DON’T: Assume the data you want to analyze exists, and plan to look for it later.
DO: Find the data you will use BEFORE starting V499. This will save you so many headaches. In my class of 11 students, myself and at least two others (possibly more) did not end up using the data that we expected to when we planned our research proposal at the end of V491. Realizing your data doesn’t exist or won’t work the way you had hoped creates extra stress that can be avoided by doing a simple check earlier on to make sure that you can find what you need.
DON’T: Underestimate the time it will take you to prepare your data for analysis, even after you have already found it.
DO: Start early (before V499 if at all possible, but if you are reading this post for V499 you will still be okay). If you are using any sort of software to help you analyze your data (R, Python, Stata, etc.) you will need to make sure your data set is in a form that the program can read. This usually requires more than just copy-pasting your data somewhere else, and it will be time-consuming. I recommend making your goal to finish data preparation before starting V499 (or if you are already in V499, this should be your first priority of the work you need to get done early in the semester).
DON’T: Plan to work on your thesis “when you have time” because deadlines seem far away and you have assignments for other classes due sooner.
DO: Schedule time to work on your thesis throughout the week and stick to this schedule. Whether it is bigger blocks of time a few days a week or an hour every night, set aside time to work on your thesis at least 6 hours a week. Future you will thank you.
DON’T: Work alone.
DO: Find ways to hold yourself accountable for making progress on your work. Set deadlines with your advisor and check in on your progress during regular meetings. Check in with your classmates. If it helps you, schedule times to write in your most productive environment and/or with people who will also be writing.
I probably did 50% of my work for this thesis in Inkwell on Tuesdays and Thursdays with a friend who also had a lot of writing to do. We always met up at the same time, talked about what our writing goals were for the day, and then put headphones on and didn’t speak again until about 5 minutes before we planned to leave so we could talk about what progress we made and whether we met our writing goals. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND setting up an arrangement like this if it helps you to be productive.
DON’T: Be too hard on yourself.
DO: Remember that everyone going through this process is feeling similar stresses and emotions that you are. Use your classmates for support (there will be a lot of collective venting, that is normal)! Talk to your professor during office hours! Odds are that they’ve had other students run into similar problems with their thesis, and they can help you come up with a plan to overcome whatever roadblock you encounter. And remember that it is okay to take breaks. Take a walk, take a nap, or take a night off if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
DON’T: Give up.
DO: Remember that everyone who finishes this process says that they would still do it if they had a chance to go back in time and make the decision again. Writing a thesis is not easy, but completing it is such a good feeling and it proves to yourself that you’re capable of so much more than you thought you were.
YOU’VE GOT THIS!
Taylor Longhitano is a third-year student at the Indiana University O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Taylor will begin graduate coursework in Fall 2022 to receive her Master of Public Affairs through the O’Neill Accelerated Masters Program. Email: tlonghit@iu.edu
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