Finally! The finish line. I made it to the end, and so will you. Setting out to accomplish an honors thesis is no small feat, but it is an incredibly rewarding process. You will learn to do research and find something you are passionate about. You will laugh, cry, and at the end of the day, do something not many undergraduates can say they’ve accomplished. You will have done your own research. But before you begin your thesis, as someone who has gone through this; let me give you a few bits of advice. 

1. Start!!! This may seem self-explanatory, but this is a lengthy process, and you need to begin sooner rather than later. Gather as much information as you can, talk to people, and start formulating your research question as soon as possible. 
2. Data. This goes along with my first point but start collecting your data as soon as possible. It will take you a lot longer than you think to sort through it. Getting a head start and cleaning and analyzing your data will help you so much in the long run.  
3. Set a schedule. With classes, and everything around us, the world moves so fast, and we are all so busy. It is easy to forget about your thesis and put it off. Don’t do this!! What helped me the most was setting apart a few hours a week where I would write. Have a writing schedule, make it realistic, and stick to it. 
4. Peer-review. Use your classmates, friends, roommates, anyone as a second pair of eyes. Getting advice from those around us is so important. We all have read our theses so many times that we often miss mistakes that those around us can point out. 
5. Stop comparing yourself to those around you! This is my last bit of advice, but perhaps the most valuable one. It is easy to compare yourself to those around and be harsh on yourself. Don’t be! Remember, whether you are doing qualitative or quantitative work, your research is valid, and you are going to do great things. 

Best of luck. You got this, and I am sure your thesis at the end will be nothing short of incredible. Be proud of yourself and your work. 

Anna Trautmann is a senior in the O’Neill Honors Program studying Law and Public Policy and French. Growing up in the Philippines, she first handedly witnessed Duterte’s War on Drugs, which motivated her to conduct research on this topic. On the side, she works as a research assistant for the School of Public Health, as well as a Teaching Assistant and and Undergraduate Student Engagement Coordinator for O’Neill.

Hello O’Neill Honors Students!

Firstly, I would like to commend you for taking on the challenge of creating an honors thesis. Your professors do research all the time–how hard could it REALLY be? 

I am probably not the first to let you know, you certainly have lots of work cut out for you! 

The process of academic research presents a new challenge for us honors students. We are familiar with the process of learning and then giving an answer we know to be correct. Yet, in academic research, we are responsible for finding the correct answer. Additionally, in order to find that correct answer, we have to design and utilize a research methodology. 

You probably feel like I am getting way ahead of the curve. First, you will need a solid and researchable question that contributes to academic literature. I found that your question, or research aim, will either change or evolve various times throughout the process. Students usually start with large conceptual ideas, often not measurable or conducive to the thesis timeline.

In order to conduct thesis research, you must narrow down your conceptual ideas to a more narrow, measurable focus. For example, instead of asking how subsidized school lunch contributes to student wellness, ask how subsidized school lunches at Bloomington middle schools in the past 6 months have contributed to students classroom participation. By taking a larger idea and breaking it down into smaller, measurable pieces, we will actually be able to perform analysis and draw a conclusion.  

In general, the more specific you can make your question earlier in the process the better. In order to help me form my question, I had meetings with several prospective faculty advisors. These prospective advisors each had advice around question framing as well as applicable background literature and data sources. I would suggest meeting with various faculty members before making a decision on whom you would like to be your advisor. After a brief consultation with various faculty members, you will be able to confidently determine who will be the best working fit. 

Performing research is a lengthy process. Your question is very likely to change, at least in scope, if not completely. This means that the data you utilize in your analysis is likely to change as well. Be very careful in the time before SPEA V 499 to communicate with your advisor and ensure that the data you are, or will, collect matches your research question, is utilizable and leads to an analyzable outcome. 

If your research involves quantitative research, congratulations, you are building valuable skills on the job market! The only way to build up those skills is by testing your resilience and collaboration abilities. It takes a lot of time to learn a new coding language. Be patient, use online resources and work with a trusted advisor. Be sure to start as early as possible and frequently save and review your work as data cleaning and organization take plentiful time. In previous courses you were given clean data-sets. This is no longer the case when working with raw data. Expect your analysis to take twice as long as your initial expectation.

Overall, I would like to remind you that you certainly have the capacity to carry out this project. You have the opportunity to create new knowledge for the world! Start early and work often so that you are able to be patient with yourself in the process. 

Nicholas Oshefsky is a fourth-year student at Indiana University Bloomington’s O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs  studying public financial management and desiring to make a positive impact after graduation in the spring.

Four months ago I stood at the starting line of my thesis journey – excited, yet overwhelmed, and unsure of where to begin. Looking back, there are many things I wish I had told myself to make the process easier and less stressful in the months leading up to the due date. If you are now in the position I was four months ago, standing at the start line, unsure where to begin, here is some advice: 

1. Plan Early and Plan Often

A whole semester to write a thesis sounds like a lot – until it isn’t. It is critical to set aside time each week for writing, so make a writing schedule that is realistic and one that you can stick to; doing so will prevent you from experiencing panicked nights as draft deadlines roll around each month. Also, having a plan and setting realistic goals for yourself, helps to break up the work into smaller pieces, making it easier to focus on each part of your thesis. 

     2. Don’t Chase Perfection – Just Type

The first draft, and second, and third, will be messy. When you sit down to write, type what comes to mind, don’t focus on trying to write the perfect sentence or paragraph. The point of drafting is to get your thoughts down, not to worry about making everything flawless. It is important to remember that writing a thesis and conducting research is a process, and revision comes later. Lastly, it is easier to revise something that is already written than starting with a blank page – something that I wish I had learned sooner.

    3. Be Adaptable and Resilient 

Throughout the writing and data collection process, things are constantly changing, and it’s all part of the process. For example, four months ago, I thought I was conducting a qualitative research study; however, a month in, I realized it needed to be quantitative to actually answer my research question. You may decide to narrow down your research question, collect different data, or learn how to use a new software to produce results. Embrace the change, be ready to learn, and continue moving forward.

    4. Utilize Your Support System  

Above all, talk to the people around you when you feel stuck. Discussing ideas or thoughts with others can help you grasp them better and fuel the writing process. Don’t isolate yourself or feel like you are alone, because people want to help you and see you succeed. Talk to your friends, family, advisors, and professors, as they care and want to help push you along. 

Allie Forsyth is a senior at Indiana University’s O’Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs.

If you’re reading this you are about to also read (or have already read) several more blog posts that will go on to tell you to collect your data early, not procrastinate writing, and choose a topic you’re passionate about. Don’t get me wrong, this is all excellent advice, and I am not demeaning its value in any way. That being said, this is not one of those blog posts. I am here to give you one piece of advice.

What is this coveted piece of advice that I am sure you are chomping at the bit to find out? It is this simple: keep going. 

I couldn’t count the times I considered giving up on my thesis. Coming up with a topic, conducting an in-depth literature review, collecting data, and writing your thesis is hard work. I am here to level with you, though: it is so worth it. Not just because when you are sitting in my chair, you look back and feel intrinsically satisfied, which, believe me, you do. You feel as if years of arduous academic work, blood, sweat, and tears led you to produce your own unique contribution to academia. A piece of work that is yours, and no one can take that away. 

Beyond that, though, your senior thesis is beneficial for selfish reasons, too. I know you’ve been told your whole life to be altruistic. Our school motto is “Lead for the Greater Good,” for crying out loud. However, if you put in the hours I have on this thesis for twelve months, you’ll want something tangible out of it just for yourself! The good news is that you get that.

1. Graduate schools and employers LOVE talking about your senior thesis.

Time management? Check. Commitment to a project spanning over several months? Check. Organizational skills and ability to work with numerous people to achieve one objective? Check, check, check. Your thesis and your resume are the crown jewels of your undergraduate education. If you make your thesis relevant to your career, that’s even better. In interviews and applications, talk about it. A lot. 

       2. You build a network with O’Neill’s finest.

Not only will the cohort you sit next to in class become some of your most successful peers you can network with for years to come, but the Honors program will give you unique access to the world-class faculty that the O’Neill School offers. These faculty will grow to know you better, and as you complete something they all are familiar with, they develop a newfound respect for you. In the short term, this will materialize as high-quality letters of recommendation. In the future, it could prove the difference between you getting that job on The Hill or not.

This brings me back to my original advice. Stay the course. No matter where you are in your collection process or how far behind you feel. Persevere. Don’t compare yourself to your classmates. I PROMISE they aren’t as put together as they seem. Everyone in that class is going through the same struggles day in and day out. Make adjustments if you feel you can’t get it done in time! Figure out a way to finish. The juice is well worth the squeeze.

Forest Wallace is a senior at the O’Neill School dual majoring in Nonprofit Management & Leadership and Law & Public Policy. He is originally from South Bend, Indiana and plans to pursue a JD beginning in the fall after graduating from Indiana University – Bloomington.

Congratulations on starting the process of writing your thesis! The work that you are going to do over the next semester or two semesters isn’t going to be easy but it will be worth it. Here is some of my advice for you:

It will get done. Take the whole process step by step. Try not to look too far ahead because you will get overwhelmed. Just work on the small individual steps that you need to do to make progress. Your professors and advisor will make sure you are on the right track and working at a good pace. All you need to do is make sure you are writing and moving forward in your thesis. Everything else will fall into place.

Try not to procrastinate too much, you will regret it. The work you are doing seems like a lot (and it is) but the more you put it off the more stressed you will be. On a similar note, stick to the writing schedule you made. It is so easy to skip a scheduled writing block because you have other work to do, but doing this will only make sure you are writing on the weekends. Even though the due dates might seem far away, they come up fast. The longer you wait to do the work, the more anxiety and stress endusing the whole process will have. 

Remember to take time for yourself. Writing your thesis can easily become something that is always on your mind. It can easily take over your life, especially when you are coming up on deadlines. Remember to take time away from your computer, breathe, and know that you can only do so much. At the end of the day, you are writing a thesis. The world will not end because your thesis isn’t perfect. 

Overall, the biggest piece of advice I have for you is to do what you can now. As much as you want to, don’t put off the work, try to stay on top of it. The more you do early, the easier everything will be and the more of an enjoyable time you will have throughout the entire process. 

Dayna Cohn is a senior Law and Public Policy student in the O’Neill Honors Program. Her advisor was Professor Susan Siena. 

If you’re reading this, there is a high chance you are either in V491, about to enter the world of research, or in V499, already having created a research question and about to take on the writing process. My goal in writing this blog is to assure you that this can be a fun and rewarding experience (no, really!) and that everything will be okay. Here are 3 tips to consider if you want to pursue an honors thesis. 

1. Choose your advisor wisely. A great advisor will make writing your thesis so much better. If you’re stressed out about finding an advisor, my recommendation is that you meet with as many professors as you can that you think will have insight into your topic. Not all of them can be your advisor, but you can get something out of every meeting. Don’t be afraid to reach out either! It is an intimidating process, but most professors are really nice. When in a meeting, trust your gut. You want someone who will set aside ample time to meet with you, enjoys getting to know you, will give you feedback if you ask, and who can meet deadlines.
2. Take advantage of the summer. If you’re doing V491 in the Spring, and V499 in the Fall, I would highly advise you to use the summer to collect your data (if possible). I collected the majority of my data in the summer, and this allowed me to come to V499 with data I could already write about. It saved me so much stress and it was much easier than having to collect it during the semester when I have so many more responsibilities.
3. Find different ways to hold yourself accountable. If you are like me, you are a terrible procrastinator. In the beginning of V499, we were instructed to create writing schedules, which I struggled to follow through on. The thing that helped me progress on my thesis the most, outside of hard deadlines, was using my advisor and our biweekly meetings as a motivator. This held me accountable, as I didn’t want to show up to our meeting saying that I hadn’t done what I was supposed to. 

During V491 and V499, encountering challenges is inevitable. But, by the end, you will feel so accomplished! This is a chance for you to learn more about something you wouldn’t be able to through major or minor classes. The community you build through taking V491 and V499 and the relationships you build with professors are invaluable. For me, this process allowed me to find what I am truly passionate about and what I’d like to spend my career doing. For others, it has gotten them interviews or internships. If you pick a topic you are truly interested in and want to work on in the future, I promise that you will get so much out of this experience. 

Anjani Dent is a senior honors student from Avon, Indiana. She is studying Environmental Management and minoring in French at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. On campus, she works as an undergraduate teaching assistant for V365, Urban Development and Planning. After graduating in May 2025, she looks forward to pursuing a master’s degree in Environmental Policy.