You’ve probably heard the horror stories- long nights, rotten data, thousands and thousands of words to write. I am not going to sit here and say that this will be easy. If you’re doing it right (or wrong, I suppose this also holds true in that case), putting together a Thesis is one of the most challenging things you will do in your Undergraduate career. I’m pretty sure I succeeded in the broad strokes of undergraduate research, so let me clue you into exactly three things that helped me get there-
1. Be Curious
Looking for answers to questions worth answering is a process- one that you will need to embrace to be successful. You may have heard this one already, but it is an important foundation to establish when you are settling on a question to answer. Find something that intrigues you! Something weird, niche, based in prior research but unique in your field. There are an infinite number of questions you can answer, might as well do something that lights a fire in your mind.
2. Manage Expectations
Throughout the research process you WILL face challenges for your preconception of the final product you will have at the end of the day. I so desperately wanted to publish my research through IU’s undergraduate research program. Unfortunately, due to the limited scope of the data I was able to collect, I could only produce a good class assignment outside the rigor needed to publish. Don’t let that dissuade you from publishing your research, but know that it is OK to confine your work to the classroom. You’ll end up with a good grade either way.
3. Don’t Fear Feedback
It is so, so easy to get tunnel vision when you are working on answering one question for a full calendar year. You are likely to get caught up in your own thoughts and words to such an extent that errors or misunderstandings go unnoticed. That is, you don’t notice them. Other people will. That is why you NEED to get other eyes on it, people who don’t mind giving you honest feedback. Will they judge you? Maybe. They shouldn’t, but who cares! This is your work and you want it to be the best. If they’re judging you right out the gate, take their feedback and give them something to gawk at once you’re nearing the finish line.
Whether or not you heed these words, there will be a point in time when your thesis is complete and you can wash your hands of the whole thing. Try to enjoy it while you can and make it mean something. If not to your field, then to yourself. Good luck and go knock this beast out!
Leave a Reply