Something unbelievable just happened: my committee met all in one spot for the first time evah! I know it seems kind of late, but for many (most?) of my labmates this (joyful?) event didn't occur till their 7th or 8th year in grad school, which is one of the reasons I had to push so hard to make it happen. This experience has been one of the most stressful ones I had to go through yet.
The good news is, after some 2-3 hours I somehow managed to convince them all that I am heading in the right direction with my research, and pending a few small hoops to jump through, I will be advanced to candidacy!
They have also fully approved my plan of action and agreed to grant me a degree once all the items on said plan are complete. So I have my work cut out for me, and I like that there is a plan that leads to graduation. I am now free to proceed at my own pace, knock it all out, and cross things off my list. I don't think I have ever experienced this much certainty in my entire grad school stint; and let me tell you, even though I have much left to do, this feels really, really good.*
* Please remind me I said this when I start whining about being sick and tired of my project.
The perverse incentives of academia
6 years ago
7 comments:
Hooray!!! Congratulations!!!
woooooooot!!!!!
Awesome! We must be having some similar feelings right now! Isn't is great to have some degree of certainty?
So, if it takes that long to advance to candidacy in your program, how long does it typically take to finish after that?
Also, they are hiring several high-profile post-docs where I work in your field. Just saying.
Yay!
Rebecca - thanks! I have been pushing for this for years, it feels really good to have it behind me.
PD - thanks! I was told it would be an anti-climactic experience, but my relief is hard to describe.
EGF - certainty is definitely nice after years of waiting. It will take me a couple more years to finish (it is usually 2+ from here, but I am looking at a few people who are at 3-4 years past their prelim, or 9-10 years into the program...). Thanks for heads up on post-docs, my new place of work is hiring them like crazy also, too bad I am not quite ready to be applying.
JP - thanks! It has been awhile since my last official milestone, so it is nice to finally reach it!
Woo hoo! That is quite an accomplishment- candidacy is too =)
We had to conference call my committee members throughout all my meetings. Even my final defense was webcast!
Albatross - thanks! I too rely on conferencing for meetings; I wonder if my committee would agree to webcasting the defense considering that I have a rather large committee with multiple external members.
Post a Comment