Sunday, August 19, 2007

help!

This will be really quick. It has been really crazy this past few days; I am averaging only about 4 hours sleep, a far cry from my usual 8-9 hours of sleep! This is definitely a huge cramming time for me. I have just distributed a copy of my dissertation (incorporated all of my major advisor's corrections) to each of the committee members. My defense is scheduled in a week! There are definitely times I am tempted to postpone. I have my slides prepared already. I need to work on my talk and study the materials. Any advice on how to prepare and stay sane until D-day?

2 comments:

DrOtter said...

Catch up on sleep.
You are the expert on your dissertation topic, your defense is to demonstrate that you are the expert.
Reherse your presentation, but don't over reherse, you want to look natural.
Get some people to ask you questions so that you get used to answering (and, if your committee are anything like mine, get used to understanding what they are asking).

Take some time off a day or two before, sort out what you will wear/get a hair cut/ do something that makes you feel good. Do not feel guilty about this because you deserve it, and the down time will do you good.

And this week will pass at the same rate as any other, and at the end of it you will defend your dissertation and it will be fine!

Congratulations on getting the dissertation in!

michelle said...

thank you very much propter doc for your nice words. it is so relieving to know that someone out there feel for me.