If you’re reading this, that probably means that you’re a first time thesis parent. First, let me say congratulations! This is an exciting time in your life, and although you may be feeling some (or a lot) of anxiety, don’t let that overshadow the work it took to get to this point in your academic career. Like all first-time parents, though, you probably have some questions. Don’t fear! I was once in your shoes. In the last year or so, I’ve learned a lot that I wish I’d known before being thrown head-first into thesis parenthood. You can take my advice or leave it, but here are some of the things I found most helpful when it comes to raising (writing) a thesis.
First things first. I know you’re probably going to hear this from almost everyone, but there’s probably a reason for that: To the best of your ability, do not procrastinate! There are a lot of ups and downs when it comes to writing a thesis. One day, it’s possible that you’ll find your groove, and everything will just flow onto the page. More likely than not though, that won’t be the case. In that case, it’s important that you have a plan. Make a writing schedule and stick to it. At the same time, don’t give yourself unmanageable goals like finishing an entire section of your thesis. A manageable goal might be revising your work in the introduction with a specific focus (like sentence flow) or working on one (small) piece of analysis.
Another note about procrastination. Don’t put off data collection until taking V-499 (assuming you’re reading this as a V-491 student). My thesis advisor put a lot of pressure on me to have all of my data collection done before starting V-499. Although I was definitely not happy about the added work during V-491, it put me in such a better position in the long run because I was able to focus on data analysis and the actual writing process for the entire four months of V-499, which really helped to alleviate stress and reduce my workload.
Another piece of advice I think everyone writing a thesis should be aware of is to use your resources. I was lucky enough to work alongside someone in my cohort who had a similar research topic and had the same mentor as me, and being able to share ideas or even just know that someone else was struggling just as much as me gave me motivation to keep working. Even if you don’t have that, don’t be afraid to talk to your classmates, professors or mentors. They really are there to support you.
Last thing I will say. One of the most important things I learned from this entire process is that it’s okay to not know what you’re doing. I struggled with imposter syndrome going into writing my thesis, but I quickly learned that everyone else had the same feelings as me. This is probably your first time taking on a project of this size. You are going to make mistakes along the way, and that’s okay! Especially if you aren’t familiar with the research process, this can all feel like a lot. Just know that you are not alone in this!
Abigail Comer is a senior in the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Leave a Reply