There is a tremendous amount of advice available for students about to embark on a thesis, much of it is valid on the undergraduate level. The process of writing a thesis is, from experience, as challenging most people make it out to be. Second guessing and doubts are natural but putting things in perspective may be helpful. You are an upperclassman with plenty of experience with academic rigor. This is no different, and well within your abilities. That being said, here is my advice on successfully writing a thesis.
- It’ll be over before you know it
Just getting to this point is a tremendous achievement, congratulations! Enjoy yourself as much as possible, you’re about to end one stage of your life. You are almost there. Yes, writing a thesis can be miserable, thankless, and stressful, at times. But – the older you get; the faster time passes. Just think, before you know it, you’ll look back with the bias of nostalgia. There are fond memories to be gained through writing a thesis, you have the opportunity to show what you’re made of to some of IU’s best, both faculty and students.
- You’re not alone
If you think you’re behind, you’re probably at the same spot as at least one of your classmates. If you are ever feeling lost, remember that both your classmates and professors can be a resource. When I was feeling overwhelmed, it gave me comfort to think of the thousands of successful theses written. The shared suffering of writing a thesis makes you part of the grand tradition of academia. At least someone wrote their thesis in less time, with less preparation, and with fewer resources (just a suspicion, I have yet to confirm this).
- Not all advice is applicable
Not to be contrarian or clever, but you don’t have to listen to what everyone tells you. Learning to say “no” is a skill that you can hone while you write your thesis. The most valuable tool you bring to the table as a thesis writer is your experience. Trust your intuition, and work at a pace you are comfortable with. You’re basically a real adult – don’t get bullied by what the cool kids are doing (or their approach to writing).
I’m Dan, and thanks for listening to my TED talk. Good luck!
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