What strategies can a doctoral student employ to maneuver the trials and tribulations of a dissertation committee? In Part 2, we established that finding an advisor who communicates well and finding committee members who are willing to challenge you (within limits) are important. What is the fifth and final guideline you ask? Guideline…

Choosing a committee can be a daunting task for a doctoral student.  We’ve already covered two strategies that can help you through this process.  To recap, choose a committee that will balance the theory, methodology, and practical wisdom necessary to help you craft a strong dissertation, and pick members who are able and willing to invest time in you.  Here are…

So you’re ready to pick your committee members; there are a few things to keep in mind first—after all, it is a 3–6 year process. It is essential that doctoral students take the time to reflect on who they will choose to guide and mentor them through the doctoral process and to eventually determine whether they have earned the degree. It should be said that I come from a social…