Comments on: Dissertation emancipation http://deepseanews.com/2009/07/deep-thoughts/ All the news on the Earth's largest environment. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:09:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Time to fly | Deep Sea News http://deepseanews.com/2009/07/deep-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-7974 Time to fly | Deep Sea News Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:01:59 +0000 http://deepseanews.com/?p=5008#comment-7974 [...] expected an obstacle course on Commencement Day, just one more hurdle to clear, but the book length manuscript was delivered, and the defense was over, so I was hooded by Dr. Tom Shirley, happy the PhD was [...] [...] expected an obstacle course on Commencement Day, just one more hurdle to clear, but the book length manuscript was delivered, and the defense was over, so I was hooded by Dr. Tom Shirley, happy the PhD was [...]

]]> By: Clark http://deepseanews.com/2009/07/deep-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-7494 Clark Mon, 06 Jul 2009 21:13:43 +0000 http://deepseanews.com/?p=5008#comment-7494 Weight has much to do with authority. After all, you can't develop the necessary gravitas to to be a PhD without killing a sufficient weight of trees. But congrats, you did it, and kick some serious sea slug butt on your defense. (If you don't get the sea slug ref, here's the citation: "There are animals like a sea slug who wen they're young they have a brain to look around and find a house. When they find a house they settle down and they eat their brain. And basically by then they've got tenure." Weight has much to do with authority. After all, you can’t develop the necessary gravitas to to be a PhD without killing a sufficient weight of trees. But congrats, you did it, and kick some serious sea slug butt on your defense. (If you don’t get the sea slug ref, here’s the citation:
“There are animals like a sea slug who wen they’re young they have a brain to look around and find a house. When they find a house they settle down and they eat their brain. And basically by then they’ve got tenure.”

]]> By: Irradiatus http://deepseanews.com/2009/07/deep-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-7492 Irradiatus Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:35:20 +0000 http://deepseanews.com/?p=5008#comment-7492 Based on my experience (mileage may vary), once you've completed the "book," and you are standing in front of the crowd for your defense, everything difficult about getting a PhD is done. You're now the expert. I have heard only one or maybe two exceptions to this, but after the defense talk, the committee defense is a breeze. Sure they might ask some tough questions, but it is no exam - mostly just the committee getting your deeper thoughts and opinions. They wouldn't have let you defend if they didn't think you were ready, right? My advice: just try to have fun (or alternatively - pretend that it is fun). Also, you may experience a strange anti-climactic feeling for weeks or months afterward. I did anyway (as did some others I know). On the other hand, other friends felt the exact opposite... Good luck and congratulations! For all intents and purposes, your work is done. Based on my experience (mileage may vary), once you’ve completed the “book,” and you are standing in front of the crowd for your defense, everything difficult about getting a PhD is done.

You’re now the expert.

I have heard only one or maybe two exceptions to this, but after the defense talk, the committee defense is a breeze. Sure they might ask some tough questions, but it is no exam – mostly just the committee getting your deeper thoughts and opinions. They wouldn’t have let you defend if they didn’t think you were ready, right?

My advice: just try to have fun (or alternatively – pretend that it is fun).

Also, you may experience a strange anti-climactic feeling for weeks or months afterward. I did anyway (as did some others I know). On the other hand, other friends felt the exact opposite…

Good luck and congratulations! For all intents and purposes, your work is done.

]]> By: Peter http://deepseanews.com/2009/07/deep-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-7489 Peter Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:59:28 +0000 http://deepseanews.com/?p=5008#comment-7489 Yeah, the discussion centered around whether it was necessary and important to cite the classics. This is what I had understood from reviewers. My advisor was not of the same opinion, preferring citations of more contemporary work (on mid-slope peaks in diversity, in particular). Yeah, the discussion centered around whether it was necessary and important to cite the classics. This is what I had understood from reviewers. My advisor was not of the same opinion, preferring citations of more contemporary work (on mid-slope peaks in diversity, in particular).

]]> By: Southern Fried Scientist http://deepseanews.com/2009/07/deep-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-7487 Southern Fried Scientist Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:02:27 +0000 http://deepseanews.com/?p=5008#comment-7487 Congrats! Congrats!

]]> By: Dr. M http://deepseanews.com/2009/07/deep-thoughts/comment-page-1/#comment-7486 Dr. M Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:38:45 +0000 http://deepseanews.com/?p=5008#comment-7486 Nobody cites Sanders (1968)? Nobody cites Sanders (1968)?

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