You are getting ready to embark on what may well be the most challenging (but rewarding!) academic journey of your education thus far– writing your undergraduate honors thesis. While this process will end with an impressive piece of writing, it will also give you new connections within O’Neill and reveal to you your academic capabilities. Below I have compiled tips that will help you to take full advantage of and truly enjoy this invaluable experience:
- Work for your future self.
- It will be in your best interest to work with your future self in mind. Anything that you can do to alleviate stress that your future self may experience is something you will want to do. This includes creating a writing schedule (and sticking to it), as well as setting time with your advisor to meet early and often. Hold yourself accountable to these sessions by actually putting them into your calendar. Respect these times and treat them like a class that you cannot miss. By doing these things, you will better combat any last-minute procrastination. Your future self will thank you!
- Collect your data early.
- If you can, spend time during SPEA-V491 to collect your data. It can be hard to quickly figure out your topic and begin data collection, but it was such a relief to have my data collected before coming in SPEA-V499, as I could hit the ground running and start my data analysis.
- Make friends throughout the process.
- One of my favorite parts about the O’Neill Honors Program was getting to write my thesis alongside some exceptionally talented peers. These are people who are going through the same experiences as you, which gives them a unique perspective that no one else in your circle will have. Moreover, they will help to motivate you when you need it most!
- Use your resources.
- There are a plethora of resources available to you throughout your thesis journey. I suggest using any on-campus resources that can assist in your data collection and data analysis. Considering that I conducted my research with a survey, I contacted the Center for Survey Research at IU and got help polishing off my survey and analyzing the data that came from it. Finally, use the extensive knowledge of your advisor and PhD student, if applicable. They are there to help you!
- Focus on the journey, not the destination.
- The journey of your thesis will be just as rewarding, if not more rewarding, than your finished manuscript. Throughout the process, I learned so much about myself not only as a student, but as a person. My advisor and I often discussed how the process of completing my thesis was teaching me just as much as the content of my research. I learned how to narrow down incredibly broad ideas, how to effectively communicate with potential research participants, and how to properly revise and edit my writing. Most importantly, however, I learned how capable I am. You will most definitely be proud of the final product, so allow yourself the space to grow and learn throughout the process!
Enjoy this time, as it will go by faster than you know. Good luck!
Grace Brenner is a junior at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs studying in Nonprofit Management and Leadership with minors in Human Resources Management and Social Welfare Advocacy. After graduation, she intends to work for an advocacy organization in the nonprofit sector.
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