As a student that has just completed my senior thesis with the O’Neill School, I do have some advice I may be able to offer future students, but it is important to keep in mind that all students’ senior theses are different and require different steps to be completed successfully. As you will learn in SPEA V-499, however, each senior thesis will follow a basic recipe. Here are 4 things I wish I knew when I started my senior thesis.
1. At the very least, know what data you will be using and have it downloaded at the start of the semester.
This is an important step for success in this class. I personally did not have my data downloaded when the semester started and I didn’t know exactly what variables I would be using from the data set. This set me back quite a bit and I spent a lot of time selecting and organizing data. The beginning months of the semester would have been much easier and more informative had I known my data set and had it downloaded before the semester started.
2. Try to schedule a regular meeting time with your advisor.
I know this seems obvious, but as the semester goes on and you start working on your thesis and other classes, you will feel like you don’t need to or won’t have time to meet with your advisor. Your advisor will be grading your paper and is one of the better resources you will have to help you with your paper including helping with methods and the literature review. This is why it is so important to schedule regular meetings with your advisor, and not come running to them at the end of semester to beg for comments (it will probably be too late to “fix” it).
3. If you need help analyzing data, reach out early in the semester.
Analyzing data can be difficult and using new software programs to analyze your data can be even more difficult. The good news is that the honors program can help set you up with a Master’s or PhD student to help you perform your data analysis and interpret your results. The earlier you ask for help, the better shape you will be in at the end of the semester.
4. Utilize all of the resources available to you.
Luckily there are a lot of resources available to you through the university and the O’Neill Honors Program. It can be hard to take the time to meet with people who are willing to help, but it will be worth it and can save you a lot of time at the end of the semester. You can even lean on your friends, peers, and family members to take a second look or listen to your presentation for the end of the semester.
Although writing your senior thesis can be a difficult and daunting task, it is achievable and you will have the resources you need to succeed. You can do it!
Alexandra Klemme wrote her thesis in the fall of 2022.
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