The simple mistake that could cost you years in graduate school…
The students I work with usually know the topic they want to pursue for their dissertation or thesis research. After all, you don’t get to ABD status without writing a few (or more than a few!) papers on your potential dissertation or thesis research topic. However, many students come to me with a research idea that has either completely changed or slightly shifted from their original topic. Some students have not yet formed a thesis statement or core argument of their research study. This poses numerous issues that could cost you time (and money) in graduate school. Take these two examples:
Anne first approached me when she entered ABD status. She told me that she decided her topic early on in graduate school, and she had stuck with her research topic and thesis statement from the very beginning. As a result, she had already written the majority of her dissertation’s first three chapters. Within three months, we created a draft of her introduction, literature review, and methods chapters. She successfully defended her dissertation proposal only four months after our first coaching session.
Mike also approached me when he entered ABD status. Mike informed me that he had changed his research topic a few times over the course of graduate school, and he was now considering another change. He wanted to spend time discussing his topic and finalizing a new research question. Mike spent about two weeks reviewing dissertations and articles on his new topic before drafting a summary of his topic, research design, and methods for his advisor to review and approve. Due to the change, Mike was only able to use a small portion of the material he had already written. Consequently, it took six months to finalize his dissertation’s introduction, literature review, and methods chapters. He defended his dissertation proposal about eight months after his first coaching session.
The differences in these two examples are clear. Determine your research topic and thesis statement early in graduate school and stick with it! Although it is important to be interested in your topic, remember that you are not changing the world with your dissertation research study.
Happy Writing!