If you are reading this blog you may have found yourself in a position where you have to completely restart your thesis project. (If not, congratulations and keep up the great work, you will crush it!) But for those of us in more trying times, I am here to help! For a little bit of reference, after developing an entire thesis proposal in SPEA-V 491, I entered into 499 and realized I was not passionate about my project. I decided to scrap it and completely start over, but this put me in a position of being roughly 4-5 months behind some of my peers. Yet even with such a grand hurdle, it is still completely possible to write a stellar thesis that you are excited about and adhere to the highest quality standards. Here are my tips on how to do so:
1) Pick your advisor carefully
One of the biggest favors that you can do yourself is to be strategic about the advisor that you will work with. First, as long as you know the general subject of what you are interested in investigating, then picking an advisor will be fine even if you have to restart. Next, think about if you want to work with an advisor you already know or if you want to engage with someone completely new. Each has its own benefits. Working with an advisor you already have a relationship with provides a certain degree of built in flexibility and trust that can be helpful down the line. Working with a new advisor offers new skills and a new relationship, which is valuable in its own right. Regardless of which route you pick, you should make sure that your advisor agrees with your general vision for the project. Having discussions with them beforehand about different methods and even topics you could choose will show you how flexible they can be, which is great if you have to restart.
2) Go with your gut
When looking back on my experience, I wish that I had trusted myself to a greater degree. I knew that the project I had hoped to do was strong, and should have worked harder to begin with it my first semester. If you are feeling hesitant about your project proposal, seek out the 491 and 499 professors regardless of which class you are actually in and have a conversation with all of them. Getting multiple perspectives on your proposal early on could help flesh out exactly what you are looking for.
3) Communicate
Lastly, if you are completely starting over, it is clear that you will be behind your peers. Be very open, honest, and humble with whichever professor is teaching your section, and communicate why you are restarting. Work with them to create a new timeline for your project. Constantly keep them in the loop and show them what you are doing. Don’t be afraid to say you are behind; they will generally be supportive. And of course, have fun investigating what you are passionate about!
Xavier Ramirez is a graduating senior studying law and public policy and human resources management at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. On campus, he has been involved with the IU Funding Board and the 102nd Board of Aeons. Post graduation, he hopes to begin his career and gain experience before returning to further his education in the law.
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