, professor Wendy Y. Carter, Ph.D., completed three masters’ degrees and a PhD. Her motto is a Good Thesis/Dissertation is a Done Thesis/Dissertation. She is the creator of a new innovative interactive resource tool on CD—TADA! Thesis and Dissertation Accomplished. To learn more and sign up for her FREE tips and teleclasses, contact us at info@tadafinallyfinished.com. Privacy is our policy. TADA™ Finishline does not give out or sell our subscribers’ names or e-mail addresses.